Papoose Lake in Idaho County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Papoose Lake falls in Idaho County, part of Idaho. Around the bank it is rolling bush. On water this small, stealth matters more than range. Most waters listed here for Idaho County are larger. Joseph lies 36 miles from the water. Boise is the closest city, 123 miles away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Papoose Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Reported across Idaho County: 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. Papoose Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 23°F in December up to 56°F in August. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Open water usually runs from late April until about late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. That is the shape of the year on Papoose Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. If the gate is shut, Seven Devils Lake at 3.4 miles is the nearest alternative. What applies at Papoose Lake may have changed since it was mapped.