What is the best fishing lake in Idaho?

Lake Pend Oreille is our first pick, with trout, lake trout and kokanee salmon. Coeur d'Alene Lake and C J Strike Reservoir are close behind.

How many lakes in Idaho does LakeScope cover?

41 lakes, each with a page for today's conditions.

Where can I catch walleye in Idaho?

Try Payette Lake, Dworshak Reservoir and American Falls Reservoir.

Where can I catch bass in Idaho?

Try Coeur d'Alene Lake, C J Strike Reservoir and Payette Lake.

Where can I catch trout in Idaho?

Try Lake Pend Oreille, Coeur d'Alene Lake and C J Strike Reservoir.

Best fishing lakes in Idaho: 12 lakes and what bites

Picking the best fishing lakes in Idaho comes down to size, the fish you are after and how much structure the bed offers. Here are 12 lakes that tick those boxes, with what each one is good for.

The lakes at a glance

Lake	Size	Main fish
Lake Pend Oreille	93,900 acres	trout, lake trout, kokanee salmon
Coeur d'Alene Lake	31,900 acres	largemouth bass, northern pike, kokanee salmon
C J Strike Reservoir	7,500 acres	crappie, bluegill, catfish
Payette Lake	5,060 acres	trout, lake trout, kokanee salmon
Lake Cascade	30,100 acres	yellow perch, trout, smallmouth bass
Priest Lake	26,000 acres	trout, lake trout, kokanee salmon
Blackfoot Reservoir	18,000 acres	trout
Dworshak Reservoir	17,100 acres	largemouth bass, walleye, crappie
American Falls Reservoir	about 49,200 acres	largemouth bass, walleye, crappie
Henrys Lake	6,080 acres	trout
Lake Walcott	11,000 acres	largemouth bass, walleye, crappie
Anderson Ranch Reservoir	4,820 acres	largemouth bass, walleye, crappie

1. Lake Pend Oreille

At some 93,900 acres, Lake Pend Oreille is a huge piece of water. It holds trout, lake trout, kokanee salmon and northern pike. The deepest water is around 1152 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove to work.

Lake Pend Oreille today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Coeur d'Alene Lake

Coeur d'Alene Lake covers 31,900 acres of water. It holds largemouth bass, northern pike, kokanee salmon and trout. At about 194 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Coeur d'Alene Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. C J Strike Reservoir

C J Strike Reservoir is a reservoir of 7,500 acres. The lake is near Mountain Home. It is the Snake River and Bruneau River behind C. J. Strike Dam. The fish here are crappie, bluegill, catfish and largemouth bass. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. C.J. Strike Reservoir, where the Bruneau River meets the Snake River, supports a diverse warm-water and trout fishery and a population of white sturgeon.

C J Strike Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Payette Lake

At some 5,060 acres, Payette Lake is a good-sized lake. You will find it right by McCall. Expect trout, lake trout, kokanee salmon and muskie. At about 304 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove: good places to start. Payette Lake, at McCall, was formed by glacial activity and is stocked with tiger muskie as a trophy fishery.

Payette Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Lake Cascade

At 30,100 acres, Lake Cascade is a big lake. It lies next to Cascade. It holds yellow perch, trout, smallmouth bass and kokanee salmon. The lake bed gives you three steep ledges and an upper arm to work. Lake Cascade is one of Idaho's top yellow perch fisheries.

Lake Cascade today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Priest Lake

At some 26,000 acres, Priest Lake is a big lake. It lies near Ponderay. Trout, lake trout and kokanee salmon are the draw. It goes down to about 369 ft.

Priest Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Blackfoot Reservoir

At some 18,000 acres, Blackfoot Reservoir is a big lake. It lies about 35 miles northwest of Idaho Falls. It is the Blackfoot River (Idaho) behind Blackfoot Dam. Trout are the draw. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Blackfoot Reservoir is a large irrigation reservoir known for its cutthroat and rainbow trout fishing.

Blackfoot Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Dworshak Reservoir

At 17,100 acres, Dworshak Reservoir is a big lake. It lies about 2.2 miles southwest of Orofino. It is the North Fork Clearwater River behind Dworshak Dam. The usual Idaho mix applies: largemouth bass, walleye, crappie and bluegill. Dworshak Reservoir was formed by damming the North Fork Clearwater River, which once held one of the finest wild steelhead runs in the world.

Dworshak Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. American Falls Reservoir

At about 49,200 acres, American Falls Reservoir is a big lake. The lake is within an easy drive of Pocatello (about 10 miles). It is the Snake River behind American Falls Dam. The usual Idaho mix applies: largemouth bass, walleye, crappie and bluegill. On the 3-D map the bed has three steep ledges and an upper arm: good places to start. American Falls Reservoir is a major irrigation storage reservoir on the Snake River in southeastern Idaho.

American Falls Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Henrys Lake

Henrys Lake is a natural lake of 6,080 acres. The lake is about 13 miles east of West Yellowstone. Trout are the draw. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove to work.

Henrys Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Lake Walcott

Lake Walcott spreads over 11,000 acres of water. The lake is about 46 miles east of Pocatello. The usual Idaho mix applies: largemouth bass, walleye, crappie and bluegill. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Lake Walcott was formed by Minidoka Dam, completed in 1909 as one of the earliest U.S. Bureau of Reclamation projects on the Snake River.

Lake Walcott today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Anderson Ranch Reservoir

Anderson Ranch Reservoir spreads over 4,820 acres. The lake is about 20 miles southwest of Mountain Home. Anderson Ranch Dam holds it on the South Fork Boise River. The usual Idaho mix applies: largemouth bass, walleye, crappie and bluegill. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Anderson Ranch Reservoir is formed by Anderson Ranch Dam on the South Fork Boise River.

Anderson Ranch Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Idaho lakes by fish

A lake appears under a fish when it holds it, by the record or by the type of lake.

Bass: Coeur d'Alene Lake, C J Strike Reservoir, Payette Lake and Lake Cascade
Walleye: Payette Lake, Dworshak Reservoir, American Falls Reservoir and Lake Walcott
Trout: Lake Pend Oreille, Coeur d'Alene Lake, C J Strike Reservoir and Payette Lake
Crappie: C J Strike Reservoir, Payette Lake, Dworshak Reservoir and American Falls Reservoir
Pike and muskie: Lake Pend Oreille, Coeur d'Alene Lake and Payette Lake
Catfish: C J Strike Reservoir, Dworshak Reservoir, American Falls Reservoir and Lake Walcott

The fishing year

Spring: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
Summer: walleye are usually fair. Warm surface. They go deep in the day; try evenings.
Fall: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
Winter: walleye are usually at their best. Good cool-water bite, best at dusk and after dark.

Before you go

Buy a Idaho fishing licence before the trip and read the state's rules for each lake: seasons, size and bag limits change from water to water. Each lake page on LakeScope shows today's water temperature, the wind, the best bite times and a 3-D view of the bed, so check it the morning you go.