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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
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13-acre lake in British Columbia. The lake tops out around 65 ft. Contours on this water are modeled from its actual shoreline and max depth. Good for finding likely water, never for navigation. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Onion Lake maps at 13 acres behind 0.6 miles of shoreline. A shoreline index of 1.2 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. 18% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. It sits in Kitimat-Stikine Regional District. Lakelse Lake sits 5 mi north — the closest neighbouring chart.
These fish are listed in an exact-water agency record as forage or ecological context. They are not target-species profiles and do not affect DepthScout's Prime, Good, or Fair spot ratings.
Official exact-water fish record. The listing documents source-recorded presence, not present abundance or guaranteed catchability.
When the water first warms, kokanee slide up into 10 to 30 ft. By summer they slide out to 20 to 65 ft, and by winter most fish are in 16 to 65 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 55 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn rigged through the warm months.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (29 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 20 to 65 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Deep basin (55 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (29 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 16 to 65 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (55 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: steelhead in 3 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 5 to 45 ft before dropping to 4 to 15 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 55 ft of water that rates prime for steelhead in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: an orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (16 ft) | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (55 ft) | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (29 ft) | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 15 ft | midday | open water | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
Come spring, look for rainbow trout tight to the bank in 5 to 20 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 8 to 40 ft. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 29 ft of water and rates prime come winter. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (16 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (29 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (16 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (29 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Early season sockeye salmon use the shallows, holding in 5 to 65 ft. Even in summer they hold at 2 to 65 ft; winter keeps them in 15 to 65 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 55 ft that grades prime for winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a small red or pink fly behind a flasher or a compact squid or hoochie and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 65 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (55 ft) | Small red or pink hoochie, Compact plankton-profile fly |
| Summer | 2 to 65 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (16 ft) | Small red or pink fly behind a flasher, Compact squid or hoochie |
| Fall | 2 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (16 ft) | Small bright fly, Compact spinner where legal |
| Winter | 15 to 65 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 110 ft | midday | Deep basin (55 ft) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 3 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 55 ft.
Access data: British Columbia Recreation Sites and Trails - Recreation Sites Subset; Government of British Columbia - Dual-Verified Provincial Crown Land Shoreline; Government of British Columbia - Dual-Verified Provincial Crown Land Shoreline. 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 Onion Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Onion Lake is about 65 ft (20 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, steelhead, rainbow trout, sockeye salmon on Onion Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 55 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 Onion 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.
Lakelse Lake 5 mi · Herman Lake 7 mi · Pine Lake 22 mi · Kleanza Lake 27 mi · Treston Lake 28 mi · Redsand Lake 29 mi · Alastair Lake 30 mi · Jesse Lake 33 mi · Kitsumkalum Lake 34 mi · Burnie Lakes 37 mi · Burnie Lakes 38 mi · Shea Lake 39 mi
See how Onion Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best steelhead lakes in British Columbia · best kokanee lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Kitimat-Stikine Regional District fishing maps (97 charts). Browse all British Columbia fishing maps. 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.