Bayhorse Lake (Big Bayhorse Lake)

Salmon River Drainage

  • Recommended Fishing Water
  • Family Fishing Water

Bayhorse Lake (Big Bayhorse Lake) in Custer County is 25.0 acres.

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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
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Date
Species
Quantity
General Size
2024/10/07 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 14,135 Fry (0-3 inches)
2024/08/07 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,523 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2024/07/16 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,118 Catchable (6+ inches)
2024/06/20 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,120 Catchable (6+ inches)
2023/08/29 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,980 Catchable (6+ inches)
2023/07/24 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,088 Catchable (6+ inches)
2023/06/28 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,047 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2022/07/20 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,145 Catchable (6+ inches)
2022/07/12 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,005 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2022/06/28 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,013 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2021/08/12 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,903 Catchable (6+ inches)
2021/07/12 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,330 Catchable (6+ inches)
2021/06/14 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,187 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2020/08/10 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,999 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2020/06/30 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,002 Catchable (6+ inches)
2020/06/12 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,000 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2019/09/27 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 8,847 Fry (0-3 inches)
2019/08/08 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,989 Catchable (6+ inches)
2019/07/15 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,083 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2019/06/27 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,002 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2018/10/18 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 3,860 Fry (0-3 inches)
2018/08/15 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,999 Catchable (6+ inches)
2018/06/26 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,005 Catchable (6+ inches)
2017/07/27 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,006 Catchable (6+ inches)
2017/06/28 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2016/08/18 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,214 Catchable (6+ inches)
2016/06/28 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2015/09/29 Cutthroat Trout - Westslope 12,247 Fry (0-3 inches)
2015/08/10 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,012 Catchable (6+ inches)
2015/07/01 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,004 Catchable (6+ inches)
2014/08/13 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2014/06/27 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,002 Catchable (6+ inches)
2013/08/05 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,960 Catchable (6+ inches)
2013/06/27 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,999 Catchable (6+ inches)
2012/08/02 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,999 Catchable (6+ inches)
2012/07/02 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,013 Catchable (6+ inches)
2011/08/31 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2011/07/12 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,001 Catchable (6+ inches)
2010/08/17 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2010/06/28 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,001 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/07/28 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,002 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/06/30 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,063 Catchable (6+ inches)
2008/08/19 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2008/07/02 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 3,074 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/08/23 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/06/26 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,002 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/08/10 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,998 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/06/30 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,995 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/08/10 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,025 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/07/12 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,083 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/09/27 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,380 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/08/16 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/07/07 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,995 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/08/12 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,025 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/07/03 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,995 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/08/22 Rainbow Trout 1,995 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/07/18 Rainbow Trout 2,025 Catchable (6+ inches)
2001/07/19 Rainbow Trout 2,001 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/08/11 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/07/08 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/08/20 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/07/29 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1997/08/11 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1997/07/09 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1996/09/19 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1996/09/17 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1996/08/22 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1996/08/16 Rainbow Trout 1,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1996/07/11 Rainbow Trout 2,030 Catchable (6+ inches)
1995/08/03 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1995/07/18 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1992/06/22 Rainbow Trout 1,140 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/07/11 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/07/02 Rainbow Trout 840 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/06/23 Rainbow Trout 1,140 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/08/01 Rainbow Trout 2,025 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/06/08 Rainbow Trout 990 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/06/23 Rainbow Trout 1,320 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/08/06 Rainbow Trout 2,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/07/08 Rainbow Trout 2,010 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/07/15 Rainbow Trout 1,338 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/06/27 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/08/09 Rainbow Trout 1,524 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/07/03 Rainbow Trout 2,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1983/08/16 Rainbow Trout 2,365 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/07/22 Rainbow Trout 2,009 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/08/11 Rainbow Trout 2,363 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/07/19 Rainbow Trout 1,680 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/07/29 Rainbow Trout 3,140 Fry (0-3 inches)
1981/06/16 Rainbow Trout 3,996 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/06/26 Rainbow Trout 4,250 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/06/29 Rainbow Trout 3,150 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/07/18 Rainbow Trout 2,960 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/06/23 Rainbow Trout 4,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/07/14 Rainbow Trout 3,300 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/08/20 Rainbow Trout 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1974/07/10 Rainbow Trout 1,080 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/09/19 Rainbow Trout 1,500 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1970/07/15 Rainbow Trout 320 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/07/28 Rainbow Trout 1,645 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/07/15 Rainbow Trout 1,560 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; Forest Service advises trailers under 32 feet. 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 Bayhorse Lake (Big 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
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