Idaho Fishing License and Regulations
Statutory license fees, the seven IDFG region bag tables, IDAPA gear rules and boundary waters.
For weighing a catchPiscifun Lip gripper with digital scale27% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Oxbow Reservoir: Steven Isaacson, CC BY-SA 2.0
Idaho fishing license fees, 2026
These are the statutory fees in Idaho Code 36-416, the schedule the Legislature last amended in 2023. IDFG sells licenses through GoOutdoorsIdaho, its mobile app, regional offices and vendors, and the sale price adds vendor and processing charges, so the figure at the counter runs a little higher. IDFG’s own price list was offline during the build.
An IDFG news release on Free Fishing Day notes that kids 13 and younger never need a fishing license in Idaho.
| License | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Combination License | $37.00 | $262.25 |
| Fishing License | $28.75 | $106.25 |
| Hunting License with 3 Day Fishing License | not set | $183.25 |
| Sr. Combination License (65 and Older) | $12.00 | not set |
| Sportsman's Pak License | $135.00 | not set |
| Jr. Combination License | $18.00 | not set |
| Jr. Mentored Hunting License with 3 Day Fishing License | not set | $90.00 |
| Disabled American Veteran Hunting License with 3 Day Fishing License | not set | $30.00 |
| Jr. Fishing License | $14.25 | $22.00 |
| Disabled Combination License | $4.00 | not set |
| Disabled Fishing License | $4.00 | not set |
| Military Furlough Combination License | $18.75 | not set |
| Military Furlough Fishing License | $18.75 | not set |
| Daily Fishing (1st-day) License | $11.75 | $21.00 |
| Consecutive Day Fishing License | $6.00 | $7.00 |
| 3 Day Fishing with Salmon/Steelhead Permit | not set | $43.00 |
| Salmon Permit | $13.50 | $26.50 |
| Steelhead Permit | $13.50 | $26.50 |
| 2-Pole Fishing Permit | $13.25 | $15.25 |
| Crayfish/Minnow Tag | $1.25 | $3.50 |
| Fishing Tournament Permit | $21.75 | $27.50 |
| Educational Fishing Permit | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Nursing Home Fishing Permit | $33.00 | not set |
Fishing license fees as set in Idaho Code 36-416 (statute; IDFG sale prices add vendor and processing fees), read November 7, 2026.
The seven IDFG regions and their bag tables
Idaho prints bag limits region by region in the 2025-2027 Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules. Region lines follow drainages, not county lines, so every water page here names the region IDFG prints for that water. The tables below are the ones the Fishing Planner shows on its water pages; the brochure PDF was unreachable during the build.
| IDFG region | Trout line | Kokanee line |
|---|---|---|
| IDFG Panhandle Region | Trout limit is 6, all species combined; Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately | Kokanee limit is 15 |
| IDFG Clearwater Region | 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 | Kokanee limit is 25 |
| IDFG Southwest Region | 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 s | Kokanee limit is 6 |
| IDFG Magic Valley Region | 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 | Kokanee limit is 6 |
| IDFG Southeast Region | Trout limit is 6, all species combined; In rivers and streams, only 2 of the 6 trout may be Cutthroat Trout; Brook Trout are listed separately | Kokanee limit is 6 |
| IDFG Upper Snake Region | Trout limit is 6, all species combined; Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately | Kokanee limit is 15 |
| IDFG Salmon Region | 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 s | Kokanee limit is 25 |
Region bag limits from Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules, 2025-2027, as printed on IDFG Fishing Planner water pages (the brochure PDF on idfg.idaho.gov was unreachable during site maintenance), read November 7, 2026.
Idaho gear rules from IDAPA 13.01.11.200
01. General Restrictions. Unless modified by rule (such as exceptions in the following subsections), order, or proclamation, it is unlawful to: (7-1-24) a. Fish in any waters of Idaho with more than one (1) handline or pole with a line attached, unless in possession of a valid two-pole permit. (7-1-24) b. Leave an unattended line. (7-1-24) c. Have more than five (5) hooks attached per line. (7-1-24) d. Use more than five (5) lines while ice fishing. (7-1-24) e. Fish by archery, spearfishing, snagging, hands, trapping, seining, or netting. (7-1-24) f. Use live fish, leeches, frogs, salamanders, waterdogs, or shrimp as bait. (7-1-24) g. Land any fish with a gaff hook. (7-1-24) h. Molest any fish by shooting at it with a firearm or pellet gun, striking at it with a club, hands, rocks, or other objects, building obstructions for catching fish, or chasing fish up or downstream in any manner.
IDAPA 13.01.11, Rules Governing Fish section 13.01.11.200, current text (adminrules.idaho.gov PDF), read November 7, 2026.
Bear Lake, the Snake River line and other Idaho border water
01. Bear Lake. The holder of a valid Idaho or Utah fishing license may fish all of Bear Lake, subject to the rules or regulations of the state in which they are fishing, including any closure. (7-1-24) 02. Limit for One License Only. Any angler who fishes on the Snake River or any other water forming an Idaho boundary is entitled to have in possession only the limit allowed by one (1) license regardless of the number of licenses they may possess. (7-1-24) Section 345 Page 8 IDAHO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE IDAPA 13.01.11
IDAPA 13.01.11, Rules Governing Fish section 13.01.11.345, current text (adminrules.idaho.gov PDF), read November 7, 2026.
Idaho steelhead and salmon: what this site can print
Steelhead and salmon seasons and limits come from separate Commission proclamations, posted by river section on idfg.idaho.gov. That site answered with a maintenance notice on 6 to 8 November 2026, so this site prints only the region-table definitions, permit validation and gear rules from IDAPA, and the federal listings.
Idaho Free Fishing Day
Idaho held Free Fishing Day on June 13, 2026: no license was needed that day, and every other rule still applied. The 2027 date had not been announced when this page was built.
Idaho Fish and Game news release as published by The Outdoor Wire (June 2026) (source), read November 8, 2026.
Reservoir, alpine and canyon scenes for Idaho Fishing License and Regulations
Photo: BLMIdaho, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Idaho Fish and Game, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Eric Fredericks, CC BY-SA 2.0
Idaho license and rule questions
What does an Idaho fishing license cost?
Idaho Code 36-416 sets the annual fishing license fee at $28.75 for residents and $106.25 for nonresidents; the sale price adds vendor and processing charges.
Where do I buy one?
GoOutdoorsIdaho.com, the IDFG mobile app, IDFG regional offices and license vendors across the state.
Do kids need a license?
No, per an IDFG release: kids 13 and younger never need a fishing license in Idaho.
How many rods may I use?
One, unless you hold a two-pole permit, under IDAPA 13.01.11.200; some waters print other gear rules.
Can I fish Bear Lake with a Utah license?
Yes. IDAPA 13.01.11.345 lets holders of a valid Idaho or Utah license fish all of Bear Lake, under the rules of the state they are in.
Why are limits shown by region?
IDFG prints its bag tables for seven regions; region lines follow drainages, so each water page names the region IDFG gives that water.
Where are steelhead and salmon seasons?
In separate Commission proclamations on idfg.idaho.gov, which was down for maintenance when this page was built; no dates are printed here.
When were these figures checked?
Statutory fees and IDAPA text were read on 7 November 2026; region tables come from Fishing Planner pages read on 7 and 8 November 2026.