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Fishing regulations at Dworshak 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 1st, 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
Aggregate
6
Daily bag limits apply to all waters of the Clearwater Region except as modified in Clearwater Region Special Rule Waters. The possession limit is 3-times the daily bag limit.All waters open all year except as modified in Clearwater Region Special Rule WatersFor more information please see https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/fish p. 15 -16
For more information please see https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/fish (see Pages 15-16 for details)
Special Rule Waters for the Clearwater Region
Section: From the mouth upstream to the Clearwater River Bridge at Orofino- 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
- Fishing between posted boundaries 100 yards upstream and downstream from the Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery Ladder (near Cherry Lane Bridge) and extending into the river channel 50 yards is prohibited
- Fishing from the shoreline or wading along the perimeter of Dworshak National Fish Hatchery is prohibited
- 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 motors allowed
- trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- trout limit is 2, none under 14 inches
- No motors allowed
- 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
- When fishing from Ahsahka Highway 7 Bridge, it is illegal to take or attempt to take any fish downstream of the railroad bridge; fishing from the railroad bridge is prohibited
- Fishing from any watercraft or wading is prohibited between the posted line approximately 150 yards upstream from the mouth of the North Fork Clearwater River and the Ahsahka Highway 7 Bridge
- Fishing from the shoreline or wading along the perimeter of Dworshak National Fish Hatchery is prohibited
- Barbless hooks required
- trout limit is 0, catch-and-release, no bait allowed except maggots
- trout limit is 2, no Cutthroat Trout under 14 inches, no bait allowed
- Cutthroat Trout limit is 0, catch and release only
- Single-pointed barbless hooks are required while fishing for steelhead and salmon
- Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- No bait allowed, barbless hooks required
- Clearwater Region general rules apply
- Trout limit is 6, only 2 may be Tiger Trout, no Tiger Trout under 14 inches
- Bass limit is 2, none under 16 inches
- Trout limit is 6, only 2 may be Cutthroat Trout, no Cutthroat Trout under 14 inches
- Trout limit is 6, Brook Trout must be counted in trout limit
- Trout limit is 6, Brook Trout must be counted in trout limit
- Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- No bait allowed, barbless hooks required
- Barbless hooks required
- trout limit is 0, catch-and-release, no bait allowed except maggots
- trout limit is 2, none under 14 inches, no bait allowed
- Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- No bait allowed, barbless hooks required
- Electric motors only
- Bass limit is 2, none under 16 inches
- Electric motors only
- 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
- Trout limit is 2
- Barbless hooks required
- trout limit is 0, catch-and-release, no bait allowed except maggots
- trout limit is 2, none under 14 inches, no bait allowed
- Closed to fishing
- Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- No bait allowed, barbless hooks required
- 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
- Electric motors only
- Bass limit is 2, none under 16 inches
- Electric motors only
For more information please see https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/fish (see Pages 15-16 for details)
Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)
• In rivers and streams, no bag, size or possession limits
• In lakes and reservoirs, limit is 6, both species combined
For more information please see https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/fish
Micropterus dolomieui
Daily bag limits apply to all waters of the Clearwater Region except as modified in Clearwater Region Special Rule Waters. The possession limit is 3-times the daily bag limit.All waters open all year except as modified in Clearwater Region Special Rule WatersFor more information please see https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/fish p. 15 -16
For more information please see https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/fish (see Pages 15-16 for details)
Special Rule Waters for the Clearwater Region
Section: From the mouth upstream to the Clearwater River Bridge at Orofino- 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
- Fishing between posted boundaries 100 yards upstream and downstream from the Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery Ladder (near Cherry Lane Bridge) and extending into the river channel 50 yards is prohibited
- Fishing from the shoreline or wading along the perimeter of Dworshak National Fish Hatchery is prohibited
- 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 motors allowed
- trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- trout limit is 2, none under 14 inches
- No motors allowed
- 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
- When fishing from Ahsahka Highway 7 Bridge, it is illegal to take or attempt to take any fish downstream of the railroad bridge; fishing from the railroad bridge is prohibited
- Fishing from any watercraft or wading is prohibited between the posted line approximately 150 yards upstream from the mouth of the North Fork Clearwater River and the Ahsahka Highway 7 Bridge
- Fishing from the shoreline or wading along the perimeter of Dworshak National Fish Hatchery is prohibited
- Barbless hooks required
- trout limit is 0, catch-and-release, no bait allowed except maggots
- trout limit is 2, no Cutthroat Trout under 14 inches, no bait allowed
- Cutthroat Trout limit is 0, catch and release only
- Single-pointed barbless hooks are required while fishing for steelhead and salmon
- Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- No bait allowed, barbless hooks required
- Clearwater Region general rules apply
- Trout limit is 6, only 2 may be Tiger Trout, no Tiger Trout under 14 inches
- Bass limit is 2, none under 16 inches
- Trout limit is 6, only 2 may be Cutthroat Trout, no Cutthroat Trout under 14 inches
- Trout limit is 6, Brook Trout must be counted in trout limit
- Trout limit is 6, Brook Trout must be counted in trout limit
- Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- No bait allowed, barbless hooks required
- Barbless hooks required
- trout limit is 0, catch-and-release, no bait allowed except maggots
- trout limit is 2, none under 14 inches, no bait allowed
- Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- No bait allowed, barbless hooks required
- Electric motors only
- Bass limit is 2, none under 16 inches
- Electric motors only
- 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
- Trout limit is 2
- Barbless hooks required
- trout limit is 0, catch-and-release, no bait allowed except maggots
- trout limit is 2, none under 14 inches, no bait allowed
- Closed to fishing
- Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- No bait allowed, barbless hooks required
- 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
- Electric motors only
- Bass limit is 2, none under 16 inches
- Electric motors only
For more information please see https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/fish (see Pages 15-16 for details)
Regulations for
46°42′44.5″N 116°01′4.4″W
FAQ about Dworshak Reservoir fishing
Dworshak Reservoir is a lake located in Clearwater County, Idaho, United States. Its coordinates are:
46°42′44.5″N 116°01′4.4″W
.Find the best fishing spots on Dworshak 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 Dworshak Reservoir are:
- Smallmouth bass - 65 members reported to have caught this fish
- Kokanee salmon - 10 members reported to have caught this fish
- Rainbow trout - 8 members reported to have caught this fish
The latest Dworshak Reservoir fishing reports are:
- @itsmodelotime reported a nice Smallmouth bass.
- @itsmodelotime reported a nice Smallmouth bass.
- @itsmodelotime reported a nice Smallmouth bass.
- @itsmodelotime reported a nice Smallmouth bass.
- @itsmodelotime reported a nice Smallmouth bass.
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