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Fishing Bull Trout Lake: what the data says
72-acre lake near Boise. The lake tops out around 46 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Brook Trout fishing at Bull Trout Lake
In spring, brook trout run shallow here, mostly 2 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 3 to 20 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 21 ft, rated prime for summer brook trout. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Rainbow Trout fishing at Bull Trout Lake
Spring rainbow trout on Bull Trout Lake hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 40 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 21 ft, rated prime for winter rainbow trout. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| 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 Bull Trout Lake
In spring, chinook salmon run shallow here, mostly 5 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 14 to 46 ft, and by winter most fish are in 14 to 46 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 39 ft that scores prime in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. 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 | 14 to 46 ft | dawn & dusk | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 9 to 46 ft | dawn & dusk | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 14 to 46 ft | midday | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Coho Salmon fishing at Bull Trout Lake
Spring coho salmon on Bull Trout Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 25 ft. They move out to 14 to 46 ft in summer and finish the year down in 14 to 46 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 39 ft of water that rates prime for coho salmon in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 14 to 46 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 14 to 46 ft | midday | Small spoon, slow troll |
Arctic Grayling fishing at Bull Trout Lake
Spring arctic grayling on Bull Trout Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 3 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 25 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 21 ft of water that rates prime for arctic grayling in fall. Best bite is the evening and early morning. Tie on a dry fly (parachute adams, elk hair caddis) or a small inline spinner and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dusk | 1/16 oz spinner (silver), Small dry fly (Adams, Griffith's) |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Dry fly (parachute Adams, elk hair caddis), Small inline spinner |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Small spoon, Beadhead nymph under indicator |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Tungsten jig + waxworm, Small jigging spoon (gold) |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 39 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 21 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 12 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
Common questions
How deep is Bull Trout Lake?
Bull Trout Lake is about 46 ft (14 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.
What fish are in Bull Trout Lake?
Anglers target rainbow trout, chinook salmon, coho salmon, brook trout, arctic grayling on Bull Trout Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Bull Trout Lake?
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 39 ft of water that rates prime for chinook salmon in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Bull Trout Lake?
For brook trout, 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.
Nearby waters
Cape Horn Lake #1 · Deadwood Reservoir · Toxaway Lake · Yellow Belly Lake · Pettit Lake · Perkins Lake
See how Bull Trout Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Idaho · best chinook salmon lakes in Idaho · best coho salmon lakes in Idaho · best brook trout lakes in Idaho
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