Fishing Heart Lake in Blaine County, Idaho

• Overview

  Heart Lake sits within Blaine County in Idaho. It sits at 8,586 feet above sea level. At 14 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Sun Valley lies 36 miles from the water. Boise is the closest city, 64 miles away. Also on the doorstep: Little Spangle Lake (1.7 miles), Vernon Lake lies 1.7 miles on, Spangle Lake (1.9 miles), Ardeth Lake lies 1.9 miles on and Toxaway Lake (2.1 miles). No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Heart Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Blaine County records list rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and Arctic grayling among the fish reported. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. The shape of Heart Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 16°F in December up to 51°F in July. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early June. Ice clears near early June and comes back about early November in a typical year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Plan any trip to Heart Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Little Spangle Lake at 1.7 miles is the nearest alternative. The position on Heart Lake is worth confirming on the day.