Fishing Brownlee Reservoir

AKA: Brownlee Lake

Popular Fish Species
Brownlee Reservoir Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Amenities
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Brownlee Reservoir

Popular Fish Species Brownlee Reservoir, ID

Smallmouth Bass Fishing

Smallmouth bass are the most sought-after species at Brownlee Reservoir, with fish over 3 pounds very common. Largemouth bass also reside here in good numbers. Smallmouth bass fishing is particularly good when they move to shallow water. Use shallow spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, crankbaits, tube baits and jerkbaits around any sort of rip rap. Around grass, use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In winter, when the lake freezes over, consider ice fishing for smallies. Other times, focus your time on deeper structure with drop-shot rigs, small worms, jigs and spoons. Rock piles and points are prime areas for smallmouth as these areas are also home to crawfish.

Brownlee Reservoir Popular Fish - White Crappie

White Crappie Fishing

Plenty of healthy white crappie reside in Brownlee Reservoir, as they are making a nice comeback this year. The fish population is healthy and crappie fishing is excellent. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk. Crappie always like cover and structure, so locate shallow brush and vegetation in Spring and Fall focusing on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out to as deep as 30 to 35 feet, as well as ledges near channels at these depths. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. Black crappie, in smaller numbers, also make this lake their home. In winter, when the ice is safe, try your luck at ice fishing.

Brownlee Reservoir Popular Fish - Yellow Perch

Yellow Perch Fishing

Yellow perch tend to spawn in the April to May timeframe, and the spawn has been strong for years at Brownlee Reservoir. As a result, the lake continues to maintain a very healthy population of yellow perch, which have been a mainstay in the fishery for decades. They are fun to catch in winter when ice fishing as well. Yellow perch are great table fare, and are a food source for many predator fish in the lake. Fishing for yellow perch is simple, their primary diet consists of minnows and other small fish, insects and worms. Yellow perch tend to gather in small groups and hang out on relatively deep structure, near cover and/or drop-offs. Use a small hook and sinker. Bait a small hook with minnows, worms or small jigs using 6 to 10 pound line.

Brownlee Reservoir Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, white crappie, rainbow trout, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish and yellow perch at Brownlee Reservoir in Idaho.

Spanning over 50 miles of the Snake River, Brownlee Reservoir is an 11,000-acre fishing paradise along the Idaho-Oregon state line. Much of the 190 miles of shoreline is not accessible due to steep mountain terrain and no roads.

Steck Park and Woodhead Park are the primary access points from the Idaho side. Camping, boat ramps and other amenities are available in both areas. The lake is situated at an elevation of just over 2,000 feet above sea level, offering a wide variety of both warm-water and cold-water fish species. Bass, crappie, catfish, trout and sunfish all reside here and flourish during different seasons.

Primary fish species residing in Brownlee Reservoir

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Brownlee Reservoir Amenities

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

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Olds Ferry Road Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southeast corner of the lake, off Olds Ferry Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and gravel parking.

Steck Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southeast corner of the lake, off Olds Ferry Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and gravel parking.

Woodhead Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast corner of the lake, off Highway 71, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.