Cottontail Lake is a lake in Idaho, near Lincoln County.
Cottontail Lake is a lake in Lincoln County, Idaho.
Use the shape you can see at Cottontail Lake: check the best cover, the first drop, and one open-water line before moving.
During the final pass near a narrow cove while the water is rising, the fish mix is not confirmed, so check fresh local information before choosing a target or keeping a catch.
On a careful second pass near a narrow cove before changing areas, begin with one slow bottom presentation and one moving bait, then let bites show whether fish are holding close to cover or roaming open water.
On an overcast morning near a small drop where two features meet, do not let the deepest number control the whole day; nearby cover, firm bottom, and food usually matter more than the deepest hole by itself.
While using a simple two-depth check near the mouth of a pocket where food is present, early in the year, protected water and the first warm afternoon can be the best clues; as the water heats up, check deeper edges without assuming every fish is on the bottom; cooling fall water often makes points and firm banks useful again.
On a careful second pass near a shaded bank close to shade, a medium spinning rod, 8-pound line, a small box of jigs, a few crankbaits, and a simple bottom rig cover most situations; change depth or speed before changing every piece of tackle.
On a careful second pass near a protected point close to shade, record the wind, water color, depth where the bait worked, and cover after a bite; those four notes are more useful on the next trip than a long list of spots that did not produce.
Explore nearby waters, including local Featured destinations. Check each page for access and fishing restrictions.
Distances are straight-line estimates between mapped water locations.