Spruce Lake Fishing in Idaho County, Idaho

• Overview

  Spruce Lake sits within Idaho County in Idaho. The water sits 6,690 feet up. At 12 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Supplies mean a trip to Hamilton, 20 miles off. It is 176 miles to Spokane, the nearest city. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge. Ground round the water is easy walking in most parts.

• Where to Fish on Spruce Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Fish documented in Idaho County include 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. The shape of Spruce Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 56°F and December reads 18°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Spruce Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. 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. Look for a notice board at the entrance. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Coquina Lake is 1.2 miles distant. Ask locally about Spruce Lake if anything is unclear.