Mary Lake, Idaho: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  This water sits in Idaho County, Idaho. Elevation runs to 6,637 feet. You are 28 miles from McCall. The big place round here is Boise, 117 miles distant. Not far off: Gay Lake at 0.2 miles, John Lake some 0.3 miles off, Piper Lake at 0.4 miles, Goat Lake some 0.9 miles off and Elk Lake at 1.2 miles. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Mary 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. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Idaho County records list rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and cutthroat trout among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The shape of Mary Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 20°F to 53°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Ice-out usually falls in mid May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Open water usually runs from mid May until about mid November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Mary Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. For a change of water, Gay Lake is 0.2 miles distant. Confirm before you fish Mary Lake.