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Rating depth structure for kokanee.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
925-acre lake in Sunshine Coast Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 272 ft. The contours come from a model of the real basin shape and its known max depth. Read them as probabilities, not soundings, and keep them out of navigation decisions. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Traced from the shoreline, West Lake runs 925 acres with 14.9 miles of edge — 6 islands included. An index of 3.5 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. 1% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. End to end it runs roughly 2.7 mi, about 1.5 mi across. You'll find it in Sunshine Coast Regional District. For a second option, Ambrose Lake lies 3 mi east.
Early season cutthroat trout use the shallows, holding in 3 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 35 ft, then a winter hold in 10 to 40 ft. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 122 ft that grades good for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in 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 | open water | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (122 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (68 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (122 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
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 Deep basin, a deep basin in about 231 ft of water that rates good for kokanee in spring. 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 (231 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Deep basin (231 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 | Deep basin (231 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 231 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 West Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
West Lake is about 272 ft (83 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 on West Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 122 ft of water that rates good for cutthroat trout in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 West 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.
Ambrose Lake 3 mi · Ruby Lake 5 mi · Rainy Day Lake 5 mi · Sakinaw Lake 5 mi · Klein Lake 6 mi · North Lake 6 mi · Mixal Lake 6 mi · Katherine Lake 6 mi · Waugh Lake 7 mi · Hotel Lake 7 mi · Garden Bay Lake 7 mi · Lily Lake 9 mi
See how West Lake stacks up: best kokanee lakes in British Columbia · best cutthroat trout lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: Sunshine Coast Regional District fishing maps (16 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.