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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
11,220-acre lake in Bulkley-Nechako Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 256 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
The outline encloses 11,220 acres, worked by 49.5 miles of shoreline, with 3 islands in the mix. The 3.3 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 20% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. Figure 16.8 mi of water from one end to the other, 3.4 mi at the beam. Bulkley-Nechako Regional District claims this one. If the bite dies, Chooyazi Lake is 7 mi to the southeast.
When the water first warms, burbot slide up into 25 to 70 ft. Summer is a 50 to 120 ft game here, winter a 15 to 60 ft one. Start at Rock reef. It's a rock pile holding about 11 ft of water and rates prime come winter. The feeding windows run after dark and midday. Keep a heavy jig + cut bait rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Sharp break (36 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (218 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Sharp break (36 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Rock reef (11 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
When the water first warms, lake trout slide up into 10 to 40 ft. Summer is a 50 to 120 ft game here, winter a 20 to 80 ft one. Start at Rock reef. It's a rock pile holding about 11 ft of water and rates prime come fall. The feeding windows run early morning. Keep a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (10 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Sharp break (36 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (11 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Sharp break (36 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Spring rainbow trout on Nation Lakes hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 8 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 40 ft. Put Rock reef first on the milk run — a rock pile near 11 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (9 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (10 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (11 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Sharp break (36 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Start shallow in spring: lake whitefish sit in 15 to 45 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 40 to 90 ft; cold water stacks them in 25 to 70 ft. Top water on the chart: Rock reef, a rock pile in the 10 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (36 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Sharp break (36 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Rock reef (10 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Sharp break (36 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
The chart marks 13 structure features on Nation Lakes; the deepest is Deep basin at about 218 ft.
Access data: British Columbia Recreation Sites and Trails - Recreation Sites Subset. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for British Columbia waters are set by the BC freshwater fishing synopsis — and special regulations can apply to Nation Lakes specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Nation Lakes is about 256 ft (78 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target burbot, lake trout, rainbow trout, lake whitefish on Nation Lakes.
Rock reef is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in fall. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For burbot, the summer bite is best in after dark and midday. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Nation Lakes is regulated by the BC freshwater fishing synopsis. Check the official British Columbia regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Chooyazi Lake 7 mi · Tizgay Lake 9 mi · Tamasgale Lake 9 mi · Mudzenchoot Lake 10 mi · Webberly Lake 10 mi · Abas Lake 11 mi · Gidegingla Lake 13 mi · Klawli Lake 14 mi · Chichonajilh Lake 15 mi · Inzana Lake 16 mi · Sheshenadji Lake 17 mi · Kalder Lake 18 mi
See how Nation Lakes stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best lake trout lakes in British Columbia · best lake whitefish lakes in British Columbia · best burbot lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Bulkley-Nechako Regional District fishing maps (324 charts). Browse all British Columbia fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.