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Fishing Report For Palisades Reservoir, ID

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By Rick Seaman

September 15, 2025

Fishing Report Palisades Reservoir, ID

Fishing Reports

Popular Fish Species Palisades Reservoir, ID


Rainbow Trout

Rainbow Trout

Mepps Spinner Trout Lure Panther Martin Trout Lure

Current Report: Good To Very Good

Outlook: Very Good

Fly fishing is not covered in this website, but rainbow trout are being caught on plenty of other lures and bait.

FALL. Cooling water temperatures in the shallows, draw rainbow trout out of deeper Summer depths. Currently anglers are catching them 10 to 15 feet deep on points, rocky structure, humps, and anywhere baitfish are gathering. Now that they had a full summer to grow, there are some bragging size rainbow catches. Small spinners, spoons, jigs, miniature crankbaits and swimbaits are catching trout, as are salmon eggs and prepared baits. Later in Fall, rainbows will be holding in 25 to 40 feet deep.

WINTER. When Winter sets in, and the lake safely freezes over, ice fishing is quite popular here. Jigging spoons, and jigs tipped with minnows (caught from this lake), are catching nice limits of rainbows out of 25 to 50 feet of water. After ice out, deep trolling with leaded line or downriggers, or vertical jigging with spoons and jigs, finishes off the cold-water season.

SPRING. As water begins to warm in early Spring, rainbow trout move from their late winter holding areas to shallow, warmer water 10 to 25 feet deep. Many rainbows are drawn to in-flowing water from run off. A good number of rainbows are being caught from mid morning to late afternoon, during the warmest water of the day. A wide variety of small spinners, spoons and bait are catching most of the fish.

SUMMER. Once Summer is here to stay, the warmer water drives rainbow deeper, 15 to 30 feet deep, occasionally deeper. Early and late in the day, they may move much shallower during low light. Trolling with spoons, spinners and crankbaits, using downriggers or leaded line, and drift fishing with bait, are currently the most productive methods. Following drop-offs along structure or creek channels, into deeper water is a major key to getting bites. Anglers fishing from the bank are using nightcrawlers or Berkley PowerBait, with heavy weights on a Carolina rig, to get baits into deeper water.


Brown Trout

Brown Trout

Rapala X Rap Hard Jerkbait Mepps Spinner Trout Lure Worden's Rooster Tail

Current Report: Good To Very Good

Outlook: Very Good

Fly fishing is not covered in this website, but brown trout are being caught on plenty of other lures and bait.

FALL. Cooling water temperatures again draw browns shallower. Successful anglers are catching them 5 to 15 feet deep on points, rocky structure, humps, and mouths of bays where baitfish are gathering. Decent catches are coming on jerkbaits, miniature crankbaits, small spinnerbaits and swimbaits. Now that they had a full summer to grow, there are some bragging size brown trout catches this time of year. When they move out to structure in deep water, spoons, jigs and bait are catching browns.

WINTER. When Winter sets in, and the lake freezes over, ice fishing is quite popular here. Jigging spoons and jigs tipped with bait are catching most limits of brown trout, in 15 to 30 feet of water. When the ice melts, deep trolling with leaded line or downriggers, or vertical jigging with spoons and jigs, finishes off the cold-water season.

SPRING. As water begins to warm in early Spring, brown trout move from their deep winter holding areas to shallow, warmer water, especially into inflowing creeks and backwaters. The most productive fishing is happening from mid morning to late afternoon, during the warmest water of the day. A wide variety of jerkbaits, spoons and spinners and swimbaits are catching most of the fish.

SUMMER. Once Summer is here to stay, the warmer water drives brown trout deeper, 15 to 40 feet deep, and deeper. Early in the morning and at dusk, they are being caught shallow. Trolling around structure, using downriggers or leaded line, and drift fishing with bait, are currently the most productive methods.


Cutthroat Trout

Cutthroat Trout

Rapala X Rap Hard Jerkbait Luhr Jensen Krocodile Spoon Lake Trout Lure Luhr Jensen Krocodile Spoon Lake Trout Lure Luhr Jensen Kwikfish X Series Acme Kastmaster Spoon

Current Report: Good

Outlook: Good

Fly fishing is not covered in this website, but cutthroat trout are being caught on plenty of other lures and bait. The diet of these cutthroat trout consists of insects, small fishes and crustaceans.

FALL. Cooling water temperatures again draw rainbow trout shallower. Anglers are catching them 5 to 15 feet deep on points, rocky structure, humps, and anywhere baitfish are gathering. Now that they had a full summer to grow, there are some bragging size fish are being caught. Small spinners, spoons, miniature crankbaits and swimbaits are catching cutthroat, as are salmon eggs and prepared baits.

WINTER. When Winter sets in, and the lake freezes over, ice fishing is quite popular here. Early risers are having the best success just after sunrise. Jigging spoons and jigs tipped with bait are a good choice.

SPRING. As water begins to warm in early Spring, cutthroat trout move from their winter holding areas into shallow, warmer water - 5 to 15 feet deep. They seek our incoming water from snow-melt runoff. Generally, cutthroats will be drawn to these areas to spawn in clear, shallow water. Most cutthroat will be caught early in the morning or late afternoon. A wide variety of small spinners and spoons are catching most of the fish.

SUMMER. Once Summer is here to stay, the warmer water drives cutthroat deeper, 20 to 35 feet deep and deeper. They seek out deep holes near shallow water feeding areas. Fishing is best from dusk, throughout the night, and early in the morning. Trolling, using downriggers or leaded line, and drift fishing with bait,typically producing good catches.


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.

Palisades Reservoir Reports

Palisades Reservoir is a 16,000-acre lake with 70 miles of shoreline. At 5,600 feet above sea level, it is home to cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout and kokanee salmon. Ice fishing in winter is popular, and there are plenty of areas for fishing from the bank, especially along the northeast shorelines.

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Rainbow Trout Brown Trout Lake Trout Cutthroat Trout Kokanee Salmon

Today's Weather & Forecast

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Fishing License

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Map - Fishing & Access


Rick Seaman

Rick Seaman is a fishing enthusiast with over five decades of fishing experience, a retired tournament fisherman, author of numerous published articles on fishing, and co-author of the book "Bass Fishing - It's not WHAT you throw, It's WHERE you throw it".


Palisades Reservoir, Idaho

Contact Information
Palisades Creek Campground
Palisades Creek Rd
Irwin, ID 83428
208 524-7500

 

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