- United States/
- Trout fishing in the United States/
- Idaho/
- Trout fishing in Idaho
Types of Trout in Idaho
Trout fishing spots in Idaho
Best baits and lures for Trout in Idaho
According to catch data from over 20 million anglers on Fishbrain, these are the best baits used to catch Trout.
Stop guessing and start catching
Find out what lures to use, download the Fishbrain app!
Biggest Trout catches
Explore your local leaderboard—see the top catches in the app.
Latest Trout fishing reports in Idaho
More catches in the app...
Continue browsing catches and catch locations in the Fishbrain app
Regulations for Trout 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 Rainbow trout as of May 17th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.
Rainbow trout
Seasons
Open
Bag limit
6
Aggregate
6
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
- Trout limit is 25
- closed to fishing upstream from the posted boundary at Williams Lake
- Salmon Region general rules apply
- trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
- Salmon Region general rules apply
- trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
- Salmon Region general rules apply
- Salmon Region general rules apply
- kokanee limit is 0, catch-and-release
- 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
- trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- Salmon Region general rules apply
- trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
- Salmon Region general rules apply
- Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- No bait allowed, barbless hooks required
- trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
- Salmon Region general rules apply
- trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
- Salmon Region general rules apply
- Trout limit is 6, only 2 may be Lake Trout
- Trout limit is 2
- closed to fishing
- Salmon Region general rules apply
Trout includes Lake Trout, Golden Trout, Arctic Grayling, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Sunapee Trout and trout hybrids (e.g. Tiger Trout)
• Trout limit is 6, all species combined
• Chinook Salmon and steelhead placed in ponds are counted in the trout bag limit
Does not include Bull Trout and Brook Trout which are listed separately
For more information please see https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/fish
Excellent
Oncorhynchus mykiss
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
- Trout limit is 25
- closed to fishing upstream from the posted boundary at Williams Lake
- Salmon Region general rules apply
- trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
- Salmon Region general rules apply
- trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
- Salmon Region general rules apply
- Salmon Region general rules apply
- kokanee limit is 0, catch-and-release
- 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
- trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- Salmon Region general rules apply
- trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
- Salmon Region general rules apply
- Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- No bait allowed, barbless hooks required
- trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
- Salmon Region general rules apply
- trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
- trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
- Salmon Region general rules apply
- Trout limit is 6, only 2 may be Lake Trout
- Trout limit is 2
- closed to fishing
- Salmon Region general rules apply
Regulations for
45°29′40.9″N 114°08′35.2″W
/-114.143111,45.49469899906395,10,0.00,0.00/600x250?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiZmlzaGJyYWluLWRldiIsImEiOiJjbDl6ZDU2amEwZXFtM29rNmI5cTV5ZGZ3In0.PEsOW8Rbc7G-mIBHpNXeGQ&logo=false&attribution=false)
Download Fishbrain and fish smarter
Unlimited access to the best fishing spot finder in the game. Get all the fishing intel you need to start catching more, and bigger, fish.
Free trial available
FAQ
Anglers in Idaho commonly catch several Trout species, including Rainbow trout, Brown trout, Brook trout, Lake char, and Cutthroat trout, according to reports from Fishbrain members.
These species can be found in many rivers and streams, lakes 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.
These species can be found in many rivers and streams, lakes 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.
Trout are caught in rivers and streams, lakes throughout Idaho. Popular fishing waters reported by Fishbrain members include Spokane River, Lake Lowell, and Snake River (WA / ID).
The allows anglers to see exact catch locations shared by other members, helping you discover productive fishing spots where Trout have recently been caught.
The allows anglers to see exact catch locations shared by other members, helping you discover productive fishing spots where Trout have recently been caught.