Blackwell Lake Fishing in Valley County, Idaho

• Overview

  The Valley County end of Idaho holds Blackwell Lake. It stands 6,598 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 34 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. McCall lies 6.3 miles from the water. For a city, Boise is 94 miles off. Others close at hand: Squaw Lake (1.5 miles), Crystal Lake just 2.1 miles, Snowslide Lake (3.4 miles), Box Lake just 3.9 miles and Little Payette Lake (4.1 miles). The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Blackwell Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Survey and observation records for Valley County include rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, Coho salmon and Arctic grayling. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Read Blackwell Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 58°F, the coldest about 21°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at late November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Blackwell Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Squaw Lake is 1.5 miles distant. What applies at Blackwell Lake may have changed since it was mapped.