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16,000-acre reservoir near Irwin. The lake tops out around 235 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The outline encloses 15,001 acres, worked by 50.8 miles of shoreline — one island included. An index of 3 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. About 2% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Call it 15.9 mi long by 3.5 mi wide at the broadest reach. Bonneville County claims this one. Murphy Lake, Lower sits 18 mi southeast — the closest neighbouring chart.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: cutthroat trout in 3 to 15 ft. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 35 ft, wintering in 10 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Shoreline point, a point in the 18 ft range, prime in fall. Time it for early morning and the evening. 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 | Shoreline point (18 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (18 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (18 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (18 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Spring lake trout on Palisades Reservoir hold shallow, usually 10 to 40 ft. They move out to 50 to 120 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 80 ft. Put Offshore hump first on the milk run — an offshore hump near 60 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (18 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (60 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Offshore hump (25 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (25 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: brown trout in 3 to 25 ft. As the season builds they drop to 25 to 60 ft, wintering in 5 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Shoreline point, a point in the 18 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for after dark and early morning. 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 | Shoreline point (18 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Offshore hump (25 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Shoreline point (18 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Big Elk Creek inflow (182 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Come spring, look for kokanee tight to the bank in 10 to 30 ft. They move out to 30 to 70 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 80 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Offshore hump: an offshore hump around 60 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is 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 | Offshore hump (25 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (60 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Big Elk Creek inflow (182 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (25 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
When the water first warms, rainbow trout slide up into 5 to 20 ft. Summer is an 8 to 30 ft game here, winter an 8 to 40 ft one. Start at Shoreline point. It's a point holding about 18 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run 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 | Shoreline point (18 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (18 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (18 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (109 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
The chart marks 14 structure features on Palisades Reservoir; the deepest is Deep basin at about 221 ft.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21 | Lake Trout | — | ~4.5" |
| May 27 | Kokanee | — | ~1.5" |
| Dec 17, 2025 | Cutthroat Trout - Yellowstone | — | — |
| Dec 16, 2025 | Cutthroat Trout - Yellowstone | — | — |
| Dec 3, 2025 | Cutthroat Trout - Yellowstone | — | — |
| Dec 1, 2025 | Cutthroat Trout - Yellowstone | — | — |
| Sep 23, 2025 | Cutthroat Trout - Yellowstone | — | — |
| Sep 22, 2025 | Cutthroat Trout - Yellowstone | — | — |
Source: Idaho Fish & Game stocking records, retrieved 2026-08-18.
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 Palisades Reservoir specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Idaho fishing regulations →
Palisades Reservoir is about 235 ft (72 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target cutthroat trout, lake trout, brown trout, kokanee, rainbow trout on Palisades Reservoir.
Shoreline point is the top-rated area: a point in about 18 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in fall. The interactive chart above rates every 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, Palisades Reservoir was most recently stocked Jul 21 with lake trout. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Palisades 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.
Murphy Lake, Lower 18 mi, WY · Stump Lake 19 mi, WY · R Park Pond 23 mi, WY · Snake River (South Fork) 23 mi · Phelps Lake 32 mi, WY · Barstow Lake 36 mi, WY · Crow Creek Lake 1 40 mi, WY · Lake Solitude 41 mi, WY · Jenny Lake 41 mi, WY · Corral Creek Lake 2 41 mi, WY · Holly Lake 42 mi, WY · Snake River (Jackson) 44 mi, WY
See how Palisades Reservoir stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Idaho · best lake trout lakes in Idaho · best brown trout lakes in Idaho · best kokanee lakes in Idaho
Browse all Idaho fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. 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.