Fishing Palisades Reservoir

AKA: Palisades Lake

Popular Fish Species
Palisades Reservoir Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Amenities
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Boat Launch Ramps
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Palisades Reservoir, ID

Popular Fish Species Palisades Reservoir, ID

Palisades Reservoir Popular Fish - Kokanee Salmon

Kokanee Salmon Fishing

Sockeye salmon which remain landlocked, never migrating to the ocean, are called kokanee salmon. On-going stocking of kokanee salmon by the Idaho Fish and Game helps to maintain a nice population for the fishery. Typically kokanee average one to two pounds. As one of the premiere kokanee fishing lakes in Idaho, Palisades Reservoir delivers plenty of fish above normal averages. When the lake freezes over,you can catch kokanee through the ice while ice fishing. These tasty fish school in lakes at depths which remain at ideal temperatures of between 48 and 58 degrees. Once this depth is identified, use a fish finder to locate schools. Use small lures trolled at the appropriate depth. The can also be caught using corn, but the main way they are caught is using flashy lures which they attack when the lure intrudes their space. In winter, once the ice is safe, try ice fishing for kokanee.

Palisades Reservoir Popular Fish - Lake Torut

Lake Trout Fishing

Year round, including through the ice in winter, fishing for lake trout in Palisades Reservoir often delivers great results. These large trout can be caught from as shallow as 15 to 30 feet in Spring and Fall, to as deep as 150 feet or more during Summer and Winter. It is a monumental help to use fish finders, or other electronics to help in locating these roaming schools of lake trout. They feed on baitfish, so jigs rigged to imitate their prey often work well straight down under the boat. Trolling with numerous set-ups can also produce good catches. When the lake freezes over, ice fishing for big lake trout with spoons can deliver some great catches.

Palisades Reservoir Popular Fish - Brown Trout

Brown Trout Fishing

Currently, fishing for brown trout in Palisades Reservoir is delivering some nice catches. These hearty fighters migrate around the lake in search of baitfish and comfortable water temperatures, preferably in the 50 to 62 degree range. In spring brown trout, along with the baitfish, move to the shallows which warms first. As the days get warmer in summer they move deeper, again following schools of bait. As Fall and Winter arrive, browns tend to stay in deeper water. When these trout move deep, it is typically in the 20- to 45-foot range. Nightcrawlers are always a good bait for brown trout. In-line spinners, bait-colored crankbaits and small spoons are other options. Experiment with depth and retrieve speed. When the lake freezes over, try your luck at ice fishing.

Palisades Reservoir Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brown trout, lake trout and kokanee salmon at Palisades Reservoir in Idaho.

Nestled in a beautiful mountain setting, Palisades Reservoir is a trout anglers dream. At an elevation 5,600 feet above sea level, this 16,000-acre lake provides fishing opportunities year round. The lake is home to cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, and kokanee salmon. Ice fishing in winter, fishing from a boat in summer and bank fishing the remainder of the year makes this an ideal trout fishing destination.

Primary fish species residing in Palisades Reservoir

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Palisades Reservoir Amenities

Marina: NO
Boat Rental: NO
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: NO
Convenience Store: NO
Bait & Tackle: NO
Restaurant: NEARBY

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Blowout Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, east side, off US Highway 26, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and gravel parking.

Calamity Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northwest corner of the lake, off Bear Creek Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and gravel parking.