Threatened and Endangered Fish of Idaho
Bull trout, Kootenai River white sturgeon and the Snake River steelhead, sockeye and Chinook runs, with the IDFG handling rules.
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Idaho fish under the Endangered Species Act
Idaho carries 6 federally listed fish populations: bull trout across the lower 48, the Kootenai River white sturgeon, and the Snake River runs of steelhead, sockeye and Chinook salmon that climb past eight dams to reach Idaho. USFWS lists the resident fish; NOAA Fisheries lists the ocean-run ones.
Listing does not always mean no fishing. Bull trout may be caught and released in the region tables that print them, and IDFG opens steelhead and Chinook seasons on hatchery fish by Commission proclamation. Kootenai sturgeon may not be fished for at all.
| Fish | Scientific name | Status | Agency | Listed | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bull Trout | Salvelinus confluentus | Threatened | USFWS | 1998-06-10 | U.S.A., coterminous (lower 48 states) |
| White Sturgeon (Kootenai River population) | Acipenser transmontanus | Endangered | USFWS | 1994-09-06 | U.S.A. (ID, MT), Canada (B.C.), Kootenai R. system |
| Snake River Basin Steelhead | Oncorhynchus mykiss | Threatened | NOAA Fisheries | 1997-08-18 (62 FR 43937); 2006-01-05 (71 FR 833); updated 2014-04-14 | listed population |
| Snake River Sockeye Salmon | Oncorhynchus nerka | Endangered | NOAA Fisheries | 1991-11-20 (56 FR 58619); 2005-06-28 (70 FR 37159); updated 2014-04-14 | listed population |
| Snake River Fall-run Chinook Salmon | Oncorhynchus tshawytscha | Threatened | NOAA Fisheries | 1992-04-22 (57 FR 14653); 2005-06-28 (70 FR 37159); updated 2014-04-14 | listed population |
| Snake River Spring/Summer-run Chinook Salmon | Oncorhynchus tshawytscha | Threatened | NOAA Fisheries | 1992-04-22 (57 FR 14653); 5-year review 2022-08-18 kept it threatened | listed population |
USFWS listing (species page), read November 7, 2026.
USFWS listing (species page), read November 7, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries listing records for the Snake River runs, as cited in each row, read November 7, 2026.
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Bull trout appear as catch-and-release in 6 of the seven IDFG region tables (IDFG Panhandle Region, IDFG Clearwater Region, IDFG Southwest Region, IDFG Magic Valley Region, IDFG Upper Snake Region and IDFG Salmon Region). IDAPA 13.01.11.101 adds the general duty: “Any fish caught that is unlawful to possess must be immediately released back to the water. (7-1-24)”
| IDFG region | Bull trout line |
|---|---|
| IDFG Panhandle Region | Bull Trout – catch-and-release |
| IDFG Clearwater Region | Bull Trout – catch-and-release |
| IDFG Southwest Region | Bull Trout – catch-and-release |
| IDFG Magic Valley Region | Bull Trout – catch-and-release |
| IDFG Upper Snake Region | Bull trout – catch-and-release |
| IDFG Salmon Region | Bull Trout – catch-and-release |
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.
IDAPA 13.01.11, Rules Governing Fish section 13.01.11.101, current text (adminrules.idaho.gov PDF), read November 7, 2026.
White sturgeon, the Kootenai population and the rest of Idaho
The Panhandle table reads: “Fishing for sturgeon in the Kootenai River is illegal; Sturgeon caught incidentally must be released immediately”. Elsewhere, sturgeon are catch-and-release. IDAPA 13.01.11.102 sets the handling rule: “No person may remove a sturgeon that is unlawful to possess from the water. (7-1-24) 01. Barbed Hook Restrictions. No person may fish for sturgeon with barbed hooks. (7-1-24) 02. Sinker for Sturgeon. When fishing for sturgeon, a person must use a sliding sinker and lighter test line to attach the weight to the main line (the lin”
Region bag limits from Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules, 2025-2027 for the Panhandle Region, as printed on IDFG Fishing Planner water pages (the brochure PDF on idfg.idaho.gov was unreachable during site maintenance), read November 7, 2026.
IDAPA 13.01.11, Rules Governing Fish section 13.01.11.102, current text (adminrules.idaho.gov PDF), read November 7, 2026.
Protected nongame fish named in the Idaho region tables
- IDFG Clearwater RegionPacific Lamprey and Sand Roller
- IDFG Southwest RegionPacific Lamprey
- IDFG Magic Valley RegionNorthern Leatherside Chub, Shoshone Sculpin, Wood River Sculpin, and Bluehead Sucker (also known as Green Sucker)
- IDFG Southeast RegionNorthern Leatherside Chub, Bear Lake Sculpin, and Bluehead Sucker (also known as Green Sucker)
- IDFG Upper Snake RegionBluehead Sucker (also known as Green Sucker)
- IDFG Salmon RegionPacific Lamprey
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.
Reservoirs, alpine lakes and canyon runs close to Threatened and endangered, in pictures
Photo: 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Murray Foubister, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: FunGi_ (Trading), CC BY-SA 2.0
Questions on Idaho threatened and endangered fish
Can I fish for bull trout in Idaho?
Yes, catch-and-release only, in the 6 region tables that print bull trout; none may be kept.
Can I keep a sturgeon?
No. Sturgeon are catch-and-release in the region tables, and sturgeon fishing in the Kootenai River is illegal.
Which Idaho fish are federally endangered?
White Sturgeon (Kootenai River population) and Snake River Sockeye Salmon.
Which are threatened?
Bull Trout, Snake River Basin Steelhead, Snake River Fall-run Chinook Salmon and Snake River Spring/Summer-run Chinook Salmon.
Why can steelhead be fished if they are listed?
Idaho opens seasons on hatchery steelhead by Commission proclamation; wild fish must be released. Season dates were not readable for this site.
Must a bull trout stay in the water?
The record rules say bull trout, steelhead, ocean-run salmon and white sturgeon must be measured and photographed in the water for catch-and-release records.
What if I catch a fish I may not keep?
IDAPA 13.01.11.101: "Any fish caught that is unlawful to possess must be immediately released back to the water. (7-1-24)"
Who lists these fish?
USFWS for bull trout and Kootenai River white sturgeon; NOAA Fisheries for the Snake River steelhead, sockeye and Chinook runs.