Boise River, Mouth to Middleton

Tributary of the Boise River

  • Recommended Fishing Water
  • Family Fishing Water

Boise River, Mouth to Middleton in Canyon County.

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The Boise River offers miles of fishing in one of the finest urban trout rivers in the country. Wild trout and stocked hatchery rainbow and brown trout are abundant.

Learn more about how Fish and Game works to manage and improve Trout populations on this section of river.

Species Observed in Surveys

Fish Stocking Records

Date Species Quantity General Size
2005/06/07 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,700 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/03/10 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,890 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/06/08 Brown Trout 9,975 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1993/06/08 Rainbow X Cutthroat - Diploid 2,025 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/04/10 Mt Lassen Rainbow 205 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/03/28 Mt Lassen Rainbow 100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/03/14 Mt Lassen Rainbow 100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/02/27 Rainbow Unspecified 200 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/12/06 Rainbow Unspecified 325 Adults
1990/03/28 Rainbow Unspecified 205 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/02/22 Domestic Kamloops 195 Adults
Source: IDFG Fish Stocking Database.

Licenses and Tags

Learn more about IDFG Licenses, Tags & Permits
 

See our separate page for Steelhead Season and Rules

Fishing Rules, 2022 - 2024

All Waters Open All Year

Except as modified in Special Rules
Fishing is not allowed within the posted upstream and downstream boundary of any fish weir or trap.

Daily Bag Limits

The following daily bag limits apply to all waters within each region except as modified in the Special Rules. The possession limit is 3-times the daily bag limit after the second day of the season.

Special Rules

Boise River All other sections of the lower Boise River
  • Southwest Region general rules apply
Southwest Region Bag Limits
Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)

  • Bass limit is 6, both species combined
  • None under 12 inches

Brook Trout

  • Brook Trout limit is 25
  • Harvest allowed during any open season unless otherwise noted under Special Rules - if gear or bait restrictions are listed, they must be followed when fishing for Brook Trout

Bull Trout

  • Bull Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release

Kokanee

  • Kokanee limit is 6

Salmon

  • Spring and summer Chinook Salmon seasons and limits are set by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission and issued in separate brochures
  • Seasons and limits for fall Chinook Salmon and Coho Salmon can be found here
  • Sockeye Salmon limit is 0 and fishing for or targeting Sockeye Salmon is illegal
  • Fishing for or targeting salmon is prohibited unless a salmon season is specifically opened for that water 

Steelhead (ocean-going)

  • Defined as Rainbow Trout longer than twenty (20) inches in length in the Salmon River drainage (excluding lakes and reservoirs). Between Hells Canyon Dam and Oxbow Dam and the Boise River from its mouth upstream to Barber Dam during steelhead seasons, steelhead are Rainbow Trout over twenty (20) inches in length with the adipose fin clipped (as evidenced by a healed scar)
  • Fishing for or targeting steelhead is prohibited unless a steelhead season is specifically opened for that water. See fishing regulations for details

Sturgeon

  • Sturgeon limit is 0, catch-and-release
  • Sturgeon must not be removed from the water and must be released upon landing
  • Barbless hooks are required
  • Use of a sliding swivel device to secure a weight, and a lighter test line to secure weight to sliding swivel device is required. See fishing regulations for details

Tiger Muskie

  • Tiger Muskie limit is 2, none under 40 inches

Trout includes Brown Trout, Lake Trout, Golden Trout, Arctic Grayling, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, land-locked Chinook and Coho Salmon, trout hybrids (e.g. Tiger Trout)

  • Trout limit is 6, all species combined
  • Does not include Bull Trout and Brook Trout which are listed separately

Whitefish

  • Whitefish limit is 25
  • Harvest allowed during any open season unless otherwise noted under Special Rules - if gear or bait restrictions are listed, they must be followed when fishing for whitefish

Protected Nongame Fish includes Pacific Lamprey

  • May not be harvested or possessed

All Other Fish Species includes bullfrogs and crayfish

  • No bag, size or possession limit
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