Black Crappie in Idaho
Idaho rules and water for black crappie.
- no limitbag
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The Gem State and its Black Crappie
The 2025-2027 Idaho tables leave black crappie without a numeric limit. The IDFG Panhandle Region block words it as "No bag, length, or possession limit".
3 lake and river pages list it as an IDFG pick; try Paddock Valley Reservoir, Gamlin Lake and Perkins Lake (Boundary County). 4 stocking rows sit in the Planner tables; the last one is from October 7, 2025. Its Latin label, per IDFG, is Pomoxis nigromaculatus.
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| IDFG region | Line as printed |
|---|---|
| IDFG Panhandle Region | No bag, length, or possession limit |
| IDFG Clearwater Region | No bag, length, or possession limits |
| IDFG Southwest Region | No bag, length, or possession limits |
| IDFG Magic Valley Region | No bag, length or possession limit |
| IDFG Southeast Region | No bag, length or possession limit |
| IDFG Upper Snake Region | No bag, length or possession limit |
| IDFG Salmon Region | No bag, length, or possession limits |
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.
Recent Black Crappie plants in the Planner
| Water | Release as printed |
|---|---|
| Payette Greenway Pond | Crappie, 602 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), October 7, 2025 |
| Esther Simplot Pond | Crappie, 262 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), October 7, 2024 |
| Parkcenter Pond | Crappie, 196 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), October 7, 2024 |
| Clearwater River | Crappie, 800 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), November 4, 1975 |
Stocking rows as printed on the IDFG Fishing Planner water pages (date, species, number and size as listed), read November 7, 2026.
Gem State lakes and rivers for black crappie
Lakes and reservoirs for black crappie
- Paddock Valley Reservoir1,190 acres
- Gamlin Lake103 acres
- Perkins Lake (Boundary County)53 acres
IDFG Fishing Planner recommended game fish on each water page, read November 7, 2026; largest lakes and best-served rivers first.
Fish IDFG lists beside black crappie
- Bluegill and SunfishLepomis
- BullheadAmeiurus
- Channel Catfish
- White CrappiePomoxis annularis
- Yellow PerchPerca flavescens
Benchland and bank around Black Crappie, seen through a lens
Photo: Tamanoeconomico, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: Sidpatchy, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Intermountain Forest Service, USDA Region 4 Photography, Public domain
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
black crappie in Idaho: questions anglers raise
Is there a daily cap on black crappie in Idaho?
As many as you like; the table reads "No bag, length, or possession limit".
Is there a new Idaho record black crappie?
Not in the 2026 releases read here; IDFG keeps the full list.
Which Idaho waters does IDFG recommend for black crappie?
IDFG picks it on 3 pages, Paddock Valley Reservoir, Gamlin Lake and Perkins Lake (Boundary County) among them.
Do Idaho hatcheries release black crappie?
4 rows; the newest went to Payette Greenway Pond, October 7, 2025.
Is the black crappie rule the same on every Idaho water?
Rule blocks read here leave it out.
Is black crappie threatened or endangered?
No; it is not on the federal list IDFG cites.
Which permit goes with black crappie in Idaho?
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.
How is an Idaho black crappie record certified?
IDFG certifies them; released fish count by total length, kept fish by weight on a certified scale.
Pick Idaho water for black crappie
Every listed water carries its own rule summary.