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Rating depth structure for kokanee.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
98-acre lake in Bulkley-Nechako Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 56 ft. Contours on this water are modeled from its actual shoreline and max depth. Good for finding likely water, never for navigation. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
The drawn water covers 98 acres wrapped in 4 miles of bank. The 2.9 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. About 37% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Figure 1.5 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.2 mi at the beam. Bulkley-Nechako Regional District claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Motase Lake, is 4 mi to the northwest.
When the water first warms, kokanee slide up into 10 to 30 ft. Summer is a 17 to 56 ft game here, winter a 14 to 56 ft one. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 48 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run early morning. Keep a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (25 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 17 to 56 ft | dawn | Deep basin (48 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (25 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 14 to 56 ft | dawn | Deep basin (48 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Spring puts lake whitefish in skinny water — 15 to 45 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 17 to 56 ft; cold water stacks them in 17 to 56 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 48 ft, rated prime for summer lake whitefish. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (25 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 17 to 56 ft | dawn | Deep basin (48 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (25 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 17 to 56 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (48 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 48 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 Onerka Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Onerka Lake is about 56 ft (17 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 kokanee, lake whitefish on Onerka Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 48 ft of water that rates prime for kokanee in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For kokanee, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Onerka 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.
Motase Lake 4 mi · Bear Lake 12 mi · Azuklotz Lake 12 mi · Gunanoot Lake 19 mi · Damsumlo Lake 30 mi · Smokee Lake 33 mi · Sucker Lake 35 mi · Acorn Lake 43 mi · Clota Lake 43 mi · Nilkitkwa Lake 43 mi · Fission Lake 45 mi · Sustut Lake 46 mi
See how Onerka Lake stacks up: best kokanee lakes in British Columbia · best lake whitefish 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.