Fishing Heather Lake in Shoshone County, Idaho

• Overview

  In Idaho, Heather Lake falls inside Shoshone County. Height above sea level is 6,138 feet. Small at around 7 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. For a base, Plains sits 39 miles out. Then Thompson Falls, 45 miles, and Frenchtown, 49 miles. More in the same country: Copper Lake 0.7 miles away, Tin lake some 0.7 miles off, Gold Lake 0.7 miles away, Silver Lake some 1 mile off and Bacon Lake 1.1 miles away. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Heather Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records held for Shoshone County cover rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, Arctic grayling, brook trout and brown trout. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Heather Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year August sits at 58°F and January at 21°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about late November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Plan any trip to Heather Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Copper Lake, 0.7 miles away. For Heather Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.