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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
125-acre lake in Bulkley-Nechako Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 13 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. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
On the chart, Short Portage Lake draws 125 acres inside 3.2 miles of shoreline, with a single island in the mix. Index 2.1 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. The basin spans about 1 mi end to end and 0.3 mi across at its widest. The water lies in Bulkley-Nechako Regional District. For a second option, Skinny Lake lies 1 mi east.
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 3 to 13 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 13 ft covers summer, 3 to 13 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 6 ft range, prime in winter. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 13 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 13 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (6 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 4 to 13 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 3 to 13 ft | dawn | Break off the point (6 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Short Portage Lake carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 11 ft down.
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 Short Portage Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Short Portage Lake is about 13 ft (4 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 Short Portage Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 6 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 Short 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.
Skinny Lake 1 mi · Needle Lake 3 mi · Horseshoe Lake 3 mi · Twinkle Lake 5 mi · Shelford Lake 5 mi · Fish Lake 6 mi · Nadina Lake 6 mi · Hill-Tout Lake 10 mi · Tagetochlain Lake 13 mi · Newcombe Lake 13 mi · Sweeney Lake 13 mi · Jewell Lake 15 mi
See how Short Portage Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Bulkley-Nechako Regional District fishing maps (324 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.