Fishing in Camas County, Idaho
County seat: Fairfield. Population 1,077.
- 6lake pages
- 1launch sites
- 5river pages
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Reservoirs, creeks and launches of Camas County at a glance
Camas County keeps its courthouse in Fairfield, and the 2020 Census put 1,077 people inside the county. The IDFG Fishing Planner files 100% of the county's listed waters under the IDFG Magic Valley Region; drainage lines, not the county line, decide the rest. The Planner also lists 8 high mountain lakes here, most reached by trail.
Lake guides cover 6 waters totalling 5,473 acres; Magic Reservoir is the biggest. Agency maps show 1 launch site (1 IDFG). IDFG maps 2 walk-in access sites for anglers on foot.
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.
A map of Camas County launches and lake points
IDFG Fishing and Boating Access Sites, BLM and Forest Service launch points, Fishing Planner lake points (outlet) and stream midpoints. Checked November 2026.
Camas County lakes and reservoirs with their own page
| Lake | Acres | Launches | Kind | Game fish IDFG names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magic Reservoir | 3,580 | 3 | reservoir | yellow perch, brown trout, smallmouth bass |
| Mormon Reservoir | 1,569 | 1 | reservoir | rainbow trout, bridgelip sucker, yellow perch |
| Thorn Creek Reservoir | 117 | 1 | reservoir | rainbow trout |
| Kelly Reservoir | 96 | 0 | reservoir | |
| McHan Reservoir | 58 | 0 | reservoir | |
| Spring Creek Reservoir | 53 | 0 | reservoir |
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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Out to 50 miles from Fairfield, rainbow trout turns up on the most lake pages.
IDFG Fishing Planner recommended game fish and stocking rows, counted per lake page within 50 miles; not a creel survey.
More named Camas County lakes on the Planner list
Another 15 named lakes in Camas County have too few published facts for a page and are listed here by size.
| Water | Acres | Kind | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macon Lake | 25 | lake | Bellevue |
| Sheep Lake | 19 | lake | Bellevue |
| Neilsen Reservoir | 15 | reservoir | Gooding |
| Heart Lake | 10 | high mountain lake | Ketchum |
| Perkons Lake | 10 | high mountain lake | Ketchum |
| Goat Lake | 5 | high mountain lake | Ketchum |
| Crows Nest Reservoir | 4 | reservoir | Gooding |
| Little Bear Lake | 3 | high mountain lake | Ketchum |
| Smoky Dome Lakes | 2 | high mountain lake | Ketchum |
| Paradise Lake | 2 | high mountain lake | Ketchum |
| Boardman Creek Lake | 2 | high mountain lake | Ketchum |
| Snowslide Lakes | 2 | high mountain lake | Ketchum |
| Divide Reservoir | 0 | reservoir | Gooding |
| Cougar Reservoir | 0 | reservoir | Shoshone |
| Johns Reservoir | 0 | reservoir | Bellevue |
Alpine lakes make up 8 of these. Idaho high mountain lakes
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner (list of Idaho waters), read November 7, 2026.
Rivers and trout creeks of Camas County
- Big Wood RiverIDFG recommended water, 7 USGS gauges, 137 mi Planner length
- South Fork Boise RiverIDFG recommended water
- Camas Creek (Blaine County)IDFG recommended water, 1 USGS gauge, 66.9 mi Planner length
- Little Smoky CreekIDFG recommended water, 22.5 mi Planner length
- Big Smoky CreekIDFG recommended water, 21.9 mi Planner length
Camas County creeks the Planner names, listed here only (179)
- Clover Creek43.4 mi
- Willow Creek24.4 mi
- Dry Creek23.7 mi
- Thorn Creek21.6 mi
- Soldier Creek18.3 mi
- McKinney Creek16.4 mi
- East Fork Threemile Creek15.4 mi
- Camp Creek14.9 mi
- South Fork Lime Creek13.2 mi
- Cow Creek11.7 mi
- Spring Creek (Camas County)11.7 mi
- Lansing Creek11.5 mi
- Chimney Creek11.3 mi
- Lava Creek11.3 mi
- Deer Creek11 mi
- Dairy Creek10.7 mi
- Corral Creek9.8 mi
- Paradise Creek9.8 mi
- Knowlton Creek9.5 mi
- Elk Creek9.4 mi
- McCan Gulch9.1 mi
- Schooler Creek9.1 mi
- Boardman Creek9 mi
- East Dempsey Creek8.8 mi
- Threemile Creek8.7 mi
- Middle Fork Lime Creek8.5 mi
- East Fork Clover Creek7.7 mi
- West Fork Threemile Creek7.7 mi
- Johnson Creek7.5 mi
- East Fork Corral Creek7.4 mi
- Unnamed Stream7.3 mi
- Carrie Creek7.2 mi
- Catchall Creek7.1 mi
- West Fork Big Smoky Creek6.9 mi
- Daugherty Creek6.8 mi
- Deer Creek6.8 mi
- Fricke Creek6.8 mi
- Big Deer Creek6.7 mi
- West Fork Corral Creek6.7 mi
- Pasigoteka’a Naokwaide6.5 mi
- Bear Creek6.4 mi
- Rough Creek6.4 mi
- Skunk Creek6.4 mi
- Minnehaha Creek6.3 mi
- Beaver Creek6.2 mi
- Beaver Creek6.1 mi
- Phillips Creek6.1 mi
- Emma Creek5.9 mi
- North Fork Soldier Creek5.9 mi
- Sampson Creek5.9 mi
- Skeleton Creek5.9 mi
- Sheep Creek5.6 mi
- South Fork Ross Fork5.5 mi
- Salt Creek5.3 mi
- McMahan Creek5.2 mi
- Wardrop Creek5.2 mi
- Brush Creek5.1 mi
- Cherry Creek5.1 mi
- Maxfield Creek5.1 mi
- Thompson Creek5.1 mi
- Stewart Creek5 mi
- Little Beaver Creek4.9 mi
- North Fork Big Smoky Creek4.9 mi
- South Fork Soldier Creek4.9 mi
- Blackhorse Creek4.8 mi
- Bowns Creek4.8 mi
- East Fork Big Peak Creek4.8 mi
- Grindstone Creek4.8 mi
- North Fork Ross Fork4.8 mi
- Big Peak Creek4.6 mi
- Lick Creek4.6 mi
- Basalt Creek4.5 mi
- Skillern Creek4.5 mi
- Weeks Gulch4.5 mi
- Bluff Creek4.4 mi
- Deadwood Creek4.4 mi
- West Fork Big Peak Creek4.3 mi
- Ear Creek4.2 mi
- Mill Canyon4.2 mi
- Salt Log Creek4.2 mi
Live river readings in Camas County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Camas Creek Nr Blaine Id | 1 cfs, 1.87 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 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.
Stocking rows for Camas County water
IDFG lists 1,753 hatchery releases into Camas County water on its Planner pages: 6,758,650 fish in 8 waters.
- Magic ReservoirRainbow Trout – Triploid, 150,230 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), September 8, 2026
- Big Wood RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 950 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), August 26, 2026
- South Fork Boise RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 971 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), August 20, 2026
- South Fork Boise RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 955 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), August 13, 2026
- Big Wood RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 950 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), August 13, 2026
- South Fork Boise RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 1,059 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), August 10, 2026
- Big Smoky CreekRainbow Trout – Triploid, 1,673 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), August 5, 2026
- Big Wood RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 1,185 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), July 23, 2026
- South Fork Boise RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 950 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), July 15, 2026
- South Fork Boise RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 1,017 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), July 14, 2026
- South Fork Boise RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 1,900 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), July 14, 2026
- Little Smoky CreekRainbow Trout – Triploid, 946 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), July 9, 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.
Launches and walk-in access of Camas County
- Mormon Reservoir boat rampMormon Reservoir, IDFG, boating access, ramp, dock, restroom, camping
IDFG bank spots of Camas County (2)
- Camas Creek fishing accessfishing access, camping
- Camas Prairie Kids Pondfishing access, dock, 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.
Gear counters outside Camas County
- High Desert Sportsbait and tackle shop, Hailey, 27 miles
- Lost River Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Ketchum, 32 miles
- Idaho Angling Servicebait and tackle shop, Bellevue, 37 miles
- Hagerman Valley Sports & Mercantilebait and tackle shop, Hagerman, 37 miles
- High Desert Anglersbait and tackle shop, Mountain Home, 47 miles
Yellow Pages and chain store listings; straight-line miles from Fairfield only for shops with an exact point.
Fish an angler may keep across Camas County
This is the IDFG Magic Valley Region block, since most of Camas County's listed water sits in it; special rules printed for a water come first. The annual license fee written into Idaho Code 36-416 is $28.75 for an Idahoan and $106.25 for a visitor; GoOutdoorsIdaho and vendors add processing.
| 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 |
| 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; In rivers and streams, only 2 of the 6 trout may be Cutthroat Trout; Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately |
| Walleye | Walleye limit is 6 |
| 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 (also known as Green Sucker) |
| All Other Fish Species | No bag, length or possession limit |
Camas County water carrying special rules (6)
- Big Smoky CreekAll Waters Open All Year
- Big Wood RiverAll Waters Open All Year
- Camas Creek (Blaine County)All Waters Open All Year
- Little Smoky CreekAll Waters Open All Year
- Magic ReservoirBass – no bag, length, or possession limits
- South Fork Boise RiverAll Waters Open All Year
Region bag limits from Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules, 2025-2027 for the Magic Valley 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.
Idaho highways leading out of Camas County
Idaho county guides sharing a line with Camas County
- Elmore County36 miles west
- Gooding County37 miles south
- Blaine County42 miles east
- Lincoln County47 miles southeast
Rods, reels and pliers from Piscifun before Camas County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Reservoirs, alpine lakes and canyon runs close to Camas County, in pictures
Photo: Intermountain Forest Service, USDA Region 4 Photography, Public domain
Photo: Jess Johnson, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0 1.0
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Photo: USFWS – Pacific Region, Public domain
Brief answers on fishing Camas County
How many IDFG, BLM and Forest Service launches serve Camas County?
1 launch site on the access layers (1 IDFG).
Which lake in Camas County does IDFG list with the most acres?
Magic Reservoir, at 3,580 acres in the IDFG Fishing Planner.
Which game fish does IDFG name on water near Camas County?
Rainbow trout lead the count of lake pages within 50 miles, followed by bluegill and sunfish, largemouth bass and brook trout.
Which Camas County stores keep hooks and flies?
No bait counter is listed in the county itself.
How many Idaho guide listings name a Camas County town?
Idaho guide listings name no town inside the county.
Which Idaho town holds the Camas County county offices?
Fairfield is the seat.
Does fishing in Camas County need an Idaho license?
The annual license fee written into Idaho Code 36-416 is $28.75 for an Idahoan and $106.25 for a visitor; GoOutdoorsIdaho and vendors add processing.
Which Idaho county guides ring Camas County?
The nearest county pages are Elmore County, Gooding County and Blaine County.
Which IDFG region covers most Camas County water?
100% of the Planner waters sit in the IDFG Magic Valley Region.
Does IDFG print special rules for any Camas County water?
The Planner prints special rules for 6 county waters with a page here, starting with Big Smoky Creek; the list above shows the first ones.
Does IDFG stock fish in Camas County?
1,753 IDFG releases listed on Planner pages, 6,758,650 fish; the newest went into Magic Reservoir on Sept. 8, 2026.
Choose an IDFG lake or river in Camas County
Open a lake for its launches, limits and releases.