Fishing in Idaho
Panhandle lakes, Snake River reservoirs, steelhead canyons and alpine lakes, with IDFG region rules for every water.
Search a town, county, lake or bait shop
- 413lakes
- 210rivers
- 255ramp pages
Pick for steelheadPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Lake Pend Oreille: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
Idaho lakes, reservoirs, rivers and alpine water
Idaho fishing runs from the deep glacial lakes of the Panhandle, Pend Oreille, Priest and Coeur d’Alene, down through the steelhead canyons of the Clearwater and the Salmon, to the Snake River reservoirs of the south and the spring creeks and high desert tailwaters of the east. Above it all sit some 1,261 high mountain lakes in the Sawtooths, the Selkirks and a dozen other ranges.
This guide holds 413 lake and reservoir pages, 210 river pages, 255 boat ramp pages, 114 fishing access sites, 141 tackle shops and marinas, all 44 counties and 91 towns, each with the IDFG region table for its water.
For the steelhead herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 The broadest Idaho reservoirs and lakes on this site
Lake Pend Oreille
92,764 acres in Bonner and Kootenai counties
Lake pageBear Lake
69,446 acres in Bear Lake County
Lake pageAmerican Falls Reservoir
55,291 acres in Bannock County and 2 other counties
Lake pageCoeur d'Alene Lake
27,911 acres in Benewah and Kootenai counties
Lake pageCascade Reservoir
27,152 acres in Valley County
Lake pagePriest Lake
23,335 acres in Bonner County
Lake pageGrays Lake
23,138 acres in Bonneville and Caribou counties
Lake pageBlackfoot Reservoir
16,888 acres in Bingham and Caribou counties
Lake pageIdaho rivers with launches and gauges
Blackfoot River
IDFG Southeast Region
River pageSnake River
IDFG Southeast Region
River pageBig Lost River
IDFG Upper Snake Region
River pageBig Wood River
IDFG Magic Valley Region
River pageBruneau River
IDFG Magic Valley Region
River pageClearwater River
IDFG Clearwater Region
River pageLemhi River
IDFG Salmon Region
River pageLittle Salmon River
IDFG Southwest Region
River pageIdaho fishing by IDFG region
| IDFG region | Lake pages | Trout line | Kokanee line |
|---|---|---|---|
| IDFG Panhandle Region | 68 | Trout limit is 6, all species combined; Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately | Kokanee limit is 15 |
| IDFG Clearwater Region | 40 | In rivers and streams, trout limit is 2, all species combined; In lakes, reservoirs, ditches and canals, trout | Kokanee limit is 25 |
| IDFG Southwest Region | 135 | Trout limit is 6, all species combined; Chinook Salmon and steelhead placed in ponds are counted in the trout | Kokanee limit is 6 |
| IDFG Magic Valley Region | 60 | Trout limit is 6, all species combined; In rivers and streams, only 2 of the 6 trout may be Cutthroat Trout; B | Kokanee limit is 6 |
| IDFG Southeast Region | 43 | Trout limit is 6, all species combined; In rivers and streams, only 2 of the 6 trout may be Cutthroat Trout; B | Kokanee limit is 6 |
| IDFG Upper Snake Region | 38 | Trout limit is 6, all species combined; Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately | Kokanee limit is 15 |
| IDFG Salmon Region | 29 | Trout limit is 6, all species combined; Chinook Salmon and steelhead placed in ponds are counted in the trout | Kokanee limit is 25 |
Region bag limits from Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules, 2025-2027, as printed on IDFG Fishing Planner water pages (the brochure PDF on idfg.idaho.gov was unreachable during site maintenance), read November 7, 2026.
Idaho fishing dates to know
- Free Fishing Day 2026: June 13, 2026no license that day
- Free Fishing Day 2027: not announced yetIDFG had not published it
- Steelhead and salmon: by Commission proclamationseason pages offline in November 2026
- Most waters: "All Waters Open All Year" unless a water prints its own seasonIDFG Planner season line
Idaho records IDFG announced in 2026
- Rainbow Trout, 20.03 poundsDworshak Reservoir, certified weight
- Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, 3.08 poundsHenrys Lake, certified weight
- Westslope Cutthroat Trout, 27 inchesLake Pend Oreille, catch-and-release (length)
- Burbot, 26.75 inchesKootenai River, catch-and-release (length)
- Lake Trout, 43.25 inchesPayette Lake, catch-and-release (length)
- Northern Pike, 49.75 inchesLake Pend Oreille, catch-and-release (length)
Outfitters, tackle shops and gear for an Idaho trip
- Guides and outfitters21 listings
- Bait and tackle shops141 shops and marinas
- Kokanee dodgers and hoochies on Amazonfor Pend Oreille, Dworshak and Deadwood kokanee
- Dry fly assortments on Amazonfor the Henrys Fork, Silver Creek and the South Fork
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Pick an Idaho water, county or town to open
- Lakes and reservoirs413 lakes
- Rivers210 rivers and creeks
- High mountain lakes1,261 alpine lakes in the Planner
- Countiesall 44
- Towns91 cities and towns
- Species27 fish
- Tournamentsderbies, bass events and winners
- Water levelsUSGS gauges and Corps dam readings
Idaho rules, records and directories
- Every Idaho water, A to Zlakes, rivers, counties, towns and fish on one list
- Idaho license fees and rulesstatutory fees, IDAPA gear rules, the seven region tables
- Region bag limitsall seven IDFG region tables, line by line
- Special rules by waterlakes and rivers IDFG prints a rule block for
- Steelhead and salmondefinitions, permit validation, federal listings
- Free Fishing Daythe one June Saturday with no license needed
- Idaho state recordsrecords IDFG announced during 2026
- Stockinghatchery releases printed on Planner pages
- Water levelsUSGS lake gauges and Corps dam readings
- High mountain lakesalpine lakes the Planner lists, by region and county
- Boat rampsIDFG, BLM and Forest Service launches
- Fishing access sitesIDFG walk-in and bank access without a ramp
- Bait and tackle shopsfly shops, bait counters and marinas by IDFG region
- Guides and outfittersdirectory listings for guided trips
- Tournamentsderbies, bass events and posted winners
- Threatened and endangered fishbull trout, Kootenai sturgeon, Snake River runs
Gem State angling questions with short answers
What does an Idaho fishing license cost?
Fishing here takes an Idaho fishing license; Idaho Code 36-416 sets the annual statutory fee at $28.75 for residents and $106.25 for nonresidents, and steelhead or salmon fishing takes its own permit.
Which Idaho lake on this site covers the most acres?
Lake Pend Oreille, listed at 92,764 acres.
Which June Saturday did Idaho waive licenses in 2026?
It fell on June 13, 2026 in 2026; the 2027 date has not been announced.
How are Idaho bag limits set?
In seven IDFG region tables in the 2025-2027 Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules, plus special rules printed for individual waters.
Can I keep bull trout?
No. Every IDFG region table that prints bull trout lists it as catch-and-release, and it is federally threatened.
Where are steelhead seasons?
In separate Commission proclamations on idfg.idaho.gov, which was down for maintenance when this guide was built; no dates are printed here.
Can I fish Bear Lake with a Utah license?
Yes; IDAPA 13.01.11.345 lets Idaho or Utah license holders fish all of Bear Lake under the rules of the state they are in.
Where are Idaho tournaments listed?
On the Idaho tournaments page, with derby dates and posted winners.