Milner Lake Fishing
A 4,350-acre Idaho lake in Cassia County and 3 other counties.
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Milner Lake: start here
The IDFG Fishing Planner lists Milner Lake at 4,350 acres of surface in Cassia County and 3 other counties. The Planner files it under the IDFG Magic Valley Region. From the outlet point, Rupert lies near 4 miles away. Drainage line on the Planner: Flows into the Snake River. The Planner’s recommended badge sits on it.
No boat ramp turns up here in the access layers. Hatchery crews account for 57 stocking records since 1981. Expect a boat ramp, dock, toilet and accessible facilities, per the Planner.
Surface acres as listed in the IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner (water page), read November 7, 2026. Census 2020 places.
The Milner Lake fish list from IDFG
These fish come from the Planner's recommended list, IDFG survey records and stocking rows for Milner Lake.
Survey years and fish logged for Milner Lake
- Brown Bullheadsurvey 2022
- Channel Catfishsurvey 2022
- Common Carpsurvey 2022
- Green Sunfishsurvey 2022
- Rainbow Troutsurvey 2022
- Redside Shinersurvey 2022
- Smallmouth Basssurvey 2022
- Utah Chubsurvey 2022
- Utah Suckersurvey 2022
- Yellow Perchsurvey 2022
- Black Bullheadsurvey 2003
- Black Crappiesurvey 2003
Sampling counts every fish caught, game species or not.
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner water page, read November 7, 2026.
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Nothing in the IDFG, BLM or Forest Service layers marks a ramp on Milner Lake.
Shoreline access points near Milner Lake
- Minidoka PondMinidoka Pond, under a mile
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.
Stocking records for Milner Lake
Milner Lake has 57 hatchery rows on file between 1981 and 2026, latest first.
- Channel CatfishChannel Catfish, 9,509 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), August 12, 2026
- Channel CatfishChannel Catfish, 20,302 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), July 24, 2025
- Channel CatfishChannel Catfish, 19,278 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), July 30, 2024
Stocking rows as printed on the IDFG Fishing Planner page (date, species, number and size as listed), read November 7, 2026.
The harvest rules on Milner Lake
| 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 |
The IDFG Magic Valley Region block sets the default at Milner Lake; special rules override it.
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.
Where Milner Lake ranks among local water
Among the five nearest Idaho lakes with pages, Lake Walcott is largest at 8,248 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Region | Recommended fish | Launch sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milner Lake | 4,350 | Magic Valley Region | 3 | 0 | |
| Minidoka Pond | under a mile west | 11 | Magic Valley Region | 0 | 0 |
| Emerald Lake (Minidoka County) | 6 miles west | 34 | Magic Valley Region | 4 | 0 |
| Camp Holly Lake | 7 miles northwest | 37 | Magic Valley Region | 0 | 0 |
| Burley Pond | 8 miles west | 27 | Magic Valley Region | 3 | 0 |
| Lake Walcott | 15 miles northeast | 8,248 | Magic Valley Region | 5 | 1 |
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner and the agency access layers, read November 7, 2026.
Down the road from Milner Lake
Other lakes in the Milner Lake country
- Minidoka Pondunder a mile west
- Emerald Lake (Minidoka County)6 miles west
- Camp Holly Lake7 miles northwest
- Burley Pond8 miles west
- Lake Walcott15 miles northeast
Picking up flies and worms on the way to Milner Lake
- Snake River Sportsbait and tackle shop, Burley, 8 miles
- CAL Ranch Burleysporting goods store, Burley, 8 miles
- Dry Creek Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Murtaugh, 28 miles
- Sports Marinamarina, Burley
- C n T enterprisebait and tackle shop, Kimberly
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 1939 Fillmore Stbait and tackle shop, Twin Falls
Motels and cabins that put you near Milner Lake
- Rupert4 miles
- Heyburn7 miles
- Paul8 miles
Which Gem State counties hold Milner Lake
- Cassia Countyseat: Burley
- Jerome Countyseat: Jerome
- Minidoka Countyseat: Rupert
- Twin Falls Countyseat: Twin Falls
Rods, reels and pliers from Piscifun before Milner Lake
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Telling the Milner Lake fish apart by sight
Photo: Thenextvoice, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Pos, Robert H, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: Mike Cline, Public domain
Photo: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0
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Milner Lake, taken a question at a time
Which Gem State town makes the handiest base for Milner Lake?
IDFG places it in Cassia County and 3 other counties, about 4 miles from Rupert.
What acreage does IDFG list for Milner Lake?
IDFG lists 4,350 acres.
Do the agency layers show a boat ramp on Milner Lake?
The layers show no ramp here.
What might bend a rod at Milner Lake on an ordinary Idaho day?
Expect bullhead catfish, smallmouth bass and catfish, per IDFG.
Which Idaho rules cover Milner Lake?
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.
Which license covers Milner Lake?
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.
What has IDFG released into Milner Lake?
Yes; the newest row is Channel Catfish, 9,509 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), August 12, 2026.
Where can I grab leader and hooks before Milner Lake?
Try Snake River Sports, about 8 miles away.
Block out a weekend for Milner Lake
Read the rule lines, then choose the launch closest to your spot.