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Fishing Kelso Lake: what the data says
64-acre lake near Bonner. The lake tops out around 48 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.
Cutthroat Trout fishing at Kelso Lake
In spring, cutthroat trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 10 to 40 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 22 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A trolled spoon (small) or a inline spinner covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Brook Trout fishing at Kelso Lake
Spring brook trout on Kelso Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 3 to 20 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 22 ft of water that rates prime for brook trout in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm gets it done.
| 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 |
Brown Trout fishing at Kelso Lake
Start shallow in spring: brown trout sit in 3 to 25 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 14 to 48 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 22 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is after dark and early morning. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 14 to 48 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Rainbow Trout fishing at Kelso Lake
Spring rainbow trout on Kelso 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. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 22 ft that scores prime in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. 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) |
Kokanee fishing at Kelso Lake
Spring kokanee on Kelso Lake hold shallow, usually 10 to 30 ft. They move out to 14 to 48 ft in summer and finish the year down in 12 to 48 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 41 ft of water that rates prime for kokanee in summer. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 14 to 48 ft | dawn | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 12 to 48 ft | dawn | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Chinook Salmon fishing at Kelso Lake
Start shallow in spring: chinook salmon sit in 5 to 40 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 14 to 48 ft, and by winter most fish are in 14 to 48 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 41 ft that scores prime in 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 | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 14 to 48 ft | dawn & dusk | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 48 ft | dawn & dusk | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 14 to 48 ft | midday | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Kelso Lake also holds bluegill (4 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 41 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 22 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 Kelso Lake?
Kelso Lake is about 48 ft (15 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 Kelso Lake?
Anglers target bluegill, rainbow trout, chinook salmon, brown trout, brook trout, kokanee, cutthroat trout on Kelso Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Kelso Lake?
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 22 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.
When is the best time to fish Kelso Lake?
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.
Nearby waters
Round Lake · Shepherd Lake · Blue Lake · Lake Pend Oreille · Lake Coeur d'Alene · Rose Lake
See how Kelso Lake stacks up: best bluegill lakes in Idaho · best rainbow trout lakes in Idaho · best chinook salmon lakes in Idaho · best brown trout lakes in Idaho
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