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Rating depth structure for cutthroat trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
89-acre lake in Fraser-Fort George Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 28 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. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
The drawn water covers 89 acres wrapped in 2 miles of bank. With a 1.5 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. Roughly 95% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Figure 0.8 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.3 mi at the beam. Fraser-Fort George Regional District claims this one. Grizzly Lake sits 4 mi south — the closest neighbouring chart.
Spring puts cutthroat trout in skinny water — 3 to 15 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 28 ft, wintering in 7 to 28 ft. Summer cutthroat trout concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 10 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner 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 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (10 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (10 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (10 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 7 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (10 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: lake whitefish in 8 to 28 ft. The depth story barely changes: 8 to 28 ft through summer, 8 to 28 ft in winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon 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 | 8 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (10 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 8 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 7 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (10 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 8 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Start shallow in spring: dolly varden sit in 1 to 28 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 1 to 28 ft covers summer, 5 to 28 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Main-lake point, a point in about 1 ft of water that rates prime for dolly varden in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a small chrome spoon or a baitfish streamer 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 | 1 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 1 to 30 ft | dawn & midday | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Small silver spoon, Inline spinner |
| Summer | 1 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Small chrome spoon, Baitfish streamer |
| Fall | 1 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Small spinner, Egg or fry pattern |
| Winter | 5 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (10 ft) | Small slow spoon, Weighted baitfish fly |
Wansa Lake carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 20 ft down.
Access data: British Columbia Recreation Sites and Trails - Recreation Sites Subset; Government of British Columbia - Dual-Verified Provincial Crown Land Shoreline; 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 Wansa Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Wansa Lake is about 28 ft (9 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 whitefish, dolly varden on Wansa Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 10 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 Wansa 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.
Grizzly Lake 4 mi · Tsitniz Lake 6 mi · Ispah Lake 7 mi · Opatcho Lake 7 mi · Pitoney Lake 10 mi · Frost Lake 10 mi · Francis Lake 10 mi · Purden Lake 14 mi · Buckhorn Lake 16 mi · Narrow Lake 17 mi · Spruce Lakes 20 mi · Tabor Lake 20 mi
See how Wansa Lake stacks up: best lake whitefish lakes in British Columbia · best cutthroat trout lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Fraser-Fort George Regional District fishing maps (188 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.