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10-acre lake in Beaverhead County, Montana. The lake tops out around 33 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
The drawn water covers 10 acres wrapped in 0.5 miles of bank. At index 1 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. 36% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Beaverhead County claims this one. Lake Agnes sits 2 mi east — the closest neighbouring chart.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: walleye in 4 to 15 ft. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 33 ft, wintering in 10 to 33 ft. Top water on the chart: Shoreline break, a drop-off in the 20 ft range, prime in fall. Time it for the evening and early morning. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Shoreline break (20 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Shoreline break (20 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (33 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Early season northern pike use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 15 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 10 ft that grades prime for winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (10 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (10 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (10 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (10 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
In spring, yellow perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 33 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 10 ft, rated prime for spring yellow perch. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (10 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Shoreline break (20 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (33 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (33 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Early season smallmouth bass use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 10 to 33 ft. Put Shoreline break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 20 ft that grades prime for winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (20 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Shoreline break (20 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Shoreline break (20 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
When the water first warms, rainbow trout slide up into 5 to 20 ft. Summer is an 8 to 30 ft game here, winter a 7 to 33 ft one. Start at Shoreline break. It's a drop-off holding about 20 ft of water and rates prime come winter. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon rigged through the warm months.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (20 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (20 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 9 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (20 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 7 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Shoreline break (20 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Spring lake trout on Rainbow Lake (Beaverhead) hold shallow, usually 8 to 33 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 10 to 33 ft in summer, 8 to 33 ft once it turns cold. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 33 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.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (20 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 10 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Deep basin (33 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 7 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Shoreline break (20 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 8 to 33 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (33 ft) | 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), cutthroat trout (9 to 33 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Structure-wise the chart holds 3 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 33 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Montana waters are set by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks — and special regulations can apply to Rainbow Lake (Beaverhead) specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Montana fishing regulations →
Rainbow Lake (Beaverhead) is about 33 ft (10 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, lake trout, crappie, channel catfish, cutthroat trout on Rainbow Lake (Beaverhead). This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Shoreline break is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
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.
Fishing on Rainbow Lake (Beaverhead) is regulated by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Check the official Montana regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Lake Agnes 2 mi · Brownes Lake 3 mi · Tendoy Lake 4 mi · Deerhead Lake 6 mi · Sawtooth Lake 10 mi · Minneopa Lake 10 mi · Kelly Reservioir 13 mi · Bear Lake (Beaverhead) 18 mi · Baldy Lake 20 mi · Sand Lake 21 mi · Beaverhead River 21 mi · Lily Lake (Beaverhead) 23 mi
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
More water nearby: Beaverhead County fishing maps (24 charts). Browse all Montana fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. 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.