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Rating depth structure for cutthroat trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
383-acre lake in Mount Waddington Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 72 ft. The depth chart comes from British Columbia Fish and Wildlife Branch bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
On the chart, Quatse Lake draws 383 acres inside 5.3 miles of shoreline — one island included. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.9) — enough points and pockets to pattern. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 47% of this chart. End to end it runs roughly 1.9 mi, about 0.6 mi across. The water lies in Mount Waddington Regional District. For a second option, Colony Lake lies 6 mi south.
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 Break off the point: a drop-off around 28 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (28 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (28 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
In spring, kokanee run shallow here, mostly 10 to 30 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 30 to 70 ft before dropping to 18 to 72 ft for winter. Summer kokanee concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 66 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.
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 (28 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Deep basin (66 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (28 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 18 to 72 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (66 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Come spring, look for dolly varden tight to the bank in 1 to 30 ft. Expect a summer slide to 2 to 40 ft, then a winter hold in 8 to 45 ft. Start at Main-lake point. It's a point holding about 1 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A small chrome spoon or a baitfish streamer is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 30 ft | dawn & midday | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Small silver spoon, Inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Small chrome spoon, Baitfish streamer |
| Fall | 1 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Small spinner, Egg or fry pattern |
| Winter | 8 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (28 ft) | Small slow spoon, Weighted baitfish fly |
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 Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 28 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep an 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 | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (28 ft) | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (28 ft) | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 15 ft | midday | open water | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
Structure-wise the chart holds 7 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 66 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 Quatse Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Quatse Lake is about 72 ft (22 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from British Columbia Fish and Wildlife Branch bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target cutthroat trout, kokanee, dolly varden, steelhead on Quatse Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 28 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For cutthroat 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 Quatse 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.
Colony Lake 6 mi · Kains Lake 7 mi · Georgie Lake 10 mi · Songhees Lake 10 mi · D Lake 10 mi · Sara Lake 10 mi · Beaver Lake 11 mi · Alice Lake 13 mi · Nahwitti Lake 13 mi · Misty Lake 13 mi · O'Connor Lake 15 mi · Angler Lake 19 mi
See how Quatse Lake stacks up: best steelhead lakes in British Columbia · best kokanee lakes in British Columbia · best cutthroat trout lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Mount Waddington Regional District fishing maps (56 charts). Browse all British Columbia fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Depth data: British Columbia Fish and Wildlife Branch, FISS lake surveys. 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.