Fishing at Round Lake, Idaho County, Idaho

• Overview

  Idaho County, Idaho, is where Round Lake sits. The country round it is lake country bush from end to end. Surface area runs to about 6 acres — small enough to read in one session. Grangeville lies 34 miles from the water. After that come McCall at 48 miles and Kamiah at 50 miles. Also on the doorstep: Deer Lake some 0.7 miles off, Oregon Butte Lake 1.1 miles off, Fawn Lake some 1.9 miles off, Ruby Lake 2.1 miles off and Shining Lake some 2.4 miles off. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Round Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Idaho County records list rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and cutthroat trout among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Round Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 53°F and December near 18°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid May. The water is typically free of ice between mid May and mid November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Time your trip to Round Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Deer Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Signs at Round Lake carry more weight than any list.