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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
243-acre lake in British Columbia. The lake tops out around 61 ft. These contours are modeled — built from the real shoreline and the water's maximum depth — so read them as a guide, never as navigation. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Traced from the shoreline, Shea Lake runs 243 acres with 4.1 miles of edge. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.9) — enough points and pockets to pattern. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 27% of this chart, as modeled. Figure 1.5 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.5 mi at the beam. The water lies in Bulkley-Nechako Regional District. For a second option, Burnie Lakes lies 4 mi northwest.
Spring puts rainbow trout in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 8 to 40 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 27 ft, rated prime for winter rainbow trout. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (15 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (27 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (15 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (27 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
In spring, kokanee run shallow here, mostly 10 to 30 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 18 to 61 ft before dropping to 15 to 61 ft for winter. Summer kokanee concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 52 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 (27 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 18 to 61 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Deep basin (52 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (27 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 15 to 61 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (52 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Early season lake whitefish use the shallows, holding in 15 to 45 ft. Expect a summer slide to 18 to 61 ft, then a winter hold in 18 to 61 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 52 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon 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 | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (27 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 18 to 61 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (52 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (27 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 18 to 61 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (52 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Spring puts burbot in skinny water — 18 to 61 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 18 to 61 ft, and winter fish hold in 15 to 60 ft. Spring burbot concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 52 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and midday. A heavy jig + cut bait covers the summer program.
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 | 18 to 61 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (52 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 18 to 61 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (52 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 18 to 61 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (52 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (52 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
The chart marks 6 structure features on Shea Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 52 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 Shea Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Shea Lake is about 61 ft (19 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, kokanee, lake whitefish, burbot on Shea Lake. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 52 ft of water that rates prime for kokanee in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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 Shea 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.
Burnie Lakes 4 mi · Holland Lakes 5 mi · Burnie Lakes 8 mi · Mooseskin Johnny Lake 15 mi · Chisholm Lake 16 mi · Mcbride Lake 19 mi · Collins Lake 20 mi · Morice Lake 22 mi · Lamprey Lake 23 mi · Anzac Lake 25 mi · Stepp Lake 25 mi · Bittern Lake 26 mi
See how Shea Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best kokanee lakes in British Columbia · best lake whitefish lakes in British Columbia · best burbot lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Bulkley-Nechako Regional District fishing maps (324 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.