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.
245-acre lake in Strathcona Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 46 ft. The depth picture is modeled, anchored to the true shoreline and the water's published max depth — a scouting aid, never a chart to run a boat by. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Traced from the shoreline, Village Bay Lake runs 245 acres with 7.1 miles of edge, broken up by an island. An index of 3.3 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 40% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. Call it 2.1 mi long by 0.6 mi wide at the broadest reach. The water lies in Strathcona Regional District. The nearest mapped water is Main Lake, 2 mi to the north.
Early season cutthroat trout use the shallows, holding in 3 to 15 ft. Summer is a 10 to 35 ft game here, winter a 10 to 40 ft one. The chart's best answer is Break off the point — drop-off, 21 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (12 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (21 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (12 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (21 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Start shallow in spring: kokanee sit in 10 to 30 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 14 to 46 ft; cold water stacks them in 12 to 46 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 39 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn 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 | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (21 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 14 to 46 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Deep basin (39 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Deep basin (39 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 12 to 46 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (39 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: rainbow trout in 5 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 30 ft before dropping to 8 to 40 ft for winter. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 21 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. 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 | Main-lake point (12 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (21 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (12 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (21 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
In spring, coho salmon run shallow here, mostly 3 to 25 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 14 to 46 ft, and winter fish settle into 14 to 46 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 39 ft, rated prime for summer coho salmon. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline most summer days.
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 | Main-lake point (12 ft) | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 14 to 46 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (39 ft) | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (12 ft) | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 14 to 46 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | midday | Deep basin (39 ft) | Small spoon, slow troll |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 39 ft.
Access data: Government of British Columbia - Dual-Verified Provincial Crown Land Shoreline. 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 Village Bay Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Village Bay Lake is about 46 ft (14 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, rainbow trout, coho salmon on Village Bay Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 21 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 Village Bay 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.
Main Lake 2 mi · Mary Lake 11 mi · John Hart Lake 13 mi · Tom Lake 13 mi · Morton Lake 13 mi · Hague Lake 13 mi · Gunflint Lake 13 mi · Twin Lake 14 mi · Mohun Lake 14 mi · Ellis Lake 15 mi · Baile Lake 15 mi · Comida Lake 15 mi
See how Village Bay Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best coho salmon lakes in British Columbia · best kokanee lakes in British Columbia · best cutthroat trout 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. 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.