Fishing at Kid Lake, Clearwater County, Idaho

• Overview

  Clearwater County, Idaho, is where Kid Lake sits. Height above sea level is 6,237 feet. This is a pocket water of some 13 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. The closest town, Frenchtown, is 32 miles away. After that come Lolo at 35 miles and Orchard Homes at 37 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Kid Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and Chinook salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Kid Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put August at about 57°F and December near 20°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early May. Climate figures give an open season running early May to mid November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Kid Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try Cedar Log Lakes, 0.7 miles away. Check the current arrangement for Kid Lake.