Fishing at Long Lake, Idaho County, Idaho

• Overview

  Long Lake lies in Idaho County, Idaho. It stands 7,795 feet above sea level. About 16 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. The closest town, McCall, is 17 miles distant. It is 105 miles to Boise, the nearest city. Other water nearby: South Lake some 0.4 miles off, East Lake sits 0.7 miles out, Trail Lake some 2.6 miles off, Frog Lake sits 3 miles out and Marge Lake some 3.4 miles off. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Idaho County cover rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and cutthroat trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Long Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 53°F, while December sits near 17°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid May. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid May in spring and again near mid November in autumn. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. The season on Long Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. 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. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Failing this one, try South Lake, 0.4 miles away. Nothing here settles the position at Long Lake for certain.