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

Southern Idaho waters closed to fishing by regulation on April 1 to protect spawning rainbow trout

Monday, March 30, 2020 - 12:52 PM MDT

Sections of three Southern Idaho rivers will be closed to fishing from April 1 through the Friday before Memorial Day weekend. None of the closures are due to Covid-19 concerns. They are regular annual closures in place to protect spawning rainbow trout.

Magic Valley Region Southwest Region Fishing Fishing Seasons and Rules Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Attention anglers: Delays expected in "Tag, You're It" reward processsing, but please continue to report tags

Thursday, March 26, 2020 - 6:29 PM MDT

Due to challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, anglers who report reward tags as part of Fish and Game’s “Tag, You’re It” program should expect some delays in receiving their rewards. Jeff Dillon, fisheries research manager at Idaho Fish and Game said, “Under the current conditions, we are not going to be able to process reward tags as quickly as we normally would.

Fishing Fishing Seasons and Rules Chinook Salmon Fishing Steelhead Fishing COVID-19 Information
Southwest Region Rainbow Trout Stocking Schedule - April

Monday, March 23, 2020 - 3:12 PM MDT

Personnel from Fish and Game's Nampa Hatchery will be releasing more than 24,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout at the following locations during April. Fishing is part of a healthy lifestyle and costs very little to get started. An annual fishing license costs around $30, and children under 14 years of age do not need a license at all.

Southwest Region Fishing Fish Stocking and Schedules Family Fishing Waters Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
F&G commission approves 2020 spring Chinook salmon season

Monday, March 23, 2020 - 10:31 AM MDT

The Fish and Game Commission recently approved spring Chinook fishing on the Clearwater, Snake, Salmon and Little Salmon rivers to start April 25 and run until closed by the Fish and Game director. Full rules will soon be available on Fish and Game’s website. Printed rules will be available prior to the season opener.

Chinook Salmon Seasons and Rules Chinook Salmon Fishing Fishing Fishing Seasons and Rules Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Niagara Springs Fish Hatchery closed to public access until 2021

Tuesday, March 10, 2020 - 10:02 AM MDT

Officials with Fish and Game, Magic Valley Region have announced that the Niagara Spring Hatchery will be closed to public access for the next several months due to construction activities. It is anticipated that the hatchery grounds will re-open to the public in early 2021.

Magic Valley Region Fishing Steelhead Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri)
Spring is prime time for Treasure Valley ponds

Monday, March 9, 2020 - 1:51 PM MDT

Love fishing but can’t seem to find the time to travel? Ponds provide an excellent and convenient spring fishing opportunity.

Family Fishing Waters Fishing Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) White Sturgeon (Snake and Salmon Rivers) (Acipenser transmontanus) Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus)
Idaho's Kokanee Hatcheries

Friday, March 6, 2020 - 1:05 PM MST

Fishing Sockeye Salmon or Kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka)