Lemhi River

Tributary of the Salmon River

  • Recommended Fishing Water

Lemhi River in Lemhi County is 60.7 miles in length.

Interactive Map
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Facilities

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

Recommended Game Fish

Species Observed in Surveys

Fish Stocking Records

Date
Species
Quantity
General Size
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Date
Species
Quantity
General Size
2006/04/20 Steelhead 29,278 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/04/19 Steelhead 93,292 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/04/19 Steelhead 5,093 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2005/04/15 Steelhead 44,908 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/04/08 Steelhead 87,885 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/05/06 Steelhead 13,330 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/04/16 Steelhead 5,952 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/04/15 Steelhead 93,462 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/04/14 Steelhead 7,440 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/08/04 Chinook Salmon 48 Adults
2003/04/08 Steelhead 14,960 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/04/07 Steelhead 100,757 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/05/07 Steelhead 84,501 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/05/06 Steelhead 75,685 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/05/03 Steelhead 98,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
2001/11/01 Chinook Salmon 5,758 Eyed Eggs
2001/10/18 Chinook Salmon 2,372 Eyed Eggs
2001/05/07 Steelhead 102,821 Catchable (6+ inches)
2001/05/04 Steelhead 100,311 Catchable (6+ inches)
2001/05/03 Steelhead 21,206 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/08/18 Chinook Salmon 49 Adults
1993/04/16 Steelhead 45,100 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1993/04/15 Steelhead 39,500 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1993/04/14 Steelhead 113,900 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/07/27 Chinook Salmon 5 Adults
1989/09/21 Steelhead 100,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/06/14 Chinook Salmon 35 Adults
1989/06/06 Steelhead 55,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1988/05/31 Steelhead 67,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1988/05/23 Steelhead 102,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1987/05/22 Steelhead 87,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1986/04/30 Steelhead 177,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1986/04/29 Steelhead 217,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1986/04/28 Steelhead 217,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1986/04/11 Steelhead 231 Adults
1986/04/10 Steelhead 110 Adults
1986/04/08 Steelhead 207 Adults
1986/04/07 Steelhead 134 Adults
1985/07/12 Steelhead 72,680 Fry (0-3 inches)
1985/05/17 Steelhead 250,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1985/05/16 Steelhead 250,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1985/05/14 Steelhead 250,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1985/04/17 Steelhead 150 Adults
1985/04/11 Steelhead 121 Adults
1985/04/10 Steelhead 300 Adults
1985/04/09 Steelhead 150 Adults
1984/06/04 Steelhead 170,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1984/04/20 Steelhead 350 Adults
1984/04/13 Steelhead 350 Adults
1984/04/12 Steelhead 350 Adults
1984/04/11 Steelhead 350 Adults
1984/04/10 Steelhead 375 Adults
1984/04/03 Steelhead 100,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1984/03/23 Steelhead 378 Adults
1984/03/21 Steelhead 400 Adults
1983/03/22 Steelhead 184 Adults
1983/03/21 Steelhead 200 Adults
1983/03/10 Steelhead 173 Adults
1982/05/19 Steelhead 164,853 Fry (0-3 inches)
1981/06/17 Steelhead 236,800 Fry (0-3 inches)
1981/05/19 Steelhead 129,677 Fry (0-3 inches)
1981/05/08 Steelhead 57,392 Fry (0-3 inches)
1981/05/01 Steelhead 109,200 Fry (0-3 inches)
1980/04/24 Steelhead 9,140 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1980/04/22 Steelhead 8,640 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/11/06 Steelhead 11,367 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/11/01 Steelhead 11,367 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/06/14 Steelhead 78,240 Fry (0-3 inches)
1979/06/12 Steelhead 71,720 Fry (0-3 inches)
1979/04/20 Steelhead 130 Adults
1979/04/09 Steelhead 12,798 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/03/26 Steelhead 17,401 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/03/22 Steelhead 16,374 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/03/19 Steelhead 23,099 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/03/15 Steelhead 32,440 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/03/13 Steelhead 25,425 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/03/08 Steelhead 15,405 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/03/08 Steelhead 18,360 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/03/06 Steelhead 29,145 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/03/01 Steelhead 26,335 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/02/20 Steelhead 18,577 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/02/14 Steelhead 28,500 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/02/12 Steelhead 8,647 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/01/24 Steelhead 19,613 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/01/22 Steelhead 16,978 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/07/12 Chinook Salmon 123,600 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/07/11 Chinook Salmon 141,600 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/05/19 Steelhead 499,750 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/04/05 Steelhead 30 Adults
1978/04/04 Steelhead 30 Adults
1976/07/08 Chinook Salmon 156,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1975/06/11 Chinook Salmon 360,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1975/06/10 Chinook Salmon 216,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1975/06/03 Chinook Salmon 269,100 Fry (0-3 inches)
1975/05/29 Chinook Salmon 295,200 Fry (0-3 inches)
1975/04/10 Steelhead 12,765 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1975/04/09 Steelhead 14,490 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1975/04/03 Steelhead 37,720 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1974/08/14 Rainbow Trout 1,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1974/06/18 Chinook Salmon 633,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/06/18 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 331,344 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/06/02 Chinook Salmon 14,300 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/05/30 Chinook Salmon 255,948 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/07/31 Steelhead 2,020,200 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/07/17 Steelhead 553,960 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/07/12 Steelhead 1,138,136 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/06/14 Steelhead 426,240 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/06/13 Steelhead 426,240 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/04/30 Chinook Salmon 52,689 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/04/15 Chinook Salmon 184,800 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/06/29 Steelhead 1,116,264 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/06/22 Steelhead 1,043,700 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/06/21 Steelhead 358,190 Fry (0-3 inches)
Source: IDFG Fish Stocking Database.

Licenses and Tags

Learn more about IDFG Licenses, Tags & Permits
 

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

Lemhi River
  • 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
Nearby Rules The following special rule(s) apply to adjacent waters but exclude the Lemhi River.
Lemhi River tributaries
  • Salmon Region general rules apply
Salmon River tributaries Those tributaries from the mouth of the Middle Fork Salmon River upstream (except: North Fork Salmon River, Lemhi, Pahsimeroi, East Fork Salmon River, and Yankee Fork Salmon River)
  • December 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend – trout – catch-and-release
  • Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30 - Salmon Region general rules apply
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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