Hurst Lake, Idaho: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Idaho County, Idaho, is where Hurst Lake sits. This is mixed forest country. Surface area runs to about 3 acres — small enough to read in one session. Our Idaho County list holds plenty of bigger water. For supplies, Grangeville is 34 miles out. Beyond it, McCall at 45 miles and Kamiah at 51 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Hurst Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Idaho County records list rainbow trout, Chinook salmon, cutthroat trout, bull trout and brook trout among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Hurst Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 53°F, while December sits near 18°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Break-up comes around mid May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Ice usually gives way near mid May, and forms again about mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Plan around that when you fish Hurst Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Quartzite Lake at 0.8 miles is the sensible second choice. Ask locally about Hurst Lake if anything is unclear.