Hidden Lake in Lemhi County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Hidden Lake lies in Lemhi County, in Idaho. Elevation runs to 8,120 feet. About 7 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. The closest town, Salmon, is 15 miles away. After that come Dillon at 52 miles and Challis at 64 miles. Water in the same corner: Lena Lake some 1.3 miles off, Ajax Lake sits 1.7 miles out, Slag-a-melt Lakes some 1.8 miles off, Albino Lake sits 1.9 miles out and Little Lake some 2.7 miles off. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Hidden Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Survey and observation records for Lemhi County include rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and Chinook salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At Hidden Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 18°F in December up to 52°F in July. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Winter locks it down, and late May brings it back. In an average year the thaw lands around late May and the freeze near early November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Hidden Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Lena Lake is 1.3 miles distant. Check the current arrangement for Hidden Lake.