Upper Payette Lake is a reservoir in Idaho, near Valley County.
Stocking records show that the following fish or strains were stocked here. A historical stocking does not by itself prove that a self-sustaining population remains today.
Upper Payette Lake is a reservoir in Valley County, Idaho.
The recorded size of Upper Payette Lake is missing; fish one short bank carefully before deciding whether a wider search makes sense.
Fish listed for Upper Payette Lake include Brook Trout, Largescale Sucker, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout, Redside Shiner, and Splake.
On a calm morning near a firm-bottom flat where food is present, cast a small spoon, inline spinner, light jig, or fly through cool water for rainbow trout.
Cutthroat Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Splake, and Westslope Cutthroat Trout have also been stocked here; that proves fish were released, but it does not promise that they are still common or easy to catch.
On a quick scouting pass near the edge of deeper water with light wind, 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 a shaded bank with a slow lure, 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 quick scouting pass near the mouth of a pocket before changing areas, a light spinning rod, thin line, a few small spoons, inline spinners, and jigs cover the listed trout; carry one slightly heavier setup when other fish or windy water call for more control.
On a calm morning near a firm-bottom flat after a cold night, record the wind, water color, depth of the working lure, 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.