Bailey Lake, Idaho: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Idaho County in Idaho is where Bailey Lake sits. Country round the bank runs to mixed forest. Surface area runs to about 12 acres — small enough to read in one session. The nearest place of any size is Hamilton, 19 miles away. The nearest city of size is Spokane, 173 miles away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Bailey Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and cutthroat trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Bailey Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 56°F, the coldest about 18°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The lid usually goes in early May, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. The open-water window runs from around early May to about mid November in an average year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Bailey Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Lower Twin Lake at 1.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Bailey Lake before loading the car.