Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
34-acre lake near Valley. The lake tops out around 33 ft. The depth picture is modeled, anchored to the true shoreline and the water's published max depth — a scouting aid, never a chart to run a boat by. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Drawn out, this is 36 acres of water rimmed by 1.2 miles of bank. At index 1.4 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 55% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. End to end it runs roughly 0.4 mi, about 0.2 mi across. You'll find it in Valley County. The nearest mapped water is Payette Lake, 4 mi to the southwest.
When the water first warms, brown trout slide up into 3 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 33 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 33 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 15 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and early morning. Keep a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 10 to 33 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (15 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 33 ft | dawn | Break off the point (15 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
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 7 to 33 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 15 ft, rated prime for winter rainbow trout. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (15 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 9 to 33 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 7 to 33 ft | dawn | Break off the point (15 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 5 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 28 ft.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 17, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 701 | ~1.5" |
Source: Idaho Fish & Game stocking records, retrieved 2026-09-03.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Idaho waters are set by the Idaho Fish and Game — and special regulations can apply to Blackwell Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Idaho fishing regulations →
Blackwell Lake is about 33 ft (10 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target brown trout, rainbow trout on Blackwell Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for brown trout in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For brown trout, the summer bite is best in after dark and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Yes — per Idaho Fish & Game stocking records records, Blackwell Lake was most recently stocked Sep 17, 2025 with 701 rainbow trout. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Blackwell Lake is regulated by the Idaho Fish and Game. Check the official Idaho regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Payette Lake 4 mi · Upper Payette Lake 11 mi · Goose Lake 11 mi · Lost Valley Reservoir 23 mi · Cascade Reservoir 25 mi · Hornet Reservoir 38 mi · Sage Hen Reservoir 45 mi · Deadwood Reservoir 48 mi · Cape Horn Lake #1 58 mi · Brownlee Reservoir 59 mi, ID/OR · Bull Trout Lake 59 mi · Mann Creek Reservoir 59 mi
See how Blackwell Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Idaho · best brown trout lakes in Idaho
More water nearby: Valley County fishing maps (5 charts). Browse all Idaho fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.