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American Falls Reservoir

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Idaho, United States

4.5·400 catches

Top fish species at American Falls Reservoir

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American Falls Reservoir fishing reports

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Mirror carp

length · weight

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Smallmouth bass

length · weight

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Mirror carp

37 in · 34 lb

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Northern pikeminnow

19 in · 4 lb

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Mirror carp

39 in · 31 lb

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Common carp

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General info

American Falls Reservoir is a lake located in Bannock County, Idaho, United States. It is also intersecting with Bingham County, Idaho. It is most popular for fishing Smallmouth bass, Rainbow trout, and Brown trout.

Location

42°55′11.3″N 112°44′30″W
Directions

Amenities

When are Brown trout biting on American Falls Reservoir?

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Fishing regulations at American Falls Reservoir, ID

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 April 22nd, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Smallmouth bass

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

6

Min size

14"

Measurement

Total Length

Aggregate

6
Daily bag limits apply to all waters of the Southeast Region except as modified in Southeast Region Special Rule Waters. The possession limit is 3-times the daily bag limit.All waters open all year except as modified in Southeast Region Special Rule WatersFor more information please see https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/fish p 31-32

Special Rule Waters for the Southeast Region

American Falls ReservoirBass limit is 2, any sizeBear Lake
  • From the mouth of St. Charles Creek (Little Creek) for a radius of 300 yards into the lake is closed to fishing from April 16 through June 30
  • Not more than 2 baited hooks, flies, or lures per line
  • One line only when ice fishing. Two lines permitted when ice fishing with a two-pole permit
  • Trout limit is 2
  • Cisco limit is 30; dip-netting permitted January 1 through February 15. Dip nets may not exceed 18 inches in any dimension. Any size hole may be cut through the ice to catch cisco
  • Whitefish limit is 10
Bear RiverSection: From the Utah state line upstream to Oneida Narrows Dam
  • Trout limit is 2, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
  • Bass limit is 6, any size
Section: From the confluence with Oneida Narrows Reservoir upstream to the Wyoming state line
  • Trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
Bear River tributaries (all tributaries including the Cub River and Thomas Fork Bear River)
  • Trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
Blackfoot Reservoir
  • Trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout No size, bag, or possession limits on bass
Blackfoot River and tributariesSection: From the confluence with the Snake River upstream to Blackfoot Dam (Government Dam)
  • Southeast Region general rules apply
  • Upstream from Blackfoot Reservoir (includes: Diamond Creek, Lanes Creek, Slug Creek and tributaries)
  • December 1 through June 30 - closed to fishing
  • July 1 through November 30 - trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout, no bait allowed, barbless hooks required
Chesterfield Reservoir
  • Trout limit is 2
Condie Reservoir
  • Bass limit is 2, none under 20 inches
Daniels Reservoir
  • Trout limit is 2, none under 20 inches
  • One line only when ice fishing
  • No bait allowed, barbless hooks required
Deep Creek Reservoir
  • Trout limit is 6, only 2 may be Cutthroat Trout No size, bag or possession limits on Bass
Fish Haven CreekSection: From the confluence with Bear Lake upstream to the Caribou-Targhee National Forest boundary
  • December 1 through June 30 - closed to fishing
  • July 1 through November 30 - Southeast Region general rules apply
Section: Fish Haven Creek upstream of the Caribou- Targhee National Forest boundary 
  • Southeast Region general rules apply
First Creek (tributary to Deep Creek Reservoir)
  • December 1 through June 14 - closed to fishing
  • June 15 through November 30 - Southeast Region general rules apply
Fort Hall Indian Reservation
  • contact Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Office
  • Phone: (208) 236-1137
  • https://www.sbtribes.com/fish-and-game/
Glendale Reservoir
  • Bass limit is 2, none under 16 inches
Little Blackfoot River and tributaries
  • Trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
McCoy Creek and tributaries
  • Trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout Montpelier Reservoir - Electric motors only
Oneida Narrows Reservoir
  • Walleye limit is 6
  • Bass limit is 6, any size
Portneuf RiverSection: From above the East Main Street bridge in Lava Hot Springs upstream to Chesterfield ReservoirDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend
  • trout limit is 0
  • catch-and-release
  • no bait allowed
  • barbless hooks required
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30
  • trout limit is 6
  • no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
Section: From the Fort Hall Indian Reservation boundary upstream to the East Main Street bridge in Lava Hot Springs
  • Southeast Region general rules apply
All sections within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation
  • contact Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Office
  • Phone: (208) 236-1137
  • https://www.sbtribes.com/fish-and-game/
St. Charles CreekSection: St. Charles Creek (including both lower forks) upstream tothe Caribou-Targhee National Forest boundaryDecember 1 through June 30
  • closed to fishing
July 1 through November 30
  • Southeast Region general rules apply
Section: St. Charles Creek upstream of Caribou- Targhee National Forest boundary
  • Southeast Region general rules apply
Snake RiverSection: From the downstream side of the Gifford Springs boat fishing zone (western boundary in Minnidoka NWR) upstream to Eagle Rock
  • Bass limit is 2, any size
  • Trout limit is 6, only 2 may be Cutthroat Trout
Section: From Eagle Rock upstream to American Falls DamOctober 16 – Friday before Memorial Day weekend
  • trout limit is 0, catch-and-release 
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend – October 15
  • trout limit is 2 
Section: From American Falls Reservoir upstream to Gem Lake dam 
  • Trout limit is 6
  • only 2 may be Cutthroat Trout Bass limit is 2
  • any size 
Springfield Reservoir 
  • Trout limit is 2
  • none under 20 inches
  • One line only when ice fishing
  • No bait allowed
  • barbless hooks required 
Treasureton Reservoir 
  • Trout limit is 2
  • none under 20 inches
  • No size, bag or possession limits on bass One line only when ice fishing
  • No bait allowed
  • barbless hooks required 
Twenty-Four Mile Reservoir
  • No motors
  • Trout limit is 2
  • none under 20 inches 
  • One line only when ice fishing
  • No bait allowed
  • barbless hooks required 

For more information please see https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/fish

Micropterus dolomieui

Daily bag limits apply to all waters of the Southeast Region except as modified in Southeast Region Special Rule Waters. The possession limit is 3-times the daily bag limit.All waters open all year except as modified in Southeast Region Special Rule WatersFor more information please see https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/fish p 31-32

Special Rule Waters for the Southeast Region

American Falls ReservoirBass limit is 2, any sizeBear Lake
  • From the mouth of St. Charles Creek (Little Creek) for a radius of 300 yards into the lake is closed to fishing from April 16 through June 30
  • Not more than 2 baited hooks, flies, or lures per line
  • One line only when ice fishing. Two lines permitted when ice fishing with a two-pole permit
  • Trout limit is 2
  • Cisco limit is 30; dip-netting permitted January 1 through February 15. Dip nets may not exceed 18 inches in any dimension. Any size hole may be cut through the ice to catch cisco
  • Whitefish limit is 10
Bear RiverSection: From the Utah state line upstream to Oneida Narrows Dam
  • Trout limit is 2, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
  • Bass limit is 6, any size
Section: From the confluence with Oneida Narrows Reservoir upstream to the Wyoming state line
  • Trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
Bear River tributaries (all tributaries including the Cub River and Thomas Fork Bear River)
  • Trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
Blackfoot Reservoir
  • Trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout No size, bag, or possession limits on bass
Blackfoot River and tributariesSection: From the confluence with the Snake River upstream to Blackfoot Dam (Government Dam)
  • Southeast Region general rules apply
  • Upstream from Blackfoot Reservoir (includes: Diamond Creek, Lanes Creek, Slug Creek and tributaries)
  • December 1 through June 30 - closed to fishing
  • July 1 through November 30 - trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout, no bait allowed, barbless hooks required
Chesterfield Reservoir
  • Trout limit is 2
Condie Reservoir
  • Bass limit is 2, none under 20 inches
Daniels Reservoir
  • Trout limit is 2, none under 20 inches
  • One line only when ice fishing
  • No bait allowed, barbless hooks required
Deep Creek Reservoir
  • Trout limit is 6, only 2 may be Cutthroat Trout No size, bag or possession limits on Bass
Fish Haven CreekSection: From the confluence with Bear Lake upstream to the Caribou-Targhee National Forest boundary
  • December 1 through June 30 - closed to fishing
  • July 1 through November 30 - Southeast Region general rules apply
Section: Fish Haven Creek upstream of the Caribou- Targhee National Forest boundary 
  • Southeast Region general rules apply
First Creek (tributary to Deep Creek Reservoir)
  • December 1 through June 14 - closed to fishing
  • June 15 through November 30 - Southeast Region general rules apply
Fort Hall Indian Reservation
  • contact Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Office
  • Phone: (208) 236-1137
  • https://www.sbtribes.com/fish-and-game/
Glendale Reservoir
  • Bass limit is 2, none under 16 inches
Little Blackfoot River and tributaries
  • Trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
McCoy Creek and tributaries
  • Trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout Montpelier Reservoir - Electric motors only
Oneida Narrows Reservoir
  • Walleye limit is 6
  • Bass limit is 6, any size
Portneuf RiverSection: From above the East Main Street bridge in Lava Hot Springs upstream to Chesterfield ReservoirDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend
  • trout limit is 0
  • catch-and-release
  • no bait allowed
  • barbless hooks required
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30
  • trout limit is 6
  • no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
Section: From the Fort Hall Indian Reservation boundary upstream to the East Main Street bridge in Lava Hot Springs
  • Southeast Region general rules apply
All sections within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation
  • contact Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Office
  • Phone: (208) 236-1137
  • https://www.sbtribes.com/fish-and-game/
St. Charles CreekSection: St. Charles Creek (including both lower forks) upstream tothe Caribou-Targhee National Forest boundaryDecember 1 through June 30
  • closed to fishing
July 1 through November 30
  • Southeast Region general rules apply
Section: St. Charles Creek upstream of Caribou- Targhee National Forest boundary
  • Southeast Region general rules apply
Snake RiverSection: From the downstream side of the Gifford Springs boat fishing zone (western boundary in Minnidoka NWR) upstream to Eagle Rock
  • Bass limit is 2, any size
  • Trout limit is 6, only 2 may be Cutthroat Trout
Section: From Eagle Rock upstream to American Falls DamOctober 16 – Friday before Memorial Day weekend
  • trout limit is 0, catch-and-release 
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend – October 15
  • trout limit is 2 
Section: From American Falls Reservoir upstream to Gem Lake dam 
  • Trout limit is 6
  • only 2 may be Cutthroat Trout Bass limit is 2
  • any size 
Springfield Reservoir 
  • Trout limit is 2
  • none under 20 inches
  • One line only when ice fishing
  • No bait allowed
  • barbless hooks required 
Treasureton Reservoir 
  • Trout limit is 2
  • none under 20 inches
  • No size, bag or possession limits on bass One line only when ice fishing
  • No bait allowed
  • barbless hooks required 
Twenty-Four Mile Reservoir
  • No motors
  • Trout limit is 2
  • none under 20 inches 
  • One line only when ice fishing
  • No bait allowed
  • barbless hooks required 

For more information please see https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/fish
Contact Fort Hall Fish & Game: Phone: (208)236-1137https://www.sbtribes.com/fish-and-game/

Regulations for

42°55′11.3″N 112°44′30″W
Regulations in the map
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Reviews of American Falls Reservoir

4.5
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26 ratings

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Cities nearby

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5.2 miles away

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FAQ about American Falls Reservoir fishing

American Falls Reservoir is a lake located in Bannock County, Idaho, United States. It is also intersecting with Bingham County, Idaho. Its coordinates are:
42°55′11.3″N 112°44′30″W
.
Find the best fishing spots on American Falls Reservoir by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
The most common species in American Falls Reservoir are:
The latest American Falls Reservoir fishing reports are:
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