Fishing near Post Falls, Idaho
Kootenai County, population 38,485.
- 5 milesto nearest lake page
- 6launches nearby
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Gem State water within a morning's drive of Post Falls
With 38,485 people in 2020, Post Falls stands as a city in Kootenai County. Roughly 5 miles northwest sits Hauser Lake, the nearest lake with a guide. Limits on Hauser Lake start from the IDFG Panhandle Region table. Among the nearby lakes, Hayden Lake is biggest at 3,797 Planner acres.
Launch at Hauser Lake boat ramp, roughly 5 miles away. The Spokane River runs about 2 miles from town. About 5 miles away, Hauser Lake shows an IDFG release dated Oct. 16, 2026.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Post Falls; miles are straight lines.
The closest lake guides to Post Falls
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Kind | Game fish IDFG names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hauser Lake | 5 miles northwest | 539 | 1 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, largemouth bass |
| Avondale Lake | 9 miles east | 58 | 0 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, largemouth bass |
| Fernan Lake | 11 miles east | 423 | 0 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, largemouth bass |
| Hayden Lake | 11 miles east | 3,797 | 1 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, kokanee |
| Lower Twin Lake | 11 miles north | 390 | 0 | lake | bluegill and sunfish, bullhead, kokanee |
| Upper Twin Lake | 11 miles north | 525 | 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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- Spokane River2 miles, IDFG recommended water, 2 USGS gauges, 134.9 mi Planner length
USGS flow figures posting by Post Falls
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Spokane River Near Post Falls, Id | 1,800 cfs, 7.52 ft gage height | Nov 8 5:30 pm |
| Spokane River Blw Blackwell Nr Coeur D Alene Id | 2,210 cfs, 25.80 ft gage height | Nov 8 6:06 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 8, 2026 6:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
IDFG Idaho Fishing Planner (list of Idaho waters), read November 7, 2026. USGS gauges live.
Every boat put-in near Post Falls on one Idaho map
- Hauser Lake boat rampHauser Lake, IDFG, 5 miles
- Blackwell Island Recreation Site launchlaunch site, BLM, 7 miles
- Mica Bay boat ramp on Coeur d'Alene LakeCoeur d'Alene Lake, IDFG, 10 miles
- Twin Lakes boat ramplaunch site, IDFG, 12 miles
- Loffs Bay boat ramp on Coeur d'Alene LakeCoeur d'Alene Lake, IDFG, 13 miles
- Hayden Lake Sportsman Park boat rampHayden Lake, IDFG, 13 miles
IDFG Fishing and Boating Access Sites layer (ArcGIS service), read November 7, 2026. BLM and Forest Service launch points as published.
IDFG release water handy to Post Falls
| Lake | Distance | Newest listed release |
|---|---|---|
| Hauser Lake | 5 miles | Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 912 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 16, 2026 |
| Avondale Lake | 9 miles | Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 1,620 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 22, 2026 |
| Fernan Lake | 11 miles | Rainbow Trout – Triploid, 961 fish, Catchable (12-14 inches), October 7, 2026 |
| Hayden Lake | 11 miles | Kokanee – Triploid, 20,395 fish, Fry (0-3 inches), June 17, 2026 |
These lakes carry IDFG stocking rows, newest release shown.
Stocking rows as printed on the IDFG Fishing Planner water pages (date, species, number and size as listed), read November 7, 2026.
Flies, bait and outfitters around Post Falls
Gear shops a short hop from Post Falls
- Happy Hooker Live Baitbait and tackle shop, Post Falls, under a mile
- Post Falls Landing Marinamarina, Post Falls, 1 mile
- Lafferty Alice & Richard Smarina, Rathdrum, 4 miles
- Cabela's, 101 N Cabela Waybait and tackle shop, Post Falls, 5 miles
- Weight Fowardbait and tackle shop, Coeur D Alene, 7 miles
- Sierra, 440 W Wilbur Avebait and tackle shop, Coeur D Alene, 7 miles
- Bi-Mart Rathdrumsporting goods store, Rathdrum, 7 miles
- Hagadone Marine Groupmarina, Coeur D Alene, 7 miles
Paid trips leaving Post Falls
- Northwest Outfitters – Orvisfishing guide, Coeur D Alene, (208) 667-2707
- RICKS ON THE HOOK GUIDE SERVICEfishing guide, Coeur D Alene, (208) 691-1737
Yellow Pages and chain store listings (miles only for shops with an exact point), guide listings; retrieved November 7, 2026.
Weigh-in dates near Post Falls
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 21, 2026 | LPOIC Fall Thanksgiving Derby | Lake Pend Oreille | Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club (LPOIC) |
| not printed | 2026 LPOIC Spring Derby | Lake Pend Oreille | Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club (LPOIC) |
| not printed | 2025 LPOIC Spring Derby | Lake Pend Oreille | Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club (LPOIC) |
| not printed | 2025 LPOIC Fall Derby | Lake Pend Oreille | Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club (LPOIC) |
| not printed | 2024 LPOIC Fall Derby | Lake Pend Oreille | Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club (LPOIC) |
| not printed | 2024 LPOIC Spring Derby | Lake Pend Oreille | Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club (LPOIC) |
| not printed | 2026 LPOIC Members Only Derby | Lake Pend Oreille | Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club (LPOIC) |
| not printed | 2025 LPOIC Members Only Derby | Lake Pend Oreille | Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club (LPOIC) |
| not printed | 2024 LPOIC Members Only Derby | Lake Pend Oreille | Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club (LPOIC) |
Organizer schedule and results pages for events in Kootenai County or within 25 miles, checked November 2026.
2026 record catches from water by Post Falls
| Species | Record | Kind | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westslope Cutthroat Trout | 27 inches | catch-and-release (length) | Lake Pend Oreille | Feb. 1, 2026 |
| Northern Pike | 49.75 inches | catch-and-release (length) | Lake Pend Oreille | June 13, 2026 |
Idaho state record fish, read November 8, 2026. Records IDFG announced in 2026 on waters within 50 miles.
Region bag limits for a Post Falls stay
The IDFG Panhandle Region block governs Hauser Lake; check each water page for its own region. The statute behind Idaho licenses, Code 36-416, puts the annual fishing fee at $28.75 resident and $106.25 nonresident; sale prices run a little higher.
| Group | Rule as printed |
|---|---|
| Bass | Bass 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 |
| Burbot | Burbot limit is 6 |
| Chinook Salmon | Chinook Salmon limit is 2, none under 24 inches |
| Kokanee | Kokanee limit is 15 |
| Northern Pike | No bag, length, or possession limits. Harvest is encouraged (Stocked illegally in this Region. May be harmful to existing fisheries.) |
| Sturgeon | Fishing for sturgeon in the Kootenai River is illegal; Sturgeon caught incidentally must be released immediately |
| Tiger Muskie | Tiger Muskie limit is 2, none under 40 inches |
| Trout | 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 |
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. Fishing license fees as set in Idaho Code 36-416 (statute; IDFG sale prices add vendor and processing fees), read November 7, 2026.
Idaho backroads fanning out from Post Falls
Gem State towns that pair with a Post Falls stay
- Rathdrum5 miles
- Coeur d'Alene7 miles
- Hayden7 miles
- Dalton Gardens8 miles
- Spirit Lake17 miles
The Idaho county around Post Falls
- Kootenai Countyseat: Coeur d'Alene
Piscifun reels and line packed for Post Falls
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Reservoirs, alpine lakes and canyon runs close to Post Falls, in pictures
Photo: Raniel Diaz, CC BY 2.0
Photo: MonikaMurren, CC BY 2.0
Photo: TravelingOtter, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Victor Solanoy, CC BY 2.0
Sorting out a fishing stay in Post Falls
How many miles is it from Post Falls to an IDFG-listed lake?
Hauser Lake, 5 miles northwest.
Which launch do Post Falls boaters tow to first?
Try Hauser Lake boat ramp, 5 miles.
Where can Post Falls families fish from an IDFG bank site?
No mapped bank site nearby.
Who sells flies and worms around Post Falls?
Happy Hooker Live Bait lists a store under a mile from the town point.
Where is the Idaho county guide covering Post Falls?
Kootenai County, Idaho.
What does an Idaho fishing license cost a Post Falls visitor?
An annual nonresident license comes to $106.25 as the statutory fee.
Which IDFG lake close to Post Falls is largest?
Hayden Lake covers 3,797 acres and sits 11 miles out.
What communities neighbour Post Falls?
The nearest are Rathdrum (5 miles), Coeur d'Alene (7 miles) and Hayden (7 miles).
What stream with a page runs near Post Falls?
Spokane River, about 2 miles away (IDFG recommended water, 2 USGS gauges, 134.9 mi Planner length).
When is the next Idaho derby or weigh-in near Post Falls?
9 events on file; next is LPOIC Fall Thanksgiving Derby on Lake Pend Oreille, Nov. 21, 2026.
Which IDFG-announced records came from around Post Falls?
Westslope Cutthroat Trout, 27 inches (catch-and-release (length)), from Lake Pend Oreille.
Where can Post Falls anglers find hatchery fish?
Hauser Lake, 5 miles away, is the closest lake with an IDFG release on its Planner page.
Fish the Planner lakes and rivers by Post Falls
Launch pages open with the managing agency and a map link.