Sheep Spring Lake in Idaho County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Sheep Spring Lake belongs to Idaho County, Idaho. What surrounds it is mixed forest. Small at around 3 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Most waters listed here for Idaho County are larger. The closest town, Grangeville, is 55 miles away. The big place round here is Boise, 147 miles distant. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Sheep Spring Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and cutthroat trout. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Sheep Spring Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 59°F and January near 21°F on the long-run figures. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. That is the shape of the year on Sheep Spring Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Goat Lake, 0.7 miles away. Rules at Sheep Spring Lake are worth checking on the day.