Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Rating depth structure for cutthroat trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
1,244-acre lake in Strathcona Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 157 ft. The surface is reconstructed from 86 measured spot soundings collected in 1975; water between those measurements is interpolated. Treat the contours between those soundings as a guide, never as navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Traced from the shoreline, Upper Quinsam Lake runs 1,244 acres with 12.7 miles of edge — 3 islands included. An index of 2.6 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. 24% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. End to end it runs roughly 3.7 mi, about 1.3 mi across. You'll find it in Strathcona Regional District. The nearest mapped water is Wokas Lake, 2 mi to the northeast.
These fish are listed in an exact-water agency record as forage or ecological context. They are not target-species profiles and do not affect DepthScout's Prime, Good, or Fair spot ratings.
Official exact-water fish record. The listing documents source-recorded presence, not present abundance or guaranteed catchability.
Come spring, look for cutthroat trout tight to the bank in 3 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 35 ft, then a winter hold in 10 to 40 ft. Start at Main-lake point. It's a point holding about 1 ft of water and rates good come fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner is the honest summer answer here.
| 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 | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (54 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
In spring, kokanee run shallow here, mostly 10 to 30 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 30 to 70 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 80 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 54 ft, rated prime for summer kokanee. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | open water | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Break off the point (54 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 (54 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Spring puts rainbow trout in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 30 ft, wintering in 8 to 40 ft. Spring rainbow trout concentrate at Main-lake point, a good-rated point around 1 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Feeding flat (17 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (54 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: coho salmon in 3 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 30 to 70 ft before dropping to 20 to 60 ft for winter. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 54 ft of water that rates prime for coho salmon in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (54 ft) | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Break off the point (54 ft) | Small spoon, slow troll |
In spring, chinook salmon run shallow here, mostly 5 to 40 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 50 to 120 ft before dropping to 30 to 90 ft for winter. Summer chinook salmon concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 118 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (118 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (54 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 30 to 90 ft | midday | Break off the point (54 ft) | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Spring puts chum salmon in skinny water — 10 to 70 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 4 to 70 ft, and winter fish hold in 25 to 100 ft. Spring chum salmon concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 54 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A chartreuse or pink hoochie or a bright spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (54 ft) | Chrome spoon, Compact baitfish jig |
| Summer | 4 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Chartreuse or pink hoochie, Bright spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Bright spinner, Pink or chartreuse jig |
| Winter | 25 to 100 ft | midday | Break off the point (54 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
Upper Quinsam Lake also holds pink salmon (3 to 70 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 7 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 118 ft.
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 Upper Quinsam Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Upper Quinsam Lake is about 157.48 ft (48 m) deep at its deepest point. The surface is reconstructed from 86 measured spot soundings collected in 1975; water between those measurements is interpolated. Treat the contours between those soundings as a guide, never as navigation.
Anglers target cutthroat trout, kokanee, rainbow trout, coho salmon, chinook salmon, chum salmon, pink salmon on Upper Quinsam Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 118 ft of water that rates prime for chinook salmon in summer. Open the map above to see every rated 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 Upper Quinsam 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.
Wokas Lake 2 mi · Camp Lake 3 mi · Raven Lake 4 mi · Darkis Lake 4 mi · Flume Lake 5 mi · Middle Quinsam Lake 5 mi · Upper Campbell Lake 5 mi · Gooseneck Lake 6 mi · Snakehead Lake 7 mi · Beavertail Lake 8 mi · Wowo Lake 9 mi · Quinsam Lake 10 mi
See how Upper Quinsam 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 kokanee lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Strathcona Regional District fishing maps (85 charts). Browse all British Columbia fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: British Columbia Fish and Wildlife Branch · Upper Quinsam Lake historic bathymetric chart spot soundings; contour geometry independently interpolated by 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.