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Fishing Nimpkish Lake: what the data says
9,084-acre lake in British Columbia. The lake tops out around 1050 ft. Depth here is modeled from the true shoreline and max depth rather than surveyed; use it to plan, not to navigate. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
On the chart, Nimpkish Lake draws 9,064 acres inside 34.3 miles of shoreline. With a shoreline index of 2.6, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. Roughly 0% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives.
Chinook Salmon fishing at Nimpkish Lake
In spring, chinook salmon run shallow here, mostly 5 to 40 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 50 to 120 ft, and winter fish settle into 30 to 90 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 57 ft, rated prime for summer chinook salmon. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (57 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (57 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (57 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 30 to 90 ft | midday | Sharp break (57 ft) | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Coho Salmon fishing at Nimpkish Lake
The spring pattern is a shallow one: coho salmon in 3 to 25 ft. As the season builds they drop to 30 to 70 ft, wintering in 20 to 60 ft. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 57-ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (57 ft) | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Sharp break (57 ft) | Small spoon, slow troll |
Cutthroat Trout fishing at Nimpkish Lake
Come spring, look for cutthroat trout tight to the bank in 3 to 15 ft. They move out to 10 to 35 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Sharp break: a drop-off around 57 ft that scores good in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A trolled spoon (small) or a inline spinner is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (57 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (263 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Sharp break (57 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Kokanee fishing at Nimpkish Lake
In spring, kokanee run shallow here, mostly 10 to 30 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 30 to 70 ft before dropping to 20 to 80 ft for winter. Summer kokanee concentrate at Offshore hump, a prime-rated offshore hump around 59 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (893 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (59 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | open water | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (59 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Steelhead fishing at Nimpkish Lake
When the water first warms, steelhead slide up into 3 to 20 ft. Summer is a 5 to 45 ft game here, winter a 4 to 15 ft one. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 893 ft of water and rates good come summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (893 ft) | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 15 ft | midday | open water | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 893 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 263 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 263 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 59 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 58 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 57 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 57 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
Nimpkish Lake fishing regulations
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 Nimpkish Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Common questions
How deep is Nimpkish Lake?
Nimpkish Lake is about 1050 ft (320 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.
What fish are in Nimpkish Lake?
Anglers target chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, kokanee, cutthroat trout on Nimpkish Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Nimpkish Lake?
Sharp break is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 57 ft of water that rates prime for chinook salmon in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Nimpkish Lake?
For chinook salmon, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
What are the fishing regulations for Nimpkish Lake?
Fishing on Nimpkish Lake 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.
Nearby waters
Thiemer Lake 7 mi · Roselle Lake 7 mi · Ida Lake 7 mi · Anutz Lake 8 mi · Bonanza Lake 9 mi · Keogh Lake 10 mi · Diane Lake 10 mi · Huson Lake 10 mi · Maynard Lake 11 mi · Three Isle Lake 11 mi · Iron Lake 11 mi · Angler Lake 12 mi
See how Nimpkish Lake stacks up: best chinook salmon lakes in British Columbia · best coho salmon lakes in British Columbia · best steelhead lakes in British Columbia · best kokanee lakes in British Columbia
Browse all British Columbia fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.