Hamilton Lakes, Idaho: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Idaho holds Hamilton Lakes, in Idaho County. The surface lies 7,454 feet up. Small at around 7 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Supplies mean a trip to Salmon, 52 miles off. Further out sit Hamilton (58 miles) and Grangeville (68 miles). Also worth knowing: Swet Lake within 1.4 miles, Dennis Lakes about 2.5 miles, Thirteen Lakes within 3.6 miles, Lost Packer Lake about 5.7 miles and Elk Track Lakes within 5.8 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Hamilton Lakes

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Species logged across Idaho County include rainbow trout, Chinook salmon, cutthroat trout, bull trout and brook trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Take Hamilton Lakes a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 18°F to 53°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Look for the thaw near mid May; the fishing lifts straight after. From about mid May to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Expect Hamilton Lakes to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. 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. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Swet Lake, 1.4 miles away. None of that is settled for Hamilton Lakes in what we hold.