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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
1,246-acre reservoir near Caribou. The lake tops out around 21 ft. Depth here is modeled from the true shoreline and max depth rather than surveyed; use it to plan, not to navigate. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
The outline encloses 1,131 acres, worked by 9.5 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (2) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. About 85% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Figure 3.3 mi of water from one end to the other, 1.2 mi at the beam. It sits in Caribou County. American Falls Reservoir sits 40 mi west — the closest neighbouring chart.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: cutthroat trout in 3 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 6 to 21 ft before dropping to 5 to 21 ft for winter. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (9 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 4 to 21 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 5 to 21 ft | dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: brown trout in 3 to 21 ft. The depth story barely changes: 6 to 21 ft through summer, 3 to 21 ft in winter. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for brown trout in summer. Plan around after dark and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 21 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 4 to 21 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 21 ft | dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
When the water first warms, rainbow trout slide up into 5 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 21 ft, and by winter most fish are in 4 to 21 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 9 ft that scores prime in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon rigged through the warm months.
| 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 | 6 to 21 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (9 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 6 to 21 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 4 to 21 ft | dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Early season chinook salmon use the shallows, holding in 3 to 21 ft. Even in summer they hold at 6 to 21 ft; winter keeps them in 6 to 21 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 18 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 21 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (9 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 6 to 21 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (18 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 4 to 21 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (9 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 6 to 21 ft | midday | Deep basin (18 ft) | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 18 ft.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 13 | Rainbow Trout | 92 | — |
| Apr 24 | Cutbow - Cutthroat x Rainbow Trout | — | ~1.5" |
| Mar 13 | Rainbow Trout | — | ~13" |
| Mar 12 | Rainbow Trout | — | ~13" |
| Oct 16, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 484 | — |
| Oct 16, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | — | ~13" |
| Oct 15, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | — | ~13" |
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 Chesterfield Reservoir specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Idaho fishing regulations →
Chesterfield Reservoir is about 21 ft (6 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 cutthroat trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, chinook salmon on Chesterfield Reservoir.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For cutthroat 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.
Yes — per Idaho Fish & Game stocking records records, Chesterfield Reservoir was most recently stocked May 13 with 92 rainbow trout. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Chesterfield 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.
American Falls Reservoir 40 mi · Oneida Narrows Reservoir 43 mi · Treasureton Reservoir 46 mi · Snake River (South Fork) 48 mi · Palisades Reservoir 49 mi, ID/WY · Foster Reservoir 53 mi · Lamont Reservoir 55 mi · Murphy Lake, Lower 57 mi, WY · Stump Lake 59 mi, WY · Cottonwood Lake 61 mi, WY · Corral Creek Lake 2 61 mi, WY · Barstow Lake 62 mi, WY
See how Chesterfield Reservoir stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Idaho · best chinook salmon lakes in Idaho · best brown trout lakes in Idaho · best cutthroat trout 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.