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64-acre lake near Bonner. The lake tops out around 48 ft. Depth here is modeled from the true shoreline and max depth rather than surveyed; use it to plan, not to navigate. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
The drawn water covers 57 acres wrapped in 1.6 miles of bank. A middling shoreline index (1.6) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 40% of this chart, as modeled. The basin spans about 0.7 mi end to end and 0.2 mi across at its widest. It sits in Bonner County. If the bite dies, Round Lake is 11 mi to the north.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: cutthroat trout in 3 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 35 ft before dropping to 10 to 40 ft for winter. 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. 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 (12 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (22 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (12 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (22 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Come spring, look for brook trout tight to the bank in 2 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 3 to 20 ft. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 22 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (12 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (22 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (12 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: brown trout in 3 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 14 to 48 ft before dropping to 5 to 35 ft for winter. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 22 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 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (12 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 14 to 48 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (22 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (12 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (22 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 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. 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 (12 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (22 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (12 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (22 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Come spring, look for kokanee tight to the bank in 10 to 30 ft. Expect a summer slide to 14 to 48 ft, then a winter hold in 12 to 48 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 41 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning. A dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Break off the point (22 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 14 to 48 ft | dawn | Deep basin (41 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Deep basin (41 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 12 to 48 ft | dawn | Deep basin (41 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Early season chinook salmon use the shallows, holding in 5 to 40 ft. Expect a summer slide to 14 to 48 ft, then a winter hold in 14 to 48 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 41 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 | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (22 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 14 to 48 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (41 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 48 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (22 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 14 to 48 ft | midday | Deep basin (41 ft) | 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.
The chart marks 5 structure features on Kelso Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 41 ft.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 19 | Rainbow Trout | 959 | ~13" |
| May 6 | Rainbow Trout | — | ~13" |
| Apr 21 | Rainbow Trout | — | ~13" |
| Apr 13 | Rainbow Trout | 480 | ~13" |
| Mar 26 | Rainbow Trout | — | ~13" |
| Oct 20, 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 Kelso Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Idaho fishing regulations →
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.
Anglers target cutthroat trout, brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, kokanee, chinook salmon, bluegill 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. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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, Kelso Lake was most recently stocked May 19 with 959 rainbow trout. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Kelso Lake 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.
Round Lake 11 mi · Shepherd Lake 15 mi · Lake Pend Oreille 16 mi · Blue Lake 19 mi · Diamond Lake 24 mi, WA · Newman Lake 24 mi, WA · Marshall Lake 24 mi, WA · Antelope Lake 27 mi · Sacheen Lake 30 mi, WA · Liberty Lake 31 mi, WA · Davis Lake 31 mi, WA · Eloika Lake 31 mi, WA
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
More water nearby: Bonner County fishing maps (6 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.