Horse Lake near Richmond: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  This water sits in Bear Lake County, Idaho. The water sits 8,284 feet up. Richmond is the closest town at 15 miles. Salt Lake City sits 89 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Within easy reach: Crescent Lake some 5 miles off, Horse Lake lies 7 miles on, Steam Mill Lake some 7.2 miles off, Bloomington Lake lies 8.1 miles on and Worm Lake some 8.3 miles off. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Horse Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Public occurrence data for Bear Lake County names rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and lake trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Horse Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 57°F and December reads 18°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid May. Ice clears near mid May and comes back about mid November in a typical year. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Horse Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Crescent Lake, 5 miles out. Confirm before you fish Horse Lake.