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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
697-acre lake in Bulkley-Nechako Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 157 ft. Depth here is modeled from the true shoreline and max depth rather than surveyed; use it to plan, not to navigate. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
The drawn water covers 697 acres wrapped in 6 miles of bank. With a 1.6 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. Roughly 5% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives. The basin spans about 2.3 mi end to end and 1 mi across at its widest. Bulkley-Nechako Regional District claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Twinkle Lake, is 10 mi to the northeast.
When the water first warms, burbot slide up into 25 to 70 ft. Summer is a 50 to 120 ft game here, winter a 15 to 60 ft one. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 133 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run after dark and midday. Keep a heavy jig + cut bait rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (71 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (133 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (71 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (71 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Spring rainbow trout on Sweeney 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 Main-lake point first on the milk run — a point near 39 ft that grades prime for fall. 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 | Main-lake point (39 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (71 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Count 6 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 133 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 Sweeney Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Sweeney Lake is about 157 ft (48 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 burbot, rainbow trout on Sweeney Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 133 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For burbot, the summer bite is best in after dark and midday. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Sweeney 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.
Twinkle Lake 10 mi · Needle Lake 11 mi · Tahtsa Lake 12 mi · Short Portage Lake 13 mi · Skinny Lake 14 mi · Nadina Lake 15 mi · Horseshoe Lake 16 mi · Newcombe Lake 17 mi · Stepp Lake 17 mi · Shelford Lake 18 mi · Fish Lake 19 mi · Anzac Lake 19 mi
See how Sweeney Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout 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 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.