Idaho lakes and reservoirs

Arrowrock Reservoir Fishing

A 3,015-acre Idaho reservoir in Boise and Elmore counties.

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Photo: Stephen Hanafin, CC BY-SA 2.0

Elmore County

Arrowrock Reservoir, the short version

Planner size for Arrowrock Reservoir: 3,015 acres, in Boise and Elmore counties. The matched NHD outline reads 3,216 feet. IDFG manages it from the IDFG Southwest Region (Nampa subregion). Robie Creek sits roughly 9 miles away for fuel and groceries. IDFG notes: Flows into the Boise River. IDFG puts it on its recommended list.

Trailers go in at 1 launch site. IDFG has recorded 215 stocking records here since 1968. Facilities marked on the Planner: boat ramp, toilet, campground and accessible facilities.

3,015surface acres
3,216 ftelevation
1launch sites
7recommended fish

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.

Species

Fish worth targeting on Arrowrock Reservoir

What IDFG records show for Arrowrock Reservoir:

Kokanee Yellow perch Mountain whitefish Smallmouth bass Rainbow trout Bull trout Redband trout Chiselmouth chub Largescale sucker Northern pikeminnow Chinook salmon Bridgelip sucker Redside shiner Cutthroat trout

What IDFG nets and electrofishing found in Arrowrock Reservoir

  • Chiselmouth Chubsurvey 2025
  • Kokaneesurvey 2025
  • Largescale Suckersurvey 2025
  • Mountain Whitefishsurvey 2025
  • Northern Pikeminnowsurvey 2025
  • Yellow Perchsurvey 2025
  • Bull Troutsurvey 2024
  • Chinook Salmonsurvey 2024
  • Rainbow Troutsurvey 2024
  • Smallmouth Basssurvey 2024
  • Rainbow Troutsurvey 2023
  • Bridgelip Suckersurvey 2022
  • Chinook Salmonsurvey 2022
  • Redside Shinersurvey 2019
  • Cutthroat Troutsurvey 2018

IDFG sampling catches nongame fish as well.

IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner water page, read November 7, 2026.

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Access

Trailer access at Arrowrock Reservoir

  • Arrowrock Boat Rampboating – motorized, ramp, USDA Forest Service

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.

Level

Surface level at Arrowrock Reservoir

3,142.22 ftreservoir elevation at Arrowrock Dam

USACE Northwestern Division water management data, ARK.Elev-Forebay.Inst.0.0.USBR-RAW, reading for November 7, 2026, retrieved November 7, 2026; series datum not stated. Provisional.

The Arrowrock Reservoir panel shows the newest value on file.

Stocking

What IDFG hatcheries released into Arrowrock Reservoir

Recent plants at Arrowrock Reservoir, out of 215 rows dated 1968 to 2026:

  • Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 20,961 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), September 30, 2026
  • Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 9,000 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), September 22, 2026
  • KokaneeKokanee, 201,217 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), May 21, 2026
  • Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 9,086 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), March 16, 2026
  • Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 9,000 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), September 18, 2025
  • Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 86,958 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), May 30, 2025
  • Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 50,180 fish, Fry (0-3 inches), May 30, 2025
  • KokaneeKokanee, 303,030 fish, Fry (0-3 inches), May 15, 2025
  • Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 9,010 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), April 1, 2025
  • Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 12,546 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), March 20, 2025

Stocking rows as printed on the IDFG Fishing Planner page (date, species, number and size as listed), read November 7, 2026.

Limits

Possession and size rules at Arrowrock Reservoir

GroupRegion rule as printed
BassBass limit is 6, both species combined; None under 12 inches
Brook TroutBrook 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 TroutBull Trout – catch-and-release
KokaneeKokanee limit is 6
SalmonSpring and summer Chinook Salmon seasons and limits are set by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission and issued in separate brochures; Seasons and limits for fall Chinook Salmon and Coho Salmon can be found here; Sockeye Salmon fishing is illegal. Defined as ocean-run Oncorhynchus nerka longer than 14 inches in the Snake River drainage below Hells Canyon Dam, the Salmon River drainage (excluding above Mosquito Flat Dam)
SteelheadDefined as Rainbow Trout longer than 20 inches in the Salmon River drainage (excluding lakes and reservoirs). Between Hells Canyon Dam and Oxbow Dam and the Boise River from its mouth upstream to Barber Dam during steelhead seasons, steelhead are Rainbow Trout over 20 inches with the adipose fin clipped (as evidenced by a healed scar); Fishing for steelhead is prohibited unless a steelhead season is specifically open
SturgeonSturgeon – 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 MuskieTiger Muskie limit is 2, none under 40 inches
TroutTrout limit is 6, all species combined; Chinook Salmon and steelhead placed in ponds are counted in the trout bag limit; Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately
WalleyeNo bag, length, or possession limits. Harvest is encouraged (Stocked illegally in this Region. May be harmful to existing fisheries.)
WhitefishWhitefish 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 FishMay not be harvested or possessed
All Other Fish SpeciesNo bag, length, or possession limits

These are the IDFG Southwest Region lines; any special rule for Arrowrock Reservoir below takes priority.

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 Southwest 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.

Compare

How Arrowrock Reservoir compares in its corner of Idaho

By IDFG acreage, Lucky Peak Reservoir tops the list with 2,766 acres.

LakeDistanceAcresRegionRecommended fishLaunch sites
Arrowrock Reservoir3,015Southwest Region71
Lucky Peak Reservoir8 miles southwest2,766Southwest Region50
Parkcenter Pond16 miles west8Southwest Region50
Indian Creek Reservoir (Ada County)17 miles southwest126Southwest Region21
Blacks Creek Reservoir17 miles southwest106Southwest Region10
Quinns Pond19 miles west23Southwest Region50

IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner and the agency access layers, read November 7, 2026.

Nearby

Beside Arrowrock Reservoir

Lakes a quick detour from Arrowrock Reservoir

  • Lucky Peak Reservoir8 miles southwest
  • Parkcenter Pond16 miles west
  • Indian Creek Reservoir (Ada County)17 miles southwest
  • Blacks Creek Reservoir17 miles southwest
  • Quinns Pond19 miles west

Tackle stores a short drive from Arrowrock Reservoir

  • Pro Salmon & Steelhead Shopbait and tackle shop, Boise, 16 miles
  • Tackle.io, Incbait and tackle shop, Boise, 17 miles
  • Topper Tacklebait and tackle shop, Boise, 18 miles
  • Loon Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Boise, 20 miles
  • Anglersbait and tackle shop, Boise, 20 miles
  • NW School of Fly Fishingfly shop, Boise, 21 miles

Idaho towns with a bed near Arrowrock Reservoir

  • Robie Creek9 miles
  • Boise19 miles
  • Hidden Springs22 miles

The counties along Arrowrock Reservoir

  • Boise Countyseat: Idaho City
  • Elmore Countyseat: Mountain Home
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Fish photos

Visual ID for fish swimming at Arrowrock Reservoir

Kokanee, Idaho
Kokanee
Photo: Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0
Yellow Perch, Idaho
Yellow Perch
Photo: USDAgov, Public domain
Mountain Whitefish, Idaho
Mountain Whitefish
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Smallmouth Bass, Idaho
Smallmouth Bass
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Answers

Straight answers on Arrowrock Reservoir

How do I find Arrowrock Reservoir on an Idaho map?

Expect it in Boise and Elmore counties, about 9 miles from Robie Creek.

Is Arrowrock Reservoir a big lake for Idaho?

Some 3,015 acres on the Planner, at about 3,216 feet.

Can I get a boat onto Arrowrock Reservoir from a public site?

The agency layers list 1 launch site; Arrowrock Boat Ramp is one.

What does the Planner say lives in Arrowrock Reservoir?

The Planner names kokanee, yellow perch, mountain whitefish, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, bull trout and redband trout.

How many trout may an Idaho angler creel at Arrowrock Reservoir?

Under the IDFG Southwest Region block: Trout limit is 6, all species combined; Chinook Salmon and steelhead placed in ponds are counted in the trout bag limit; Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately. Kokanee: Kokanee limit is 6.

What does the Idaho statutory fee come to for a trip to Arrowrock 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 Arrowrock Reservoir last stocked?

IDFG logged Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 20,961 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), September 30, 2026 most recently.

Where do anglers bound for Arrowrock Reservoir fill the tackle box?

Pro Salmon & Steelhead Shop, about 16 miles away heads our shop list here.

Has Arrowrock Reservoir been drawn down?

The level band shows the newest reading with its agency and date (USACE NWD water management (dataquery)).

Hitch the boat for Arrowrock Reservoir

Fees, region tables and rule blocks are gathered on one page.