Meadow Lake

Salmon River Drainage

  • Recommended Fishing Water
  • Family Fishing Water

Meadow Lake in Lemhi County is 17.9 acres.

Bureau of Land Management, Esri Canada, Esri, HERE, Garmin, INCREMENT P, Intermap, USGS, METI/NASA, EPA, USDA |
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At over 9100 feet in elevation, Meadow Lake is the highest mountain lake you can drive to in this region. The snow-melt lake is a beautiful setting for a fishing and camping weekend with unique wildlife viewing opportunities. A Forest Service campground next to the lake offers a stunning view of the surrounding Lemhi Mountains.

Facilities

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

Directions

From Leadore, drive 17 miles southeast on State Hwy 28 and turn right (west) onto Forest Service Road 002. From the south, turn left onto FS 002 about 1.8 miles north of Gilmore summit. Follow the gravel road approximately 6 miles as it climbs 2,080 feet to the lake.

Recommended Game Fish

Species Observed in Surveys

Fish Stocking Records

Date
Species
Quantity
General Size
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Date
Species
Quantity
General Size
2024/09/26 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 6,018 Fry (0-3 inches)
2024/06/27 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,183 Catchable (6+ inches)
2023/09/13 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 5,965 Fry (0-3 inches)
2023/09/13 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,034 Catchable (6+ inches)
2023/07/26 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,052 Catchable (6+ inches)
2022/08/01 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 6,058 Fry (0-3 inches)
2022/07/21 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 4,160 Catchable (6+ inches)
2021/08/04 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 6,009 Fry (0-3 inches)
2021/07/16 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 3,048 Catchable (6+ inches)
2021/06/29 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,016 Catchable (6+ inches)
2020/08/25 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2020/07/09 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,045 Catchable (6+ inches)
2019/08/13 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 6,001 Fry (0-3 inches)
2019/08/13 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,971 Catchable (6+ inches)
2019/07/24 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,106 Catchable (6+ inches)
2018/08/08 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 4,139 Fry (0-3 inches)
2018/08/08 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,007 Catchable (6+ inches)
2018/06/28 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,999 Catchable (6+ inches)
2017/08/07 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 4,209 Fry (0-3 inches)
2017/08/07 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,840 Catchable (6+ inches)
2017/07/12 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,160 Catchable (6+ inches)
2016/08/08 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 4,199 Fry (0-3 inches)
2016/08/08 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,998 Catchable (6+ inches)
2016/06/27 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,999 Catchable (6+ inches)
2015/08/17 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 5,985 Fry (0-3 inches)
2015/08/17 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2015/06/23 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
2014/08/19 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 5,994 Fry (0-3 inches)
2014/08/19 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,931 Catchable (6+ inches)
2014/07/01 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,190 Catchable (6+ inches)
2013/08/12 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 4,256 Fry (0-3 inches)
2013/08/12 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,001 Catchable (6+ inches)
2013/06/28 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,999 Catchable (6+ inches)
2012/08/09 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 4,208 Fry (0-3 inches)
2012/08/09 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,008 Catchable (6+ inches)
2012/06/29 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,031 Catchable (6+ inches)
2011/08/23 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 4,210 Fry (0-3 inches)
2011/08/23 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,005 Catchable (6+ inches)
2011/07/21 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,002 Catchable (6+ inches)
2010/08/18 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 4,198 Fry (0-3 inches)
2010/08/18 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2010/07/13 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,002 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/08/10 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/07/06 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,224 Catchable (6+ inches)
2008/08/21 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,024 Catchable (6+ inches)
2008/07/08 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,997 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/08/13 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,999 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/06/28 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,002 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/08/15 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/06/29 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/08/12 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 1,365 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/08/12 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,030 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/06/30 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,250 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/08/17 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/06/30 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,048 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/08/20 Rainbow Trout 2,015 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/08/07 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,070 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2002/07/01 Rainbow Trout 1,998 Catchable (6+ inches)
2001/08/14 Rainbow Trout 2,002 Catchable (6+ inches)
2001/07/02 Rainbow Trout 2,024 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/08/21 Cutthroat Trout - Yellowstone 1,350 Fry (0-3 inches)
2000/08/21 Rainbow Trout 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/08/16 Rainbow Trout 1,568 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/07/16 Rainbow Trout 1,645 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/08/11 Cutthroat Trout - Yellowstone 1,350 Fry (0-3 inches)
1998/08/11 Rainbow Trout 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/07/20 Rainbow Trout 2,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
1997/08/19 Rainbow Trout 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1997/07/15 Rainbow Trout 1,668 Catchable (6+ inches)
1997/07/03 Rainbow Trout 390 Catchable (6+ inches)
1996/08/23 Rainbow Trout 1,520 Catchable (6+ inches)
1996/08/22 Cutthroat Trout - Yellowstone 1,352 Fry (0-3 inches)
1996/07/15 Rainbow Trout 2,030 Catchable (6+ inches)
1995/08/10 Rainbow Trout 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1995/07/27 Rainbow Trout 2,104 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/07/19 Rainbow Trout 2,205 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/06/28 Rainbow Trout 1,840 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/08/05 Rainbow Trout 2,015 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/07/12 Rainbow Trout 2,080 Catchable (6+ inches)
1992/07/29 Rainbow Trout 2,025 Catchable (6+ inches)
1992/06/29 Rainbow Trout 2,014 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/08/05 Rainbow Trout 2,125 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/07/10 Rainbow Trout 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/08/06 Rainbow Trout 2,016 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/07/12 Rainbow Trout 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/07/26 Rainbow Trout 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/06/29 Rainbow Trout 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/07/26 Rainbow Trout 2,025 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/06/29 Rainbow Trout 1,680 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/07/28 Rainbow Trout 1,540 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/07/02 Rainbow Trout 1,452 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/08/06 Rainbow Trout 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/07/17 Rainbow Trout 1,575 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/07/16 Rainbow Trout 3,360 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/06/26 Rainbow Trout 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/08/08 Rainbow Trout 2,032 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/07/12 Rainbow Trout 840 Catchable (6+ inches)
1983/07/21 Rainbow Trout 985 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/08/13 Rainbow Trout 2,565 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/07/16 Rainbow Trout 3,375 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/07/07 Rainbow Trout 6,120 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/07/17 Rainbow Trout 5,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/07/17 Rainbow Trout 4,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/07/27 Rainbow Trout 3,680 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/06/29 Rainbow Trout 7,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/07/07 Rainbow Trout 4,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/07/25 Rainbow Trout 4,290 Catchable (6+ inches)
1974/07/29 Rainbow Trout 2,720 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/09/18 Rainbow Trout 4,800 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1973/07/05 Rainbow Trout 3,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/09/30 Rainbow Trout 750 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/07/20 Rainbow Trout 3,060 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/07/30 Rainbow Trout 2,970 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/09/11 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 504 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/07/08 Rainbow Trout 1,740 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/07/11 Rainbow Trout 2,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/07/02 Rainbow Trout 1,680 Catchable (6+ inches)
Source: IDFG Fish Stocking Database.

Licenses and Tags

Learn more about IDFG Licenses, Tags & Permits
 

Although the campground has water facilities, the supply may be seasonal. Plan accordingly for drinking and cooking. Pack in-pack out trash.

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

No Special Rules for Meadow Lake.
Salmon Region Bag Limits
Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)

  • 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 25

Salmon (ocean-run)

  • 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 fishing is illegal. Defined as ocean-run Oncorhynchus nerka longer than 14 inches in the Salmon River drainage (excluding above Mosquito Flat Dam)
  • Fishing for salmon is prohibited unless a salmon season is specifically opened for that water

Steelhead (ocean-run)

  • Defined as Rainbow Trout longer than 20 inches in the Salmon River drainage (excluding the Lemhi and Pahsimeroi rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and ponds)
  • Fishing for steelhead is prohibited unless a steelhead season is specifically opened for that water. See fishing regulations for details

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

  • Trout limit is 6, all species combined
  • Chinook Salmon and steelhead placed in ponds are counted in the trout bag limit
  • Bull Trout and Brook Trout 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 apply when fishing for whitefish

Protected Nongame Fish including Pacific Lamprey

  • May not be harvested or possessed

All Other Fish Species includes bullfrogs and crayfish

  • No bag, length, or possession limits
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