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  4. Sturgeon fishing in Idaho

Sturgeon fishing in Idaho

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

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Latest Sturgeon fishing reports in Idaho

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White sturgeon

Snake River (American Falls Res. - Lake Walcott)

length · weight

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White sturgeon

Snake River (American Falls Res. - Lake Walcott)

length · weight

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recently logged catches
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White sturgeon

Snake River (American Falls Res. - Lake Walcott)

length · weight

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recently logged catches
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White sturgeon

Snake River (American Falls Res. - Lake Walcott)

length · weight

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recently logged catches
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White sturgeon

Snake River (American Falls Res. - Lake Walcott)

length · weight

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recently logged catches
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White sturgeon

Snake River (American Falls Res. - Lake Walcott)

length · weight

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recently logged catches
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White sturgeon

Snake River (American Falls Res. - Lake Walcott)

length · weight

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recently logged catches
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White sturgeon

Snake River (American Falls Res. - Lake Walcott)

26 in · 3 lb 2 oz

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recently logged catches
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White sturgeon

Snake River (American Falls Res. - Lake Walcott)

length · weight

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recently logged catches
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White sturgeon

Snake River (American Falls Res. - Lake Walcott)

length · weight

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Regulations for Sturgeon 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 White sturgeon as of August 1st, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

White sturgeon

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

0
Restrictions & requirements
Location regulation notes
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. 40Special Rule Waters for the Salmon Region East Fork Salmon River (see Salmon River, East Fork) Herd LakeTrout limit is 25Jimmy Smith LakeTrout limit is 25Lake Creek and tributaries (above Williams Lake)December 1 through June 30closed to fishing upstream from the posted boundary at Williams LakeJuly 1 through November 30Salmon Region general rules applyLemhi RiverDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekendtrout limit is 0, catch-and-releaseSaturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat TroutLemhi River tributariesSalmon Region general rules applyMiddle 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 weekendtrout limit is 0, catch-and-releaseSaturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat TroutPahsimeroi River tributariesSalmon Region general rules applyRedfish LakeJanuary 1 through August 7Salmon Region general rules applyAugust 8 through December 31kokanee limit is 0, catch-and-releaseSalmon RiverTrout limit is 6; only trout with a clipped adipose fin, as evidenced by a healed scar, may be kept, no harvest of Cutthroat TroutSalmon 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 2Section: 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 weekendtrout limit is 0, catch-and-releaseSaturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30Salmon Region general rules applySalmon River, East ForkDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekendtrout limit is 0, catch-and-releaseSaturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat TroutSalmon River, East Fork tributariesSalmon Region general rules applySalmon River, Middle Fork and all tributaries (includes: Bear Valley, Big, Camas, Elk, Loon, Marsh, Sulphur creeks, and tributaries)Trout limit is 0, catch-and-releaseNo bait allowed, barbless hooks requiredSalmon River, North ForkDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekendtrout limit is 0, catch-and-releaseSaturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat TroutSalmon River, North Fork tributariesSalmon Region general rules applySalmon River, Yankee Fork and West Fork Yankee ForkDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekendtrout limit is 0, catch-and-release Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout Salmon River, Yankee Fork tributariesSalmon Region general rules applyStanley LakeTrout limit is 6, only 2 may be Lake TroutWallace LakeTrout limit is 2Yankee Fork Salmon River Dredge PondsDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekendclosed to fishingSaturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30Salmon Region general rules applyYankee Fork Salmon River (see Salmon River, Yankee Fork)
Additional information
Sturgeon limit is 0, catch-and-release only.• Sturgeon must not be removed from the water and must be released upon landing• Barbless hooks are required• Use of a sliding swivel device to secure a weight, and a lighter test line to secure weight to sliding swivel device is required. For more information please see https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/fish Page 54 for details
Synonyms

Acipenser, Acipenseridae, Scaphirhynchus

Location specific information
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. 40Special Rule Waters for the Salmon Region East Fork Salmon River (see Salmon River, East Fork) Herd LakeTrout limit is 25Jimmy Smith LakeTrout limit is 25Lake Creek and tributaries (above Williams Lake)December 1 through June 30closed to fishing upstream from the posted boundary at Williams LakeJuly 1 through November 30Salmon Region general rules applyLemhi RiverDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekendtrout limit is 0, catch-and-releaseSaturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat TroutLemhi River tributariesSalmon Region general rules applyMiddle 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 weekendtrout limit is 0, catch-and-releaseSaturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat TroutPahsimeroi River tributariesSalmon Region general rules applyRedfish LakeJanuary 1 through August 7Salmon Region general rules applyAugust 8 through December 31kokanee limit is 0, catch-and-releaseSalmon RiverTrout limit is 6; only trout with a clipped adipose fin, as evidenced by a healed scar, may be kept, no harvest of Cutthroat TroutSalmon 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 2Section: 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 weekendtrout limit is 0, catch-and-releaseSaturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30Salmon Region general rules applySalmon River, East ForkDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekendtrout limit is 0, catch-and-releaseSaturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat TroutSalmon River, East Fork tributariesSalmon Region general rules applySalmon River, Middle Fork and all tributaries (includes: Bear Valley, Big, Camas, Elk, Loon, Marsh, Sulphur creeks, and tributaries)Trout limit is 0, catch-and-releaseNo bait allowed, barbless hooks requiredSalmon River, North ForkDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekendtrout limit is 0, catch-and-releaseSaturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat TroutSalmon River, North Fork tributariesSalmon Region general rules applySalmon River, Yankee Fork and West Fork Yankee ForkDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekendtrout limit is 0, catch-and-release Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout Salmon River, Yankee Fork tributariesSalmon Region general rules applyStanley LakeTrout limit is 6, only 2 may be Lake TroutWallace LakeTrout limit is 2Yankee Fork Salmon River Dredge PondsDecember 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekendclosed to fishingSaturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30Salmon Region general rules applyYankee 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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FAQ

🎣 What Sturgeon species can you catch in Idaho?
Anglers in Idaho commonly catch several Sturgeon species, including White sturgeon, Green sturgeon, Atlantic sturgeon, and Gulf Sturgeon, according to reports from Fishbrain members.

These species can be found in many rivers and streams throughout the area. If you are targeting a specific species, you can use the to filter catches by species and see where anglers are catching them and which baits they are using.
📍 Where are the best places to catch Sturgeon in Idaho?
Sturgeon are caught in rivers and streams throughout Idaho. Popular fishing waters reported by Fishbrain members include Spokane River, Snake River (WA / ID), and Snake River (C. J. Stricke Res. - WA).

The allows anglers to see exact catch locations shared by other members, helping you discover productive fishing spots where Sturgeon have recently been caught.