Steep Lakes Fishing in Clearwater County, Idaho

• Overview

  Steep Lakes is a Clearwater County water, Idaho side. Height above sea level is 6,578 feet. At 6 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Frenchtown sits 35 miles from the bank. After that come Plains at 41 miles and Lolo at 42 miles. Within a short run: Straight Lake roughly 1.1 miles, Siamese Lakes within 2.1 miles, Goose Lake roughly 2.9 miles, Fish Lake within 4.3 miles and Dalton Lake roughly 4.3 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Steep Lakes

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Survey and observation records for Clearwater County include rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and Chinook salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. At Steep Lakes the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 57°F for August and 20°F for January. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. On average, late April opens the water and mid November closes it again. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. That is the shape of the year on Steep Lakes.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, Straight Lake at 1.1 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Steep Lakes are worth checking on the day.