Fishing at Siah Lake, Idaho County, Idaho

• Overview

  Set in Idaho County, Idaho, this is Siah Lake. Elevation runs to 6,450 feet. The water measures roughly 13 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Nearest town is Stevensville, 17 miles off. Hamilton follows at 23 miles, then Lolo at 24 miles. Others worth noting: Ranger Lake at 1.4 miles, Beaver Lake lies 2.7 miles on, Dan Lake at 3.3 miles, Dodge Lake lies 3.8 miles on and Maud Lake at 4 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Siah Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Across Idaho County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, Chinook salmon, cutthroat trout, bull trout and brook trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. At Siah Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between December at about 19°F and August at about 56°F, the water has a wide range to work through. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early May. Open water usually runs from early May until about mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. The season on Siah Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Ranger Lake at 1.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the current arrangement for Siah Lake.