Fishing near Lewiston, Idaho
Nez Perce County, population 34,203.
- 2 milesto nearest lake page
- 5launches nearby
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An Idaho angler's briefing on Lewiston
Lewiston, Nez Perce County, logged 34,203 residents in the 2020 Census as a city. Drive northwest some 2 miles to reach Levee Pond, the closest paged lake. Planner pages put Levee Pond under the IDFG Clearwater Region. Mann Lake covers 136 acres, the most in the lake table.
Towing a boat, Mann Lake boat ramp is the closest mapped launch at 7 miles. Railroad Bridge fishing access on Levee Pond, roughly 3 miles away, offers fishing from land. Stocked fish went into Mann Lake, some 7 miles away, on Aug. 11, 2026.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Lewiston; miles are straight lines.
Reservoirs and lakes a short tow from Lewiston
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Kind | Game fish IDFG names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Levee Pond | 2 miles northwest | 12 | 0 | lake | |
| Mann Lake | 7 miles east | 136 | 1 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, largemouth bass |
| Lake Waha | 15 miles southeast | 94 | 1 | lake | kokanee, yellow perch, smallmouth bass |
| Soldiers Meadow Reservoir | 20 miles southeast | 112 | 1 | reservoir | bullhead, largemouth bass, yellow perch |
| Winchester Lake | 21 miles southeast | 103 | 0 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, largemouth bass |
Surface acres as listed in the IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner, read November 7, 2026.
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Gauge readings today around Lewiston
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Clearwater River At Spalding Id | 3,290 cfs, 3.31 ft gage height | Nov 8 7:00 pm |
| Lapwai Creek Nr Lapwai, Id | 11 cfs, 2.33 ft gage height | Nov 8 6:45 pm |
| Potlatch River Bel Little Potlatch Cr Nr Spalding | 19 cfs, 5.26 ft gage height | Nov 8 6:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 8, 2026 7:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner (list of Idaho waters), read November 7, 2026. USGS gauges live.
Mapped access close to Lewiston
- Mann Lake boat rampMann Lake, IDFG, 7 miles
- Upper Hog Island boat ramplaunch site, IDFG, 7 miles
- Beardy Gulch boat ramplaunch site, IDFG, 8 miles
- Gibbs Eddy boat ramplaunch site, IDFG, 13 miles
- Waha Lake boat rampLake Waha, IDFG, 15 miles
Fishing on foot around Lewiston
- Railroad Bridge fishing access on Levee Pondfishing access, restroom, 3 miles
- Clearwater Confluence fishing accessfishing access, restroom, 3 miles
- Lower Hog Island fishing accessfishing access, restroom, 6 miles
- Arrow Bridge fishing accessfishing access, 12 miles
- McKays Eddy – Myrtle fishing accessfishing access, restroom, camping, 15 miles
IDFG Fishing and Boating Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service), read November 7, 2026. BLM and Forest Service launch points as published.
Stocked water near Lewiston
| Lake | Distance | Newest listed release |
|---|---|---|
| Mann Lake | 7 miles | Channel Catfish, 1,000 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), August 11, 2026 |
| Lake Waha | 15 miles | Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 2,093 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 15, 2026 |
| Soldiers Meadow Reservoir | 20 miles | Rainbow Trout, 4,968 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), October 6, 2026 |
| Winchester Lake | 21 miles | Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 3,344 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), September 29, 2026 |
Hatchery fish went into each of these lakes, per the Planner.
Stocking rows as printed on the IDFG Fishing Planner water pages (date, species, number and size as listed), read November 7, 2026.
Tackle counters and guides near Lewiston
Where Lewiston anglers buy worms and flies
- Sportsman's Warehousebait and tackle shop, Lewiston, under a mile
- Tackle Boxbait and tackle shop, Lewiston, under a mile
- Camp Cabin & Home Incbait and tackle shop, Lewiston, 2 miles
- The Tackle Boxbait and tackle shop, Lewiston, 3 miles
- Red Shed Fly Shopfly shop, Peck
Yellow Pages and chain store listings (miles only for shops with an exact point), guide listings; retrieved November 7, 2026.
Idaho records landed near Lewiston
| Species | Record | Kind | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | 20.03 pounds | certified weight | Dworshak Reservoir | Jan. 13, 2026 |
Idaho state record fish, read November 8, 2026. Records IDFG announced in 2026 on waters within 50 miles.
The IDFG bag rules a Lewiston angler fishes under
For Levee Pond and much of the water near town, the IDFG Clearwater Region rows below apply. Budget the statutory $28.75 resident or $106.25 nonresident annual fishing fee from Idaho Code 36-416, plus whatever the vendor tacks on.
| Group | Rule as printed |
|---|---|
| Bass | In lakes and reservoirs, limit is 6, both species combined |
| Brook Trout | Brook Trout limit is 25; Harvest allowed during any open season unless otherwise noted under Special Rules – if gear or bait restrictions are listed, they apply when fishing for Brook Trout |
| Bull Trout | Bull Trout – catch-and-release |
| Kokanee | Kokanee limit is 25 |
| Salmon | Spring and summer Chinook Salmon seasons and limits are set by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission and issued in separate brochures; Seasons and limits for fall Chinook Salmon and Coho Salmon can be found here; Sockeye Salmon fishing is prohibited. Defined as ocean-run Oncorhynchus nerka longer than 14 inches in the Snake River drainage below Hells Canyon Dam, the Salmon River drainage (excluding above Mosquito Flat D |
| Steelhead | 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 opened for that water. See fishing regulations for details |
| Sturgeon | Sturgeon – catch-and-release; Sturgeon must not be removed from the water and must be released upon landing; Barbless hooks, sliding swivel device to secure a weight, and a lighter test line to secure weight to sliding swivel device are required. See fishing regulations for details |
| Tiger Muskie | Tiger Muskie limit is 2, none under 40 inches |
| Trout | In lakes, reservoirs, ditches and canals, trout limit is 6, all species combined; Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately |
| Walleye | No bag, length, or possession limits. Harvest is encouraged (Stocked illegally in this Region. May be harmful to existing fisheries.) |
| Whitefish | Whitefish limit is 25; Harvest allowed during any open season unless otherwise noted under Special Rules – if gear or bait restrictions are listed, they apply when fishing for whitefish |
| Protected Nongame Fish | May not be harvested or possessed |
Region bag limits from Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules, 2025-2027 for the Clearwater 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. Fishing license fees as set in Idaho Code 36-416 (statute; IDFG sale prices add vendor and processing fees), read November 7, 2026.
Beyond the edge of Lewiston
More bases close to Lewiston
- Lapwai9 miles
- Genesee11 miles
- Moscow23 miles
- Orofino36 miles
- Kamiah47 miles
The county surrounding Lewiston
- Nez Perce Countyseat: Lewiston
A Piscifun spinning kit for the run up to Lewiston
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Visual ID for fish swimming at Lewiston
Photo: Forest Service Northern Region, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Thomas Quine, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Eric Kilby, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Basing a fishing trip out of Lewiston: questions
Which Idaho lake is quickest to reach from Lewiston?
Levee Pond, 2 miles northwest.
Where is the nearest boat launch for Lewiston?
Mann Lake boat ramp, some 7 miles off.
Which IDFG walk-in spot is nearest Lewiston for anglers without a boat?
Railroad Bridge fishing access on Levee Pond, 3 miles away.
Which store near Lewiston keeps worms, flies and tippet?
Sportsman's Warehouse lists a store under a mile from the town point.
Which Idaho county takes in Lewiston?
Nez Perce County holds it.
What does Idaho charge a nonresident angler for a Lewiston trip?
A visitor's annual fishing license carries a statutory fee of $106.25.
Which big Idaho reservoir is in reach of Lewiston anglers?
Mann Lake covers 136 acres and sits 7 miles out.
Which Idaho town is next to Lewiston?
Neighbours by distance: Lapwai (9 miles), Genesee (11 miles) and Moscow (23 miles).
Has IDFG certified a 2026 record from water by Lewiston?
Rainbow Trout, 20.03 pounds (certified weight), from Dworshak Reservoir.
Does IDFG stock a lake near Lewiston?
Mann Lake, 7 miles away, is the closest lake with an IDFG release on its Planner page.