Best coho salmon lakes in Idaho
9 Idaho waters list coho salmon (official records or labelled estimates), 2 mapped with survey or official-chart depth data. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. Aggressive schooling salmon that rides warmer, shallower water than kings — a spring nearshore brawler.
- Cascade Reservoir — 69 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow TroutWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 9 public access sites
- American Falls Reservoir — 53 ft · Approximated contours · Crappie, Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon, Coho SalmonWhy #2: mapped size signal; check the water page for depth coverage · no verified access record attached
- Lucky Peak Lake — 280 ft · Approximated contours · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Coho Salmon, KokaneeWhy #3: mapped size signal; check the water page for depth coverage · no verified access record attached
- Magic Reservoir — 50 ft · Approximated contours · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Coho Salmon, SteelheadWhy #4: mapped size signal; check the water page for depth coverage · no verified access record attached
- Deadwood Reservoir — 38 ft · Approximated contours · Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, KokaneeWhy #5: mapped size signal; check the water page for depth coverage · no verified access record attached
- Lower Goose Creek Reservoir — 19 ft · Approximated contours · Walleye, Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Chinook SalmonWhy #6: mapped size signal; check the water page for depth coverage · no verified access record attached
- Cedar Creek Reservoir — 37 ft · Approximated contours · Rainbow Trout, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brook TroutWhy #7: mapped size signal; check the water page for depth coverage · no verified access record attached
- Bull Trout Lake — 46 ft · Approximated contours · Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Brook TroutWhy #8: mapped size signal; check the water page for depth coverage · no verified access record attached
- Lake Waha — 106 ft · Survey depth data · real survey depth contours · Rainbow Trout, Coho Salmon, KokaneeWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
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How to use this ranking
The order is a map-planning ranking, not a claim about today's fish population. It favors larger mapped waters and gives survey-backed contours a three-times data-quality boost. Agency population surveys, current regulations, access and recent conditions should make the final decision.
Compare maximum depth across 37,233 lake records · See Idaho waters with public access data
When to fish coho salmon in Idaho
- Spring 3–25 ft — The famous spring coho bite: schools stack in the warmest nearshore water and mud lines, often in the top 15 feet.
- Summer 30–70 ft — Cohos hold at and just above the thermocline — shallower than kings, and they hit moving baits hard.
- Fall 8–40 ft — Staging and running fish concentrate off river mouths; cohos stay aggressive right up to the spawn.
- Winter 20–60 ft — Mostly offshore and scattered.
Also in Idaho: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best chinook salmon lakes · best steelhead lakes · best lake trout lakes · best brown trout lakes · best brook trout lakes · best kokanee lakes · best lake whitefish lakes · best cutthroat trout lakes
Coho Salmon elsewhere: Ontario · British Columbia · Michigan · Washington · Alaska