Fishing

For anglers, Idaho is truly a land of opportunity and variety. From alpine valleys to lowland deserts, a dazzling array of waters await discovery.

Idaho is graced with 26,000 miles of streams and rivers, more than 3,000 natural lakes, and a quarter-million acres of ponds and reservoirs. Inhabiting those waters are 42 game fish species, from giant white sturgeon to wild trout, catfish to kokanee, and smallmouth bass to salmon and steelhead.

Most Idaho waters have year-round fishing seasons. However, many rivers and streams and some lakes have special rules and seasons. Pick up a fishing rules book, which outlines season dates, special regulations and bag limits, at all Idaho Fish and Game offices and most sporting goods stores statewide.

To fish in Idaho you need:

A fishing license.
Rules and regulations.
Proper gear.
A place to go.

News

Rapid River Spring Chinook Salmon 2020 Seasons and Rules Proposals

Thursday, February 20, 2020 - 12:07 PM MST

Idaho Fish and Game is seeking your input on management strategies for spring/summer Chinook salmon fisheries in the Lower Salmon/Little Salmon, Hells Canyon, Clearwater Basin, and the South Fork Salmon rivers. Please review the proposals below that pertain to places you fish for Chinook salmon, and leave your answers and comments in the spaces provided.

Chinook Salmon Fishing Clearwater Region Panhandle Region Southwest Region Fishing
Hells Canyon Spring Chinook Salmon 2020 Seasons and Rules Proposals

Thursday, February 20, 2020 - 12:07 PM MST

Idaho Fish and Game is seeking your input on management strategies for spring/summer Chinook salmon fisheries in the Lower Salmon/Little Salmon, Hells Canyon, Clearwater Basin, and the South Fork Salmon rivers. Please review the proposals below that pertain to places you fish for Chinook salmon, and leave your answers and comments in the spaces provided.

Chinook Salmon Fishing Clearwater Region Panhandle Region Southwest Region Fishing
Clearwater Basin Spring Chinook Salmon 2020 Seasons and Rules Proposals

Thursday, February 20, 2020 - 12:07 PM MST

Idaho Fish and Game is seeking your input on management strategies for spring/summer Chinook salmon fisheries in the Lower Salmon/Little Salmon, Hells Canyon, Clearwater Basin, and the South Fork Salmon rivers. Please review the proposals below that pertain to places you fish for Chinook salmon, and leave your answers and comments in the spaces provided.

Chinook Salmon Fishing Clearwater Region Panhandle Region Southwest Region Fishing
South Fork Salmon River Spring Chinook Salmon 2020 Seasons and Rules Proposals

Thursday, February 20, 2020 - 12:07 PM MST

Idaho Fish and Game is seeking your input on management strategies for spring/summer Chinook salmon fisheries in the Lower Salmon/Little Salmon, Hells Canyon, Clearwater Basin, and the South Fork Salmon rivers. Please review the proposals below that pertain to places you fish for Chinook salmon, and leave your answers and comments in the spaces provided.

Chinook Salmon Fishing Clearwater Region Panhandle Region Southwest Region Fishing
Fish and Game to host southeast Idaho fisheries open house in March

Wednesday, February 19, 2020 - 4:46 PM MST

Kick off the 2020 fishing season on March 18 by joining the Southeast Region Idaho Fish and Game for pizza and a discussion about local fisheries management.

Southeast Region Fishing
Two new sturgeon fishing access sites cleared in the Niagara Springs Wildlife Management Area

Tuesday, February 18, 2020 - 8:49 AM MST

The Snake River supports a healthy population of white sturgeon in southern Idaho, providing anglers the opportunity to pursue the largest fish in Idaho. A prized fish for anglers to catch, anglers often are challenged to find public access sites. Recent efforts by Fish and Game will help to provide additional public access sites when fishing for sturgeon on the Snake River.

Magic Valley Region Fishing Guidelines for Measuring White Sturgeon Niagara Springs WMA White Sturgeon (Snake and Salmon Rivers) (Acipenser transmontanus)
Raising Chinook at Sawtooth Hatchery doesn't stop during Stanley's frozen winter

Thursday, January 30, 2020 - 2:58 PM MST

Anglers hoping to catch a Chinook in 2022 in the upper Salmon River probably aren’t thinking about Tony Folsom and his crew at the Sawtooth Hatchery near Stanley.

Salmon Region Chinook Salmon Fishing Chinook Salmon Seasons and Rules Magic Valley Region Fishing Fish Stocking and Schedules Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)