Fishing in Idaho (United States) ➡️️️️ Explore fishing spots and reports

Q: 📜 What are the fishing regulations in Idaho, United States?

Fishing regulations in Idaho, United States vary by region, species, and season. Rules may include size limits, bag limits, licensing requirements, and protected areas. Because regulations are managed locally and can change throughout the year, it's important to check the latest official guidance before fishing. To stay up to date and avoid guesswork, use the Fishbrain app to explore local rules, discover popular waters, and see what other anglers are catching across United States.

Fishing in Idaho requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Licenses include resident and non-resident, daily, annual, or combination permits, available online or at license vendors.

In Idaho, no fishing license is required for anglers under 14 or residents 65 and older. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license
Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations
Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

Latest Idaho fishing reports

Largemouth bass

Rotary Pond Park (Caldwell Idaho Rotary Pond)

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Smallmouth bass

Twin Falls Main Canal

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Largemouth bass

Fuller Park Fishing Pond

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Smallmouth bass

Twin Falls Main Canal

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Kleiner Pond

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Green sunfish

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Smallmouth bass

Lake Coeur d'Alene

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Fishing regulations in Idaho

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Idaho can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Smallmouth bass as of June 3rd, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Select species

Smallmouth bass

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

Min size

12"

Measurement

Total Length

Aggregate

Daily bag limits apply to all waters of the Southwest Region except as modified in Southwest Region Special Rule Waters. The possession limit is 3-times the daily bag limit.All waters open all year except as modified in Southwest Region Special Rule WatersFor more information please see https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/fish p 20-21

Special Rule Waters for the Southwest Region

Ben Ross Reservoir

Bass limit is 2, none between 12 and 16 inches

Big Creek

Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
No bait allowed, barbless hooks required

Boise River from the mouth upstream to Lucky Peak Dam (lower Boise River)Section: From the downstream side of the East Parkcenter Bridge to the upstream side of the West Parkcenter Bridge

Trout limit is 2, none under 14 inches

All other sections of the lower Boise River

Southwest Region general rules apply

Boise River, Middle ForkSection: From the confluence of the North Fork upstream to Atlanta Dam

Trout limit is 2, none under 14 inches
No bait allowed, barbless hooks required

All other sections of the Boise River, Middle Fork

Southwest Region general rules apply

Boise River, South ForkSection: From Neal Bridge (Forest Road 189) upstream to Anderson Ranch Dam

No bait allowed, one barbless hook per fly or lure

December 1 through March 31

trout limit is 0, catch-and-release

April 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend

closed to fishing

Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30

trout limit 2, none under 20 inches

Section: Boise River, South Fork upstream of Anderson Ranch Dam

see Magic Valley Region rules (Page 25)

Brundage Reservoir and tributaries

Trout limit is 2, none over 14 inches No bait allowed

Cascade Aquarium Pond

Closed to fishing

Chamberlain Creek and tributaries

Trout limit is 2
Crane Falls Lake
Electric motors only
Bass limit is 2, none under 20 inches

Deadwood Reservoir

Kokanee limit is 15

Deadwood Reservoir tributaries

Trout limit is 2
Kokanee limit is 15

Dick Knox Pond

Bass limit is 2, none under 20 inches

Duck Valley Indian Reservationcontact the Duck Valley Indian Tribal OfficeLake LowellJanuary 1 to June 30

bass limit is 0, catch-and- release

July 1 to December 31

bass limit is 2, none between 12 and 16 inches

Little Payette Lake

Bass limit is 2, none under 20 inches Kokanee limit is 25

Little Salmon River

Southwest Region general rules apply

Louie Lake (an alpine lake in the Boulder Creek drainage)

Trout limit is 2, none under 20 inches
No bait allowed, barbless hooks required

McDevitt Pond

Trout limit is 2

Middle Fork Salmon River (see Salmon River, Middle Fork and tributaries) M.K. Nature Center

Closed to fishing

Owyhee River and tributaries

Bass limit is 6, any size

Oxbow Reservoir (between Brownlee Dam and Oxbow Dam)

Bass limit is 2, none between 12 and 16 inches

Parkcenter Pond

Trout limit is 2

Payette River, North ForkSection: From Payette Lake upstream, including tributaries

Kokanee limit is 0, catch-and-release

Section: From Smylie Bridge (Hartsell) to Payette LakeDecember 1 to Friday of Memorial Day weekend

trout limit is 0, catch-and-release

All other sections of the Payette River, North Fork

Southwest Region general rules apply

Payette River, South Fork and tributaries (except the Middle Fork Payette drainage)

Trout limit is 2

Rapid River and tributaries (tributary to the Little Salmon River)

Trout limit is 2

Roosevelt Lake

Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
No bait allowed, barbless hooks required

Sage Hen Reservoir tributariesDecember 1 through June 15

closed to fishing

June 16 through November 30

trout limit is 2

Salmon River

Trout limit is 6; only trout with a clipped adipose fin, as evidenced by a healed scar, may be kept; no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
No bag, size or possession limits on bass

Salmon River tributaries

No bag, size or possession limits on bass

Section: Those tributaries from the mouth of the Salmon River upstream to the mouth of the Middle Fork Salmon River (except Little Salmon River and South Fork Salmon River)

Trout limit is 2

Section: Those tributaries upstream of the mouth of Middle Fork Salmon River

See Page 40, Salmon River tributaries, Special Rule Waters.

Salmon River, Middle Fork and tributaries (includes: Bear Valley, Big, Camas, Elk, Loon, Marsh, Sulphur creeks, and tributaries)

Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
No bait allowed, barbless hooks required No bag, size or possession limits on bass

Salmon River, South Fork and tributaries (includes: Johnson Creek, East Fork South Fork Salmon River, Secesh River, Lake Creek, Summit Creek and tributaries)

Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
No bait allowed, barbless hooks required No bag, size or possession limits on bass

Squaw Creek and tributaries

Trout limit is 2

Stibnite Pond (Glory Hole)

Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
No bait allowed, barbless hooks required

Warren Creek

Trout limit is 2

Weiser Community Pond

Trout limit is 2

Wilson Springs Ponds (all waters within the Wilson Springs access area including Wilson Drain)

Trout limit is 2

For more information please see https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/fish (See Pages 20-21 for details)

Micropterus dolomieui

Special Rule Waters for the Southwest Region

Ben Ross Reservoir

Bass limit is 2, none between 12 and 16 inches

Big Creek

Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
No bait allowed, barbless hooks required

Boise River from the mouth upstream to Lucky Peak Dam (lower Boise River)Section: From the downstream side of the East Parkcenter Bridge to the upstream side of the West Parkcenter Bridge

Trout limit is 2, none under 14 inches

All other sections of the lower Boise River

Southwest Region general rules apply

Boise River, Middle ForkSection: From the confluence of the North Fork upstream to Atlanta Dam

Trout limit is 2, none under 14 inches
No bait allowed, barbless hooks required

All other sections of the Boise River, Middle Fork

Southwest Region general rules apply

Boise River, South ForkSection: From Neal Bridge (Forest Road 189) upstream to Anderson Ranch Dam

No bait allowed, one barbless hook per fly or lure

December 1 through March 31

trout limit is 0, catch-and-release

April 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend

closed to fishing

Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30

trout limit 2, none under 20 inches

Section: Boise River, South Fork upstream of Anderson Ranch Dam

see Magic Valley Region rules (Page 25)

Brundage Reservoir and tributaries

Trout limit is 2, none over 14 inches No bait allowed

Cascade Aquarium Pond

Closed to fishing

Chamberlain Creek and tributaries

Trout limit is 2
Crane Falls Lake
Electric motors only
Bass limit is 2, none under 20 inches

Deadwood Reservoir

Kokanee limit is 15

Deadwood Reservoir tributaries

Trout limit is 2
Kokanee limit is 15

Dick Knox Pond

Bass limit is 2, none under 20 inches

Duck Valley Indian Reservationcontact the Duck Valley Indian Tribal OfficeLake LowellJanuary 1 to June 30

bass limit is 0, catch-and- release

July 1 to December 31

bass limit is 2, none between 12 and 16 inches

Little Payette Lake

Bass limit is 2, none under 20 inches Kokanee limit is 25

Little Salmon River

Southwest Region general rules apply

Louie Lake (an alpine lake in the Boulder Creek drainage)

Trout limit is 2, none under 20 inches
No bait allowed, barbless hooks required

McDevitt Pond

Trout limit is 2

Middle Fork Salmon River (see Salmon River, Middle Fork and tributaries) M.K. Nature Center

Closed to fishing

Owyhee River and tributaries

Bass limit is 6, any size

Oxbow Reservoir (between Brownlee Dam and Oxbow Dam)

Bass limit is 2, none between 12 and 16 inches

Parkcenter Pond

Trout limit is 2

Payette River, North ForkSection: From Payette Lake upstream, including tributaries

Kokanee limit is 0, catch-and-release

Section: From Smylie Bridge (Hartsell) to Payette LakeDecember 1 to Friday of Memorial Day weekend

trout limit is 0, catch-and-release

All other sections of the Payette River, North Fork

Southwest Region general rules apply

Payette River, South Fork and tributaries (except the Middle Fork Payette drainage)

Trout limit is 2

Rapid River and tributaries (tributary to the Little Salmon River)

Trout limit is 2

Roosevelt Lake

Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
No bait allowed, barbless hooks required

Sage Hen Reservoir tributariesDecember 1 through June 15

closed to fishing

June 16 through November 30

trout limit is 2

Salmon River

Trout limit is 6; only trout with a clipped adipose fin, as evidenced by a healed scar, may be kept; no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
No bag, size or possession limits on bass

Salmon River tributaries

No bag, size or possession limits on bass

Section: Those tributaries from the mouth of the Salmon River upstream to the mouth of the Middle Fork Salmon River (except Little Salmon River and South Fork Salmon River)

Trout limit is 2

Section: Those tributaries upstream of the mouth of Middle Fork Salmon River

See Page 40, Salmon River tributaries, Special Rule Waters.

Salmon River, Middle Fork and tributaries (includes: Bear Valley, Big, Camas, Elk, Loon, Marsh, Sulphur creeks, and tributaries)

Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
No bait allowed, barbless hooks required No bag, size or possession limits on bass

Salmon River, South Fork and tributaries (includes: Johnson Creek, East Fork South Fork Salmon River, Secesh River, Lake Creek, Summit Creek and tributaries)

Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
No bait allowed, barbless hooks required No bag, size or possession limits on bass

Squaw Creek and tributaries

Trout limit is 2

Stibnite Pond (Glory Hole)

Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
No bait allowed, barbless hooks required

Warren Creek

Trout limit is 2

Weiser Community Pond

Trout limit is 2

Wilson Springs Ponds (all waters within the Wilson Springs access area including Wilson Drain)

Trout limit is 2

For more information please see https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/fish (See Pages 20-21 for details)

Regulations for

43°36′49.5″N 116°14′15.5″W

Regulations in the map

FAQ about Idaho fishing

Fishing regulations in Idaho, United States vary by location, species, and season. Rules may include size limits, bag limits, licensing requirements, and protected areas. Because regulations are managed locally and can change throughout the year, it's important to check the latest official guidance before fishing.

To stay up to date and avoid guesswork, use the to explore local rules, discover popular waters, and see what other anglers are catching across United States.

Some of the most popular species anglers target in Idaho, United States include Smallmouth bass, Rainbow trout, and Largemouth bass. The best species often depend on season, water type, and location within the country.

For more detailed, real-time insights, the shows which species are being caught near you and what baits are working best across United States.

Some of the most popular fishing spots in Idaho, United States include Spokane River, Lake Lowell, and Snake River (WA / ID). Anglers across the country fish a wide range of waters, with opportunities varying by region and season.

With the , you can explore local hotspots anywhere in United States, see recent catches, and find out what's working near you.

Fishing in Idaho

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