Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
608-acre lake in Fraser-Fort George Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 22 ft. Depth here is modeled from the true shoreline and max depth rather than surveyed; use it to plan, not to navigate. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
The outline encloses 608 acres, worked by 4.6 miles of shoreline. The basin is a simple one (shoreline index 1.3) — close to a bowl, so the structure on the chart matters more than the bank. Roughly 70% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives. Call it 1.6 mi long by 1 mi wide at the broadest reach. It sits in Fraser-Fort George Regional District. If the bite dies, Cleswuncut Lake is 6 mi to the southwest.
Come spring, look for rainbow trout tight to the bank in 5 to 20 ft. Expect a summer slide to 6 to 22 ft, then a winter hold in 4 to 22 ft. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 10 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 (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 6 to 22 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (10 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 6 to 22 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 4 to 22 ft | dawn | Break off the point (10 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Count 6 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 19 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 Punchaw Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Punchaw Lake is about 22 ft (7 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 rainbow trout on Punchaw Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For rainbow trout, 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.
Fishing on Punchaw 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.
Cleswuncut Lake 6 mi · Erickson Lake 12 mi · Zippermouth Lake 14 mi · Shesta Lake 14 mi · Lynx Lake 15 mi · Hutda Lake 16 mi · Barton Lake 17 mi · Clear Lake 17 mi · Emerald Lake 18 mi · Lazaroff Lake 20 mi · Trapping Lake 21 mi · Chubb Lake 21 mi
See how Punchaw Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout 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.