Fishing Purgatory Lake in Adams County, Idaho

• Overview

  Purgatory Lake belongs to Adams County, Idaho. Rolling bush runs right down to the water. At 4 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Our Adams County list holds plenty of bigger water. Joseph sits 33 miles from the bank. McCall is 36 miles and Enterprise 36 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Purgatory Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for Adams County list rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, Coho salmon, yellow perch and sockeye salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Read Purgatory Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 52°F for August and 20°F for December. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid May. Break-up near mid May, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Plan around that when you fish Purgatory Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Triangle Lake is 0.6 miles off. Ask locally about Purgatory Lake if anything is unclear.