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16,000-acre reservoir near Orofino. A deep, steep-walled Clearwater-country reservoir with one of the West's best smallmouth fisheries and abundant kokanee. The lake tops out around 600 ft. The contours come from a model of the real basin shape and its known max depth. Read them as probabilities, not soundings, and keep them out of navigation decisions. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Drawn out, this is 16,151 acres of water rimmed by 222.4 miles of bank. A development index of 12.5 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. About 13% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Call it 39.8 mi long by 13.4 mi wide at the broadest reach. You'll find it in Clearwater County. For a second option, Lost Lake lies 25 mi north.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: smallmouth bass in 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 30 ft before dropping to 20 to 45 ft for winter. The spot to know is Offshore hump, an offshore hump in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Elk Creek inflow (8 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (23 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Shoreline point (23 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Offshore hump (23 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Spring puts kokanee in skinny water — 10 to 30 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 30 to 70 ft, wintering in 20 to 80 ft. Fall kokanee concentrate at Elk Creek inflow, a prime-rated inflow / creek mouth around 8 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. A dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (23 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (24 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Elk Creek inflow (8 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (23 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
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 8 to 40 ft. Elk Creek inflow is the standout, an inflow / creek mouth at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for spring 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 | Elk Creek inflow (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Elk Creek inflow (8 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (23 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Elk Creek inflow (8 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Come spring, look for steelhead tight to the bank in 3 to 20 ft. Expect a summer slide to 5 to 45 ft, then a winter hold in 4 to 15 ft. Start at Elk Creek inflow. It's an inflow / creek mouth holding about 8 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. An orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Elk Creek inflow (8 ft) | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (23 ft) | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Elk Creek inflow (8 ft) | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 15 ft | midday | Elk Creek inflow (8 ft) | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
The chart marks 20 structure features on Dworshak Reservoir; the deepest is Deep basin at about 510 ft.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 23 | Rainbow Trout | — | ~13" |
| May 5 | Rainbow Trout | — | ~13" |
| Apr 6 | Rainbow Trout | — | ~13" |
| Oct 22, 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 Dworshak Reservoir specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Idaho fishing regulations →
Dworshak Reservoir is about 600 ft (183 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, kokanee, rainbow trout, steelhead on Dworshak Reservoir.
Offshore hump is the top-rated area: an offshore hump in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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, Dworshak Reservoir was most recently stocked Jun 23 with rainbow trout. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Dworshak 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.
Lost Lake 25 mi · Moore Lake (Mineral) 46 mi, MT · Cliff Lake (Mineral) 46 mi, MT · Bonanza Lake, Upper 46 mi, MT · Oregon Lake, Middle 47 mi, MT · Diamond Lake (Mineral) 47 mi, MT · Lost Lake (Mineral) 47 mi, MT · Crystal Lake (Mineral) 47 mi, MT · Silver Lake 48 mi, MT · Hoodoo Lake 48 mi, MT · Hidden Lake (Mineral) 49 mi, MT · Pearl Lake 49 mi, MT
See how Dworshak Reservoir stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Idaho · best rainbow trout lakes in Idaho · best steelhead lakes in Idaho · best kokanee 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.