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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
2,996-acre reservoir near Valley. The lake tops out around 38 ft. These contours are modeled — built from the real shoreline and the water's maximum depth — so read them as a guide, never as navigation. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Drawn out, this is 2,943 acres of water rimmed by 24.9 miles of bank, broken up by 2 islands. An index of 3.3 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. 68% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. End to end it runs roughly 4.5 mi, about 2.1 mi across. You'll find it in Valley County. For a second option, Bull Trout Lake lies 20 mi east.
Come spring, look for cutthroat trout tight to the bank in 3 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 35 ft, then a winter hold in 10 to 38 ft. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 17 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (17 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 38 ft | dawn | Break off the point (17 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Spring puts rainbow trout in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 30 ft, wintering in 8 to 38 ft. Summer rainbow trout concentrate at Old creek channel, a prime-rated creek channel around 19 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Old creek channel (19 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 38 ft | dawn | Break off the point (17 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
In spring, kokanee run shallow here, mostly 10 to 30 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 11 to 38 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 38 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 32 ft, rated prime for summer kokanee. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (32 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 11 to 38 ft | dawn | Deep basin (32 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 38 ft | dawn | Deep basin (32 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 10 to 38 ft | dawn | Deep basin (32 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
In spring, chinook salmon run shallow here, mostly 5 to 38 ft. Summer keeps them at 11 to 38 ft, and they winter in 11 to 38 ft. Summer chinook salmon concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 32 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 38 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (17 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 11 to 38 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (32 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 8 to 38 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (17 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 11 to 38 ft | midday | Deep basin (32 ft) | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: coho salmon in 3 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 11 to 38 ft before dropping to 11 to 38 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 32 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 | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 11 to 38 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (32 ft) | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 8 to 38 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (10 ft) | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 11 to 38 ft | midday | Deep basin (32 ft) | Small spoon, slow troll |
Deadwood Reservoir carries 10 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 32 ft down.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 13 | Rainbow Trout | — | ~4.5" |
| Jun 11 | Kokanee | — | ~4.5" |
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 Deadwood Reservoir specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Idaho fishing regulations →
Deadwood Reservoir is about 38 ft (12 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, rainbow trout, kokanee, chinook salmon, coho salmon on Deadwood Reservoir.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 17 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, Deadwood Reservoir was most recently stocked Jul 13 with rainbow trout. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Deadwood 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.
Bull Trout Lake 20 mi · Sage Hen Reservoir 26 mi · Cape Horn Lake #1 27 mi · Cascade Reservoir 30 mi · Toxaway Lake 42 mi · Yellow Belly Lake 45 mi · Pettit Lake 45 mi · Payette Lake 46 mi · Blackwell Lake 48 mi · Perkins Lake 49 mi · Arrowrock Reservoir 50 mi · Lucky Peak Lake 54 mi
See how Deadwood Reservoir stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Idaho · best chinook salmon lakes in Idaho · best coho salmon lakes in Idaho · best kokanee 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.