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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
396-acre lake in East Kootenay Regional District, British Columbia. The lake tops out around 63 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. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Traced from the shoreline, Whitetail Lake runs 396 acres with 6.2 miles of edge. A development index of 2.2 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 20% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. End to end it runs roughly 2.4 mi, about 0.6 mi across. The water lies in East Kootenay Regional District. For a second option, Columbia Lake lies 8 mi east.
Start shallow in spring: brook trout sit in 2 to 15 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 3 to 20 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 28 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (16 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (28 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (16 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
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 28 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 (16 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (28 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (16 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (28 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
When the water first warms, lake whitefish slide up into 15 to 45 ft. By summer they slide out to 19 to 63 ft, and by winter most fish are in 19 to 63 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 54 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (28 ft) | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 19 to 63 ft | dawn | Deep basin (54 ft) | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Break off the point (28 ft) | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 19 to 63 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (54 ft) | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Count 6 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 54 ft.
Access data: British Columbia Recreation Sites and Trails - Recreation Sites Subset. 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 Whitetail Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Whitetail Lake is about 63 ft (19 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 brook trout, rainbow trout, lake whitefish on Whitetail Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 54 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For brook 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 Whitetail 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.
Columbia Lake 8 mi · Windermere Lake 17 mi · Paddy Ryan Lakes 19 mi · Dorothy Lake 20 mi · Larchwood Lake 21 mi · Lillian Lake 21 mi · Johnson Lake 21 mi · Tamarack Lake 22 mi · Moose Lake 22 mi · Mcnair Lakes 23 mi · Mcnair Lakes 24 mi · Lake Enid 24 mi
See how Whitetail Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in British Columbia · best brook trout lakes in British Columbia · best lake whitefish lakes in British Columbia
More water nearby: East Kootenay Regional District fishing maps (89 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.