Benedict Lake, Idaho: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Benedict Lake is a Boise County water, Idaho side. The water sits 8,238 feet up. This is a pocket water of some 10 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. The nearest town is Sun Valley, 40 miles away. Ketchum follows at 40 miles, then Hailey at 48 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Benedict Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Boise County, recorded fish include cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, california golden trout, Arctic grayling and mountain whitefish. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Benedict Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 52°F and December near 16°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. After late May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Expect the water usable from around late May until roughly early November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Plan any trip to Benedict Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Rock Slide Lake, 0.7 miles out. Ask locally about Benedict Lake if anything is unclear.