Walsh Lake Fishing Guide, Bonner County, Idaho

• Overview

  Bonner County, Idaho, is where Walsh Lake sits. It lies 2,133 feet above sea level. At 18 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. With about 1.0 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. It lies lower than most water we list in Idaho. Head to Ponderay, 8.9 miles away, for anything you forgot. Beyond it, Sandpoint at 11 miles and Bonners Ferry at 20 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Walsh Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records held for Bonner County cover rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, sockeye salmon and brook trout. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Fish Walsh Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 26°F in January and 65°F in July. In milder years the surface never sets. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Walsh Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out. Overcast days spread the fishing across more hours.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Public data has parking about half a mile from the shore. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try McArthur Lake, 6 miles away. Rules at Walsh Lake are worth checking on the day.