Fishing in Caribou County, Idaho
County seat: Soda Springs. Population 7,027.
- 7lake pages
- 5launch sites
- 7river pages
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The Caribou County water rundown
Soda Springs is the seat of Caribou County, a county of 7,027 people at the 2020 Census. Region lines track watersheds, and 100% of the listed water here lands in the IDFG Southeast Region.
The county's 7 lake pages stretch over 42,533 acres, with Grays Lake on top. Launching comes down to 5 launch sites, managed as 5 IDFG. IDFG also lists 4 walk-in access sites for fishing from the bank without a ramp.
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.
IDFG, BLM and Forest Service sites of Caribou County mapped
IDFG Fishing and Boating Access Sites, BLM and Forest Service launch points, Fishing Planner lake points (outlet) and stream midpoints. Checked November 2026.
Paged reservoirs and lakes of Caribou County by Planner acres
| Lake | Acres | Launches | Kind | Game fish IDFG names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grays Lake | 23,138 | 0 | lake | |
| Blackfoot Reservoir | 16,888 | 3 | reservoir | cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass |
| Chesterfield Reservoir | 1,246 | 1 | reservoir | brown trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout |
| Alexander Reservoir | 1,012 | 0 | reservoir | yellow perch, cutthroat trout, smallmouth bass |
| Hole in the Rock | 144 | 0 | lake | |
| Dike Lake | 57 | 1 | lake | |
| Little Blackfoot Reservoir | 48 | 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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Around Soda Springs, to 50 miles, rainbow trout appears on more lake guides than the rest.
IDFG Fishing Planner recommended game fish and stocking rows, counted per lake page within 50 miles; not a creel survey.
Further Caribou County lakes the Planner names
The Planner names 9 more lakes in Caribou County, shown with acres and kind.
| Water | Acres | Kind | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burchett Lake | 25 | lake | Soda Springs |
| Gronewall Lake | 23 | lake | Soda Springs |
| Swan Lakes | 22 | lake | Soda Springs |
| The Reservoir | 16 | reservoir | Soda Springs |
| Lakey Reservoir | 4 | reservoir | Soda Springs |
| Swan Lake (Caribou County) | 2 | lake | Soda Springs |
| Kelly Park Pond | 1 | lake | Soda Springs |
| Horse Lakes | 1 | lake | Pocatello |
| Loa Lake | 0 | lake | Soda Springs |
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner (list of Idaho waters), read November 7, 2026.
Streams to wade or float in Caribou County
- Blackfoot RiverIDFG recommended water, 1 launch, 6 USGS gauges, 133 mi Planner length
- Bear RiverIDFG recommended water, 2 USGS gauges
- Portneuf RiverIDFG recommended water, 4 USGS gauges, 117.2 mi Planner length
- Diamond CreekIDFG recommended water, 23.1 mi Planner length
- Eightmile CreekIDFG recommended water, 16.2 mi Planner length
- Pebble CreekIDFG recommended water, 9.7 mi Planner length
- Toponce CreekIDFG recommended water, 9 mi Planner length
Small Planner streams across Caribou County (203)
- Meadow Creek37.1 mi
- Tincup Creek33.1 mi
- Crow Creek32.9 mi
- Stump Creek25.1 mi
- Slug Creek24.6 mi
- Corral Creek22.4 mi
- Spring Creek (Caribou County)21.3 mi
- Lanes Creek19.9 mi
- West Branch Canal16.2 mi
- Twentyfour Mile Creek14.6 mi
- Grizzly Creek14.5 mi
- Little Blackfoot River13.1 mi
- Dry Valley Creek12.9 mi
- Eighteenmile Creek12.3 mi
- Trout Creek12.3 mi
- Tenmile Creek10.8 mi
- Soda Creek10.5 mi
- Tygee Creek10.5 mi
- Unnamed Stream10.3 mi
- Sage Creek10 mi
- Trail Creek (Caribou County)10 mi
- Densmore Creek9.5 mi
- Dry Canyon9.3 mi
- Fish Creek9.3 mi
- Grave Creek8.9 mi
- Angus Creek8.5 mi
- Bacon Creek8.5 mi
- Chippy Creek8.5 mi
- South Fork Tincup Creek8.3 mi
- Gravel Creek8.2 mi
- Poison Creek8 mi
- Sheep Creek7.9 mi
- Jeff Cabin Creek7.3 mi
- Deer Creek7.2 mi
- Ledger Creek7.2 mi
- South Fork Toponce Creek7.2 mi
- Webster Creek7.2 mi
- Toms Canyon7 mi
- Draney Creek6.8 mi
- Bailey Creek6.6 mi
- Horse Creek6.6 mi
- Burton Creek6.5 mi
- Thompson Creek6.5 mi
- Alder Creek6.4 mi
- Bridge Creek6.4 mi
- Timothy Creek6.4 mi
- Water Creek6.4 mi
- Boulder Creek6.3 mi
- Rock Creek6.3 mi
- Sunday Creek6.3 mi
- Smoky Creek6.2 mi
- North Ant Canyon6.1 mi
- Johnson Creek6 mi
- Haderlie Creek5.8 mi
- King Creek5.8 mi
- North Fork Pebble Creek5.8 mi
- Smith Canyon5.8 mi
- Miller Creek5.7 mi
- North Canyon5.7 mi
- Browns Canyon5.6 mi
- North Fork Stump Creek5.5 mi
- North Fork Toponce Creek5.5 mi
- Dry Creek5.4 mi
- Little Toponce Creek5.4 mi
- Tolman Canyon5.4 mi
- Collett Creek5.2 mi
- Cow Creek5.2 mi
- Sawmill Creek5.2 mi
- Wood Canyon5.2 mi
- Chicken Creek5.1 mi
- South Ant Canyon5.1 mi
- Deer Creek5 mi
- Middle Sulphur Canyon5 mi
- Indian Creek4.8 mi
- Pole Canyon4.8 mi
- South Fork Sage Creek4.8 mi
- Middle Fork Toponce Creek4.7 mi
- White Dugway Creek4.7 mi
- Dry Canyon4.6 mi
- Kendall Canyon4.5 mi
Streamflow across Caribou County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Portneuf River At Pebble Id | 54 cfs, 5.22 ft gage height | Nov 12 8:00 pm |
| Blackfoot River Ab Reservoir Nr Henry Id | 33 cfs, 1.70 ft gage height | Nov 12 7:45 pm |
| Portneuf R. Abv Toponce Rd, Nr Chesterfield, Id | 3 cfs, 18.16 ft gage height | Nov 12 7:45 pm |
| Grays Lake Div To Blackfoot R Basin Nr Wayan, Id | 0 cfs, 2.60 ft gage height | Nov 12 8:15 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.
Fish trucked into Caribou County water since 2024
The Caribou County stocking log reads 3,528 releases and 8,852,301 fish, covering 10 waters.
- Chesterfield ReservoirRainbow Trout – Triploid, 334 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 31, 2026
- Blackfoot ReservoirRainbow Trout – Triploid, 2,445 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 26, 2026
- Blackfoot ReservoirRainbow Trout – Triploid, 17,591 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), October 23, 2026
- Chesterfield ReservoirRainbow Trout – Triploid, 3,179 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 20, 2026
- Chesterfield ReservoirRainbow Trout – Triploid, 16,024 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 19, 2026
- Portneuf RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 1,200 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), October 14, 2026
- Bear RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 1,500 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), October 9, 2026
- Bear RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 1,500 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), October 9, 2026
- Bear RiverCutthroat Trout – Bonneville, 3,322 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), October 6, 2026
- Bear RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 750 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), September 28, 2026
- Bear RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 750 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), September 28, 2026
- Portneuf RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 1,806 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), September 15, 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.
Put-ins and bank sites of Caribou County
- Blackfoot River WMA launchBlackfoot River, IDFG, boating access, restroom
- Chesterfield Reservoir boat rampChesterfield Reservoir, IDFG, boating access, ramp, dock, restroom
- Dike Lake (Blackfoot Reservoir) boat rampDike Lake, IDFG, boating access, ramp, dock, restroom, camping
- Hopkins Landing on Blackfoot ReservoirBlackfoot Reservoir, IDFG, boating access, ramp, restroom, camping
- Pebble Beach boat ramp on Blackfoot ReservoirBlackfoot Reservoir, IDFG, boating access, ramp, restroom, camping
Walk-to-the-water IDFG sites in Caribou County (4)
- Black Canyon fishing accessfishing access, restroom
- Blackfoot River Parkfishing access, restroom, camping
- Mikes Place fishing accessfishing access
- Twenty-four Mile Reservoir fishing accessfishing access, camping
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.
Bait over the line from Caribou County
- Morning Star Lanyardsbait and tackle shop, Pocatello, 43 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse Pocatellosporting goods store, Pocatello, 47 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 1844 Hurley Drbait and tackle shop, Pocatello, 48 miles
- CAL Ranch Chubbucksporting goods store, Chubbuck, 48 miles
- Nirvana on the Fly Officefly shop, Pocatello, 49 miles
Yellow Pages and chain store listings; straight-line miles from Soda Springs only for shops with an exact point.
Keeping within the limits in Caribou County
Most Caribou County water falls under the IDFG Southeast Region table shown here; check each water page for its own region and any special rule. Under Idaho Code 36-416 a season of fishing costs $28.75 with Idaho residency and $106.25 without it, before vendor fees.
| Group | Rule as printed |
|---|---|
| Bass | Bass limit is 6, both species combined; None under 14 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 |
| Cisco | Cisco limit is 30 |
| 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; Brook Trout are listed separately |
| 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 |
Caribou County waters with their own printed rules (9)
- Bear RiverAll Waters Open All Year
- Blackfoot ReservoirTrout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
- Blackfoot RiverAll Waters Open All Year
- Chesterfield ReservoirTrout limit is 2
- Diamond CreekAll Waters Open All Year
- Eightmile CreekAll Waters Open All Year
- Pebble CreekAll Waters Open All Year
- Portneuf RiverAll Waters Open All Year
- Toponce CreekAll Waters Open All Year
Region bag limits from Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules, 2025-2027 for the Southeast 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.
Places bordering Caribou County
Idaho town guides that sit inside Caribou County
- Soda Springspop. 3,133
Neighbouring counties of Caribou County
- Bannock County35 miles west
- Bear Lake County36 miles south
- Bonneville County42 miles north
- Franklin County45 miles south
What Piscifun sells that fits a trip to Caribou County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Reservoirs, alpine lakes and canyon runs close to Caribou County, in pictures
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Hermann Luyken, CC0 1.0
Photo: JF Hobbs, CC BY 3.0
Photo: BLMIdaho, CC BY 2.0
Questions that come up about Caribou County water
How many launch sites are mapped in Caribou County?
5 launch sites in all, managed as 5 IDFG.
Which Caribou County lake spreads widest on the Planner?
Grays Lake, at 23,138 acres in the IDFG Fishing Planner.
Which species show up on the most lake pages by Caribou County?
Rainbow trout lead the count of lake pages within 50 miles, followed by largemouth bass, yellow perch and bluegill and sunfish.
Is a bait counter listed anywhere in Caribou County, Idaho?
None in the county itself; the list above covers neighbouring Idaho stores.
Do any Idaho river outfitters work from Caribou County?
No guide lists this county; the Idaho guides page has the rest.
Which Idaho town handles Caribou County paperwork?
The seat is Soda Springs.
What does an Idaho fishing license cost for Caribou County water?
Under Idaho Code 36-416 a season of fishing costs $28.75 with Idaho residency and $106.25 without it, before vendor fees.
Which Idaho counties are wrapped around Caribou County?
Neighbours by distance: Bannock County, Bear Lake County and Bonneville County.
What IDFG region do Caribou County lakes fall under?
Mostly the IDFG Southeast Region (100% of listed water); check each water page.
Where do Caribou County waters depart from the region table?
The Planner prints special rules for 9 county waters with a page here, starting with Bear River; the list above shows the first ones.
How many fish went into Caribou County water lately?
3,528 IDFG releases listed on Planner pages, 8,852,301 fish; the newest went into Chesterfield Reservoir on Oct. 31, 2026.
Hitch up for Caribou County
Read a water's IDFG rule block before keeping fish.