Dworshak Reservoir Fishing near Orofino, Idaho

• Overview

  Dworshak Reservoir is set in Clearwater County, Idaho. Elevation runs to 1,535 feet. Around 25.6 sq miles of open water: conditions change from one end to the other. Bays run back a long way, and the fish move between them with the season. Nothing else we list in Clearwater County covers more water. For supplies, Orofino is 9.8 miles out. It is 91 miles to Spokane, the nearest city. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Dworshak Reservoir

  650 ft is what our records show. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Clearwater County records list rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and Chinook salmon among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Work Dworshak Reservoir in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 67°F; the cold one sits at 29°F. Fishing continues through most of the calendar, with quiet spells rather than closures. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Time your trip to Dworshak Reservoir by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  It sits on public ground, so no permission beyond a licence is normally needed. The slipway at Dent Acres Boat Ramp is half a mile away. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Elk Creek Reservoir at 11 miles is the sensible second choice. Where Dworshak Reservoir is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.