Martin Lake, Idaho: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Martin Lake lies within the bounds of Custer County, Idaho. It sits at 6,949 feet above sea level. Small at around 6 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Most waters listed here for Custer County are larger. Nearest town is Challis, 53 miles off. For a city, Boise is 66 miles off. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Martin Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Custer County records list rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and Chinook salmon among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Martin Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 18°F in December to roughly 55°F in July. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid May. Ice clears near mid May and comes back about mid November in a typical year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Time your trip to Martin Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Bull Trout Lake, 0.6 miles out. Treat Martin Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.