South Fork Snake River (Snake River)

Tributary of the Snake River

  • Recommended Fishing Water

South Fork Snake River (Snake River) in Bonneville, Jefferson and Madison Counties is 128.9 miles in length.

Interactive Map
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The South Fork is widely regarded as one of the finest trout fishing rivers in the country. It's home to native Yellowstone cutthroat trout, which are noted as very willing to take a dry fly. The river also houses rainbow trout and brown trout. Anglers are encouraged to harvest all rainbow trout they encounter here, as they can compete with native cutthroat.

In this video, Trapper Bradshaw shares taking his son Hunter out for a day of float boat fishing on the South Fork of the Snake River. A perfect outdoor adventure for father and son.

 

Facilities

Motor Restriction
No
Boat Ramp
Yes
Dock
Yes
Toilet
Yes
Campground
Yes
ADA Access
Yes

Directions

The South Fork runs from its confluence with the Henrys Fork at Menan upstream to Palisades Dam. Highway 26 parallels the river for its entirety.

Recommended Game Fish

Species Observed in Surveys

Fish Stocking Records

Date
Species
Quantity
General Size
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Date
Species
Quantity
General Size
1982/04/28 Brown Trout 22,800 Fry (0-3 inches)
1982/04/27 Brown Trout 25,536 Fry (0-3 inches)
1981/09/08 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 5,487 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1981/06/16 Rainbow Trout 6,600 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1981/04/06 Brown Trout 110,016 Fry (0-3 inches)
1980/04/29 Brown Trout 86,400 Fry (0-3 inches)
1979/10/15 Brown Trout 13,960 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/07/13 Brown Trout 36,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/07/13 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 102,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1979/03/22 Rainbow Trout 4,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/09/06 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 131,040 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/08/29 Brown Trout 27,450 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/07/19 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 60,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/04/06 Rainbow Trout 380 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/04/04 Rainbow Trout 28,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/04/03 Rainbow Trout 26,100 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/03/23 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 14,580 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/03/22 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 25,920 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/03/21 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 25,920 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/03/20 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 25,920 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/01/12 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 56,250 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/01/09 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 40,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1977/12/07 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 84,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1977/07/14 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 52,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1977/07/12 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 64,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1977/06/28 Brown Trout 98,280 Fry (0-3 inches)
1977/04/04 Rainbow Trout 50,200 Fry (0-3 inches)
1976/09/15 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 71,060 Fry (0-3 inches)
1976/09/08 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 8,100 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/09/01 Rainbow Trout 9,090 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/08/31 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 106,250 Fry (0-3 inches)
1976/08/31 Rainbow Trout 19,900 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/08/23 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 29,403 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/08/23 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 55,650 Fry (0-3 inches)
1976/08/10 Rainbow Trout 25,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/07/15 Brown Trout 51,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/07/14 Rainbow Trout 4,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/05/05 Rainbow Trout 17,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1976/04/28 Rainbow Trout 24,140 Fry (0-3 inches)
1976/04/21 Rainbow Trout 9,860 Fry (0-3 inches)
1976/04/10 Brown Trout 120 Adults
1976/04/10 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 190 Adults
1975/08/01 Rainbow Trout 6,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1975/05/29 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 300,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1975/05/28 Rainbow Trout 4,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/05/13 Rainbow Trout 27,300 Fry (0-3 inches)
1975/04/30 Rainbow Trout 50 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/04/17 Brown Trout 200 Adults
1975/04/16 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 800 Adults
1975/04/03 Rainbow Trout 50 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1975/03/04 Rainbow Trout 50 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1975/01/16 Rainbow Trout 50 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1974/11/29 Rainbow Trout 50 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1974/10/30 Rainbow Trout 50 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1974/10/17 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 113,274 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/10/15 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 87,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/10/10 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 112,996 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/08/23 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 77,056 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/05/29 Rainbow Trout 2,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1974/05/17 Rainbow Trout 9,280 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/05/10 Brown Trout 90,480 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/09/28 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 32,864 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/08/14 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 82,400 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/07/17 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 258,480 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/07/16 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 284,344 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/07/16 Rainbow Trout 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/05/17 Brown Trout 71,068 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/04/24 Rainbow Trout 31,200 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/08/30 Rainbow Trout 2,590 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/08/10 Rainbow Trout 2,220 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/04/25 Rainbow Trout 18,890 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/04/07 Brown Trout 25 Adults
1972/04/07 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 50 Adults
1971/09/13 Brown Trout 38,350 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1971/08/24 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 227,700 Fry (0-3 inches)
1971/08/20 Rainbow Trout 3,300 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1971/04/02 Rainbow Trout 15,808 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/09/22 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 51,824 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/09/21 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 50,560 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/09/18 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 54,984 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/09/17 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 48,980 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/09/16 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 38,412 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/09/11 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 37,338 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/09/10 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 45,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/08/31 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 50,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/08/26 Rainbow Trout 1,290 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/08/21 Rainbow Trout 1,505 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/07/09 Brown Trout 71,904 Fry (0-3 inches)
1969/09/18 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 218,413 Fry (0-3 inches)
1969/09/11 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 53,725 Fry (0-3 inches)
1969/09/03 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 60,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1969/08/22 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 59,136 Fry (0-3 inches)
1969/07/03 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 439 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/06/03 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 45,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1969/05/22 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 40,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1969/05/19 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 30,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/09/19 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 53,280 Fry (0-3 inches)
1968/09/16 Brown Trout 20,900 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/09/13 Brown Trout 26,600 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/09/09 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 64,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1968/08/27 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 32,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
Source: IDFG Fish Stocking Database.

Licenses and Tags

Learn more about IDFG Licenses, Tags & Permits
 

Be aware of Fish Consumption Advisories associated with this waterbody. More information can be found here.

Fishing Rules, 2025 - 2027

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.

Special Rules

South Fork Snake River
  • No harvest of Cutthroat Trout
  • Brown Trout limit is 2
  • No limit on Rainbow Trout or trout hybrids
Henrys Fork tributaries (except Warm River, Fall River, and Thurmon Creek)
  • December 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend – trout – catch-and-release
  • Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30 - trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
Palisades Reservoir tributaries
  • Trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
  • No harvest of kokanee
Nearby Rules The following special rule(s) apply to adjacent waters but exclude the South Fork Snake River (Snake River).
South Fork Snake River tributaries
  • No harvest of Cutthroat Trout
  • June 1 through June 30 - closed to fishing
  • No limit on Rainbow Trout or trout hybrids
Upper Snake Region Bag Limits
Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)

  • Bass - no bag, length, or possession limits

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 apply when fishing for Brook Trout

Bull Trout

  • Bull trout - catch-and-release

Kokanee

  • Kokanee limit is 15

Sturgeon

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

Tiger Muskie

  • Tiger Muskie limit is 2, none under 40 inches

Trout includes Brown Trout, Golden Trout, Lake Trout, Arctic Grayling, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, and trout hybrids (e.g. Tiger Trout)

  • Trout limit is 6, all species combined
  • Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately

Walleye (Have not been stocked intentionally in this Region. May be harmful to existing fisheries.)

  • No bag, length, or possession limits, harvest is encouraged

Whitefish

  • Whitefish limit is 25 - see Big Lost River exception
  • Harvest allowed during any open season unless otherwise noted under Special Rules - if gear or bait restrictions are listed, they apply when fishing for whitefish

Protected Nongame Fish including Bluehead Sucker (also known as Green Sucker)

  • May not be harvested or possessed

All Other Fish Species includes bullfrogs and crayfish

  • No bag, length or possession limit
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