Black Lake Fishing near Saint Maries, Idaho

• Overview

  Black Lake is one of the Kootenai County waters in Idaho. It stands 2,123 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to roughly 391 acres, so plan for one area rather than the whole. The perimeter runs near 5.1 miles, so plan the walk before you start. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Idaho listings. Saint Maries sits 10 miles from the bank. Plummer follows at 13 miles, then Coeur d'Alene at 17 miles. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Black Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. County-wide records name rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, sockeye salmon, channel catfish and Chinook salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At Black Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 28°F to 65°F. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. That is the shape of the year on Black Lake. Spring fish sit shallower than most people expect.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Swan Lake is 1.7 miles off. Rules at Black Lake are worth checking on the day.