Smallmouth Bass in Idaho
Idaho rules and water for smallmouth bass.
- 6 a daybag
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The Gem State and its Smallmouth Bass
7 IDFG region blocks carry a smallmouth bass line with a daily count. The IDFG Panhandle Region block words it as "Bass limit is 6, both species combined".
62 lake and river pages list it as an IDFG pick; try Lake Pend Oreille, American Falls Reservoir and Coeur d'Alene Lake. 18 stocking rows sit in the Planner tables; the last one is from October 7, 2025. Its Latin label, per IDFG, is Micropterus dolomieu.
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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.
Recent Smallmouth Bass plants in the Planner
| Water | Release as printed |
|---|---|
| Payette Greenway Pond | Smallmouth Bass, 68 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), October 7, 2025 |
| Little Payette Lake | Smallmouth Bass, 159 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), May 6, 2025 |
| Little Payette Lake | Smallmouth Bass, 695 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), May 5, 2025 |
| Esther Simplot Pond | Smallmouth Bass, 1,511 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), October 7, 2024 |
| Parkcenter Pond | Smallmouth Bass, 1,133 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), October 7, 2024 |
| Payette River | Smallmouth Bass, 150 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), October 5, 2018 |
| Payette River | Smallmouth Bass, 350 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), October 3, 2018 |
| Payette River | Smallmouth Bass, 250 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), September 27, 2018 |
| Payette River | Smallmouth Bass, 500 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), August 22, 2018 |
| Bear River | Smallmouth Bass, 500 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), May 21, 1991 |
| Snake River | Smallmouth Bass, 2,100 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), May 16, 1991 |
| Bear River | Smallmouth Bass, 1,100 fish, Unknown Size, June 6, 1990 |
| Bear River | Smallmouth Bass, 600 fish, Unknown Size, May 30, 1990 |
| Snake River | Smallmouth Bass, 950 fish, Unknown Size, May 21, 1990 |
| Snake River | Smallmouth Bass, 1,000 fish, Unknown Size, May 15, 1990 |
| Snake River | Smallmouth Bass, 500 fish, Unknown Size, May 9, 1990 |
| Palouse River | Smallmouth Bass, 125 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), July 11, 1989 |
| Boise River | Smallmouth Bass, 25 fish, Unknown Size, August 15, 1988 |
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 smallmouth bass
Lakes and reservoirs for smallmouth bass
- Lake Pend Oreille92,764 acres
- American Falls Reservoir55,291 acres
- Coeur d'Alene Lake27,911 acres
- Cascade Reservoir27,152 acres
- Priest Lake23,335 acres
- Blackfoot Reservoir16,888 acres
- Dworshak Reservoir16,484 acres
- Brownlee Reservoir10,995 acres
- Lake Lowell8,826 acres
- Lake Walcott8,248 acres
- C. J. Strike Reservoir6,760 acres
- Anderson Ranch Reservoir4,608 acres
- Milner Lake4,350 acres
- Hayden Lake3,797 acres
- Magic Reservoir3,580 acres
- Arrowrock Reservoir3,015 acres
- Lucky Peak Reservoir2,766 acres
- Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir2,753 acres
- Chatcolet Lake1,643 acres
- Spirit Lake1,535 acres
- Little Payette Lake1,440 acres
- Ririe Reservoir1,414 acres
- Hells Canyon Reservoir1,254 acres
- Alexander Reservoir1,012 acres
Rivers and creeks for smallmouth bass
- North Fork Clearwater RiverClearwater County
- Salmon Falls CreekTwin Falls County
- Bear RiverBear Lake County
- Clark Fork RiverBonner County
- Clearwater RiverClearwater County
- Middle Fork Clearwater RiverIdaho County
- North Fork Payette RiverBoise County
- Owyhee RiverOwyhee County
- Payette RiverBoise County
- Pend Oreille RiverBonner County
- Potlatch RiverLatah County
- Priest RiverBonner County
- Saint Joe RiverBenewah County
- Saint Maries RiverBenewah County
- Salmon RiverBlaine County
- Spokane RiverKootenai County
- Weiser RiverAdams County
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 smallmouth bass
- Largemouth BassMicropterus salmoides
Benchland and bank around Smallmouth Bass, seen through a lens
Photo: Sidpatchy, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: M. Beeton, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Murray Foubister, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: Jeramey Jannene, CC BY 2.0
smallmouth bass in Idaho: questions anglers raise
Is there a daily cap on smallmouth bass in Idaho?
Region by region; in the IDFG Panhandle Region: "Bass limit is 6, both species combined".
Is there a new Idaho record smallmouth bass?
Not in the 2026 releases read here; IDFG keeps the full list.
Which Idaho waters does IDFG recommend for smallmouth bass?
IDFG picks it on 62 pages, Lake Pend Oreille, American Falls Reservoir and Coeur d'Alene Lake among them.
Do Idaho hatcheries release smallmouth bass?
18 rows; the newest went to Payette Greenway Pond, October 7, 2025.
Is the smallmouth bass rule the same on every Idaho water?
Rule blocks read here leave it out.
Is smallmouth bass threatened or endangered?
No; it is not on the federal list IDFG cites.
Which permit goes with smallmouth bass 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 smallmouth bass record certified?
IDFG certifies them; released fish count by total length, kept fish by weight on a certified scale.
Pick Idaho water for smallmouth bass
Every listed water carries its own rule summary.