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Fishing Rainbow Lake (Beaverhead): what the data says
10-acre lake near Montana. The lake tops out around 33 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. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Walleye fishing at Rainbow Lake (Beaverhead)
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 10 to 33 ft, and by winter most fish are in 10 to 33 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 33 ft that scores prime in winter. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 10 to 33 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 10 to 33 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Northern Pike fishing at Rainbow Lake (Beaverhead)
In spring, northern pike run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 10 ft, rated prime for winter northern pike. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Yellow Perch fishing at Rainbow Lake (Beaverhead)
In spring, yellow perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 33 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 10 ft, rated prime for spring yellow perch. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 10 to 33 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft | midday & dawn | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Rainbow Lake (Beaverhead)
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 10 to 33 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 33 ft of water that rates good for smallmouth bass in winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Rainbow Trout fishing at Rainbow Lake (Beaverhead)
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 8 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 7 to 33 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 33 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout 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 | 9 to 33 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 7 to 33 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Lake Trout fishing at Rainbow Lake (Beaverhead)
In spring, lake trout run shallow here, mostly 8 to 33 ft. Summer fish stay in 10 to 33 ft, and winter fish hold in 8 to 33 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 33 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. A white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 33 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 10 to 33 ft | dawn | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 7 to 33 ft | dusk & dawn | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 8 to 33 ft | dawn | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Rainbow Lake (Beaverhead) also holds crappie (10 to 25 ft in summer), channel catfish (8 to 25 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 33 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 10 ft
Common questions
How deep is Rainbow Lake (Beaverhead)?
Rainbow Lake (Beaverhead) is about 33 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Rainbow Lake (Beaverhead)?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, crappie, channel catfish, rainbow trout, yellow perch, lake trout on Rainbow Lake (Beaverhead).
Where is the best fishing spot on Rainbow Lake (Beaverhead)?
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 33 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in winter. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Rainbow Lake (Beaverhead)?
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Lake Agnes · Brownes Lake · Tendoy Lake · Deerhead Lake · Minneopa Lake · Sawtooth Lake
See how Rainbow Lake (Beaverhead) stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Montana · best walleye lakes in Montana · best northern pike lakes in Montana · best crappie lakes in Montana
Browse all Montana fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.