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Rating depth structure for cutthroat trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
198-acre lake in Stikine Region, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 39 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. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Drawn out, this is 198 acres of water rimmed by 3.4 miles of bank. Index 1.7 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 66% of this chart. Call it 1.2 mi long by 0.4 mi wide at the broadest reach. You'll find it in Stikine Region. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Tatsamenie Lake, 7 mi south of here.
Spring cutthroat trout on Tatsatua Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 10 to 39 ft. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 18 ft, prime for summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner.
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 | 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 (18 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (18 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: lake trout in 10 to 39 ft. The depth story barely changes: 12 to 39 ft through summer, 10 to 39 ft in winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 30 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger gets it done.
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 39 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 12 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 8 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (18 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 10 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 39 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 18 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
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 | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (18 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Come spring, look for lake whitefish tight to the bank in 12 to 39 ft. Through summer count on 12 to 39 ft; the winter hold is 12 to 39 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 30 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon is the honest summer answer here.
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 | 12 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (18 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 12 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 12 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (30 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Start shallow in spring: chinook salmon sit in 5 to 39 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 12 to 39 ft covers summer, 12 to 39 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 30 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger until the fish tell you otherwise.
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 | 5 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 12 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (30 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 8 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 12 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 90 ft | midday | Deep basin (30 ft) | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Spring puts coho salmon in skinny water — 3 to 25 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 12 to 39 ft; cold water stacks them in 12 to 39 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 30 ft, rated prime for summer coho salmon. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline 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 | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 12 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (30 ft) | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 8 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (18 ft) | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 12 to 39 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | midday | Deep basin (30 ft) | Small spoon, slow troll |
Tatsatua Lake also holds dolly varden (2 to 39 ft in summer), steelhead (4 to 39 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 30 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 Tatsatua Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Tatsatua Lake is about 39 ft (12 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, lake trout, rainbow trout, lake whitefish, chinook salmon, coho salmon, dolly varden, steelhead on Tatsatua Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 18 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 Tatsatua 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.
Tatsamenie Lake 7 mi · Little Trapper Lake 8 mi · Camp Island Lake 18 mi · King Salmon Lake 26 mi · Victoria Lake 37 mi · Gun Lake 41 mi · Nakina Lake 41 mi · Prairie Lake 47 mi · Disella Lake 49 mi · Chismaina Lake 50 mi · Tachilta Lakes 54 mi · Ruth Lake 58 mi
See how Tatsatua Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best chinook salmon lakes in British Columbia · best coho salmon lakes in British Columbia · best steelhead lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Stikine Region fishing maps (88 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.