Lake Trout in Idaho
Idaho rules and water for lake trout.
- 6 a daybag
- 43.25 inches2026 record
Pick for lake troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of the fish, not an Idaho water: USFWS Midwest Region, Public domain
The Gem State and its Lake Trout
7 IDFG region blocks carry a lake trout line with a daily count. The IDFG Panhandle Region block words it as "Trout limit is 6, all species combined; Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately".
9 lake and river pages list it as an IDFG pick; try Lake Pend Oreille, Bear Lake and Priest Lake. 9 stocking rows sit in the Planner tables; the last one is from July 21, 2026. Its Latin label, per IDFG, is Salvelinus namaycush.
For the lake trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Idaho region tables on Lake Trout
| IDFG region | Line as printed |
|---|---|
| IDFG Panhandle Region | Trout limit is 6, all species combined; Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately |
| 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 Brook Trout are listed separately |
| 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 separately |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| IDFG Upper Snake Region | Trout limit is 6, all species combined; Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately |
| 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 separately |
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.
Lake Trout on the 2026 Idaho record news
| Listing | Mark | Category | Water | Caught | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Trout | 43.25 inches | catch-and-release (length) | Payette Lake | not printed | IDFG news release (June 2026) as distributed unaltered by Public Technologies (article), read November 8, 2026 |
Records announced by IDFG in 2026 as reported in the dated releases and articles linked in each row, read November 8, 2026; a partial list, since the full IDFG record lists at idfg.idaho.gov/fish/record could not be opened during the November 2026 site maintenance. Angler names are left off.
Recent Lake Trout plants in the Planner
| Water | Release as printed |
|---|---|
| Palisades Reservoir | Lake Trout – Triploid, 1,625 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), July 21, 2026 |
| Stanley Lake | Lake Trout – Triploid, 501 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), October 23, 2025 |
| Palisades Reservoir | Lake Trout – Triploid, 1,884 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), May 15, 2025 |
| Stanley Lake | Lake Trout – Triploid, 504 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 21, 2024 |
| Palisades Reservoir | Lake Trout – Triploid, 691 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), September 12, 2024 |
| Palisades Reservoir | Lake Trout – Triploid, 1,200 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), September 12, 2024 |
| Teton River | Lake Trout, 2,000 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), June 2, 1976 |
| Teton River | Lake Trout, 60,240 fish, Fry (0-3 inches), June 2, 1976 |
| Teton River | Lake Trout, 97,917 fish, Fry (0-3 inches), May 27, 1976 |
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 lake trout
Lakes and reservoirs for lake trout
- Lake Pend Oreille92,764 acres
- Bear Lake69,446 acres
- Priest Lake23,335 acres
- Palisades Reservoir15,949 acres
- Payette Lake4,987 acres
- Upper Priest Lake1,340 acres
- Warm Lake412 acres
- Stanley Lake186 acres
Rivers and creeks for lake trout
- Clark Fork RiverBonner County
IDFG Fishing Planner recommended game fish on each water page, read November 7, 2026; largest lakes and best-served rivers first.
Idaho waters with a rule naming lake trout
- Clark Fork RiverIDFG Panhandle Region
- Lake Pend OreilleIDFG Panhandle Region
- Pend Oreille RiverIDFG Panhandle Region
- Spokane RiverIDFG Panhandle Region
- Stanley LakeIDFG Salmon Region
- Upper Priest LakeIDFG Panhandle Region
- Upper Priest RiverIDFG Panhandle Region
Rule blocks printed on IDFG Fishing Planner water pages (2025-2027), read November 7, 2026.
Fish IDFG lists beside lake trout
- Arctic GraylingThymallus arcticus
- Brown TroutSalmo trutta
- CutbowOncorhynchus clarkii x O. mykiss
- Cutthroat TroutOncorhynchus clarkii
- Rainbow TroutOncorhynchus mykiss
- Redband TroutOncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri
- Tiger TroutSalmo trutta x Salvelinus fontinalis
Benchland and bank around Lake Trout, seen through a lens
Photo: M. Beeton, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Sidpatchy, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: FunGi_ (Trading), CC BY-SA 2.0
lake trout in Idaho: questions anglers raise
Is there a daily cap on lake trout in Idaho?
Region by region; in the IDFG Panhandle Region: "Trout limit is 6, all species combined; Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately".
Is there a new Idaho record lake trout?
In 2026, Payette Lake produced 43.25 inches (catch-and-release (length)).
Which Idaho waters does IDFG recommend for lake trout?
IDFG picks it on 9 pages, Lake Pend Oreille, Bear Lake and Priest Lake among them.
Do Idaho hatcheries release lake trout?
9 rows; the newest went to Palisades Reservoir, July 21, 2026.
Is the lake trout rule the same on every Idaho water?
On 7 waters, including Lake Pend Oreille.
Is lake trout threatened or endangered?
No; it is not on the federal list IDFG cites.
Which permit goes with lake trout 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 lake trout record certified?
IDFG certifies them; released fish count by total length, kept fish by weight on a certified scale.
Pick Idaho water for lake trout
Every listed water carries its own rule summary.