Lily Lake, Idaho: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Idaho, Lily Lake belongs to Custer County. Height above sea level is 6,745 feet. Small enough that any disturbance crosses the whole surface. On size it sits at the modest end of our Custer County list. Sun Valley is the closest town at 41 miles. Further out sit Ketchum (41 miles) and Challis (46 miles). There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lily Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Custer County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and Chinook salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Take Lily Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 54°F in July and bottoms out near 16°F in December. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Once it clears, about mid May, the fishing comes on quickly. The open-water window runs from around mid May to about mid November in an average year. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Lily Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. There is a mapped landing stage half a mile away. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Bench Lakes is 0.9 miles off. The position on Lily Lake is worth confirming on the day.