Fishing near Pocatello, Idaho
Bannock County, population 56,320.
- 3 milesto nearest lake page
- 1launch nearby
Pick for rainbow troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Chubbuck: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Lakes and rivers that start at Pocatello
56,320 people lived in Pocatello in 2020, a city within Bannock County. The closest lake with its own page is Bannock Reservoir, roughly 3 miles to the northeast. That lake falls in the IDFG Southeast Region, so its region table is the one to read first. For open water, American Falls Reservoir leads with 55,291 acres.
Boats go in at McTucker Pond launch on McTucker Pond #8, about 15 miles from town. For a river, the Spring Creek (Bannock County) lies around 14 miles out. Shore anglers head about 5 miles to Edson Fichter Nature Area fishing access. For planted fish, Bannock Reservoir sits about 3 miles away; its newest release is dated Oct. 8, 2026.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Pocatello; miles are straight lines.
IDFG lake pages ranked by miles from Pocatello
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Kind | Game fish IDFG names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bannock Reservoir | 3 miles northeast | 6 | 0 | reservoir | kokanee, rainbow trout, bluegill and sunfish |
| Highway Pond | 6 miles southeast | 32 | 0 | lake | |
| American Falls Reservoir | 14 miles west | 55,291 | 0 | reservoir | largemouth bass, yellow perch, brown trout |
| Crystal Springs Pond | 16 miles northwest | 5 | 0 | lake | |
| Springfield Lake | 18 miles northwest | 52 | 1 | lake | rainbow trout, utah chub, utah sucker |
| Big Fill Reservoir | 21 miles northwest | 37 | 0 | reservoir |
Surface acres as listed in the IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner, read November 7, 2026.
For the rainbow trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Planner rivers within an easy drive of Pocatello
- Spring Creek (Bannock County)14 miles, 1 USGS gauge, 15.7 mi Planner length
- McTucker Creek15 miles, IDFG recommended water, 3.6 mi Planner length
Live discharge near Pocatello
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Portneuf River At Pocatello Id | 163 cfs, 4.00 ft gage height | Nov 8 6:45 pm |
| Portneuf River Nr Tyhee Id | 242 cfs, 4.47 ft gage height | Nov 8 7:00 pm |
| Portneuf R. At Inkom, Id | 160 cfs, 20.87 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.
Water access around Pocatello on one map
- McTucker Pond launch on McTucker Pond #8McTucker Pond #8, IDFG, 15 miles
No-boat spots around Pocatello
- Edson Fichter Nature Area fishing accessfishing access, dock, restroom, 5 miles
- Pingree fishing accessfishing access, 14 miles
- Crystal Springs Pondfishing access, dock, restroom, 16 miles
- Crane Creek fishing accessfishing access, 17 miles
IDFG Fishing and Boating Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service), read November 7, 2026. BLM and Forest Service launch points as published.
Recent hatchery releases close to Pocatello
| Lake | Distance | Newest listed release |
|---|---|---|
| Bannock Reservoir | 3 miles | Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 500 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 8, 2026 |
| American Falls Reservoir | 14 miles | Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 73,947 fish, Fingerling (3-6 inches), October 30, 2026 |
| Springfield Lake | 18 miles | Rainbow Trout, 125 fish, Adults, May 13, 2026 |
| Jensens Grove Pond | 24 miles | Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 2,525 fish, Catchable (6+ inches), May 21, 2025 |
The release column gives the most recent IDFG stocking at each lake.
Stocking rows as printed on the IDFG Fishing Planner water pages (date, species, number and size as listed), read November 7, 2026.
Gear stores serving Pocatello
Shops around Pocatello
- Sportsman's Warehouse Pocatellosporting goods store, Pocatello, 1 mile
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 1844 Hurley Drbait and tackle shop, Pocatello, 3 miles
- CAL Ranch Chubbucksporting goods store, Chubbuck, 3 miles
- Nirvana on the Fly Officefly shop, Pocatello, 4 miles
- Morning Star Lanyardsbait and tackle shop, Pocatello, 6 miles
Guided trips around Pocatello
- Portneuf River Outfittersfishing guide, Pocatello, (208) 232-4776
Yellow Pages and chain store listings (miles only for shops with an exact point), guide listings; retrieved November 7, 2026.
IDFG daily and size rules for a Pocatello outing
Bannock Reservoir follows these IDFG Southeast Region rows; special rules on a water override them. By Idaho Code 36-416, residents owe $28.75 and nonresidents $106.25 for the annual fishing license, with vendor fees on top at the counter.
| Group | Rule as printed |
|---|---|
| Bass | Bass limit is 6, both species combined; None under 14 inches |
| 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 |
| Cisco | Cisco limit is 30 |
| Kokanee | Kokanee limit is 6 |
| 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 | Trout limit is 6, all species combined; Brook Trout are listed separately |
| 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 (also known as Green Sucker) |
| All Other Fish Species | No bag, length or possession limit |
Region bag limits from Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules, 2025-2027 for the Southeast 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.
Close around Pocatello
Other towns near Pocatello
- Chubbuck4 miles
- Tyhee6 miles
- Fort Hall10 miles
- Aberdeen20 miles
- American Falls21 miles
Which Idaho county guide lists Pocatello
- Bannock Countyseat: Pocatello
Piscifun gear a Gem State angler might carry to Pocatello
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Gem State water near Pocatello, on camera
Photo: JF Hobbs, CC BY 3.0
Photo: 5of7, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: Zechariah Judy, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Zechariah Judy, CC BY 3.0
Anglers bunking in Pocatello ask these
Which Planner lake lies nearest the middle of Pocatello?
Bannock Reservoir, 3 miles northeast.
How many miles from Pocatello to a mapped launch?
McTucker Pond launch on McTucker Pond #8, 15 miles away.
Which IDFG access site is closest to Pocatello?
Edson Fichter Nature Area fishing access, about 5 miles.
Which Idaho tackle listing sits nearest Pocatello?
Sportsman's Warehouse Pocatello lists a store 1 mile from the town point.
Under which Idaho county does Pocatello fall?
Bannock County, with a county page of launches and lakes.
Which license covers a weekend near Pocatello?
Nonresidents owe a statutory $106.25 for the annual Idaho fishing license.
Which lake tops the Planner acreage list for Pocatello?
American Falls Reservoir covers 55,291 acres and sits 14 miles out.
Which Idaho town guides border Pocatello?
Closest: Chubbuck (4 miles), Tyhee (6 miles) and Fort Hall (10 miles).
Where is the nearest river page for Pocatello?
Spring Creek (Bannock County), about 14 miles away (1 USGS gauge, 15.7 mi Planner length).
Which lake near Pocatello got hatchery fish?
Bannock Reservoir, 3 miles away, is the closest lake with an IDFG release on its Planner page.
Bunk in Pocatello and fish Idaho water nearby
Every Planner lake and river above opens its own IDFG-sourced page.