Box Lake Fishing in Valley County, Idaho

• Overview

  Box Lake is one of the Valley County waters in Idaho. It sits at 7,188 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 139 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. On our Valley County list it sits near the top for size. The nearest place of any size is McCall, 9.7 miles away. After that come Grangeville at 63 miles and Joseph at 65 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Box Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Survey and observation records for Valley County include rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and Coho salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. At Box Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 17°F in December up to 53°F in July. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. After mid May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Climate figures give an open season running mid May to mid November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. It holds true on Box Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. 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. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Sisters Lakes is 0.6 miles off. Confirm before you fish Box Lake.