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  4. Bass fishing in Idaho

Bass fishing in Idaho

Idaho provides strong freshwater fishing opportunities for bass. Lakes, rivers, and reservoirs across the state offer reliable action for anglers.

Best baits and lures for Bass in Idaho

According to catch data from over 20 million anglers on Fishbrain, these are the best baits used to catch Bass.

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Biggest Bass catches

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Latest Bass fishing reports in Idaho

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Smallmouth bass

C J Strike Reservoir

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Smallmouth bass

C J Strike Reservoir

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Smallmouth bass

C J Strike Reservoir

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Largemouth bass

Bruneau Arm

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Smallmouth bass

C J Strike Reservoir

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Largemouth bass

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

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Smallmouth bass

Snake River (C. J. Stricke Res. - WA)

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Smallmouth bass

Snake River (C. J. Stricke Res. - WA)

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Smallmouth bass

Snake River (C. J. Stricke Res. - WA)

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Smallmouth bass

Arrowrock Reservoir

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Regulations for Bass 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 March 28th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Largemouth bass

Seasons

Open
Daily bag limits apply to all waters of the Salmon Region except as modified in Salmon Region Special Rule Waters. The possession limit is 3-times the daily bag limit.All waters open all year except as modified in Salmon Region Special Rule WatersFor more information please see https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/fish p. 40

Special Rule Waters for the Salmon Region 

East Fork Salmon River (see Salmon River, East Fork) Herd Lake
  • Trout limit is 25
Jimmy Smith Lake
  • Trout limit is 25
Lake Creek and tributaries (above Williams Lake)December 1 through June 30
  • closed to fishing upstream from the posted boundary at Williams Lake
July 1 through November 30
  • Salmon Region general rules apply
Lemhi RiverDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend
  • trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30
  • trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
Lemhi River tributaries
  • Salmon Region general rules apply
Middle Fork Salmon River (see Salmon River, Middle Fork and tributaries)North Fork Salmon River (see Salmon River, North Fork)Pahsimeroi RiverDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend
  • trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30
  • trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
Pahsimeroi River tributaries
  • Salmon Region general rules apply
Redfish LakeJanuary 1 through August 7
  • Salmon Region general rules apply
August 8 through December 31
  • kokanee limit is 0, catch-and-release
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
Salmon River tributariesSection: Those tributaries from the mouth of the Salmon River upstream to the Middle Fork Salmon River, except Little Salmon River (Page 20) and South Fork Salmon River (Page 21).
  • Trout limit is 2
Section: Those tributaries from the mouth of the Middle Fork Salmon River upstream (except: North Fork Salmon River, Lemhi, Pahsimeroi, East Fork Salmon River, and Yankee Fork Salmon River)December 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend
  • trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30
  • Salmon Region general rules apply
Salmon River, East ForkDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend
  • trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30
  • trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
Salmon River, East Fork tributaries
  • Salmon Region general rules apply
Salmon River, Middle Fork and all 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
Salmon River, North ForkDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend
  • trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30
  • trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
Salmon River, North Fork tributaries
  • Salmon Region general rules apply
Salmon River, Yankee Fork and West Fork Yankee ForkDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend
  • trout limit is 0, catch-and-release 
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30
  • trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout 
Salmon River, Yankee Fork tributaries
  • Salmon Region general rules apply
Stanley Lake
  • Trout limit is 6, only 2 may be Lake Trout
Wallace Lake
  • Trout limit is 2
Yankee Fork Salmon River Dredge PondsDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend
  • closed to fishing
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30
  • Salmon Region general rules apply
Yankee Fork Salmon River (see Salmon River, Yankee Fork)

No bag, size or possession limits for bass.

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

Micropterus nigricans

Daily bag limits apply to all waters of the Salmon Region except as modified in Salmon Region Special Rule Waters. The possession limit is 3-times the daily bag limit.All waters open all year except as modified in Salmon Region Special Rule WatersFor more information please see https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/fish p. 40

Special Rule Waters for the Salmon Region 

East Fork Salmon River (see Salmon River, East Fork) Herd Lake
  • Trout limit is 25
Jimmy Smith Lake
  • Trout limit is 25
Lake Creek and tributaries (above Williams Lake)December 1 through June 30
  • closed to fishing upstream from the posted boundary at Williams Lake
July 1 through November 30
  • Salmon Region general rules apply
Lemhi RiverDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend
  • trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30
  • trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
Lemhi River tributaries
  • Salmon Region general rules apply
Middle Fork Salmon River (see Salmon River, Middle Fork and tributaries)North Fork Salmon River (see Salmon River, North Fork)Pahsimeroi RiverDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend
  • trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30
  • trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
Pahsimeroi River tributaries
  • Salmon Region general rules apply
Redfish LakeJanuary 1 through August 7
  • Salmon Region general rules apply
August 8 through December 31
  • kokanee limit is 0, catch-and-release
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
Salmon River tributariesSection: Those tributaries from the mouth of the Salmon River upstream to the Middle Fork Salmon River, except Little Salmon River (Page 20) and South Fork Salmon River (Page 21).
  • Trout limit is 2
Section: Those tributaries from the mouth of the Middle Fork Salmon River upstream (except: North Fork Salmon River, Lemhi, Pahsimeroi, East Fork Salmon River, and Yankee Fork Salmon River)December 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend
  • trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30
  • Salmon Region general rules apply
Salmon River, East ForkDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend
  • trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30
  • trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
Salmon River, East Fork tributaries
  • Salmon Region general rules apply
Salmon River, Middle Fork and all 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
Salmon River, North ForkDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend
  • trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30
  • trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
Salmon River, North Fork tributaries
  • Salmon Region general rules apply
Salmon River, Yankee Fork and West Fork Yankee ForkDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend
  • trout limit is 0, catch-and-release 
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30
  • trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout 
Salmon River, Yankee Fork tributaries
  • Salmon Region general rules apply
Stanley Lake
  • Trout limit is 6, only 2 may be Lake Trout
Wallace Lake
  • Trout limit is 2
Yankee Fork Salmon River Dredge PondsDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend
  • closed to fishing
Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30
  • Salmon Region general rules apply
Yankee Fork Salmon River (see Salmon River, Yankee Fork)

Regulations for

45°29′40.9″N 114°08′35.2″W
Regulations in the map
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