Dworshak Reservoir Fishing
A 16,484-acre Idaho reservoir in Clearwater County.
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Before a first trip to Dworshak Reservoir
IDFG gives Dworshak Reservoir 16,484 acres of water within Clearwater County. Its brochure region is the IDFG Clearwater Region. The closest Census town is Orofino, about 10 miles off. Its drainage, as IDFG words it: Flows into the North Fork Clearwater River. The Planner flags it as recommended.
The agency access layers list no ramp here. The 2025-2027 brochure lists 1 special rule line here. The Planner logs 314 stocking records since 1972. On-site facilities per IDFG: boat ramp, dock, toilet, campground and accessible facilities.
Surface acres as listed in the IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner (water page), read November 7, 2026. Census 2020 places.
What anglers catch in Dworshak Reservoir
The species chips for Dworshak Reservoir draw on Planner picks, surveys and plants.
Survey catches recorded at Dworshak Reservoir
- Bluegillsurvey 2023
- Bullheadsurvey 2023
- Kokaneesurvey 2023
- Largescale Suckersurvey 2023
- Northern Pikeminnowsurvey 2023
- Pumpkinseedsurvey 2023
- Smallmouth Basssurvey 2023
- Rainbow Troutsurvey 2022
These are survey finds, not a promise of what bites.
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner water page, read November 7, 2026.
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With no ramp listed at Dworshak Reservoir, carry a light boat in or tow to a nearby site.
Backup ramps for Dworshak Reservoir
- North Fork Clearwater River boat rampNorth Fork Clearwater River, 9 miles south
- Ahsahka boat rampboating access, ramp, restroom, camping, 9 miles south
- Elk Creek Reservoir boat rampElk Creek Reservoir, 11 miles north
- Zans boat rampboating access, ramp, restroom, camping, 14 miles south
IDFG access sites close to Dworshak Reservoir
- Ahsahka Bridge fishing accessfishing access, restroom, 9 miles
- Clearwater Hatchery fishing accessfishing access, 9 miles
- McGill Spur 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.
Gauge and dam readings at Dworshak Reservoir
USACE Northwestern Division water management data, DWR.Elev-Forebay.Inst.1Hour.0.CBT-REV, reading for November 7, 2026, retrieved November 7, 2026; series datum not stated. Provisional.
Look at the timestamp before trusting a number for Dworshak Reservoir.
Fish stocked in Dworshak Reservoir
From 1972 through 2026, IDFG logged 314 plants at Dworshak Reservoir.
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 4,060 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), June 23, 2026
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 4,056 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), May 5, 2026
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 3,045 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), April 6, 2026
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 2,100 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 22, 2025
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 2,500 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), June 16, 2025
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 4,000 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), May 20, 2025
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 5,175 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 23, 2024
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 4,200 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 1, 2024
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 12,197 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), September 24, 2024
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 2,325 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), June 20, 2024
Stocking rows as printed on the IDFG Fishing Planner page (date, species, number and size as listed), read November 7, 2026.
How many fish you can keep from Dworshak Reservoir
| Group | Region rule as printed |
|---|---|
| Bass | In lakes and reservoirs, limit is 6, both species combined |
| 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 25 |
| Salmon | Spring 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 prohibited. 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 D |
| Steelhead | Defined as Rainbow Trout longer than 20 inches in the Snake River drainage below Hells Canyon Dam, the Salmon River drainage (excluding lakes and reservoirs), and the Clearwater River drainage (excluding that portion above Dworshak Dam, and lakes); Fishing for steelhead is prohibited unless a steelhead season is specifically opened for that water. See fishing regulations for details |
| 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 | In lakes, reservoirs, ditches and canals, 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 (Stocked illegally in this Region. May be harmful to existing fisheries.) |
| 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 |
| All Other Fish Species | No bag, length, or possession limits |
Region lines for the IDFG Clearwater Region apply at Dworshak Reservoir except where noted below.
Special rules printed for Dworshak Reservoir
| Rule as printed |
|---|
| Trout limit is 6, only 2 may be Cutthroat Trout, no Cutthroat Trout under 14 inches |
Special rules printed for Dworshak 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 Clearwater 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-book fish IDFG credits to Dworshak Reservoir
| Species | Size | Category | Water as printed | Caught | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | 20.03 pounds | certified weight | Dworshak Reservoir | 2026-01-13 | source |
Idaho state record fish, read November 8, 2026.
Nearby still water beside Dworshak Reservoir
For more elbow room, Elk Creek Reservoir offers 87 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Region | Recommended fish | Launch sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dworshak Reservoir | 16,484 | Clearwater Region | 6 | 0 | |
| Elk Creek Reservoir | 11 miles north | 87 | Clearwater Region | 7 | 1 |
| Moose Creek Reservoir | 19 miles northwest | 34 | Clearwater Region | 4 | 1 |
| Campbells Pond | 19 miles east | 6.7 | Clearwater Region | 3 | 0 |
| Deyo Reservoir | 21 miles southeast | 52 | Clearwater Region | 3 | 1 |
| Deer Creek Reservoir | 23 miles east | 65 | Clearwater Region | 3 | 1 |
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner and the agency access layers, read November 7, 2026.
Close to Dworshak Reservoir
Reservoirs and lakes neighbouring Dworshak Reservoir
- Elk Creek Reservoir11 miles north
- Moose Creek Reservoir19 miles northwest
- Campbells Pond19 miles east
- Deyo Reservoir21 miles southeast
- Deer Creek Reservoir23 miles east
Gear shops Dworshak Reservoir anglers lean on
- Guide Shop-Clearwater Driftersbait and tackle shop, Orofino, 9 miles
- Red Shed Fly Shopfly shop, Peck, 13 miles
- Hescock's Southfork Tackle Cobait and tackle shop, Kamiah, 29 miles
- Riverside Sport Shopbait and tackle shop, Orofino
Outfitters listed near Dworshak Reservoir
- Hells Canyon Outfittersfishing guide, Orofino, (208) 816-6413
- The Outbackfishing guide, Pierce, (208) 464-2171
Overnight towns for anglers bound for Dworshak Reservoir
- Orofino10 miles
- Kamiah30 miles
- Lapwai30 miles
Dworshak Reservoir, broken out by county
- Clearwater Countyseat: Orofino
Piscifun reels and line packed for Dworshak Reservoir
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Reservoirs, alpine lakes and canyon runs close to Dworshak Reservoir, in pictures
Photo: Sam Beebe, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Dugan, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Idaho Fish and Game, CC BY 2.0
Before you load the truck for Dworshak Reservoir
Where in Idaho is Dworshak Reservoir?
Look in Clearwater County, about 10 miles from Orofino.
What size does the Planner give Dworshak Reservoir?
Near 16,484 acres.
Which listed launch suits a first trip to Dworshak Reservoir?
Paddle in, or use a launch nearby.
Which species are on record at Dworshak Reservoir?
IDFG recommends kokanee, cutthroat trout, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, bull trout and white crappie.
Does IDFG print special rules for Dworshak Reservoir?
Under the IDFG Clearwater Region block: In rivers and streams, trout limit is 2, all species combined; In lakes, reservoirs, ditches and canals, trout limit is 6, all species combined; Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately. Kokanee: Kokanee limit is 25. Read the water-specific lines above too.
Do I need an Idaho license to fish Dworshak 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.
Does IDFG plant fish in Dworshak Reservoir?
Yes, 314 rows; most recent Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 4,060 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), June 23, 2026.
Who sells flies and worms close to Dworshak Reservoir?
Stop at Guide Shop-Clearwater Drifters, about 9 miles away.
Where on this page is the level reading for Dworshak Reservoir?
Above: the dated reading from USACE NWD water management (dataquery).
Has Dworshak Reservoir produced an Idaho record?
IDFG announced a certified weight record for Rainbow Trout at 20.03 pounds (Dworshak Reservoir), caught 2026-01-13; anglers are not named here.
Plan a Gem State trip around Dworshak Reservoir
Check the bag limit before a fish goes in the cooler.