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
 Download KMZ

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
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 5,487 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1981/06/16 Rainbow Unspecified 13,200 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 102,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1979/03/22 Rainbow Unspecified 4,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/09/06 Cutthroat 262,080 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/08/29 Brown Trout 54,900 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/07/19 Cutthroat 120,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/04/06 Rainbow Unspecified 760 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/04/04 Rainbow Unspecified 57,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/04/03 Rainbow Unspecified 52,200 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/03/23 Cutthroat 29,160 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/03/22 Cutthroat 51,840 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/03/21 Cutthroat 51,840 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/03/20 Cutthroat 51,840 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/01/12 Cutthroat 112,500 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/01/09 Cutthroat 80,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1977/12/07 Cutthroat 168,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1977/07/14 Cutthroat 104,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1977/07/12 Cutthroat 129,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1977/06/28 Brown Trout 196,560 Fry (0-3 inches)
1977/04/04 Rainbow Unspecified 100,400 Fry (0-3 inches)
1976/09/15 Cutthroat 142,120 Fry (0-3 inches)
1976/09/08 Cutthroat 16,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/09/01 Rainbow Unspecified 18,180 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/08/31 Cutthroat 212,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1976/08/31 Rainbow Unspecified 39,800 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/08/23 Cutthroat 58,806 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/08/23 Cutthroat 111,300 Fry (0-3 inches)
1976/08/10 Rainbow Unspecified 50,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/07/15 Brown Trout 102,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/07/14 Rainbow Unspecified 8,800 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/05/05 Rainbow Unspecified 34,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1976/04/28 Rainbow Unspecified 48,280 Fry (0-3 inches)
1976/04/21 Rainbow Unspecified 19,720 Fry (0-3 inches)
1976/04/10 Brown Trout 240 Adults
1976/04/10 Cutthroat 380 Adults
1975/08/01 Rainbow Unspecified 12,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1975/05/29 Cutthroat 600,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1975/05/28 Rainbow Unspecified 8,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/05/13 Rainbow Unspecified 54,600 Fry (0-3 inches)
1975/04/30 Rainbow Unspecified 100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/04/17 Brown Trout 400 Adults
1975/04/16 Cutthroat 1,600 Adults
1975/04/03 Rainbow Unspecified 100 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1975/03/04 Rainbow Unspecified 100 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1975/01/16 Rainbow Unspecified 100 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1974/11/29 Rainbow Unspecified 100 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1974/10/30 Rainbow Unspecified 100 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1974/10/17 Cutthroat 226,548 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/10/15 Cutthroat 174,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/10/10 Cutthroat 225,992 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/08/23 Cutthroat 154,112 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/05/29 Rainbow Unspecified 4,800 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1974/05/17 Rainbow Unspecified 18,560 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/05/10 Brown Trout 180,960 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/09/28 Cutthroat 65,728 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/08/14 Cutthroat 164,800 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/07/17 Cutthroat 516,960 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/07/16 Cutthroat 568,688 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/07/16 Rainbow Unspecified 4,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/05/17 Brown Trout 142,136 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/04/24 Rainbow Unspecified 62,400 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/08/30 Rainbow Unspecified 5,180 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/08/10 Rainbow Unspecified 4,440 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/04/25 Rainbow Unspecified 37,780 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/04/07 Brown Trout 50 Adults
1972/04/07 Cutthroat 100 Adults
1971/09/13 Brown Trout 76,700 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1971/08/24 Cutthroat 455,400 Fry (0-3 inches)
1971/08/20 Rainbow Unspecified 6,600 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1971/04/02 Rainbow Unspecified 31,616 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/09/22 Cutthroat 103,648 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/09/21 Cutthroat 101,120 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/09/18 Cutthroat 109,968 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/09/17 Cutthroat 97,960 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/09/16 Cutthroat 76,824 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/09/11 Cutthroat 74,676 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/09/10 Cutthroat 91,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/08/31 Cutthroat 100,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/08/26 Rainbow Unspecified 2,580 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/08/21 Rainbow Unspecified 3,010 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/07/09 Brown Trout 143,808 Fry (0-3 inches)
1969/09/18 Cutthroat 436,826 Fry (0-3 inches)
1969/09/11 Cutthroat 107,450 Fry (0-3 inches)
1969/09/03 Cutthroat 120,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1969/08/22 Cutthroat 118,272 Fry (0-3 inches)
1969/07/03 Cutthroat 878 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/06/03 Cutthroat 90,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1969/05/22 Cutthroat 80,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1969/05/19 Cutthroat 60,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/09/19 Cutthroat 106,560 Fry (0-3 inches)
1968/09/16 Brown Trout 41,800 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/09/13 Brown Trout 53,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/09/09 Cutthroat 128,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1968/08/27 Cutthroat 64,000 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, 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

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 limit is 0, 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 limit is 6, both species combined

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 15

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, Golden Trout, Lake Trout, Splake, Arctic Grayling, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, and 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 - 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 must be followed when fishing for whitefish

Protected Nongame Fish including Northern Leatherside Chub and Bluehead Sucker (also known as Green Sucker)

  • May not be harvested or possessed

All Other Fish Species includes bullfrogs and crayfish

  • No bag, size or possession limit
Find an error? Please let us know what is wrong so we can get it fixed up! Report a Problem