Steelhead in Idaho
Where to find steelhead in Idaho and what may be kept.
- season onlybag
Pick for steelheadPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of the fish, not an Idaho water: Eric Kilby, CC BY-SA 2.0
Idaho Steelhead: rules, waters, records
The region tables print steelhead as closed except under a season opened for that water. Quoted from the IDFG Clearwater Region: "Defined as Rainbow Trout longer than 20 inches in the Snake River drainage below Hells Canyon Dam, the Salmon River drainage (excluding lakes and reservoirs), and the Clearwater River drainage (exclud".
Of 13 Idaho waters where IDFG recommends it, Hells Canyon Reservoir, North Fork Clearwater River and American River come first by size. IDFG released it in 3,521 stocking rows on these waters, the latest on September 30, 2026. Taxonomic name on IDFG lists: Oncorhynchus mykiss pop. 21.
For the steelhead herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Steelhead bag lines from the seven IDFG regions
| IDFG region | Line as printed |
|---|---|
| IDFG Clearwater Region | Defined as Rainbow Trout longer than 20 inches in the Snake River drainage below Hells Canyon Dam, the Salmon River drainage (excluding lakes and reservoirs), and the Clearwater River drainage (excluding that portion above Dworshak Dam, and lakes); Fishing for steelhead is prohibited unless a steelhead season is specifically ope |
| IDFG Southwest Region | Defined as Rainbow Trout longer than 20 inches in the Salmon River drainage (excluding lakes and reservoirs). Between Hells Canyon Dam and Oxbow Dam and the Boise River from its mouth upstream to Barber Dam during steelhead seasons, steelhead are Rainbow Trout over 20 inches with the adipose fin clipped (as evidenced by a healed |
| IDFG Salmon Region | Defined as Rainbow Trout longer than 20 inches in the Salmon River drainage (excluding the Lemhi and Pahsimeroi rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and ponds); Fishing for steelhead is prohibited unless a steelhead season is specifically opened for that water. See fishing regulations for details |
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.
The missing Steelhead calendar, explained
No dates here: the Commission posts them by river section on idfg.idaho.gov, unreachable while this was written.
Steelhead releases on Idaho Planner pages
| Water | Release as printed |
|---|---|
| Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir | Steelhead, 42,998 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), September 30, 2026 |
| Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir | Steelhead, 38,721 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), September 29, 2026 |
| Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir | Steelhead, 74,250 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), September 18, 2026 |
| Little Salmon River | Steelhead, 464,958 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), April 28, 2026 |
| East Fork Salmon River | Steelhead, 65,889 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), April 27, 2026 |
| Salmon River | Steelhead, 1,458,472 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), April 24, 2026 |
| Hells Canyon Reservoir | Steelhead, 7 fish, Adults, April 20, 2026 |
| Pahsimeroi River | Steelhead, 805,432 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), April 17, 2026 |
| Yankee Fork Salmon River | Steelhead, 418,601 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), April 17, 2026 |
| Hells Canyon Reservoir | Steelhead, 52 fish, Adults, April 16, 2026 |
| Hells Canyon Reservoir | Steelhead, 20 fish, Adults, April 13, 2026 |
| Salmon River | Steelhead, 281,368 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), April 10, 2026 |
| Hells Canyon Reservoir | Steelhead, 25 fish, Adults, April 9, 2026 |
| Hells Canyon Reservoir | Steelhead, 31 fish, Adults, April 6, 2026 |
| Little Salmon River | Steelhead, 408,040 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), April 3, 2026 |
| Hells Canyon Reservoir | Steelhead, 19 fish, Adults, April 2, 2026 |
| Hells Canyon Reservoir | Steelhead, 44 fish, Adults, March 30, 2026 |
| Newsome Creek | Steelhead, 136,724 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), March 30, 2026 |
| Pahsimeroi River | Steelhead, 436,091 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), March 30, 2026 |
| Hells Canyon Reservoir | Steelhead, 16 fish, Adults, March 26, 2026 |
| South Fork Clearwater River | Steelhead, 251,033 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), March 25, 2026 |
| Hells Canyon Reservoir | Steelhead, 18 fish, Adults, March 23, 2026 |
| South Fork Clearwater River | Steelhead, 342,875 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), March 23, 2026 |
| Hells Canyon Reservoir | Steelhead, 22 fish, Adults, March 19, 2026 |
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 steelhead in Idaho
Still water where IDFG recommends steelhead
- Hells Canyon Reservoir1,254 acres
Moving water IDFG suggests for steelhead
- North Fork Clearwater RiverClearwater County
- American RiverIdaho County
- Clearwater RiverClearwater County
- Crooked CreekIdaho County
- East Fork Potlatch RiverClearwater County
- Little Salmon RiverAdams County
- Lochsa RiverIdaho County
- Middle Fork Clearwater RiverIdaho County
- Orofino CreekClearwater County
- Potlatch RiverLatah County
- Salmon RiverBlaine County
- South Fork Clearwater RiverIdaho 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 steelhead
- Niagara SpringsIDFG Magic Valley Region
- South Fork Clearwater RiverIDFG Clearwater Region
Rule blocks printed on IDFG Fishing Planner water pages (2025-2027), read November 7, 2026.
What the water by Steelhead looks like in daylight
Photo: 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: FunGi_ (Trading), CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Jon Roanhaus, CC BY-SA 4.0
Where Idaho steelhead show up, briefly
How many steelhead may I keep in Idaho?
Only when a season opens: "Defined as Rainbow Trout longer than 20 inches in the Snake River drainage below Hells Canyon Dam, the Salmon River drainage (excluding lakes and reservoirs), and the Clearwater Ri".
Did anyone set an Idaho steelhead record in 2026?
This site found no 2026 record for it; IDFG holds the complete list.
What Idaho lakes hold steelhead?
Begin with Hells Canyon Reservoir, North Fork Clearwater River and American River (13 pages in all).
Where were steelhead stocked lately?
Yes, with 3,521 rows; see Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir (September 30, 2026).
Do special rules cover steelhead anywhere?
Yes; 2 water pages quote a rule block naming it, such as Niagara Springs.
Are steelhead on a federal list?
Not listed under the Endangered Species Act.
Which Idaho license lets me chase steelhead?
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 steelhead 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.