Blodgett Lake near Hamilton: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Blodgett Lake falls in Idaho County, part of Idaho. The water sits 6,781 feet up. It measures about 26 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Size puts it in the front rank of our Idaho County list. For supplies, Hamilton is 14 miles out. Then Stevensville, 25 miles, and Lolo, 39 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Blodgett Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Species logged across Idaho County 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. The shape of Blodgett Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put August near 55°F and December near 17°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early May. The lid tends to go about early May and return around mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Blodgett Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Moose Lake sits 2.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Where Blodgett Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.