Payette Lake, ID

About Payette Lake

Payette Lake is a deep, cold glacial lake sitting at roughly 5,000 feet of elevation on the edge of the resort town of McCall in west-central Idaho. Covering about 5,300 acres with depths plunging well past 300 feet in its main basin, it is a classic cold-water alpine fishery surrounded by pine forest, granite shoreline, and the gentle traffic of summer boaters and paddlers. Its strikingly clear, frigid water shapes everything about how it fishes: the gamefish here run cold and deep, and anglers who understand the thermocline tend to do far better than those who simply cast from the bank.

The lake is best known as a year-round trout and char destination. Lake trout (mackinaw) and kokanee salmon are the two species that draw the most dedicated effort, with stocked and holdover rainbow trout adding a more accessible layer of action. Because Payette Lake is the headwaters of the North Fork Payette River and is fed by cold mountain inflow, water temperatures stay low enough to support these species through the warm months, when the fish simply slide deeper. For anglers willing to fish vertically or troll with downriggers and leadcore, it offers a genuine shot at a memorable lake trout or a cooler full of sweet-eating kokanee.

Fish Species

Payette Lake supports a cold-water fishery with a few clear standouts and several supporting players:

• Lake trout (mackinaw) — The marquee fish for serious anglers. These deep-dwelling char can grow large and are pursued by trolling and vertical jigging in the lake's deep main basin.
• Kokanee salmon — Landlocked sockeye that school in open water. They are a huge draw for their fight, their numbers, and their excellent table quality. Their abundance varies year to year with natural cycles.
• Rainbow trout — The most accessible target, often supported by stocking. They provide reliable action for bank anglers and casual trollers, especially in the cooler months and around inflows.
• Other species — Anglers may also encounter whitefish (mountain whitefish), and the lake has historically held bull trout, a protected native char that must be released unharmed if caught. Always know how to identify bull trout before keeping any char.

If you want the defining Payette Lake experience, focus on lake trout and kokanee — they are what this water is genuinely known for.

Best Seasons & Times

Spring (ice-out through May): As the ice releases and surface water is still cold, trout and even lake trout cruise relatively shallow, and this is one of the best windows to take mackinaw on jigs or shallow-trolled lures without downriggers. Rainbows are active near inflows and along shorelines. Early morning and the hours around dusk are most productive.

Summer (June through August): As the surface warms and the thermocline sets up, the cold-water fish drop down. Kokanee fishing peaks, with schools holding at predictable depths — find them with electronics and you can fill a limit. Lake trout go deep, requiring downriggers, leadcore, or vertical jigging over the main basin. Fish early and late to beat both the heat and the heavy recreational boat traffic that builds through the day.

Fall (September through October): Cooling water pulls fish back up and feeding intensifies ahead of winter. Kokanee begin staging and changing color as they near spawning, and lake trout become more aggressive. This is a strong, less-crowded season once summer crowds thin out.

Winter (when safe ice forms): In years with stable ice, anglers jig for trout and lake trout through the ice. Ice conditions on a deep mountain lake are never guaranteed and can be inconsistent — never venture out without confirming current, local ice safety.

Techniques & Baits

Match your approach to the depth the fish are holding — electronics are a major advantage on Payette Lake's deep, clear water.

• Lake trout: Troll the main basin with downriggers or leadcore line running spoons, large flatfish-style plugs, or flashers ahead of a trailing lure. When you mark fish on the bottom, vertical jigging with heavy tube jigs, soft-plastic swimbaits, or spoons tipped with bait is deadly. Work them right on or near the bottom in the cold deep zones.
• Kokanee: Troll slowly with a small dodger or flasher trailed by a pink, orange, or chartreuse hoochie, micro-spoon, or wedding-ring spinner tipped with shoepeg corn (often scented). Run downriggers to reach the schools and adjust depth until you connect, then stay on that level. Their soft mouths call for a soft rod tip and steady pressure.
• Rainbow trout: Bank anglers do well with bait suspended under a bobber or fished on the bottom, plus small spinners and spoons. Trollers can pull flashers and worm harnesses or small plugs in the upper water column, especially in spring and fall when rainbows are shallow.

In water this clear, lighter leaders, natural presentations, and low-light timing all help. Scent and fresh, lively bait can make a real difference on tentative cold-water fish.

Access & Launches

Payette Lake sits right at McCall, which makes it one of the more accessible mountain lakes in Idaho. There are public boat launch facilities on the lake suited to trailered boats, plus shoreline and day-use areas associated with the surrounding state park lands and public access points around town. The McCall waterfront offers spots where bank anglers and visitors can reach the water, and the lake is popular with kayakers and paddlers as well.

Because the lake is heavily used for swimming, boating, and paddling in summer, anglers should plan to fish early or late to avoid the busiest recreational hours and to find calmer, more productive conditions. Launch fees, parking, and seasonal access can vary by site and time of year, so check current local information before you go. Always confirm boat-launch availability and any watercraft inspection or invasive-species requirements that may apply in Idaho.

Regulations & Licenses

A valid Idaho fishing license is required for anglers of the appropriate age, and it must be carried while fishing. Payette Lake is managed under Idaho Department of Fish and Game rules, which include season dates, gear restrictions, and bag, slot, and size limits that can differ by species and can change from year to year. Lake trout, kokanee, and trout may each carry their own limits.

Critically, native bull trout are a protected species and generally must be released unharmed — learn to distinguish them from lake trout before keeping any char. Always review the current Idaho fishing regulations for this water before your trip, and follow any special rules covering harvest limits, gear, and protected species. When in doubt, release the fish and verify the rule.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish is Payette Lake best known for?
Payette Lake is best known for lake trout (mackinaw) and kokanee salmon, both cold-water species that thrive in its deep, clear, frigid water. Stocked rainbow trout provide more accessible action for bank anglers and casual trollers.

Do you need a boat to fish Payette Lake?
A boat greatly expands your options, since lake trout and kokanee hold in deep open water best reached by trolling with downriggers or leadcore. That said, bank anglers near McCall and around inflows can catch rainbow trout, especially in spring and fall when fish are shallower and water is cold.

When is the best time to fish Payette Lake?
Spring just after ice-out and fall are excellent, with fish shallower and feeding aggressively and fewer recreational boaters. Summer offers strong kokanee fishing and deep lake trout if you fish early and late and use electronics to find the right depth below the thermocline.

How do you catch kokanee on Payette Lake?
Troll slowly with a small dodger or flasher ahead of a pink, orange, or chartreuse hoochie, micro-spoon, or wedding-ring tipped with scented corn. Use downriggers to reach the schools, dial in their depth with your sonar, and keep steady pressure since kokanee have soft mouths.