Shining Lake Fishing in Idaho County, Idaho

• Overview

  The Idaho County end of Idaho holds Shining Lake. It stands 7,428 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 10 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. For supplies, Grangeville is 32 miles out. After that come McCall at 48 miles and Kamiah at 49 miles. Not far off: Half Acre Lake at 0.7 miles, 1.6 miles away is Deer Lake, Brandon Lakes at 2.2 miles, 2.4 miles away is Round Lake and Quartzite Lake at 2.7 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Shining Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Survey and observation records for Idaho County include rainbow trout, Chinook salmon, cutthroat trout and bull trout. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Shining Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 53°F and December at 18°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid May. In an average year the thaw lands around mid May and the freeze near mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. On Shining Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Half Acre Lake, 0.7 miles out. Nothing here settles the position at Shining Lake for certain.