Fishing in Adams County, Idaho
County seat: Council. Population 4,379.
- 9lake pages
- 2launch sites
- 9river pages
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Fishing Adams County from the valley floor to the high country
County government for Adams County meets in Council; the 2020 count found 4,379 residents. Of the waters the Planner lists for the county, 89% sit in the IDFG Southwest Region, the region whose limits most of it follows. Hikers can aim for 20 high mountain lakes on the Planner list.
Of 9 lakes with pages, spanning 3,365 acres combined, Hells Canyon Reservoir comes first by size. The Planner lists steelhead or salmon among the game fish of Little Salmon River and Rapid River. 2 launch sites appear on the access layers here, 1 Forest Service and 1 IDFG. The IDFG layer adds 4 walk-in access sites with no ramp, built for bank fishing.
Census 2020 population and county seat; IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner (list of Idaho waters), read November 7, 2026. IDFG Fishing and Boating Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service), read November 7, 2026.
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IDFG Fishing and Boating Access Sites, BLM and Forest Service launch points, Fishing Planner lake points (outlet) and stream midpoints. Checked November 2026.
Still water guides inside Adams County, biggest first
| Lake | Acres | Launches | Kind | Game fish IDFG names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hells Canyon Reservoir | 1,254 | 0 | reservoir | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, yellow perch |
| Oxbow Reservoir | 581 | 0 | reservoir | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, yellow perch |
| Lost Valley Reservoir | 522 | 1 | reservoir | brook trout, rainbow trout, yellow perch |
| Goose Lake (Adams County) | 366 | 0 | high mountain lake | brook trout, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout |
| Ben Ross Reservoir | 358 | 1 | reservoir | bluegill and sunfish, largemouth bass, black crappie |
| Brundage Reservoir | 216 | 0 | high mountain lake | cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, rainbow x cutthroat trout |
| Twin Lake | 40 | 0 | high mountain lake | rainbow trout, brook trout, tiger muskellunge |
| Fish Lake (Adams County) | 19 | 0 | lake | rainbow trout |
| Meadow Creek Pond | 7 | 0 | lake | bullhead, rainbow trout, chinook salmon |
Surface acres as listed in the IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner, read November 7, 2026. Game fish are the Planner’s recommended species; IDFG prints no lake depths there.
Most-listed game fish on water around Adams County
Lake pages up to 50 miles from Council were counted by species, and rainbow trout leads.
IDFG Fishing Planner recommended game fish and stocking rows, counted per lake page within 50 miles; not a creel survey.
Alpine tarns and ponds of Adams County without a page
These 18 Adams County lakes sit on the Planner list without a guide yet.
| Water | Acres | Kind | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald Lake (Adams County) | 27 | high mountain lake | McCall |
| Black Lake (Adams County) | 26 | high mountain lake | McCall |
| Crystle Lake | 9 | high mountain lake | McCall |
| Ruth Lake | 9 | high mountain lake | McCall |
| Big Horse Pasture Lake | 7 | high mountain lake | McCall |
| Satan Lake | 5 | high mountain lake | McCall |
| Lower Emerald Lake | 4 | high mountain lake | McCall |
| Neal Lake | 3 | high mountain lake | McCall |
| West Horse Pasture Lake | 3 | high mountain lake | McCall |
| Granite Hole Lake | 3 | high mountain lake | McCall |
| Shepherd Lake | 2 | high mountain lake | McCall |
| Black Imp Lake | 2 | high mountain lake | McCall |
| Big Oxbow Creek Lake | 1 | high mountain lake | McCall |
| Lake Winifred | 1 | high mountain lake | McCall |
| Ol' McDonald Pond | 1 | lake | McCall |
| Purgatory Saddle Lake | 1 | high mountain lake | McCall |
| Upper Emerald Lake | 1 | high mountain lake | McCall |
| Little Black Imp Lake | 0 | high mountain lake | McCall |
IDFG files 20 here as high mountain lakes. Idaho high mountain lakes
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner (list of Idaho waters), read November 7, 2026.
IDFG-listed rivers with their own guide in Adams County
- Little Salmon RiverIDFG recommended water, steelhead or salmon listed, 1 USGS gauge, 52 mi Planner length
- Middle Fork Weiser RiverIDFG recommended water, 26.6 mi Planner length
- East Fork Weiser RiverIDFG recommended water, 15.9 mi Planner length
- Snake River1 launch, 14 USGS gauges
- Weiser River2 USGS gauges, 103.1 mi Planner length
- Little Weiser River46.1 mi Planner length
- Rapid Riversteelhead or salmon listed, 22.8 mi Planner length
- Fall Creek3.6 mi Planner length
- Trail Creek (Adams County)3.3 mi Planner length
Creeks of Adams County still without an IDFG guide (293)
- Pine Creek34.6 mi
- Lost Creek23.3 mi
- Hornet Creek21.1 mi
- Bear Creek20 mi
- Indian Creek19.1 mi
- Boulder Creek18.8 mi
- West Fork Weiser River17.2 mi
- Mud Creek16.9 mi
- Big Creek16.8 mi
- Hog Creek15.6 mi
- Crooked River (Adams County)15.4 mi
- Goodrich Creek15.3 mi
- Goose Creek14.8 mi
- Wildhorse River14.8 mi
- Lick Creek14.7 mi
- Johnson Creek14.4 mi
- North Hornet Creek13.8 mi
- Granite Creek13 mi
- Grays Creek13 mi
- Cottonwood Creek12.7 mi
- Deep Creek11 mi
- West Fork Rapid River10.3 mi
- Beaver Creek9.7 mi
- Campbell Ditch9.6 mi
- Cow Creek9.4 mi
- North Fork Grays Creek9.4 mi
- Little Creek8.9 mi
- Saddle Creek8.7 mi
- Temperance Creek8.7 mi
- Little Mud Creek8.5 mi
- Granger Creek8.3 mi
- Bacon Creek8.2 mi
- Unnamed Stream8.2 mi
- Sixmile Creek8.1 mi
- Flat Creek8 mi
- East Fork Lost Creek7.7 mi
- Mill Creek7.7 mi
- Monday Gulch7.6 mi
- East Branch Weiser River7.5 mi
- Left Fork North Hornet Creek7.4 mi
- Anderson Creek7.3 mi
- Grouse Creek7.2 mi
- Jackson Creek7.2 mi
- Threemile Creek7.1 mi
- Fall Creek7 mi
- Warm Spring Creek7 mi
- Little Goose Creek6.8 mi
- Thorn Creek6.7 mi
- No Business Creek6.5 mi
- Fourmile Creek6.3 mi
- Fish Creek6.2 mi
- Summit Gulch6.1 mi
- King Hill Creek6 mi
- Paradise Creek6 mi
- Lester Creek5.9 mi
- Robinson Gulch5.9 mi
- Steves Creek5.9 mi
- Unnamed Stream5.8 mi
- School Creek5.7 mi
- Oxbow Creek5.6 mi
- Round Valley Creek5.6 mi
- Salt Creek5.6 mi
- Sucker Creek5.6 mi
- North Fork Cottonwood Creek5.5 mi
- North Fork Mill Creek5.5 mi
- Pole Creek5.5 mi
- Road Gulch5.5 mi
- South Fork Grays Creek5.5 mi
- Salt Creek5.3 mi
- Cool Creek5.2 mi
- Kinney Creek5.2 mi
- Spring Creek (Adams County)5.1 mi
- East Branch Goose Creek5 mi
- Brundage Creek4.9 mi
- Fourth of July Creek4.9 mi
- Brown Creek4.8 mi
- Butte Creek4.8 mi
- Vick Creek4.8 mi
- West Branch Goose Creek4.8 mi
- Sheep Creek4.7 mi
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner (list of Idaho waters), read November 7, 2026. Stream lengths as printed in the Planner; USGS gauges live.
Salmon and steelhead rivers of Adams County
- Little Salmon RiverIDFG Southwest Region
- Rapid RiverIDFG Southwest Region
Season dates for steelhead and salmon are set apart from the brochure by Commission proclamation and are not printed here. Idaho steelhead and salmon rules
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner (list of Idaho waters), read November 7, 2026.
Recent IDFG hatchery releases in Adams County
Adams County water took 194,706,111 hatchery fish in 2,079 listed releases, spread over 12 waters.
- Snake RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 500 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 27, 2026
- Snake RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 21,576 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), October 22, 2026
- Snake RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 5,846 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 21, 2026
- Meadow Creek PondRainbow Trout – Triploid, 280 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), September 10, 2026
- Meadow Creek PondChinook Salmon, 55 fish, Adults, July 23, 2026
- Meadow Creek PondChinook Salmon, 118 fish, Adults, July 9, 2026
- Weiser RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 163 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), June 29, 2026
- Meadow Creek PondRainbow Trout – Triploid, 293 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), June 29, 2026
- Little Salmon RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 293 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), June 29, 2026
- Goose Lake (Adams County)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 4,001 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), June 24, 2026
- Meadow Creek PondRainbow Trout – Triploid, 320 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), June 4, 2026
- Snake RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 2,000 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), June 3, 2026
Stocking rows as printed on the IDFG Fishing Planner water pages (date, species, number and size as listed), read November 7, 2026. Newest releases first.
Where to back a trailer down in Adams County
- C Ben Ross Reservoir boat rampBen Ross Reservoir, IDFG, boating access, ramp, dock
- Lost Valley Boat LaunchLost Valley Reservoir, Forest Service, boating – motorized, ramp
IDFG access sites, Adams County (4)
- Fall Creek fishing accessfishing access
- Fish Lake Accessfishing access
- Trail Creek fishing accessfishing access, restroom, camping
- Boulder Hole fishing accessfishing access, restroom
IDFG Fishing and Boating Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service), read November 7, 2026. BLM and Forest Service points as published; lanes and ramp counts are not fields in any layer.
Tackle stores closest to Adams County
- Tamarack Marinamarina, Tamarack, 17 miles
- Mountain Marine Constructionmarina, McCall, 19 miles
- Hi-Per Sports Incmarina, Mccall, 20 miles
- Mile High Marinamarina, McCall, 21 miles
- Tackle Tom'sbait and tackle shop, Cascade, 24 miles
Yellow Pages and chain store listings; straight-line miles from Council only for shops with an exact point.
The 2025-2027 limits behind Adams County fishing
The table below is the IDFG Southwest Region block of the 2025-2027 brochure, the one that governs most of the county's listed waters; a lake or stream in another region follows that region's block. Idaho Code 36-416 fixes the annual fishing license fee at $28.75 for residents and $106.25 for nonresidents, and IDFG vendors add their own handling charge.
| Group | Rule as printed |
|---|---|
| Bass | Bass limit is 6, both species combined; None under 12 inches |
| Brook Trout | Brook Trout limit is 25; Harvest allowed during any open season unless otherwise noted under Special Rules – if gear or bait restrictions are listed, they apply when fishing for Brook Trout |
| Bull Trout | Bull Trout – catch-and-release |
| Kokanee | Kokanee limit is 6 |
| Salmon | Spring and summer Chinook Salmon seasons and limits are set by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission and issued in separate brochures; Seasons and limits for fall Chinook Salmon and Coho Salmon can be found here; Sockeye Salmon fishing is illegal. Defined as ocean-run Oncorhynchus nerka longer than 14 inches in the Snake River drainage below Hells Canyon Dam, the Salmon River drainage (excluding above Mosquito Flat Dam) |
| Steelhead | Defined as Rainbow Trout longer than 20 inches in the Salmon River drainage (excluding lakes and reservoirs). Between Hells Canyon Dam and Oxbow Dam and the Boise River from its mouth upstream to Barber Dam during steelhead seasons, steelhead are Rainbow Trout over 20 inches with the adipose fin clipped (as evidenced by a healed scar); Fishing for steelhead is prohibited unless a steelhead season is specifically open |
| Sturgeon | Sturgeon – catch-and-release; Sturgeon must not be removed from the water and must be released upon landing; Barbless hooks, sliding swivel device to secure a weight, and a lighter test line to secure weight to sliding swivel device are required. See fishing regulations for details |
| Tiger Muskie | Tiger Muskie limit is 2, none under 40 inches |
| Trout | Trout limit is 6, all species combined; Chinook Salmon and steelhead placed in ponds are counted in the trout bag limit; Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately |
| Walleye | No bag, length, or possession limits. Harvest is encouraged (Stocked illegally in this Region. May be harmful to existing fisheries.) |
| Whitefish | Whitefish limit is 25; Harvest allowed during any open season unless otherwise noted under Special Rules – if gear or bait restrictions are listed, they apply when fishing for whitefish |
| Protected Nongame Fish | May not be harvested or possessed |
| All Other Fish Species | No bag, length, or possession limits |
Some listed waters here fall in the IDFG Clearwater Region instead. Every region table
Exceptions printed for Adams County water (11)
- Ben Ross ReservoirBass limit is 2, none between 12 and 16 inches
- Brundage ReservoirNo bait allowed
- East Fork Weiser RiverAll Waters Open All Year
- Hells Canyon ReservoirBass limit is 6, any size
- Little Salmon RiverAll Waters Open All Year
- Little Weiser RiverAll Waters Open All Year
- Middle Fork Weiser RiverAll Waters Open All Year
- Oxbow ReservoirBass limit is 2, none between 12 and 16 inches
- Rapid RiverAll Waters Open All Year
- Snake RiverAll Waters Open All Year
- Weiser RiverAll Waters Open All Year
Region bag limits from Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules, 2025-2027 for the Southwest Region, as printed on IDFG Fishing Planner water pages (the brochure PDF on idfg.idaho.gov was unreachable during site maintenance), read November 7, 2026. Fishing license fees as set in Idaho Code 36-416 (statute; IDFG sale prices add vendor and processing fees), read November 7, 2026.
Record fish IDFG announced near Adams County
The 2026 announcements name no Adams County water; these neighbours within 80 miles do.
| Species | Record | Kind | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bullhead Catfish | 17 inches | catch-and-release (length) | Cascade Reservoir | Sept. 5, 2026 |
| Lake Trout | 43.25 inches | catch-and-release (length) | Payette Lake | date not printed |
Idaho state record fish, read November 8, 2026. A partial list: records IDFG announced in 2026.
Gear counters and guides across Adams County
Adams County fishing guides
- America's Rafting Companyfishing guide, New Meadows, (208) 347-3862
- Seven Devils Lodgefishing guide, Council, (208) 253-3014
Yellow Pages and chain store listings, guide listings (city of business); retrieved November 7, 2026.
Idaho places beside Adams County worth a look
Counties ringing Adams County
- Washington County34 miles southwest
- Valley County41 miles east
- Gem County56 miles south
- Payette County62 miles south
Piscifun tackle lined up for a day on Adams County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Gem State fish to know on sight at Adams County
Photo: Under the same moon, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Eric Kilby, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, Public domain
Pinning down the details of fishing Adams County
Does IDFG manage any boat access in Adams County?
The layers hold 2 launch sites: 1 Forest Service and 1 IDFG.
Which Adams County lake is largest on the IDFG Fishing Planner?
Hells Canyon Reservoir, at 1,254 acres in the IDFG Fishing Planner.
What do Idaho anglers catch around Adams County?
Rainbow trout lead the count of lake pages within 50 miles, followed by brook trout, bluegill and sunfish and bullhead.
Does Adams County have an Idaho fly shop or bait counter listed?
Every Yellow Pages tackle listing sits outside this Idaho county.
Which guide businesses list an address in Adams County?
2 guide listings give this county as home.
In which Idaho town do Adams County commissioners sit?
The county courthouse stands in Council, Idaho.
What license fee applies to Adams County anglers?
Idaho Code 36-416 fixes the annual fishing license fee at $28.75 for residents and $106.25 for nonresidents, and IDFG vendors add their own handling charge.
Which Idaho counties share a border with Adams County?
Washington County, Valley County and Gem County lie closest.
Which IDFG region sets the limits for Adams County?
The IDFG Southwest Region, with 89% of the listed waters.
Does IDFG set special limits anywhere in Adams County?
The Planner prints special rules for 11 county waters with a page here, starting with Ben Ross Reservoir; the list above shows the first ones.
Which Adams County waters get hatchery fish?
2,079 IDFG releases listed on Planner pages, 194,706,111 fish; the newest went into Snake River on Oct. 27, 2026.
Do Adams County streams carry steelhead?
The Planner lists steelhead or salmon on Little Salmon River and Rapid River. Steelhead and salmon seasons come from separate Fish and Game Commission proclamations, which this site could not read during the November 2026 IDFG site maintenance.
Plan an Idaho day on Adams County water
Launch pages give the agency, facilities and directions.