Thorn Creek Reservoir

Flows into the Thorn Creek

  • Recommended Fishing Water

Thorn Creek Reservoir in Camas, Gooding and Lincoln Counties is 117.0 acres.

Interactive Map
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This high desert reservoir feels quiet and remote. It fills with melting snowpack from upland streams and is subject to drawdown as the irrigation season progresses. At times the level may get very low, but there is ample bank fishing and it is generally uncrowded. Rocky outcrops along the perimeter offer scenic fishing access points; sturdy footwear is recommended.

Unimproved boat ramp (dirt) north side of the dam; suitable for smaller boat/drift boat/canoe/kayak.

ADA Restroom near the dam with dirt parking and concrete pad.

Primitive camping (dispersed) may be available, depending on access conditions around the water.

No potable water available.

Fire restrictions may be necessary during fire season or extended periods of dry weather.

Wildlife viewing, Bird-watching, Hiking, Springtime wildflowers

Cooperative Management: BLM/IDFG Access; Pack In/Pack Out: please pack out trash and help keep this area clean.

High-clearance vehicle recommended; Access may require 4WD at times and roads may become impassable when wet.

Facilities

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

Recommended Game Fish

Species Observed in Surveys

Fish Stocking Records

Date Species Quantity General Size
2023/08/30 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 2,002 Catchable (6+ inches)
2023/05/25 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,800 Catchable (6+ inches)
2021/05/03 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,848 Catchable (6+ inches)
2020/09/10 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 2,006 Catchable (6+ inches)
2020/05/05 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,850 Catchable (6+ inches)
2019/09/19 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 2,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
2019/05/16 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,956 Catchable (6+ inches)
2018/09/19 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 2,097 Catchable (6+ inches)
2017/09/20 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,965 Catchable (6+ inches)
2017/05/01 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,836 Catchable (6+ inches)
2016/04/29 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,840 Catchable (6+ inches)
2012/10/02 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 2,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
2012/05/15 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 400 Catchable (6+ inches)
2012/05/15 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 3,021 Catchable (6+ inches)
2011/09/22 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,530 Catchable (6+ inches)
2011/05/10 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,325 Catchable (6+ inches)
2011/05/09 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,800 Catchable (6+ inches)
2010/11/03 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 990 Catchable (6+ inches)
2010/05/03 Hayspur Kamloops Triploid 2,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/05/12 Hayspur Kamloops Triploid 2,135 Catchable (6+ inches)
2008/05/16 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,572 Catchable (6+ inches)
2008/05/16 Troutlodge 2,520 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/04/25 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 5,120 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/09/13 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,610 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/05/26 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 7,140 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/05/31 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,080 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/04/26 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 5,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/04/14 Rainbow Unspecified 1,032 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/05/03 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
2001/04/26 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 5,220 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/09/19 Domestic Kamloops 2,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/06/16 Domestic Kamloops 15,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2000/05/24 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 10,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2000/04/21 Domestic Kamloops 5,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/09/24 Domestic Kamloops 2,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/05/11 Domestic Kamloops 5,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/05/11 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 10,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/09/14 Domestic Kamloops 2,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/06/15 Steelhead 9,855 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/05/20 Domestic Kamloops 5,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/05/20 Rainbow Unspecified 10,030 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1997/10/02 Domestic Kamloops 2,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1997/05/15 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 10,035 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1997/05/08 Domestic Kamloops 5,125 Catchable (6+ inches)
1996/09/25 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 2,958 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1996/08/22 Steelhead 14,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1996/05/09 Domestic Kamloops 5,075 Catchable (6+ inches)
1996/05/09 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 10,150 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1995/07/06 Steelhead 32,428 Fry (0-3 inches)
1995/05/09 Domestic Kamloops 2,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1995/05/09 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 10,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1995/04/28 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 3,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/05/09 Troutlodge 5,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/10/26 Troutlodge 30,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1993/05/18 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 5,060 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/05/11 Troutlodge 2,520 Catchable (6+ inches)
1992/04/21 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/05/29 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/05/17 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/05/15 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 4,515 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/05/10 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 2,712 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/05/08 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 2,772 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/05/19 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 5,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/05/17 Brown Trout 1,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/05/17 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 4,800 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/05/02 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 40,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1989/04/26 Brown Trout 4,032 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1988/05/02 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 4,375 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/05/06 Brown Trout 5,600 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/04/21 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 3,720 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/05/27 Brown Trout 5,060 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/05/12 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 240 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/05/12 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 41,760 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/04/22 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 4,995 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/04/17 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 4,770 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/07/17 Brown Trout 5,015 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1985/06/07 Rainbow Unspecified 32,500 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1985/06/05 Rainbow Unspecified 23,280 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1985/05/08 Rainbow Unspecified 5,719 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/04/29 Rainbow Unspecified 4,290 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/09/28 Rainbow Unspecified 858 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/09/10 Fine Spotted Yellowstone Cutthroat 5,582 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1984/06/20 Steelhead A-Run 377 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/05/21 Rainbow Unspecified 6,105 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/05/17 Rainbow Unspecified 42,050 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/07/13 Rainbow Unspecified 42,350 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/23 Rainbow Unspecified 6,110 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/06/08 Rainbow Unspecified 41,325 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/05/26 Rainbow Unspecified 7,703 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/05/05 Rainbow Unspecified 3,920 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/05/05 Rainbow Unspecified 15,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1980/05/20 Rainbow Unspecified 4,060 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/05/14 Rainbow Unspecified 4,060 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/05/06 Rainbow Unspecified 24,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/07/07 Steelhead x Cutthroat 13,750 Fry (0-3 inches)
1976/05/19 Rainbow Unspecified 3,250 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/05/18 Rainbow Unspecified 5,830 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/05/10 Rainbow Unspecified 24,300 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1975/06/16 Rainbow Unspecified 7,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/06/11 Rainbow Unspecified 3,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/06/11 Rainbow Unspecified 10,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1974/05/16 Rainbow Unspecified 3,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1974/05/14 Rainbow Unspecified 22,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1973/05/15 Rainbow Unspecified 23,500 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1972/08/31 Cutthroat 17,280 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/07/07 Rainbow Unspecified 5,141 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1972/06/20 Rainbow Unspecified 5,665 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1972/05/18 Rainbow Unspecified 1,120 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/06/15 Rainbow Unspecified 27,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1970/07/14 Rainbow Unspecified 20,100 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1970/07/06 Rainbow Unspecified 4,080 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/06/04 Rainbow Unspecified 20,150 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1969/05/29 Rainbow Unspecified 3,300 Catchable (6+ inches)
Source: IDFG Fish Stocking Database.

Licenses and Tags

Learn more about IDFG Licenses, Tags & Permits
 

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

No Special Rules for Thorn Creek Reservoir.
Magic Valley Region Bag Limits
Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)

  • Bass limit is 6, both species combined
  • None under 12 inches

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 6

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, Lake Trout, Golden Trout, Arctic Grayling, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, land-locked Chinook and Coho Salmon, trout hydrids (.e.g. Tiger Trout)

  • Trout limit is 6, all species combined
  • In rivers and streams, only 2 of the 6 trout may be Cutthroat Trout
  • Does not include Bull Trout and Brook Trout which are listed separately

Walleye

  • Walleye limit is 6

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 must be followed when fishing for whitefish

Protected Nongame Fish includes Northern Leatherside Chub, Shoshone Sculpin, Wood River Sculpin, 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
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