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Fishing Anderson Ranch Reservoir: what the data says
4,743-acre reservoir near Featherville. The lake tops out around 303 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Kokanee fishing at Anderson Ranch Reservoir
Spring kokanee on Anderson Ranch Reservoir hold shallow, usually 10 to 30 ft. By summer they slide out to 30 to 70 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 80 ft. The spot to know is South Fork Boise River inflow, a inflow / creek mouth in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for kokanee in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Summer baits: a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Rainbow Trout fishing at Anderson Ranch Reservoir
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it South Fork Boise River inflow: a inflow / creek mouth around 5 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Chinook Salmon fishing at Anderson Ranch Reservoir
Start shallow in spring: chinook salmon sit in 5 to 40 ft that time of year. They move out to 50 to 120 ft in summer and finish the year down in 30 to 90 ft. South Fork Boise River inflow is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for spring chinook salmon. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 30 to 90 ft | midday | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Anderson Ranch Reservoir
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 45 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Rock reef: a rock pile around 5 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Yellow Perch fishing at Anderson Ranch Reservoir
Start shallow in spring: yellow perch sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Back-bay flat: a weed flat around 10 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Lake Whitefish fishing at Anderson Ranch Reservoir
Start shallow in spring: lake whitefish sit in 15 to 45 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 40 to 90 ft, and by winter most fish are in 25 to 70 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Offshore hump: a offshore hump around 24 ft that scores prime in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 282 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 133 ft
- Feeding flat: feeding flat, around 75 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 58 ft
- Feeding flat: feeding flat, around 45 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 45 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 41 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 40 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 33 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 24 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 16 ft
- Old creek channel: creek channel, around 14 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 10 ft
- South Fork Boise River inflow: inflow / creek mouth, around 5 ft
Common questions
How deep is Anderson Ranch Reservoir?
Anderson Ranch Reservoir is about 303 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Anderson Ranch Reservoir?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, yellow perch, chinook salmon, kokanee, lake whitefish on Anderson Ranch Reservoir.
Where is the best fishing spot on Anderson Ranch Reservoir?
South Fork Boise River inflow is the top-rated area: a inflow / creek mouth in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Anderson Ranch Reservoir?
For kokanee, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Arrowrock Reservoir · Salmon River (Upper) · Cascade Reservoir · Snake River (South Fork) · Henrys Fork · Palisades Reservoir
See how Anderson Ranch Reservoir stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Idaho · best kokanee lakes in Idaho
Browse all Idaho fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.