Kelowna local guide
Okanagan Lake depth map & fishing structure
An overview of Okanagan Lake depth, structure and the spots that hold fish — by a working charter captain.
The basics
- Length: ~135 km (Vernon to Penticton)
- Maximum depth: ~232 m (762 ft)
- Average depth: ~76 m
- Surface area: 351 km²
The three basins
Okanagan Lake has three distinct basins, each with its own fishing personality:
North basin (Vernon to Fintry)
Shallower and warmer than the central basin. Less productive for summer kokanee, but quieter on the water.
Central basin (Kelowna area)
Deep, wide, productive. Best kokanee water. The stretch from Knox Mountain south to Peachland is our summer home.
South basin (Peachland to Penticton)
Deepest part of the lake (~232 m near Squally Point). Steep walls and big drop-offs.
Productive structure
- Knox Mountain wall (deep drop right off the north-Kelowna cliff)
- Mission Creek mouth (baitfish congregation)
- Bear Creek inflow (west side)
- Peachland shoal (east-side shelf drop)
- Squally Point (deepest water in the lake)
Where to look on your fishfinder
Kokanee suspend in schools over 150–250 ft of water, riding the thermocline at 60–110 ft down through summer. We adjust depth across the day — shallower at first light, dropping as the sun climbs.
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