Fishing in Bonneville County, Idaho
County seat: Idaho Falls. Population 123,964.
- 7lake pages
- 13launch sites
- 7river pages
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Where the fishing in Bonneville County starts
At the 2020 Census Bonneville County held 123,964 residents, with county offices in Idaho Falls. By the Planner's count, 82% of the county's listed lakes and streams belong to the IDFG Upper Snake Region. 2 high mountain lakes in the county are filed as high mountain lakes.
Largest among 7 lake pages is Grays Lake; the set spans 41,425 acres. The access layers map 13 launch sites in the county (6 Forest Service, 4 IDFG and 3 BLM). Bank anglers get 6 walk-in access sites on the IDFG layer.
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.
Every IDFG launch and lake page in Bonneville County, pinned
IDFG Fishing and Boating Access Sites, BLM and Forest Service launch points, Fishing Planner lake points (outlet) and stream midpoints. Checked November 2026.
Which Bonneville County lakes have a full guide
| Lake | Acres | Launches | Kind | Game fish IDFG names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grays Lake | 23,138 | 0 | lake | |
| Palisades Reservoir | 15,949 | 3 | reservoir | kokanee, lake trout, brown trout |
| Ririe Reservoir | 1,414 | 0 | reservoir | kokanee, yellow perch, smallmouth bass |
| Snake River (Bonneville County, 398 acres) | 398 | 0 | lake | brown trout, common carp, cutthroat trout |
| Little Valley Reservoir (Bonneville County) | 258 | 0 | reservoir | |
| Snake River (Bonneville County, 144 acres) | 144 | 0 | lake | brown trout, mountain whitefish, rainbow trout |
| Upper Palisades Lake | 123 | 0 | high mountain lake | cutthroat trout |
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.
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Bars count lake pages within 50 miles of Idaho Falls where IDFG recommends or stocks each fish; rainbow trout tops it.
IDFG Fishing Planner recommended game fish and stocking rows, counted per lake page within 50 miles; not a creel survey.
Unpaged lakes across Bonneville County
4 further lakes of Bonneville County, many of them alpine, stay on this list until more is published.
| Water | Acres | Kind | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Palisades Lake | 13 | high mountain lake | Victor |
| Ryder Park Riverside Pond | 2 | lake | Idaho Falls |
| Becker Pond | 1 | lake | Idaho Falls |
| Louis Pond | 1 | lake | Victor |
Trail-reached alpine lakes account for 2. Idaho high mountain lakes
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner (list of Idaho waters), read November 7, 2026.
River guides crossing Bonneville County
- South Fork Snake RiverIDFG recommended water, 128.9 mi Planner length
- Palisades Creek1 launch, 11.8 mi Planner length
- Big Elk Creek1 launch, 11.2 mi Planner length
- Spring Creek (Bonneville County)1 launch, 1.6 mi Planner length
- Salt River83.3 mi Planner length
- Willow Creek4 USGS gauges, 74.7 mi Planner length
- Sand Creek (Bingham County)1 USGS gauge, 35.3 mi Planner length
Planner streams of Bonneville County without a guide (231)
- Grays Lake Outlet44.2 mi
- Meadow Creek37.1 mi
- Tincup Creek33.1 mi
- Great Western Canal25.7 mi
- Homer Creek25.2 mi
- Bear Creek22.1 mi
- Fall Creek20.1 mi
- Burgess Canal19.3 mi
- Jackknife Creek19.2 mi
- McCoy Creek17.6 mi
- Brockman Creek17.3 mi
- Antelope Creek17 mi
- Hell Creek15 mi
- Birch Creek14.8 mi
- Pine Creek14.3 mi
- Tex Creek13.6 mi
- Rainey Creek13.4 mi
- Kettle Butte Drain12.8 mi
- Henry Creek12 mi
- Meadow Creek12 mi
- Bulls Fork Tex Creek10.2 mi
- South Fork Indian Creek10.1 mi
- Little Valley Creek9 mi
- North Fork Pine Creek8.9 mi
- Taylor Creek8.6 mi
- Little Sand Creek8.4 mi
- Long Spring Canyon8.1 mi
- North Fork Indian Creek7.8 mi
- North Fork Rainey Creek7.6 mi
- Clear Creek7.5 mi
- Bavahope Naokwaide7.4 mi
- Birch Creek7.4 mi
- Burns Canyon7.4 mi
- Pritchard Creek7.3 mi
- Granite Creek7.1 mi
- North Fork Willow Creek7.1 mi
- Mud Creek6.9 mi
- North Fork Bear Creek6.9 mi
- Eagle Creek6.6 mi
- South Fork Fall Creek6.6 mi
- Deep Creek6.5 mi
- Garden Creek6.5 mi
- Tupateheya Naokwaide6.5 mi
- Bridge Creek6.4 mi
- Crooked Creek6.3 mi
- Dry Fork Henry Creek6.3 mi
- Indian Creek6.1 mi
- West Pine Creek6.1 mi
- South Fork Willow Creek6 mi
- Dry Canyon5.9 mi
- Spring Run5.9 mi
- Haderlie Creek5.8 mi
- Shirley Creek5.8 mi
- Indian Fork Tex Creek5.7 mi
- Wolverine Creek5.6 mi
- Deep Creek5.5 mi
- Elk Creek5.5 mi
- Paawahan’toi’I Naokwaide5.5 mi
- Blacktail Creek5.4 mi
- Sheep Creek5.4 mi
- East Fork Fall Creek5.3 mi
- Lava Creek5.3 mi
- Little Elk Creek5.3 mi
- Rock Creek5.3 mi
- Black Canyon5.2 mi
- Fish Creek5.2 mi
- Jensen Creek5.2 mi
- South Fork Bear Creek5.2 mi
- Burns Creek5.1 mi
- Trail Creek (Bonneville County)5.1 mi
- Iowa Creek5 mi
- Jim Creek5 mi
- Siddoway Fork5 mi
- Holland Canyon4.9 mi
- Trout Creek4.9 mi
- Camp Creek4.7 mi
- East Fork Palisades Creek4.7 mi
- Miller Creek4.7 mi
- West Fork Crooked Creek4.7 mi
- Badger Creek4.6 mi
Gauge stations of Bonneville County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Snake River Ab Eagle Rock Nr Idaho Falls Id | 2,830 cfs, 6.00 ft gage height | Nov 12 7:45 pm |
| Snake River Nr Heise Id | 2,040 cfs, 2.05 ft gage height | Nov 12 7:30 pm |
| Snake River Nr Irwin Id | 938 cfs, 4.46 ft gage height | Nov 12 7:30 pm |
| Willow Creek Bl Tex Creek Nr Ririe Id | 20 cfs, 2.17 ft gage height | Nov 12 7:45 pm |
| Palisades Reservoir Nr Irwin Id | 126.09 ft gage height | Nov 12 7:30 pm |
| Great Western Spillback Nr Idaho Falls Id | 0 cfs, -0.42 ft gage height | Nov 12 7:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 8:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner (list of Idaho waters), read November 7, 2026. Stream lengths as printed in the Planner; USGS gauges live.
The Bonneville County stocking log
Hatchery trucks made 153 listed stops in Bonneville County, leaving 5,930,880 fish in 5 waters.
- Snake River (Bonneville County, 398 acres)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 3,000 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), September 18, 2026
- Palisades ReservoirLake Trout – Triploid, 1,625 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), July 21, 2026
- Snake River (Bonneville County, 398 acres)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 3,000 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), July 20, 2026
- Snake River (Bonneville County, 398 acres)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 3,000 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), June 22, 2026
- Snake River (Bonneville County, 398 acres)White Sturgeon, 63 fish, Catchable (15-19 inches), June 3, 2026
- Palisades ReservoirKokanee, 69,190 fish, Fry (0-3 inches), May 27, 2026
- Ririe ReservoirKokanee, 179,036 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), May 19, 2026
- Ririe ReservoirRainbow Trout – Triploid, 18,067 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), May 18, 2026
- Ririe ReservoirTiger Trout, 2,156 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), May 18, 2026
- Snake River (Bonneville County, 398 acres)Rainbow Trout, 3,000 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), March 27, 2026
- Palisades ReservoirCutthroat Trout – Yellowstone, 3,072 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), December 17, 2025
- Palisades ReservoirCutthroat Trout – Yellowstone, 4,992 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), December 16, 2025
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.
Mapped water access across Bonneville County
- Big Elk Creek Boating Site launchBig Elk Creek, Forest Service, boating – motorized
- Byington boat ramplaunch site, IDFG, boating access, ramp, dock, restroom
- Conant Valley boat ramplaunch site, IDFG, boating access, ramp, dock, restroom
- Indian Creek Boating Site launch on Palisades ReservoirPalisades Reservoir, Forest Service, boating – motorized
- Palisades Creek boat rampPalisades Creek, IDFG, boating access, ramp, dock, restroom, camping
- Palisades Reservoir launchPalisades Reservoir, Forest Service, lake and pond fishing
- Spring Creek Boating Site launchSpring Creek, Forest Service, boating – motorized
- Tissue Point Boating Site launch on Palisades ReservoirPalisades Reservoir, Forest Service, boating – motorized
- West River Road boat ramplaunch site, IDFG, boating access, ramp, dock, restroom
- Byington Boat Ramplaunch site, BLM, boat ramp, ramp
- Conant Valley Boat Ramplaunch site, BLM, boat ramp, ramp
- Fullmer Boat Landing Boating Sitelaunch site, Forest Service, boating – motorized
- Wolf Flats Recreation Area launchlaunch site, BLM, boat launch
Walk-in IDFG access in Bonneville County (6)
- Becker Pond (Ryder Park Pond)fishing access, dock, restroom
- Clowards Crossing fishing accessfishing access, camping
- Gem State fishing accessfishing access, restroom
- Grays Lake Outlet fishing accessfishing access, camping
- Kepps Crossing fishing accessfishing access, camping
- Moody Creek fishing accessfishing access
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.
IDFG region table for Bonneville County
Rows below come from the IDFG Upper Snake Region, which covers the bulk of the county's Planner waters; water-specific rules override them. The statute behind Idaho licenses, Code 36-416, puts the annual fishing fee at $28.75 resident and $106.25 nonresident; sale prices run a little higher.
| Group | Rule as printed |
|---|---|
| Bass | Bass – no bag, length, or possession limits |
| 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 15 |
| 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; Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately |
| Walleye | No bag, length, or possession limits, harvest is encouraged (Have not been stocked intentionally in this Region. May be harmful to existing fisheries.) |
| Whitefish | Whitefish limit is 25 – see Big Lost River exception; 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 including Bluehead Sucker | May not be harvested or possessed (also known as Green Sucker) |
| All Other Fish Species | No bag, length or possession limit |
A share of the listed water sits in the IDFG Southeast Region. Every region table
Special rules on Bonneville County lakes and streams (5)
- Palisades ReservoirNo harvest of kokanee
- Salt RiverAll Waters Open All Year
- Snake River (Bonneville County, 144 acres)Trout Limit is 6, only 2 may be Cutthroat Trout
- Snake River (Bonneville County, 398 acres)Trout Limit is 6, only 2 may be Cutthroat Trout
- South Fork Snake RiverAll Waters Open All Year
Region bag limits from Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules, 2025-2027 for the Upper Snake 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.
Bonneville County fly shops and guide services
Idaho fly shops and bait counters of Bonneville County
- Bass Pro Shopsbait and tackle shop, Ammon
- Cabela's, 3693 S 25th Ebait and tackle shop, Ammon
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 2240 E 17th Stbait and tackle shop, Idaho Falls
- Jimmy's All Seasons Anglerbait and tackle shop, Idaho Falls
- Northwest Anglerbait and tackle shop, Idaho Falls
- RIO Productsbait and tackle shop, Idaho Falls
- Ross Coin & Gunbait and tackle shop, Idaho Falls
- Snake River Baitbait and tackle shop, Idaho Falls
- The Dam Storebait and tackle shop, Irwin
- Tidehead Fly Fishingfly shop, Irwin
- CAL Ranch Ammonsporting goods store, Ammon
- Sportsman's Warehouse Idaho Fallssporting goods store, Idaho Falls
Guided trips listed for Bonneville County
- Hyde Drift Boatsfishing guide, Idaho Falls, (208) 529-4343
Yellow Pages and chain store listings, guide listings (city of business); retrieved November 7, 2026.
Idaho backroads fanning out from Bonneville County
Town guides inside Bonneville County
- Idaho Fallspop. 64,818
- Ammonpop. 17,694
- Lincolnpop. 4,556
- Ionapop. 2,717
- Uconpop. 1,160
County pages next to Bonneville County
- Madison County27 miles north
- Teton County33 miles northeast
- Bingham County41 miles west
- Caribou County42 miles south
Piscifun reels and line packed for Bonneville County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Gem State water near Bonneville County, on camera
Photo: Intermountain Forest Service, USDA Region 4 Photography, Public domain
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Zechariah Judy, CC BY 3.0
Photo: BLMIdaho, CC BY 2.0
Fishing within Bonneville County: the usual questions
Where can a trailer reach the water in Bonneville County?
There are 13 launch sites, split as 6 Forest Service, 4 IDFG and 3 BLM.
Which Planner lake hands Bonneville County anglers the most surface?
Grays Lake, at 23,138 acres in the IDFG Fishing Planner.
Which IDFG game fish should a Bonneville County visitor pack for?
Rainbow trout lead the count of lake pages within 50 miles, followed by yellow perch, channel catfish and cutthroat trout.
Which Bonneville County stores stock hooks, sinkers and Idaho flies?
12 listings, such as Bass Pro Shops.
How many Idaho outfitters list Bonneville County as home base?
Listings put 1 guide listing here.
Which Idaho town serves as seat of Bonneville County?
It is Idaho Falls.
What is the license fee to fish Bonneville County?
The statute behind Idaho licenses, Code 36-416, puts the annual fishing fee at $28.75 resident and $106.25 nonresident; sale prices run a little higher.
Which Idaho county pages sit next to Bonneville County?
Try Madison County, Teton County and Bingham County.
Which region table applies in Bonneville County?
The IDFG Upper Snake Region takes 82% of them; the rest follow neighbouring regions.
Does the 2025-2027 brochure print rules for Bonneville County water?
The Planner prints special rules for 5 county waters with a page here, starting with Palisades Reservoir; the list above shows the first ones.
Where is the stocked water in Bonneville County?
153 IDFG releases listed on Planner pages, 5,930,880 fish; the newest went into Snake River (Bonneville County, 398 acres) on Sept. 18, 2026.
Spend a Gem State morning on Bonneville County water
River pages list game fish and USGS flow.