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

Lake trout work to continue on Stanley Lake

Friday, July 31, 2020 - 2:05 PM MDT

Idaho Fish and Game has contracted with a company to net lake trout in Stanley Lake during two-weeks in early August to reduce their population and reduce risk to endangered sockeye salmon populations. After the netting, sterile lake trout will be restocked in the summer and fall to continue to provide anglers a lake trout fishery at Stanley Lake.

Fishing
Magic Valley Region rainbow trout stocking schedule for August 2020

Thursday, July 30, 2020 - 3:53 PM MDT

Hatchery personnel from Fish and Game’s Magic Valley Region will be stocking approximately 24,725 10-12” catchable-sized rainbow trout in August. All stocking dates and numbers of fish are approximate and may change without notice due to water or weather conditions.

Magic Valley Region Fish Stocking and Schedules Fishing Family Fishing Waters Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Southwest Region Rainbow Trout Stocking Schedule

Thursday, July 30, 2020 - 11:23 AM MDT

Personnel from Fish and Game's Nampa Hatchery will be releasing more than 18,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout at the following locations during August. Location Week Stocked Number of Trout

Southwest Region Fishing Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Lake Lowell produces record catfish for Meridian angler

Wednesday, July 29, 2020 - 2:32 PM MDT

Congratulations to Reed Monson of Meridian on landing a new catch/release state record for channel catfish. Reed was fishing for largemouth bass on Lake Lowell on Friday, July 24 when the 33-inch catfish inhaled his plastic swimbait.

Fishing Southwest Region Record Fish in Idaho Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
Dworshak Kokanee Update

Tuesday, July 28, 2020 - 10:38 AM MDT

Dworshak Reservoir Kokanee Update by Sean Wilson

Fishing Clearwater Region Sockeye Salmon or Kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka)
Fish stocking continues statewide, and here are some highlights for August

Monday, July 27, 2020 - 2:48 PM MDT

Idaho Fish and Game has continued stocking fish during COVID-19, and despite this being an abnormal year, most of Idaho's angling opportunities remain unchanged. Here's a sampling of some places that will get generous trout stockings during August.

Fishing Family Fishing Waters Learn to Fish Fish Stocking and Schedules Fish Stocking Forecasts
F&G commission approves 2020 fall Chinook salmon season

Monday, July 27, 2020 - 1:12 PM MDT

Fall Chinook fishing on the Snake, Clearwater and Salmon rivers will open Aug. 18, and Sept. 17 for the North Fork Clearwater River. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved the season during their meeting in Idaho Falls on Thursday, July 23.

Chinook Salmon Fishing Chinook Salmon Seasons and Rules Fishing Fishing Seasons and Rules Fish and Game Commission Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Steelhead Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri)