Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Where to go in Idaho?

Going to drag the camper out with the fam this summer. Likely a spot with a lake to screw around and fish.

Any favorite spots? Places to steer clear of?

Cour D’Alene?
Pend Oreille?
Payette?
Dworshak?

Those spots are prolly all very nice. I have seen some nice fish come out of Pend Oreille.
I think, no matter where you go or what you do with your family, count your blessings. Be a happy man and enjoy life.

Take care.

They're all awfully pretty places. Couple seemed more crowded to me than others.

Never fished it, which I'm sorta mad at myself about, but when I lived relatively near to it lots of folks like to go to Dworshak for kokanee fishing to load up the smoker. And it's in a very nice part of the state for sure. If you head there, stop in and see Field Grade!

Enjoy your vacation when it happens, wherever you end up.

Geno

I depends on if you have a boat or not. With a boat Pend Oreille is large enough that you can get away from folks. I stayed at Garfield Bay a few times and used to love to cross and troll the Monarchs area.

Cour D’Alene was too built up for my tastes.

You didn't mention it but if you want to get out of the way, Priest Lake is more remote. It boasts huge lake trout. I caught some large ones there with downriggers. Getting to the lake is a bit tedious as the road is narrow and when I was there many logging trucks were on the road.

I’ve been all over Idaho camping and fishing.

If want to escape people go to Dworshak. Great smally fishing there.

Some pretty areas and decent fishing up by Bonner’s Ferry. Priest lake is beautiful but tough finding last minute spot around there and need a boat.

Don't forget smaller places like Redfish lake, Henry's lake, etc.

I have always liked the St. Maries area. Benewah lake for bass and crappie, Chatcolet for blueback and trout. Head up the St. Joe and visit Avery; fish the river for a chance at some big cuthtroat. GD

Thanks for the ideas, all.

Will have the little 12’ tinny with a kicker. Ain’t looking for the edge of the world type place. Momma is going to want to go into town once or twice I’m sure.

I’m sure it’s all gonna be a crap shoot on finding a spot at this point. Too many damned people.

Might be hard to get reservations this late.
Here's a site you might want to check out
https://www.boondockerswelcome.com/
We have been members since 2012, Have hosted a lot of camper from all over the world.

We host at Remington Ranch, Athol, id.

I’d hit the Clearwater, was there a couple weekends ago. Lots a rivers, streams and lakes to fish. Hit that deer creek res for tiger trout too. We did a little scoutin for bucks too, whitetail are doin good again, headed back over last week of November with a couple tags in my pocket . Take pics let us know what you decided on. Later

Of that list, Payette would likely be the most crowded. Besides being the smallest of the lot, it's close to Boise. None of those lakes are short on beauty.

Crap, I forgot about the smallmouth there. I think the State record came from there awhile back (2013?). If not, then it sure was a big one.

and, while not as good on the smoker, smallies from cold clean water are mighty tasty white flaky fish!

Geno

Yep, Idaho's record smally did come from there, back in '06. 9.7lb, 23.7". If the record was broken in '13, the IDFG hasn't updated their website to show it.

RC, must have just been a big one then. I seem to recall 8.5 lbs or so.

Geno

Shopping civilization? Go to CDA

McCall is very nice. Has some great fishing nearby and a hot springs and ghost town. Stay at the Shore Lodge. Your wife will love you for it.

Priest Lake for the win. There is a passage to Upper Priest Lake as well. Absolutely beautiful area and lake. Not too far to Sandpoint or Cda for mama's town fix. Try Lou's for dinner in Sandpoint . Great place.

If your lady wants to shop

Find and area between CDA and Bonner’s ferry

I’d spend a day at the water park north of CDA. Not a big fan of amusement parks but Very clean and well run.

Lots of smaller lakes to put the boat on up in NID and NE WA.

CDA is only 25 miles from Spokane's shopping...but that's the reason you come to Idaho.

Just to give you an idea about North Idaho and two of the lakes you mentioned..The Coast Guard is coming in for the 4th to patrol CDA lake...I lived and worked in all the places you mentioned and CDA and the vicinity is terrible for all the people from Washington coming over..Makes Payette (McCall) look like a ghost town compared and it gets it's share from Boise....There are some nice lakes to fish around Wallace/Burke etc and there pretty rugged also.

Redfish and Stanley lake are nice and pretty and Dworshak is fairly secluded in some places but the campgrounds fill up on weekends...McCall has a bunch of small mountain lakes to fish around it and camping is much easier than up north....

North Idaho has gone to the dogs from the way it used to be..They can have it..