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Best rainbow trout lakes in Idaho

55 Idaho waters hold rainbow trout, 6 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. The classic stocked cold-water trout. Depth is everything: rainbows follow the temperature layer they like.

1. Lake Coeur d'Alene — 210 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 19 public access sites
2. Dworshak Reservoir — 600 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Steelhead, KokaneeWhy #2: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
3. Lake Pend Oreille — 1152 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Kokanee, Cutthroat TroutWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
4. Bear Lake — 197 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Lake Whitefish, Cutthroat TroutWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
5. Palisades Reservoir — 235 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Brown Trout, KokaneeWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
6. Cascade Reservoir — 69 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow TroutWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 9 public access sites
7. American Falls Reservoir — 53 ft max · Crappie, Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon, Coho SalmonWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
8. Anderson Ranch Reservoir — 303 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Chinook SalmonWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
9. Arrowrock Reservoir — 223 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, KokaneeWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
10. Priest Lake — 330 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, KokaneeWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
11. C.J. Strike Reservoir — 90 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Channel CatfishWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
12. Lucky Peak Lake — 280 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Coho Salmon, KokaneeWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
13. Salmon River (Upper) — 10 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon, Steelhead, Cutthroat TroutWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 9 public access sites
14. Magic Reservoir — 50 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Coho Salmon, SteelheadWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
15. Lake Lowell — 29 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #15: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
16. Snake River (South Fork) — 12 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat TroutWhy #16: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 7 public access sites
17. Henrys Lake — 18 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Cutthroat TroutWhy #17: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
18. Henrys Fork — 8 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown TroutWhy #18: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
19. Deadwood Reservoir — 38 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, KokaneeWhy #19: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
20. Lower Goose Creek Reservoir — 19 ft max · Walleye, Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Chinook SalmonWhy #20: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
21. Ashton Reservoir — 26 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat TroutWhy #21: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
22. Chesterfield Reservoir — 21 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon, Brown Trout, Cutthroat TroutWhy #22: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
23. Cedar Creek Reservoir — 37 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brook TroutWhy #23: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
24. Oneida Narrows Reservoir — 13 ft max · Walleye, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #24: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
25. Payette Lake — 392 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Kokanee, Cutthroat TroutWhy #25: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached

…plus 30 more Idaho waters holding rainbow trout.

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When to fish rainbow trout in Idaho

• Spring 5–20 ft — Post-ice-out trout roam shallow; fish inflows and windblown shorelines.
• Summer 8–30 ft — Rainbows hold near cold inflows, current seams and the thermocline — find the cool water and you've found the fish.
• Fall 10–35 ft — Fall feeding on rock shoals, current and channel edges as water cools.
• Winter 8–40 ft — Trout are comfortable in cold water — one of the best winter targets; streams and tailwaters fish shallow, deep lakes hold on basin edges.

Also in Idaho: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best chinook salmon lakes · best coho 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

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