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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
126-acre lake in Fraser-Fort George Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 173 ft. Bathymetry on this water is estimated from its real outline and maximum depth. Use it to shortlist water, then verify with your electronics — and never navigate by it. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Portage Lake maps at 126 acres behind 3.1 miles of shoreline. With a 2 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. 17% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. The basin spans about 1.3 mi end to end and 0.2 mi across at its widest. Fraser-Fort George Regional District claims this one. Pacific Lake sits 1 mi southeast — the closest neighbouring chart.
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 Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 78 ft of water and rates prime come fall. 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 | Break off the point (78 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Break off the point (78 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (78 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (147 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 Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 78 ft of water and rates prime come winter. 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 | Main-lake point (43 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Break off the point (78 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (43 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Break off the point (78 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Spring rainbow trout on Portage Lake 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 Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a feeding flat near 6 ft that grades good for spring. 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 | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (43 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (78 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: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 78 ft range, prime in summer. 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 | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Break off the point (78 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | open water | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (78 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Count 6 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 147 ft.
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 Portage Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Portage Lake is about 173 ft (53 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 Portage Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 78 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in winter. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
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 Portage 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.
Pacific Lake 1 mi · Arctic Lake 2 mi · Otter Lake 7 mi · Deep Lake 17 mi · Milk Lake 18 mi · Tlooki Lake 19 mi · Plantation Lake 20 mi · Amanita Lake 20 mi · Anderson Lake 21 mi · Wicheeda Lake 22 mi · Paxton Lake 23 mi · Monkman Lake 23 mi
See how Portage Lake 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: Fraser-Fort George Regional District fishing maps (188 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.