Fishing in Jefferson County, Idaho
County seat: Rigby. Population 30,891.
- 10lake pages
- 9launch sites
- 3river pages
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Fishing Jefferson County from the valley floor to the high country
County government for Jefferson County meets in Rigby; the 2020 count found 30,891 residents. Of the waters the Planner lists for the county, 100% sit in the IDFG Upper Snake Region, the region whose limits most of it follows.
Of 10 lakes with pages, spanning 4,958 acres combined, Mud Lake (Jefferson County) comes first by size. 9 launch sites appear on the access layers here, 6 IDFG and 3 BLM. The IDFG layer adds 3 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.
Where to wet a line across Jefferson County, plotted
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 Jefferson County, biggest first
| Lake | Acres | Launches | Kind | Game fish IDFG names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mud Lake (Jefferson County) | 3,095 | 2 | lake | bullhead, yellow perch, bluegill and sunfish |
| North Lake | 764 | 0 | lake | |
| Market Lake | 522 | 0 | lake | |
| Rays Lake | 193 | 0 | lake | |
| Sandhole Lake | 142 | 0 | lake | |
| Butte Slough | 75 | 0 | lake | |
| Two-way Pond | 64 | 0 | lake | |
| Jim Moore Pond | 45 | 1 | lake | yellow perch, rainbow trout, tiger trout |
| Rigby Lake | 30 | 0 | lake | rainbow trout |
| Taylors Slough | 28 | 0 | lake |
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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Lake pages up to 50 miles from Rigby 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 Jefferson County without a page
These 4 Jefferson County lakes sit on the Planner list without a guide yet.
| Water | Acres | Kind | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamer Lake | 20 | lake | Rexburg |
| Menan City Pond | 13 | lake | Rigby |
| Johnston Lake | 9 | lake | Rigby |
| Leavitz Pond | NHD-mapped lake | Rexburg |
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner (list of Idaho waters), read November 7, 2026.
IDFG-listed rivers with their own guide in Jefferson County
- South Fork Snake RiverIDFG recommended water, 128.9 mi Planner length
- Snake River1 launch, 14 USGS gauges
- Camas Creek (Clark County)1 USGS gauge, 63.3 mi Planner length
Creeks of Jefferson County still without an IDFG guide (18)
- Beaver Creek58.5 mi
- Dry Bed33.6 mi
- Great Western Canal25.7 mi
- Burgess Canal19.3 mi
- Chandler Canyon18.2 mi
- Campbell Gulch14.9 mi
- Kettle Butte Drain12.8 mi
- Spring Creek (Jefferson County)9.9 mi
- Snaky Canyon7.9 mi
- Scotts Slough7.3 mi
- Holly Canal6.2 mi
- Juniper Gulch5.8 mi
- Poitevin Ditch5.8 mi
- Annis Slough5.5 mi
- McCarthy Ditch4.1 mi
- Mitchell Ditch3.1 mi
- McKevitt Ditch2.8 mi
- Taylor Slough0.8 mi
How Jefferson County rivers are running
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Snake River At Lorenzo Id | 1,180 cfs, 3.40 ft gage height | Nov 13 8:15 pm |
| Dry Bed Nr Ririe Id | 0 cfs, 4.65 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:45 pm |
| Camas Creek At Camas Id | 0 cfs, 2.72 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:30 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.
Recent IDFG hatchery releases in Jefferson County
Jefferson County water took 11,626,182 hatchery fish in 670 listed releases, spread over 4 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
- Jim Moore PondRainbow Trout – Triploid, 1,700 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), October 20, 2026
- Jim Moore PondChannel Catfish, 900 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), August 12, 2026
- Rigby LakeRainbow Trout – Triploid, 1,500 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), June 16, 2026
- Snake RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 2,000 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), June 3, 2026
- Snake RiverRainbow Trout – Triploid, 2,500 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), May 21, 2026
- Snake RiverBrown Trout, 20,000 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), April 9, 2026
- Snake RiverBrown Trout, 21,502 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), April 8, 2026
- Snake RiverBrown Trout, 22,566 fish, Fry (0-3 inches), April 8, 2026
- Jim Moore PondRainbow Trout, 50 fish, Adults, December 4, 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.
Where to back a trailer down in Jefferson County
- Jim Moore Pond boat rampJim Moore Pond, IDFG, fishing access, dock, restroom, camping
- Lorenzo Boat Accesslaunch site, IDFG, boating access, ramp, dock, restroom
- Menan Buttes boat ramplaunch site, IDFG, boating access, ramp, dock, restroom, camping
- Mike Walker boat ramplaunch site, IDFG, boating access, ramp, dock, restroom, camping
- Mud Lake WMA – North RampMud Lake, IDFG, boating access, ramp, dock, restroom, camping
- Mud Lake WMA – South RampMud Lake, IDFG, boating access, ramp, dock, restroom, camping
- Heise Bridge Boat Accesslaunch site, BLM, boat launch
- Lorenzo Boat Accesslaunch site, BLM, boat ramp, ramp
- Menan Butte boat ramplaunch site, BLM, boat ramp, ramp
IDFG access sites, Jefferson County (3)
- Gem State WHA fishing accessfishing access
- Market Lake WMA fishing accessfishing access
- Butte Slough (Deer Parks WMA) 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.
The 2025-2027 limits behind Jefferson County fishing
The table below is the IDFG Upper Snake 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 – 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 |
Exceptions printed for Jefferson County water (5)
- Jim Moore PondTrout limit is 2
- Market LakeMarch 1 through July 15 – no boats, rafts or float tubes
- Mud Lake (Jefferson County)Bass limit is 6
- Snake RiverAll Waters Open All Year
- 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.
Record fish IDFG announced near Jefferson County
The 2026 announcements name no Jefferson County water; these neighbours within 80 miles do.
| Species | Record | Kind | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout | 3.08 (pounds), 19 inches | certified weight | Henrys 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 Jefferson County
Jefferson County tackle and fly counters
- Heise Expeditions – Day Toursbait and tackle shop, Ririe
- Heise Expeditions Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Ririe
- Idaho Fishing Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Rigby
Yellow Pages and chain store listings, guide listings (city of business); retrieved November 7, 2026.
Idaho places beside Jefferson County worth a look
Where to sleep in Jefferson County
- Rigbypop. 5,038
Counties ringing Jefferson County
- Madison County33 miles east
- Clark County34 miles north
- Bingham County40 miles south
- Butte County44 miles west
Piscifun tackle lined up for a day on Jefferson County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Telling the Jefferson County fish apart by sight
Photo: Forest Service Northern Region, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Thomas Quine, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Photo: Mike Cline, Public domain
Pinning down the details of fishing Jefferson County
Does IDFG manage any boat access in Jefferson County?
The layers hold 9 launch sites: 6 IDFG and 3 BLM.
Which Jefferson County lake is largest on the IDFG Fishing Planner?
Mud Lake (Jefferson County), at 3,095 acres in the IDFG Fishing Planner.
What do Idaho anglers catch around Jefferson County?
Rainbow trout lead the count of lake pages within 50 miles, followed by yellow perch, channel catfish and brook trout.
Does Jefferson County have an Idaho fly shop or bait counter listed?
Heise Expeditions – Day Tours heads a list of 3.
Which guide businesses list an address in Jefferson County?
Outfitters in the listings work from other counties.
In which Idaho town do Jefferson County commissioners sit?
The county courthouse stands in Rigby, Idaho.
What license fee applies to Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?
Madison County, Clark County and Bingham County lie closest.
Which IDFG region sets the limits for Jefferson County?
The IDFG Upper Snake Region, with 100% of the listed waters.
Does IDFG set special limits anywhere in Jefferson County?
The Planner prints special rules for 5 county waters with a page here, starting with Jim Moore Pond; the list above shows the first ones.
Which Jefferson County waters get hatchery fish?
670 IDFG releases listed on Planner pages, 11,626,182 fish; the newest went into Snake River on Oct. 27, 2026.
Plan an Idaho day on Jefferson County water
Launch pages give the agency, facilities and directions.