American River

ID Chumming

The use of any substance not attached to a hook that is intended to attract fish. It is illegal to chum while fishing in Idaho.

ID Illegal Methods

It is illegal to use chemicals, poisons, electric current, or explosives for fishing.

ID Shooting and Molesting Fish

It is illegal to molest any fish by shooting at it with a firearm or pellet gun, striking at it with a club, hands, rocks, or other objects, building obstructions for catching fish, or chasing fish up or downstream in any manner.

ID Salmon and Steelhead limits

Any angler, who has attained the bag, possession, or season limit on those waters with salmon or steelhead limits, must cease fishing for salmon or steelhead including catch-and- release fishing.

ID Weir or Fish Trip

Fishing is not allowed within the posted upstream and downstream boundary of any fish weir or trap.

ID Salmon and Steelhead South Fork Clearwater

Only single-pointed barbless hooks are allowed when fishing for salmon or steelhead in the South Fork Clearwater River.

ID Salmon and Steelhead Salmon Clearwater Snake Hells Canyon

Only barbless hooks with a maximum 5/8 inch gap between shank and point may be used when fishing for salmon or steelhead in the Salmon and Clearwater river drainages and the Snake River below Hells Canyon Dam. Bending the barb(s) down to the shank of a single, double, or treble hook will meet this requirement.

ID Salmon and Steelhead Boise Snake Hells Canyon Oxbow

Salmon and steelhead may be taken with barbed hooks in the Boise River and the Snake River between Hells Canyon and Oxbow dams.

ID Salmon and Steelhead tail and head removal

No person shall have in the field or in transit any salmon or steelhead from which the head or tail has been removed unless: 1) the angler is ashore and done fishing for the day; 2) the salmon or steelhead is properly recorded on the anglers permit; and 3) the fish is processed or packaged with the skin naturally attached to the flesh including a portion with a healed, clipped adipose fin scar or the adipose fin. The fish must be processed or packaged in a manner that the number of fish harvested can be readily determined. Processed salmon and steelhead cannot be transported by boat.

ID Clipped and Unclipped Adipose Fins

Steelhead with an unclipped adipose fin must be released. Fall Chinook Salmon and Coho Salmon with an unclipped adipose fish can be kept. Spring and summer Chinook Salmon seasons are set annually and anglers should refer to season proclamations to determine if spring and summer Chinook Salmon with an unclipped adipose fin can be retained. Clipped Adipose Fin: Hatchery steelhead or salmon may be kept if the adipose fin has been clipped as evidenced by a healed scar.

ID Archery and Spear Fishing

Archery and Spear Fishing: Fishing with a bow and arrow, crossbow, spear or mechanical device, excluding firearms. This type of fishing is permitted only in the taking of bullfrogs and unprotected nongame fish and only in those waters during the season set for the taking of game fish.

ID Bait Restriction

Use of live fish, leeches, frogs, salamanders, waterdogs or shrimp as bait is prohibited in Idaho, except that live crayfish may be used if caught on the body of water being fished.

ID Number of Lines and hooks

It is unlawful to fish in any waters of Idaho with more than one (1) handline or pole with a line attached, except a person with a two (2) pole permit may use two (2) poles; or with more than five (5) lines while ice fishing; or by archery, spearfishing, snagging, hands, and netting except as permitted. Not more than five (5) hooks may be attached per line. The line or lines must be attended by the person fishing.

ID Gaff Hook

It is illegal to land fish of any species with a gaff hook except through a hole cut or broken in the ice in waters which have no length restrictions or harvest closures for that species or when landing non-game fish taken with archery equipment.

ID Fishing by Hand

The only fish you can legally catch and harvest using your hands are crayfish and bullfrogs. You must use fishing gear to harvest all other fish species.

ID Snagging

Game fish cannot be harvested unless hooked in the mouth or jaw. Snag fishing is illegal except where allowed by special rule. Snagging of unprotected nongame fish species is permitted.

ID Snake River state boundary between ID OR WA

Snake River between Idaho and Oregon or Washington:The holder of a valid Idaho fishing license may fish the Snake River where it forms the boundary between the states of Idaho and Oregon or Washington, subject to the fish and game laws of Idaho but may not fish from the shore including wading, and may not fish in sloughs or tributaries on the Oregon or Washington side. An Oregon or Washington license holder has the same rights and restrictions with reference to the Idaho side.Any angler who fishes on the Snake River or any other water forming an Idaho boundary is entitled to have in possession only the limit allowed by one license regardless of the number of licenses in possession.

ID Attendance of Fishing Gear

Attendance of Fishing Gear: You must attend to your fishing gear while fishing. This means being able to watch your rod at all times and be able to react to a potential strike.