Papoose Lakes Fishing in Valley County, Idaho

• Overview

  In Idaho, Papoose Lakes falls inside Valley County. Beyond the shoreline you have rolling bush. This is a pocket water of some 6 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. McCall lies 41 miles from the water. For a city, Boise is 94 miles off. Alternatives close at hand: Buck Lake just 0.7 miles, Meadow Creek Lake (6.7 miles), Pistol Lake just 8.1 miles, Riordan Lake (8.8 miles) and Roosevelt Lake just 13 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Papoose Lakes

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Valley County records list rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, Coho salmon and Arctic grayling among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Fish Papoose Lakes to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 54°F; by December the average is down near 17°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid May. Climate figures give an open season running mid May to mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Papoose Lakes runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Failing this one, try Buck Lake, 0.7 miles away. For Papoose Lakes in particular, ask before you travel.