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Fishing Tom Mackay Lake: what the data says
205-acre lake in British Columbia. The lake tops out around 141 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. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Traced from the shoreline, Tom Mackay Lake runs 205 acres with 5.9 miles of edge. With a shoreline index of 2.9, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. About 30% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Tom Mackay Lake
The spring pattern is a shallow one: rainbow trout in 5 to 20 ft. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 30 ft, wintering in 8 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Main-lake point, a point in the 35-ft range, prime in fall. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| 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 (35 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (63 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Kokanee fishing at Tom Mackay Lake
Start shallow in spring: kokanee sit in 10 to 30 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 30 to 70 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 80 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 63 ft of water that rates prime for kokanee in summer. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (120 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Break off the point (63 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | open water | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Break off the point (63 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Lake Whitefish fishing at Tom Mackay Lake
When the water first warms, lake whitefish slide up into 15 to 45 ft. Summer is a 40 to 90 ft game here, winter a 25 to 70 ft one. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 63 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run early morning. Keep a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Break off the point (63 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (35 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (63 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Burbot fishing at Tom Mackay Lake
Start shallow in spring: burbot sit in 25 to 70 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 50 to 120 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 60 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 120-ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in after dark and midday and you'll meet the bite. Throw a heavy jig + cut bait until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 25 to 70 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (63 ft) | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | night & midday | Deep basin (120 ft) | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 30 to 80 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (63 ft) | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 15 to 60 ft | night & dusk | Break off the point (63 ft) | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 120 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 63 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 35 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 35 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
Tom Mackay Lake fishing regulations
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 Tom Mackay Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Common questions
How deep is Tom Mackay Lake?
Tom Mackay Lake is about 141 ft (43 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.
What fish are in Tom Mackay Lake?
Anglers target rainbow trout, kokanee, lake whitefish, burbot on Tom Mackay 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.
Where is the best fishing spot on Tom Mackay Lake?
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 120 ft of water that rates prime for burbot in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
When is the best time to fish Tom Mackay Lake?
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.
What are the fishing regulations for Tom Mackay Lake?
Fishing on Tom Mackay 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.
Nearby waters
Unuk Lake 13 mi · Hodkin Lake 16 mi · Teigen Lake 16 mi · Border Lake 20 mi · Desiree Lake 24 mi · Snake Lake 24 mi · Echo Lake 24 mi · Little Bob Quinn Lake 25 mi · Bob Quinn Lake 26 mi · Mehan Lake 29 mi · Oweegee Lake 30 mi · Bowser Lake 39 mi
See how Tom Mackay 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
Browse all British Columbia fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.