Little Bayhorse Lake

Salmon River Drainage

  • Recommended Fishing Water
  • Family Fishing Water

Little Bayhorse Lake in Custer County is 17.3 acres.

Bureau of Land Management, Esri Canada, Esri, HERE, Garmin, INCREMENT P, USGS, METI/NASA, EPA, USDA |
Zoom In
Zoom Out
Interactive Map
 Download KMZ
Anglers will find good catch rates at these drive-in mountain lakes, either from shore or a small boat. Separated by a ridge and 250 vertical feet, Bayhorse and Little Bayhorse lakes are connected by a mile long hiking trail. Both lakes offer primitive campsites and a scenic escape from summer heat.

Facilities

Motor Restriction
Yes
Boat Ramp
Yes
Dock
Yes
Toilet
Yes
Campground
Yes
ADA Access
Yes

Directions

From Stanley: at the State Hwy 21 junction, go N on State Hwy 75 just past milepost 236 (about 47 miles); From Challis: go S on US Hwy 93 2 miles, then on State Hwy 75 (about 7 miles plus 0.6 mile past Bayhorse Recreation Site); Turn NW from Hwy 75, crossing the bridge onto FS Rd 051. Follow the road 6 miles to the "Y" and turn left, continuing another mile on FS 051 to (Big) Bayhorse Lake. For Little Bayhorse, keep right at the "Y" onto Little Bayhorse Lake Rd/FS 382 (trailers not recommended) and continue 0.8 mile to Little Bayhorse Lake.

Recommended Game Fish

Species Observed in Surveys

Fish Stocking Records

Date
Species
Quantity
General Size
Loading, please wait...
Date
Species
Quantity
General Size
2024/10/07 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 9,949 Fry (0-3 inches)
2024/08/07 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,404 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2024/07/16 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 592 Catchable (6+ inches)
2024/06/20 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 999 Catchable (6+ inches)
2023/08/29 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,056 Catchable (6+ inches)
2023/07/24 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,012 Catchable (6+ inches)
2023/06/28 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,113 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2022/07/25 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,300 Catchable (6+ inches)
2022/07/21 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
2022/06/28 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,006 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2021/08/26 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,118 Catchable (6+ inches)
2021/06/30 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,008 Catchable (6+ inches)
2021/06/15 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,013 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2020/08/10 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2020/07/01 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,003 Catchable (6+ inches)
2020/06/10 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,012 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2019/09/27 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 8,847 Fry (0-3 inches)
2019/08/22 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,001 Catchable (6+ inches)
2019/07/30 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2019/06/17 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,004 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2018/10/18 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 4,632 Fry (0-3 inches)
2018/08/13 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 744 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2018/07/24 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2018/06/27 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,001 Catchable (6+ inches)
2017/07/18 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,011 Catchable (6+ inches)
2017/06/20 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,091 Catchable (6+ inches)
2016/09/20 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,344 Catchable (6+ inches)
2016/06/28 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 939 Catchable (6+ inches)
2016/06/23 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,061 Catchable (6+ inches)
2015/09/29 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 12,247 Fry (0-3 inches)
2015/07/20 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 509 Catchable (6+ inches)
2015/07/01 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
2015/06/22 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 508 Catchable (6+ inches)
2015/06/16 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 508 Catchable (6+ inches)
2014/07/31 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2014/07/09 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2013/07/15 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2013/06/17 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2011/07/12 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2010/09/01 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,001 Catchable (6+ inches)
2010/08/03 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,002 Catchable (6+ inches)
2010/05/25 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 684 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/07/08 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,002 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/06/23 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2008/07/03 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 999 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/07/12 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/06/27 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 739 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/05/24 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 300 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/07/31 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/07/12 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/07/28 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/06/30 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/07/30 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/06/25 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/07/31 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/07/01 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/08/14 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/07/19 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2001/08/10 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,148 Catchable (6+ inches)
2001/06/26 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,002 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/08/29 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/08/15 Rainbow Trout 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/07/19 Rainbow Trout 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/06/29 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/08/19 Cutthroat Trout - Yellowstone 199 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/08/19 Rainbow Trout 1,513 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/07/12 Rainbow Trout 1,539 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/08/18 Rainbow Trout 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/07/01 Rainbow Trout 2,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
1997/08/18 Rainbow Trout 2,030 Catchable (6+ inches)
1997/07/07 Rainbow Trout 2,080 Catchable (6+ inches)
1996/09/20 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1996/09/18 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1996/07/08 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1995/09/06 Rainbow Trout 1,050 Catchable (6+ inches)
1995/07/11 Rainbow Trout 2,070 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/08/12 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/07/20 Rainbow Trout 1,530 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/07/12 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/06/14 Rainbow Trout 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/07/28 Rainbow Trout 1,540 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/07/01 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/06/22 Rainbow Trout 2,504 Catchable (6+ inches)
1992/07/30 Rainbow Trout 1,575 Catchable (6+ inches)
1992/06/22 Rainbow Trout 1,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/08/01 Rainbow Trout 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/07/11 Rainbow Trout 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/08/07 Rainbow Trout 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/07/02 Rainbow Trout 1,680 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/07/27 Rainbow Trout 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/06/23 Rainbow Trout 1,140 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/06/30 Rainbow Trout 2,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1988/06/08 Rainbow Trout 1,980 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/07/14 Rainbow Trout 1,364 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/06/30 Rainbow Trout 1,320 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/06/24 Rainbow Trout 1,320 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/07/08 Rainbow Trout 1,005 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/07/15 Rainbow Trout 840 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/06/27 Rainbow Trout 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/09/30 Cutbow - Cutthroat x Rainbow Trout 2,626 Fry (0-3 inches)
1980/09/30 Cutbow - Cutthroat x Rainbow Trout - Diploid 2,626 Fry (0-3 inches)
1979/07/30 Rainbow Trout 2,192 Fry (0-3 inches)
1975/08/07 Rainbow Trout 2,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1973/09/19 Rainbow Trout 1,500 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1973/07/25 Rainbow Trout 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/07/18 Rainbow Trout 1,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/07/14 Rainbow Trout 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/07/15 Rainbow Trout 1,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
Source: IDFG Fish Stocking Database.

Licenses and Tags

Learn more about IDFG Licenses, Tags & Permits
 

Be cautious on this narrow, steep dirt road, slick when wet, and not recommended for trailers beyond turnoff to Bayhorse Lake. No drinking water at site.

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 Little Bayhorse 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
Find an error? Please let us know what is wrong so we can get it fixed up! Report a Problem