Chatcolet Lake Fishing near Plummer, Idaho

• Overview

  Look for Chatcolet Lake in the Benewah County part of Idaho. The surface lies 2,116 feet up. Around 4.6 sq miles of open water: conditions change from one end to the other. Of the waters listed here in Benewah County, this is the largest. Plummer lies 6.9 miles from the water. Saint Maries is 9.2 miles away, with Coeur d'Alene at 22 miles. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Chatcolet Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Benewah County records list rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, sockeye salmon, northern pike and channel catfish among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Work Chatcolet Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 65°F; the cold one sits at 29°F. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Chatcolet Lake fishes to that pattern most years. The first warm days of the year bring fish shallow quickly.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. A made slipway is half a mile from here, which settles the boat question. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. A platform or pier sits within half a mile. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Round Lake at 1.1 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Chatcolet Lake.