Fishing Middle Trilby Lake in Idaho County, Idaho

• Overview

  Idaho holds Middle Trilby Lake, in Idaho County. What surrounds it is pine and birch. About 7 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. The closest town, Hamilton, is 57 miles away. The nearest city of size is Boise, 153 miles away. Within a short run: Lower Trilby Lake some 0.3 miles off, Upper Trilby Lake (0.4 miles), Spread Point Lake some 1.2 miles off, Bleak Creek Lake (1.4 miles) and Saddle Lake some 2.7 miles off. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Middle Trilby Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Species logged across Idaho County include rainbow trout, Chinook salmon, cutthroat trout, bull trout and brook trout. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. The near bank of Middle Trilby Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 19°F in December up to 56°F in July. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early May. Break-up sits around early May on average, with the water closing again about mid November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. The season on Middle Trilby Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Lower Trilby Lake is 0.3 miles off. Rules at Middle Trilby Lake are worth checking on the day.