Palisades Reservoir Fishing
A 15,949-acre Idaho reservoir in Bonneville County.
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Palisades Reservoir, the short version
Planner size for Palisades Reservoir: 15,949 acres, in Bonneville County. The matched NHD outline reads 5,620 feet. IDFG manages it from the IDFG Upper Snake Region. Victor sits roughly 28 miles away for fuel and groceries. IDFG notes: Flows into the South Fork Snake River. IDFG puts it on its recommended list.
Trailers go in at 3 launch sites. The brochure prints 2 special rule lines for it. IDFG has recorded 490 stocking records here since 1968. Facilities marked on the Planner: boat ramp, dock, toilet, campground and accessible facilities.
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 Palisades Reservoir
What IDFG records show for Palisades Reservoir:
What IDFG nets and electrofishing found in Palisades Reservoir
- Brown Troutsurvey 2024
- Cutthroat Troutsurvey 2024
- Mountain Whitefishsurvey 2024
- Rainbow Troutsurvey 2024
- Utah Chubsurvey 2024
- Utah Suckersurvey 2024
- Kokaneesurvey 2023
- Lake Troutsurvey 2023
IDFG sampling catches nongame fish as well.
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner water page, read November 7, 2026.
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- Indian Creek Boating Site launch on Palisades Reservoirboating – motorized, USDA Forest Service
- Palisades Reservoir launchlake and pond fishing, USDA Forest Service
- Tissue Point Boating Site launch on Palisades Reservoirboating – motorized, USDA Forest Service
Other IDFG, BLM and Forest Service launches near Palisades Reservoir
- Big Elk Creek Boating Site launchBig Elk Creek, 9 miles north
- Palisades Creek boat rampPalisades Creek, 14 miles northwest
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.
Surface level at Palisades Reservoir
USACE Northwestern Division water management data, PAL.Elev-Forebay.Inst.15Minutes.0.GOES-REV, reading for November 7, 2026, retrieved November 7, 2026; series datum not stated. Provisional.
The Palisades Reservoir panel shows the newest value on file.
What IDFG hatcheries released into Palisades Reservoir
Recent plants at Palisades Reservoir, out of 490 rows dated 1968 to 2026:
- Lake Trout (triploid)Lake Trout – Triploid, 1,625 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), July 21, 2026
- KokaneeKokanee, 69,190 fish, Fry (0-3 inches), May 27, 2026
- Cutthroat Trout – YellowstoneCutthroat Trout – Yellowstone, 3,072 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), December 17, 2025
- Cutthroat Trout – YellowstoneCutthroat Trout – Yellowstone, 4,992 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), December 16, 2025
- Cutthroat Trout – YellowstoneCutthroat Trout – Yellowstone, 3,359 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), December 3, 2025
- Cutthroat Trout – YellowstoneCutthroat Trout – Yellowstone, 3,359 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), December 1, 2025
- Cutthroat Trout – YellowstoneCutthroat Trout – Yellowstone, 22,092 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), September 23, 2025
- Cutthroat Trout – YellowstoneCutthroat Trout – Yellowstone, 24,972 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), September 22, 2025
- Cutthroat Trout – YellowstoneCutthroat Trout – Yellowstone, 38,552 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), September 19, 2025
- Cutthroat Trout – YellowstoneCutthroat Trout – Yellowstone, 18,382 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), September 18, 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 Palisades Reservoir
| Group | Region rule as printed |
|---|---|
| Bass | Bass – no bag, length, or possession limits |
| 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 15 |
| 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 | No bag, length, or possession limits, harvest is encouraged (Have not been stocked intentionally in this Region. May be harmful to existing fisheries.) |
| Whitefish | Whitefish limit is 25 – see Big Lost River exception; 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 including Bluehead Sucker | 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 Upper Snake Region lines; any special rule for Palisades Reservoir below takes priority.
Rules IDFG lists for Palisades Reservoir
These lines sit under "Nearby Rules The following special rule(s) apply to adjacent waters but exclude the Palisades Reservoir.Palisades Reservoir tributaries" in the brochure.
| Rule as printed |
|---|
| No harvest of kokanee |
| Trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout |
Special rules printed for Nearby Rules The following special rule(s) apply to adjacent waters but exclude the Palisades Reservoir.Palisades Reservoir tributaries 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 Upper Snake 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 Palisades Reservoir compares in its corner of Idaho
By IDFG acreage, Grays Lake tops the list with 23,138 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Region | Recommended fish | Launch sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palisades Reservoir | 15,949 | Upper Snake Region | 4 | 3 | |
| Upper Palisades Lake | 16 miles north | 123 | Upper Snake Region | 0 | 0 |
| Grays Lake | 20 miles southwest | 23,138 | Southeast Region | 0 | 0 |
| Little Valley Reservoir (Bonneville County) | 24 miles west | 258 | Southeast Region | 0 | 0 |
| Little Blackfoot Reservoir | 26 miles southwest | 48 | Southeast Region | 0 | 0 |
| Blackfoot Reservoir | 34 miles southwest | 16,888 | Southeast Region | 3 | 3 |
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner and the agency access layers, read November 7, 2026.
Beside Palisades Reservoir
Lakes a quick detour from Palisades Reservoir
- Upper Palisades Lake16 miles north
- Grays Lake20 miles southwest
- Little Valley Reservoir (Bonneville County)24 miles west
- Little Blackfoot Reservoir26 miles southwest
- Blackfoot Reservoir34 miles southwest
Tackle stores a short drive from Palisades Reservoir
- The Dam Storebait and tackle shop, Irwin, 13 miles
- WorldCast Anglersbait and tackle shop, Victor, 28 miles
- Bass Pro Shopsbait and tackle shop, Ammon
- Cabela's, 3693 S 25th Ebait and tackle shop, Ammon
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 2240 E 17th Stbait and tackle shop, Idaho Falls
- Jimmy's All Seasons Anglerbait and tackle shop, Idaho Falls
Who runs guided trips around Palisades Reservoir
- Hyde Drift Boatsfishing guide, Idaho Falls, (208) 529-4343
Idaho towns with a bed near Palisades Reservoir
- Victor28 miles
- Driggs37 miles
The counties along Palisades Reservoir
- Bonneville Countyseat: Idaho Falls
A Piscifun spinning kit for the run up to Palisades Reservoir
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Visual ID for fish swimming at Palisades Reservoir
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region, Public domain
Photo: USDAgov, Public domain
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Photo: GlacierNPS, Public domain
Straight answers on Palisades Reservoir
How do I find Palisades Reservoir on an Idaho map?
Expect it in Bonneville County, about 28 miles from Victor.
Is Palisades Reservoir a big lake for Idaho?
Some 15,949 acres on the Planner, at about 5,620 feet.
Can I get a boat onto Palisades Reservoir from a public site?
The agency layers list 3 launch sites; Indian Creek Boating Site launch on Palisades Reservoir is one.
What does the Planner say lives in Palisades Reservoir?
The Planner names kokanee, lake trout, brown trout and cutthroat trout.
How many trout may an Idaho angler creel at Palisades Reservoir?
Under the IDFG Upper Snake Region block: Trout limit is 6, all species combined; Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately. Kokanee: Kokanee limit is 15. The brochure adds lines of its own for it.
What does the Idaho statutory fee come to for a trip to Palisades 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 Palisades Reservoir last stocked?
IDFG logged Lake Trout – Triploid, 1,625 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), July 21, 2026 most recently.
Where do anglers bound for Palisades Reservoir fill the tackle box?
The Dam Store, about 13 miles away heads our shop list here.
Has Palisades 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 Palisades Reservoir
Fees, region tables and rule blocks are gathered on one page.