Fish Lake Fishing near Hamilton, Idaho

• Overview

  Fish Lake is an Idaho County water, in Idaho. It sits in rolling bush country. With some 56 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Shoreline comes to about 1.4 miles, small enough to learn in a day. It ranks high for size among our Idaho County listings. The nearest place of any size is Hamilton, 43 miles away. After that come Kamiah at 47 miles and Stevensville at 47 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Fish Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Species logged across Idaho County include rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and cutthroat trout. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Fish Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 57°F for August and 19°F for December. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early May. Ice usually gives way near early May, and forms again about mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Fish Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Eagle Mountain Lake at 3 miles is the sensible second choice. Where Fish Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.