Fishing at Timberline Lake, Lemhi County, Idaho

• Overview

  Timberline Lake sits within Lemhi County in Idaho. Elevation runs to 9,147 feet. This is a pocket water of some 7 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Idaho listings. The nearest place of any size is Salmon, 13 miles away. For a city, Boise is 168 miles off. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Timberline Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Lemhi County records list rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and Chinook salmon among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Timberline Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 53°F and January near 18°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Look for the thaw near late May; the fishing lifts straight after. Average temperatures cross freezing around late May in spring and again near early November in autumn. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. At Timberline Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Berry Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. For Timberline Lake in particular, ask before you travel.