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

July trout stocking schedule for the Southeast Region

2 hours 21 min ago

Grab your fishing pole, pack the cooler, and don’t forget your fishing license! Over 11,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout are headed to various southeast Idaho fisheries during July. Fish on!

Southeast Region Fishing Family Fishing Waters Fish Stocking and Schedules Fishing Seasons and Rules Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Time to bring home some walleye from Lake Pend Oreille!

5 hours 43 min ago

It’s early summer, and walleye in Lake Pend Oreille are on the move along the northern shoreline of the lake. The lake water has warmed, walleye are feeding after spawning and fish are becoming more active.

Panhandle Region Lake Pend Oreille Fisheries Fishing Walleye (Sander vitreus)
Idaho Fish and Game rescues a sturgeon from canal in Blackfoot

Thursday, June 30, 2022 - 4:03 PM MDT

Here's a fish story for you: a white sturgeon nearly 5 feet long was rescued from a narrow canal in southeast Idaho and released to the Snake River.

Southeast Region Fishing White Sturgeon (Snake and Salmon Rivers) (Acipenser transmontanus)
Rainbow trout stocking schedule for July 2022 in the Magic Valley Region

Thursday, June 30, 2022 - 9:42 AM MDT

Hatchery personnel from Fish and Game’s Magic Valley Region will be stocking approximately 30,700

Magic Valley Region Family Fishing Waters Fishing Fish Stocking and Schedules Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Clearwater Region waters to be stocked in July

Wednesday, June 29, 2022 - 5:18 PM MDT

Over thirteen thousand fish will be stocked at eight different locations in the Clearwater Region this July. Pack some sunscreen, a cooler and some fishing gear and prepare to have some quality fishing time on the water this July. Fishing can be a fun, family summer activity --great for creating new memories!

Fishing Family Fishing Waters Learn to Fish Fish Stocking and Schedules Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Update and preliminary results of rainbow trout suppression on the South Fork Snake River for the conservation of Yellowstone cutthroat trout

Friday, June 24, 2022 - 3:19 PM MDT

In our April newsletter we described the background and justification for our ongoing efforts to conserve native cutthroat trout in the South Fork Snake River by suppressing rainbow trout. This is the second year where we attempted to achieve the goal of removing 30 percent of the rainbow trout population.

Upper Snake Region Fishing Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Cutthroat Trout
Learn to Fly Fish – Episode 5: On the Water (VIDEO)

Friday, June 24, 2022 - 8:42 AM MDT

While there are several methods of fly fishing, this video will focus on the two main methods: using dry flies (for surface-level fishing) and nymph fishing (for below-surface fishing).

Learn to Fish Fishing