Magic Reservoir Fishing
A 3,580-acre Idaho reservoir in Blaine and Camas counties.
Pick for yellow perchPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0
Magic Reservoir by the numbers
Magic Reservoir covers 3,580 acres of Blaine and Camas counties, according to IDFG. USGS outline data place it at roughly 4,797 feet. IDFG lists it with the IDFG Magic Valley Region. The run into Bellevue is close to 15 miles. The Planner describes it this way: Flows into the Big Wood River. It carries the Planner’s Recommended Fishing Water mark, and a Family Fishing Water too.
The access layers record 3 launch sites here. It carries 1 special rule line of its own. Since 1968, IDFG lists 646 stocking records. The Planner lists a boat ramp, dock, toilet, campground and accessible facilities on site.
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 the Planner names for Magic Reservoir
For Magic Reservoir, IDFG sources name the species below.
Fish IDFG surveys turned up in Magic Reservoir
- Bridgelip Suckersurvey 2023
- Brown Troutsurvey 2023
- Largescale Suckersurvey 2023
- Rainbow Troutsurvey 2023
- Redside Shinersurvey 2023
- Smallmouth Basssurvey 2023
- Yellow Perchsurvey 2008
- Catostomus sp.survey 2006
- Fathead Minnowsurvey 2005
- Longnose Dacesurvey 2005
- Speckled Dacesurvey 2005
Survey rows report presence in a sampling year, not abundance.
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner water page, read November 7, 2026.
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- Hot Springs Landing / Rock Creek on Magic Reservoirfishing access, ramp
- Lava Point boat ramp on Magic Reservoirboating access, ramp, dock, restroom, camping
- Magic Reservoir launchboat launch, Bureau of Land Management
More launches around Magic Reservoir
- Moonstone boat rampboating access, ramp, dock, restroom, camping, 5 miles northwest
- Thorn Creek Reservoir launchThorn Creek Reservoir, 13 miles southwest
Bank fishing sites around Magic Reservoir
- Camas Creek fishing accessCamas Creek, 12 miles
- Gaver Lagoon fishing access on Gavers LagoonGavers Lagoon, 12 miles
- Silver Creek West fishing accessSilver Creek, 14 miles
- Silver Creek East fishing accessSilver Creek, 15 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.
IDFG releases at Magic Reservoir since 2024
Stocking at Magic Reservoir spans 1968 to 2026 across 646 rows.
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 150,230 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), September 8, 2026
- Rainbow TroutRainbow Trout, 4,023 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), April 1, 2026
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 6,046 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), March 26, 2026
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 7,616 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), March 18, 2026
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 84,600 fish, Fry (0-3 inches), February 24, 2026
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 216,670 fish, Fry (0-3 inches), February 23, 2026
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 104,531 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), August 15, 2025
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 144,208 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), August 14, 2025
- Yellow PerchYellow Perch, 1,300 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), June 11, 2025
- Rainbow Trout (triploid)Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 60,563 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), May 13, 2025
Stocking rows as printed on the IDFG Fishing Planner page (date, species, number and size as listed), read November 7, 2026.
Bag limits for Magic Reservoir
| Group | Region rule as printed |
|---|---|
| Bass | Bass limit is 6, both species combined; None under 12 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 |
| Bull Trout | Bull Trout – catch-and-release |
| 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; Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately |
| Walleye | Walleye limit is 6 |
| 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 |
Read the IDFG Magic Valley Region rows first, then the exceptions IDFG prints for Magic Reservoir.
Exceptions written for Magic Reservoir
IDFG prints these under the heading "Magic Reservoir from Magic Dam upstream to the posted boundary about 700 yards east of Hot Springs Landing".
| Rule as printed |
|---|
| Bass – no bag, length, or possession limits |
Special rules printed for Magic Reservoir from Magic Dam upstream to the posted boundary about 700 yards east of Hot Springs Landing 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 Magic Valley 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.
Stacking Magic Reservoir against nearby reservoirs
The biggest neighbour here is Little Wood Reservoir, 524 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Region | Recommended fish | Launch sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magic Reservoir | 3,580 | Magic Valley Region | 4 | 3 | |
| Thorn Creek Reservoir | 12 miles southwest | 117 | Magic Valley Region | 1 | 1 |
| Kelly Reservoir | 12 miles west | 96 | Magic Valley Region | 0 | 0 |
| Spring Creek Reservoir | 14 miles west | 53 | Magic Valley Region | 0 | 0 |
| McHan Reservoir | 15 miles west | 58 | Magic Valley Region | 0 | 0 |
| Little Wood Reservoir | 21 miles northeast | 524 | Magic Valley Region | 2 | 0 |
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner and the agency access layers, read November 7, 2026.
In the Magic Reservoir neighbourhood
Still water for a second day beyond Magic Reservoir
- Thorn Creek Reservoir12 miles southwest
- Kelly Reservoir12 miles west
- Spring Creek Reservoir14 miles west
- McHan Reservoir15 miles west
- Little Wood Reservoir21 miles northeast
Where to grab leaders, hooks and bait for Magic Reservoir
- Idaho Angling Servicebait and tackle shop, Bellevue, 16 miles
- High Desert Sportsbait and tackle shop, Hailey, 17 miles
- Lost River Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Ketchum, 28 miles
Guide outfits working Magic Reservoir
- Silver Creek Outfittersfishing guide, Ketchum, (208) 726-5282
- Lost River Outfittersfly shop and guide service, Ketchum, (208) 726-1706
Idaho communities handy to Magic Reservoir
- Bellevue15 miles
- Hailey17 miles
- Shoshone23 miles
Counties that share Magic Reservoir
- Blaine Countyseat: Hailey
- Camas Countyseat: Fairfield
What Piscifun sells that fits a trip to Magic Reservoir
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Gem State fish to know on sight at Magic Reservoir
Photo: USDAgov, Public domain
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Photo: USDAgov, Public domain
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Photo: robposse, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Bureau of Land Management, CC BY 2.0
Magic Reservoir: what Gem State anglers keep asking
Which Idaho county is Magic Reservoir in?
Its Planner point lies in Blaine and Camas counties, about 15 miles from Bellevue.
How big is Magic Reservoir by the IDFG figure?
The Planner says 3,580 acres, at about 4,797 feet.
How many launch sites reach Magic Reservoir?
3 launch sites listed; start with Hot Springs Landing / Rock Creek on Magic Reservoir.
Does Magic Reservoir hold trout?
On the recommended list: yellow perch, brown trout, smallmouth bass and rainbow trout.
Which brochure lines govern Magic Reservoir?
Under the IDFG Magic Valley Region block: Trout limit is 6, all species combined; In rivers and streams, only 2 of the 6 trout may be Cutthroat Trout; Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately. A special rule changes part of that here.
What does a nonresident need at Magic 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.
Is Magic Reservoir stocked?
Latest row: Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 150,230 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), September 8, 2026.
Where would I pick up nightcrawlers on the road to Magic Reservoir?
Idaho Angling Service is the nearest stop we list, about 16 miles away.
Pencil Magic Reservoir into this year's Idaho plans
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