McDonald Lake Fishing Guide, Custer County, Idaho

• Overview

  Set in Custer County, McDonald Lake is an Idaho water. Elevation runs to 7,113 feet. For supplies, Sun Valley is 34 miles out. Ketchum lies 34 miles off, Hailey another 44 miles. Not far off: Yellow Belly Lake after 0.7 miles, Pettit Lake 1.4 miles off, Farley Lake after 2.5 miles, Hell Roaring Lake 2.9 miles off and Imogene Lake after 3.2 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on McDonald Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Public occurrence data for Custer County names rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, Chinook salmon and sockeye salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At McDonald Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 16°F in December up to 55°F in July. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid May. The season between ice runs from about mid May to mid November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. On McDonald Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Yellow Belly Lake is 0.7 miles off. None of that is settled for McDonald Lake in what we hold.