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Fishing in Idaho

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Want trophy-size catches? These Idaho spots deliver

About Idaho fishing

Idaho’s rivers and lakes are famous for trout and salmon, with reservoirs supporting bass and panfish. Scenic mountain streams make fly fishing a highlight, and diverse freshwater opportunities appeal to anglers seeking both challenge and tranquility.

Idaho fishing license

Idaho fishing licenses are required for anglers 14+. Licenses include resident and non-resident, daily, annual, or combination permits, available online or at license vendors.

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Top fish species caught in Idaho

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Biggest catches in Idaho

Explore your local leaderboard—see the top catches in the app.

State records of caught fish in Idaho

SpeciesWeightBrown trout27.4 lbsRainbow trout20 lbsLargemouth bass10.9 lbsSmallmouth bass9.7 lbsBluegill3.5 lbsYellow perch2.7 lbs

Latest Idaho fishing reports

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Largemouth bass

Ann Morrison Park

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Brown trout

Snake River (Palisades Res. - American Falls Res.)

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Rainbow trout

Rexburg Nature Park Pond

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Smallmouth bass

C J Strike Reservoir

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Rainbow trout

Rexburg Nature Park Pond

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Largescale sucker

Snake River (Palisades Res. - American Falls Res.)

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Bluegill

Dierkes Lake

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Smallmouth bass

Star Fishing Pond

16 in · 3 lb

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Largemouth bass

Sugar Beet Lake

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Smallmouth bass

Snake River (Twin Falls Res. - Bliss Res.)

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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 Largemouth bass as of April 1st, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Largemouth bass

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

6

Min size

12"

Measurement

Total Length

Aggregate

6
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 DamBrundage 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 RiverSalmon 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 nigricans

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 DamBrundage 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 RiverSalmon 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
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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 Largemouth bass, Bluegill, and Brown trout. 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.