Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Rating depth structure for largemouth bass.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
15,000-acre reservoir near Cambridge. The uppermost Hells Canyon reservoir on the Snake (ID/OR line), a legendary crappie, catfish and smallmouth lake. The lake tops out around 300 ft. Depth here is modeled from the true shoreline and max depth rather than surveyed; use it to plan, not to navigate. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Brownlee Reservoir maps at 12,350 acres behind 134.9 miles of shoreline, broken up by an island. An index of 8.7 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 25% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. Figure 38.3 mi of water from one end to the other, 10.8 mi at the beam. Washington County claims this one. Mann Creek Reservoir sits 15 mi southeast — the closest neighbouring chart.
When the water first warms, smallmouth bass slide up into 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 45 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Offshore hump: an offshore hump around 18 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Dennett Creek inflow (8 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (18 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Shoreline point (18 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Sharp break (40 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
When the water first warms, crappie slide up into 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 6 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (18 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Feeding flat (18 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Offshore hump (18 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Come spring, look for channel catfish tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 25 ft, then a winter hold in 20 to 40 ft. Start at Dennett Creek inflow. It's an inflow / creek mouth holding about 8 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Dennett Creek inflow (8 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Dennett Creek inflow (8 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Feeding flat (18 ft) | |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | Sharp break (40 ft) |
When the water first warms, flathead catfish slide up into 5 to 20 ft. Summer is an 8 to 30 ft game here, winter a 20 to 45 ft one. Start at Dennett Creek inflow. It's an inflow / creek mouth holding about 8 ft of water and rates good come spring. The feeding windows run after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Dennett Creek inflow (8 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | night & dusk | Feeding flat (18 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | night & dusk | Deep break (39 ft) | |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Deep basin (255 ft) |
Come spring, look for largemouth bass tight to the bank in 2 to 10 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 35 ft. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 6 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (18 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep break (39 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Count 19 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 255 ft.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 27, 2025 | White Sturgeon | 24 | — |
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 Brownlee Reservoir specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Idaho fishing regulations →
Brownlee Reservoir is about 300 ft (91 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 smallmouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, flathead catfish, largemouth bass on Brownlee Reservoir.
Offshore hump is the top-rated area: an offshore hump in about 18 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For smallmouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. 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, Brownlee Reservoir was most recently stocked Oct 27, 2025 with 24 white sturgeon. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Brownlee Reservoir 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.
Mann Creek Reservoir 15 mi · Hornet Reservoir 22 mi · Malheur Reservoir 34 mi, OR · Lost Valley Reservoir 40 mi · Bully Creek Reservoir 42 mi, OR · Ice Lake 46 mi, OR · Sage Hen Reservoir 47 mi · Cascade Reservoir 48 mi · Payette Lake 56 mi · Goose Lake 56 mi · Blackwell Lake 59 mi · Van Patten Lake 60 mi, OR
See how Brownlee Reservoir stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Idaho · best smallmouth bass lakes in Idaho · best crappie lakes in Idaho · best channel catfish lakes in Idaho
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.