Largemouth Bass in Idaho
Where to find largemouth bass in Idaho and what may be kept.
- 6 a daybag
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Idaho Largemouth Bass: rules, waters, records
The 2025-2027 rules give largemouth bass a numeric limit in 7 regions. Quoted from the IDFG Panhandle Region: "Bass limit is 6, both species combined".
Of 108 Idaho waters where IDFG recommends it, Lake Pend Oreille, American Falls Reservoir and Coeur d'Alene Lake come first by size. IDFG released it in 9 stocking rows on these waters, the latest on October 7, 2025. Taxonomic name on IDFG lists: Micropterus salmoides.
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| IDFG region | Line as printed |
|---|---|
| IDFG Panhandle Region | Bass limit is 6, both species combined |
| IDFG Clearwater Region | In rivers and streams, no bag, length or possession limits; In lakes and reservoirs, limit is 6, both species combined |
| IDFG Southwest Region | Bass limit is 6, both species combined; None under 12 inches |
| IDFG Magic Valley Region | Bass limit is 6, both species combined; None under 12 inches |
| IDFG Southeast Region | Bass limit is 6, both species combined; None under 14 inches |
| IDFG Upper Snake Region | Bass – no bag, length, or possession limits |
| 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.
Largemouth Bass releases on Idaho Planner pages
| Water | Release as printed |
|---|---|
| Payette Greenway Pond | Largemouth Bass, 101 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), October 7, 2025 |
| Hagerman WMA West Highway Pond | Largemouth Bass, 65 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), May 22, 2025 |
| Esther Simplot Pond | Largemouth Bass, 2,267 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), October 7, 2024 |
| Parkcenter Pond | Largemouth Bass, 1,700 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), October 7, 2024 |
| Bannock Reservoir | Largemouth Bass, 42 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), July 11, 2024 |
| Snake River | Largemouth Bass, 510 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), October 30, 1979 |
| Snake River | Largemouth Bass, 24 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), May 20, 1979 |
| Clearwater River | Largemouth Bass, 200 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), November 4, 1975 |
| Salmon Falls Creek | Largemouth Bass, 256 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), February 2, 1968 |
Stocking rows as printed on the IDFG Fishing Planner water pages (date, species, number and size as listed), read November 7, 2026.
Where to aim for largemouth bass in Idaho
Still water where IDFG recommends largemouth bass
- Lake Pend Oreille92,764 acres
- American Falls Reservoir55,291 acres
- Coeur d'Alene Lake27,911 acres
- Cascade Reservoir27,152 acres
- Brownlee Reservoir10,995 acres
- Lake Lowell8,826 acres
- Lake Walcott8,248 acres
- C. J. Strike Reservoir6,760 acres
- Hayden Lake3,797 acres
- Crane Creek Reservoir2,315 acres
- Chatcolet Lake1,643 acres
- Spirit Lake1,535 acres
- Paddock Valley Reservoir1,190 acres
- Black Canyon Reservoir892 acres
- Murtaugh Lake829 acres
- Cocolalla Lake804 acres
- Round Lake (Benewah County)801 acres
- Cave Lake750 acres
- Lower Salmon Falls Reservoir723 acres
- Anderson Lake541 acres
- Hauser Lake539 acres
- Upper Twin Lake525 acres
- Carey Lake517 acres
- Killarney Lake499 acres
Moving water IDFG suggests for largemouth bass
- Kootenai RiverBoundary County
- Payette RiverBoise County
- Pend Oreille RiverBonner County
- Saint Joe RiverBenewah County
- Saint Maries RiverBenewah County
IDFG Fishing Planner recommended game fish on each water page, read November 7, 2026; largest lakes and best-served rivers first.
Where an IDFG rule block mentions largemouth bass
- Anderson LakeIDFG Panhandle Region
- Blue Lake (Kootenai County)IDFG Panhandle Region
- Chase LakeIDFG Panhandle Region
- Cocolalla CreekIDFG Panhandle Region
- Hayden LakeIDFG Panhandle Region
- Hoodoo CreekIDFG Panhandle Region
- Lake Pend OreilleIDFG Panhandle Region
- Morton SloughIDFG Panhandle Region
- Muskrat LakeIDFG Panhandle Region
- Pend Oreille RiverIDFG Panhandle Region
Rule blocks printed on IDFG Fishing Planner water pages (2025-2027), read November 7, 2026.
Bag-group partners of largemouth bass
- Smallmouth BassMicropterus dolomieu
What the water by Largemouth Bass looks like in daylight
Photo: 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Tamanoeconomico, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jon Roanhaus, CC BY-SA 4.0
Where Idaho largemouth bass show up, briefly
How many largemouth bass may I keep in Idaho?
Check the region. The IDFG Panhandle Region line: "Bass limit is 6, both species combined".
Did anyone set an Idaho largemouth bass record in 2026?
This site found no 2026 record for it; IDFG holds the complete list.
What Idaho lakes hold largemouth bass?
Begin with Lake Pend Oreille, American Falls Reservoir and Coeur d'Alene Lake (108 pages in all).
Where were largemouth bass stocked lately?
Yes, with 9 rows; see Payette Greenway Pond (October 7, 2025).
Do special rules cover largemouth bass anywhere?
Yes; 10 water pages quote a rule block naming it, such as Anderson Lake.
Are largemouth bass on a federal list?
Not listed under the Endangered Species Act.
Which Idaho license lets me chase largemouth bass?
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 do I claim an Idaho largemouth bass record?
Either weigh it on a certified scale at an IDFG office or measure total length and release it for the catch-and-release list.