Norton Lake Fishing in Valley County, Idaho

• Overview

  This water sits in Valley County, Idaho. The water sits 8,222 feet up. A splashy cast here empties the swim; a quiet one owns it. On size it sits at the modest end of our Valley County list. Challis lies 42 miles from the water. Boise is the closest city, 109 miles away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Norton Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Valley County records list rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and Coho salmon among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. The near bank of Norton Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 56°F for July and 18°F for December. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early May. Climate figures give an open season running early May to mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Norton Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Grouse Lake sits 11 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at Norton Lake are worth checking on the day.