High alpine lakes across Idaho’s backcountry provide some fantastic fishing opportunities in some beautiful scenery. Alpine lakes can offer a wide variety of trout fish, including cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, grayling, brook trout and even the occasional golden trout. This diversity of fishing options is no accident, and is mainly the result of a long history of fish stocking.
In fact, the vast majority of Idaho’s alpine lakes didn’t originally have any fish at all. Most alpine lakes were carved out by retreating glaciers deep in the mountains thousands of years ago. The tiny headwater streams draining out of them were often too steep, or were blocked by waterfalls, preventing trout from finding them.
Starting in the early 1900s, trout were packed into many alpine lakes by horseback to expand recreational fishing opportunities. By the 1950s, aircraft became a common tool for stocking backcountry lakes, and several species of trout were introduced to hundreds of lakes across the state. To survive the trip, trout raised in hatcheries are stocked at very small sizes – often only 1 or 2 inches long.
Trout populations in some lakes now reproduce on their own, which has reduced the numbers of lakes stocked. Fish and Game also no longer stocks brook trout, which often reproduce on their own. These days, Fish and Game stocks mainly cutthroat and rainbow trout, and also uses a wider variety of stocking methods.
Airplanes are still the most common, but many lakes are stocked with oxygenated plastic bags filled with fish and and delivered via backpacks, mountain bikes or even the classic horse and mule train. Fish and Game still stocks about 650 alpine lakes across the state. On average, there are about 175 lakes stocked each year, and most are stocked on a 3-year rotation.
If you are interested in learning more about alpine lakes, check out the many articles and information on our Alpine Lakes Fishing Page. Need help to find alpine lakes? Search for lakes, study maps, and view stocking information on the Idaho Fishing Planner.
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