Bonanza Lake
MU 1-11, Vancouver Island
50.3708° N, 126.7781° W
- Surface area
- 914.5ha
- Maximum depth
- 160.9m
- 528 ft
- Elevation
- 269m
Open Bonanza Lake in the appThe 7-day forecast, max depth and wildfire smoke check, on the lake's own coordinate.
Trophy fish at Bonanza Lake
Bonanza Lake is known for trophy Rainbow trout to 8 lb.
- Rainbow trout to 8 lb
Trophy sizes this lake is known for, not a typical catch. They are historical records from our own big fish list, with no date on file, not recent catches.
Bonanza Lake at a glance
- Region
- Vancouver Island
- Management unit
- MU 1-11
- Species
- Rainbow Trout (last recorded 1989), Dolly Varden, Coastal Cutthroat Trout (last recorded 1988), Kokanee (last recorded 1988), Steelhead, Coho Salmon (last recorded 1995)The newest of these fish records is from 1995.Species from the province's fish observation records.
- Lake size
- Large Water (> 500 ha)
- Ice fishing
- Open to ice fishing, confirmed
- Coordinates
- 50.3708, -126.7781
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Gear for rainbow trout
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Fish on record at Bonanza Lake
| Species | First recorded | Last recorded | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | 1988 | 1989 | 4 |
| Dolly Varden | 1 | ||
| Kokanee | 1988 | 1988 | 1 |
| Steelhead | 1 | ||
| Coho Salmon | 1995 | 1995 | 1 |
A year is when the Province last recorded the fish here, not a statement that it is caught today.
How to fish Bonanza Lake
Best times of year at Bonanza Lake
- May - June
- September - October
Bonanza Lake fishing regulations
Bait ban, single barbless hook, no trout over 50 cm. Source: Province of British Columbia
Getting to Bonanza Lake
Coordinates: 50.3708, -126.7781
Camping and rec sites at Bonanza Lake
- Bonanza South
- Campsites
- 12 designated
Depth chart for Bonanza Lake
160.9 mdeepest
Bonanza Lake runs to 160.9 m (528 ft) at its deepest.
The Province sounded Bonanza Lake and published the depth chart surveyed in 1972. It runs to 2 sheets.
The ice year at Bonanza Lake, modelled
Modelled from air temperature, not an ice report. It says nothing about whether ice will hold you.
The model treats Bonanza Lake as too large and deep to freeze over, so it gives no freeze-up or ice-off dates. On air temperature alone it would have frozen in 53 of 65 winters since 1960.
Bonanza Lake is open to ice fishing under the regulations on file.
Whether a lake is open to ice fishing says nothing about whether its ice will hold you. Ice conditions vary year to year and across a single lake. Check locally before going out, every time.
Bonanza Lake climate, 1960 to 2025
Averaged over a year, the air above Bonanza Lake is 0.5 C warmer than it was in the 1960s. That is 66 years of daily readings, not a forecast.
- +0.5 Csince the 1960s
- 8.5 Caverage year now
- 8.0 Caverage year then
- -7 daysbelow freezing, change
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
This week at Bonanza Lake
The forecast on this lake's own coordinate, refreshed through the day. The app reads these seven days for fishing and scores each one.
| Day | Sky | High / low | Wind | Rain | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 20 Oct | Overcast | 17° / 5° | 5 km/h, gusts 20 | dry | Steady |
| Wed 21 Oct | Moderate drizzle | 12° / 7° | 8 km/h, gusts 30 | 1 mm | Falling (-5.5 hPa) |
| Thu 22 Oct | Slight rain | 10° / 5° | 13 km/h, gusts 45 | 2 mm | Rising (+6.8 hPa) |
| Fri 23 Oct | Light drizzle | 12° / 4° | 6 km/h, gusts 35 | 1 mm | Rising (+6.9 hPa) |
| Sat 24 Oct | Heavy snow | 7° / 4° | 6 km/h, gusts 31 | 22 mm | Falling (-2.3 hPa) |
| Sun 25 Oct | Overcast | 18° / 6° | 4 km/h, gusts 23 | dry | Falling (-2.8 hPa) |
| Mon 26 Oct | Overcast | 17° / 9° | 3 km/h, gusts 16 | dry | Steady |
Bonanza Lake, in brief
What fish are in Bonanza Lake?
Rainbow Trout (last recorded 1989), Dolly Varden, Coastal Cutthroat Trout (last recorded 1988), Kokanee (last recorded 1988), Steelhead, Coho Salmon (last recorded 1995). Species from the province's fish observation records.
Which management unit is Bonanza Lake in?
Bonanza Lake is in MU 1-11, on Vancouver Island. The BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis is organised by management unit; check it before you go.
Trout lakes near Bonanza Lake
- Ida Lake 9 km away
- Anutz Lake 13 km away
- Nimpkish Lake 14 km away
- Fickle Lake 17 km away
- Claud Elliott Lake 18 km away
All 193 lakes on Vancouver Island, with today's conditions on each.