Fishing at Roosevelt Lake, Valley County, Idaho

• Overview

  In Idaho, Roosevelt Lake belongs to Valley County. The surroundings are pine and birch. The water measures roughly 5 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Valley County. You are 45 miles from McCall. Boise is the closest city, 106 miles away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Roosevelt Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Species logged across Valley County include rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, Coho salmon and Arctic grayling. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Roosevelt Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 18°F in December and 53°F in July. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Once it clears, about mid May, the fishing comes on quickly. Climate figures give an open season running mid May to mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Plan around that when you fish Roosevelt Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Failing this one, try Catherine Lake, 6.5 miles away. Treat Roosevelt Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.