Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
38-acre lake in Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 33 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
The drawn water covers 38 acres wrapped in 1.4 miles of bank. With a 1.6 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. Roughly 52% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 0.5 mi with a 0.3-mi widest point. It sits in Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. If the bite dies, Somers Lake is 2 mi to the northwest.
In spring, cutthroat trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 9 to 33 ft before dropping to 8 to 33 ft for winter. Summer cutthroat trout concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 15 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 9 to 33 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (15 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 8 to 33 ft | dawn | Break off the point (15 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Early season kokanee use the shallows, holding in 10 to 30 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 33 ft, then a winter hold in 8 to 33 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 28 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (28 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 10 to 33 ft | dawn | Deep basin (28 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 4 to 33 ft | dawn | Deep basin (28 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 8 to 33 ft | dawn | Deep basin (28 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Start shallow in spring: pumpkinseed sit in 1 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 2 to 10 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 18 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for pumpkinseed in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening and early morning. Throw a micro tube or a sponge spider (fly) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Micro jig under a float, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Micro tube, Sponge spider (fly) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 6 to 18 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Spring rainbow trout on Turtle Lake hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 7 to 33 ft. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 15 ft, prime for winter. Prime time lands in 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 | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (15 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 9 to 33 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 7 to 33 ft | dawn | Break off the point (15 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Turtle Lake carries 5 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 28 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 Turtle Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Turtle Lake is about 33 ft (10 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 cutthroat trout, kokanee, pumpkinseed, rainbow trout on Turtle Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 Turtle 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.
Somers Lake 2 mi · Moran Lake 4 mi · Sproat Lake 6 mi · Dickson Lake 7 mi · Ash Lake 9 mi · Lowry Lake 9 mi · Turnbull Lake 9 mi · Gracie Lake 10 mi · Lacy Lake 10 mi · Mclaughlin Lake 10 mi · Great Central Lake 11 mi · Horne Lake 12 mi
See how Turtle Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best kokanee lakes in British Columbia · best cutthroat trout lakes in British Columbia · best pumpkinseed lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District fishing maps (52 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.