American Falls Reservoir Fishing
A 55,291-acre Idaho reservoir in Bannock, Bingham and Power counties.
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American Falls Reservoir, the short version
Planner size for American Falls Reservoir: 55,291 acres, in Bannock, Bingham and Power counties. The matched NHD outline reads 4,354 feet. IDFG manages it from the IDFG Southeast Region. Aberdeen sits roughly 5 miles away for fuel and groceries. IDFG notes: Flows into the Snake River. IDFG puts it on its recommended list.
Neither IDFG nor the federal layers record a launch on it. The brochure prints 2 special rule lines for it. IDFG has recorded 539 stocking records here since 1968. Facilities marked on the Planner: boat ramp, dock, toilet, campground and accessible facilities. Check the consumption advisory IDFG posts for it.
Surface acres as listed in the IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner (water page), read November 7, 2026. Elevation from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset and GNIS for the matched lake outline, read November 7, 2026. Census 2020 places.
Fish worth targeting on American Falls Reservoir
What IDFG records show for American Falls Reservoir:
What IDFG nets and electrofishing found in American Falls Reservoir
- Brown Troutsurvey 2023
- Catostomus sp.survey 2023
- Common Carpsurvey 2023
- Minnowsurvey 2023
- Rainbow Troutsurvey 2023
- Smallmouth Basssurvey 2023
- Utah Chubsurvey 2023
- Yellow Perchsurvey 2023
- Bluegillsurvey 2016
- White Sturgeonsurvey 2012
IDFG sampling catches nongame fish as well.
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner water page, read November 7, 2026.
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Agency data show no ramp on American Falls Reservoir; local or private launches may exist.
Other IDFG, BLM and Forest Service launches near American Falls Reservoir
- Sportsman Park boat rampboating access, ramp, dock, restroom, camping, 2 miles west
- McTucker Pond launch on McTucker Pond #8McTucker Pond #8, 8 miles northeast
- Springfield Lake boat rampSpringfield Lake, 10 miles north
- American Falls Reservoir West Rampboating access, ramp, dock, restroom, 13 miles southwest
- Oregon Trail Crossing boat rampboating access, ramp, dock, restroom, camping, 13 miles southwest
Places to fish from shore by American Falls Reservoir
- Crystal Springs PondCrystal Springs Pond, 9 miles
- Pingree fishing accessfishing access, 10 miles
The Planner lists no motor restriction here.
IDFG Fishing and Boating Access Sites layer, BLM Idaho recreation site points and USDA Forest Service recreation opportunities (EDW), read November 7, 2026.
What IDFG hatcheries released into American Falls Reservoir
Recent plants at American Falls Reservoir, out of 539 rows dated 1968 to 2026:
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 73,947 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), October 30, 2026
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 73,962 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), October 29, 2026
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 73,640 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), October 28, 2026
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 9,861 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), June 17, 2026
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 191,439 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), March 9, 2026
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 40,055 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), March 6, 2026
- Rainbow TroutRainbow Trout, 13,200 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), March 2, 2026
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 5,004 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), March 2, 2026
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 1,645 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), November 25, 2025
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 28,624 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), November 25, 2025
Stocking rows as printed on the IDFG Fishing Planner page (date, species, number and size as listed), read November 7, 2026.
Possession and size rules at American Falls Reservoir
| Group | Region 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; 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 |
These are the IDFG Southeast Region lines; any special rule for American Falls Reservoir below takes priority.
Rules IDFG lists for American Falls Reservoir
| Rule as printed |
|---|
| Bass limit is 2, any size |
| Contact the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Office |
Special rules printed for American Falls Reservoir on its IDFG Fishing Planner page (Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules, 2025-2027), read November 7, 2026.
Fishing here takes an Idaho fishing license; Idaho Code 36-416 sets the annual statutory fee at $28.75 for residents and $106.25 for nonresidents, and steelhead or salmon fishing takes its own permit.
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.
How American Falls Reservoir compares in its corner of Idaho
By IDFG acreage, Springfield Lake tops the list with 52 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Region | Recommended fish | Launch sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Falls Reservoir | 55,291 | Southeast Region | 6 | 0 | |
| Crystal Springs Pond | 9 miles northeast | 5.3 | Southeast Region | 0 | 0 |
| Springfield Lake | 10 miles north | 52 | Southeast Region | 1 | 1 |
| Big Fill Reservoir | 11 miles north | 37 | Southeast Region | 0 | 0 |
| Bannock Reservoir | 15 miles east | 5.5 | Southeast Region | 2 | 0 |
| Highway Pond | 20 miles southeast | 32 | Southeast Region | 0 | 0 |
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner and the agency access layers, read November 7, 2026.
Beside American Falls Reservoir
Lakes a quick detour from American Falls Reservoir
- Crystal Springs Pond9 miles northeast
- Springfield Lake10 miles north
- Big Fill Reservoir11 miles north
- Bannock Reservoir15 miles east
- Highway Pond20 miles southeast
Tackle stores a short drive from American Falls Reservoir
- CAL Ranch Chubbucksporting goods store, Chubbuck, 13 miles
- Nirvana on the Fly Officefly shop, Pocatello, 14 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 1844 Hurley Drbait and tackle shop, Pocatello, 14 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse Pocatellosporting goods store, Pocatello, 15 miles
- Morning Star Lanyardsbait and tackle shop, Pocatello, 19 miles
- CAL Ranch Blackfootsporting goods store, Blackfoot, 26 miles
Who runs guided trips around American Falls Reservoir
- Portneuf River Outfittersfishing guide, Pocatello, (208) 232-4776
Idaho towns with a bed near American Falls Reservoir
- Aberdeen5 miles
- American Falls12 miles
- Chubbuck14 miles
The counties along American Falls Reservoir
- Bannock Countyseat: Pocatello
- Bingham Countyseat: Blackfoot
- Power Countyseat: American Falls
A Piscifun spinning kit for the run up to American Falls Reservoir
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Visual ID for fish swimming at American Falls Reservoir
Photo: robposse, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USDAgov, Public domain
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Photo: USDAgov, Public domain
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Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Straight answers on American Falls Reservoir
How do I find American Falls Reservoir on an Idaho map?
Expect it in Bannock, Bingham and Power counties, about 5 miles from Aberdeen.
Is American Falls Reservoir a big lake for Idaho?
Some 55,291 acres on the Planner, at about 4,354 feet.
Can I get a boat onto American Falls Reservoir from a public site?
No launch on it appears in the IDFG, BLM or Forest Service layers; nearby sites are in the access band.
What does the Planner say lives in American Falls Reservoir?
The Planner names largemouth bass, yellow perch, brown trout, cutthroat trout, smallmouth bass and rainbow trout.
How many trout may an Idaho angler creel at American Falls Reservoir?
Under the IDFG Southeast Region block: 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. The brochure adds lines of its own for it.
What does the Idaho statutory fee come to for a trip to American Falls Reservoir?
Fishing here takes an Idaho fishing license; Idaho Code 36-416 sets the annual statutory fee at $28.75 for residents and $106.25 for nonresidents, and steelhead or salmon fishing takes its own permit.
When was American Falls Reservoir last stocked?
IDFG logged Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 73,947 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), October 30, 2026 most recently.
Where do anglers bound for American Falls Reservoir fill the tackle box?
CAL Ranch Chubbuck, about 13 miles away heads our shop list here.
Should I limit meals of fish from American Falls Reservoir?
An advisory is noted by IDFG; open the Planner page for the species and amounts.
Hitch the boat for American Falls Reservoir
Fees, region tables and rule blocks are gathered on one page.