Upper Payette Lake in Idaho County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Upper Payette Lake lies in Idaho County, in Idaho. The ground round it is lake country bush. Roughly 311 acres of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. The outline measures near 3.9 miles, so local knowledge counts. Nothing else we list in Idaho County covers more water. For supplies, McCall is 15 miles out. Further out sit Grangeville (55 miles) and Joseph (61 miles). It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Upper Payette Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Across Idaho County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and cutthroat trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Read Upper Payette Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 18°F in December up to 54°F in July. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Break-up comes around early May, and the run that follows is short and strong. The water is typically free of ice between early May and mid November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. On Upper Payette Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Public data records a boat ramp half a mile out. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. Overnight stays are possible half a mile away. Toilets show in mapping about 0.9 miles away. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Granite Lake, 3.4 miles out. Rules at Upper Payette Lake are worth checking on the day.