Fishing at Gnat Lake, Clearwater County, Idaho

• Overview

  Set in Clearwater County, Idaho, this is Gnat Lake. The bank gives way to lake country bush. About 4 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Our Clearwater County list holds plenty of bigger water. The closest town, Osburn, is 42 miles distant. Beyond it, Thompson Falls at 45 miles and Orofino at 46 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Gnat Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Species logged across Clearwater County include rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, Chinook salmon, Arctic grayling and brook trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Gnat Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 23°F and August at about 60°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. On average, mid April opens the water and late November closes it again. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. The season on Gnat Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Hero Lake is 0.3 miles distant. Confirm before you fish Gnat Lake.