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.
760-acre lake in Skeena-Queen Charlotte Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 325 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.
Rainbow Lake maps at 760 acres behind 13 miles of shoreline, broken up by 4 islands. With a shoreline index of 3.4, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. Roughly 7% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives. The basin spans about 3.2 mi end to end and 1.1 mi across at its widest. Skeena-Queen Charlotte Regional District claims this one. Diana Lake sits 2 mi west — the closest neighbouring chart.
In spring, cutthroat trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 35 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 40 ft. Main-lake point is the standout, a point at roughly 81 ft, rated good for fall cutthroat trout. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (81 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (81 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | open water | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Spring rainbow trout on Rainbow 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 | open water | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | open water | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Count 5 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 276 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 Rainbow Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Rainbow Lake is about 325 ft (99 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 cutthroat trout, rainbow trout on Rainbow Lake.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a feeding flat in about 6 ft of water that rates good for rainbow trout in spring. 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 Rainbow 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.
Diana Lake 2 mi · Prudhomme Lake 3 mi · Minerva Lake 6 mi · Kergin Lake 6 mi · Lachmach Lake 9 mi · Leverson Lake 11 mi · Marion Lake 12 mi · Bill Lake 13 mi · Arden Lake 19 mi · Sarah Lake 20 mi · Hayward Lake 20 mi · Madeline Lake 21 mi
See how Rainbow Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best cutthroat trout lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Skeena-Queen Charlotte Regional District fishing maps (46 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.