Lochsa River

Tributary of the Middle Fork Clearwater River

  • Recommended Fishing Water

Lochsa River in Idaho County is 69.2 miles in length.

Interactive Map
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The Lochsa River is known for excellent trout fishing on an easily accessible river. It draws avid anglers and novices alike. 

In this video, Zack Funkhouser introduces one of his fly fishing students to fish the Lochsa for Westslope Cutthroat Trout.

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
2021/03/18 Chinook Summer 402,786 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2020/03/17 Chinook Summer 791,296 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2017/01/04 Chinook Spring 16,219 Fry (0-3 inches)
2016/03/18 Chinook Summer 488,970 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2016/01/21 Chinook Spring 587,106 Fry (0-3 inches)
2016/01/20 Chinook Spring 618,046 Fry (0-3 inches)
2004/04/08 Chinook Spring 56,174 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2003/04/03 Chinook Spring 52,225 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2002/04/10 Chinook Spring 57,461 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1999/04/17 Chinook Spring 47,950 Catchable (6+ inches)
1995/07/21 Chinook Spring 5 Adults
1995/04/05 Chinook Spring 55,300 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/04/06 Chinook Spring 63,457 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/03/16 Chinook Spring 223,627 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/10/24 Chinook Spring 358,372 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/09/19 Chinook Spring 29 Adults
1991/03/25 Chinook Spring 70,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/09/01 Chinook Spring 160 Adults
1990/08/16 Rainbow Unspecified 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/07/13 Rainbow Unspecified 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/06/05 Chinook Spring 62,440 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/05/23 Rainbow Unspecified 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/04/30 Steelhead B-Run 51 Adults
1990/03/29 Chinook Spring 50,095 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/09/10 Chinook Spring 154 Adults
1989/07/24 Rainbow Unspecified 957 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/06/30 Rainbow Unspecified 1,536 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/06/28 Mt Lassen Rainbow 1,105 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/05/26 Mt Lassen Rainbow 2,430 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/06/11 Mt Lassen Rainbow 2,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/05/21 Mt Lassen Rainbow 2,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/06/23 Mt Lassen Rainbow 1,498 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/05/12 Rainbow Unspecified 993 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/07/21 Rainbow Unspecified 2,380 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/07/15 Rainbow Unspecified 2,460 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/07/10 Rainbow Unspecified 2,870 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/06/09 Rainbow Unspecified 720 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/08/08 Rainbow Unspecified 3,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/07/11 Rainbow Unspecified 2,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/06/13 Rainbow Unspecified 1,320 Catchable (6+ inches)
1983/07/13 Rainbow Unspecified 1,850 Catchable (6+ inches)
1983/06/22 Rainbow Unspecified 3,710 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/27 Rainbow Unspecified 617 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/08/21 Rainbow Unspecified 2,700 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/08/06 Rainbow Unspecified 2,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/07/28 Rainbow Unspecified 2,550 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/07/19 Rainbow Unspecified 2,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1981/07/16 Rainbow Unspecified 3,178 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/07/01 Rainbow Unspecified 1,650 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/06/25 Rainbow Unspecified 1,620 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/06/09 Steelhead 140,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1981/06/08 Steelhead 340,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1981/06/05 Rainbow Unspecified 1,170 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/05/21 Rainbow Unspecified 2,700 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/03/26 Steelhead 61 Adults
1981/03/25 Steelhead 101 Adults
1980/09/24 Steelhead 50,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1980/07/11 Rainbow Unspecified 1,650 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/06/25 Rainbow Unspecified 2,380 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/06/19 Rainbow Unspecified 1,750 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/06/17 Steelhead 500,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1980/06/03 Rainbow Unspecified 2,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/05/29 Rainbow Unspecified 1,620 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/07/19 Rainbow Unspecified 2,210 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/07/11 Rainbow Unspecified 2,520 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/06/21 Steelhead 400,076 Fry (0-3 inches)
1979/06/20 Rainbow Unspecified 1,750 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/06/13 Rainbow Unspecified 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/06/11 Steelhead 400,076 Fry (0-3 inches)
1979/04/26 Chinook Spring 29,582 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/04/25 Chinook Spring 44,373 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/04/19 Chinook Spring 44,373 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/04/19 Steelhead 210 Adults
1979/04/18 Chinook Spring 38,034 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/04/11 Steelhead 235 Adults
1978/10/02 Rainbow Unspecified 1,040 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/08/03 Chinook Spring 148,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/07/25 Rainbow Unspecified 2,590 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/07/18 Rainbow Unspecified 4,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/07/12 Rainbow Unspecified 3,120 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/06/16 Steelhead 500,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/06/15 Steelhead 150,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/06/13 Steelhead 300,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/06/07 Chinook Spring 119,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/05/31 Chinook Spring 42,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/04/25 Chinook Spring 28,800 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/04/19 Chinook Spring 86,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1977/06/27 Rainbow Unspecified 4,700 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/06/23 Steelhead 90,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1977/06/14 Rainbow Unspecified 3,440 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/06/02 Rainbow Unspecified 2,050 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/05/24 Rainbow Unspecified 1,595 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/04/07 Chinook Spring 62,100 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1977/04/06 Chinook Spring 56,700 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1977/04/05 Chinook Spring 64,800 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/07/21 Rainbow Unspecified 2,560 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/07/20 Rainbow Unspecified 2,560 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/07/08 Rainbow Unspecified 2,960 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/06/30 Rainbow Unspecified 2,280 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/06/29 Rainbow Unspecified 2,280 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/05/03 Chinook Spring 11,500 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/04/30 Chinook Spring 19,550 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/04/29 Chinook Spring 20,700 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/04/28 Chinook Spring 66,700 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/04/27 Chinook Spring 48,300 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1975/07/30 Rainbow Unspecified 800 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/07/23 Rainbow Unspecified 2,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/07/15 Rainbow Unspecified 2,560 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/07/10 Rainbow Unspecified 2,080 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/07/02 Rainbow Unspecified 2,880 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/03/27 Chinook Spring 83,700 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1975/03/26 Chinook Spring 97,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1974/08/07 Rainbow Unspecified 1,710 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1974/08/06 Rainbow Unspecified 4,560 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1974/07/24 Rainbow Unspecified 1,800 Catchable (6+ inches)
1974/07/02 Steelhead 150,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/07/27 Rainbow Unspecified 2,870 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/07/17 Rainbow Unspecified 2,460 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/06/28 Rainbow Unspecified 3,680 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/06/27 Rainbow Unspecified 3,680 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/06/13 Rainbow Unspecified 5,160 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/05/31 Rainbow Unspecified 981 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/05/25 Rainbow Unspecified 3,840 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/05/23 Rainbow Unspecified 3,840 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/05/16 Chinook Spring 356,396 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/05/15 Steelhead 1,194 Adults
1973/04/11 Chinook Spring 25,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1972/08/02 Rainbow Unspecified 2,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/07/24 Rainbow Unspecified 3,240 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/07/18 Rainbow Unspecified 3,150 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/07/13 Rainbow Unspecified 3,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/06/30 Rainbow Unspecified 5,320 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/06/26 Chinook Spring 29,800 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/06/08 Rainbow Unspecified 1,680 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/04/19 Chinook Spring 327,565 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/03/30 Chinook Spring 116,875 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1972/03/29 Chinook Spring 70,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1971/07/28 Rainbow Unspecified 4,250 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1971/07/13 Rainbow Unspecified 6,160 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/07/09 Rainbow Unspecified 7,350 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/07/08 Rainbow Unspecified 4,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/07/07 Rainbow Unspecified 4,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/07/01 Rainbow Unspecified 5,740 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/03/30 Chinook Spring 6,968 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1971/03/29 Chinook Spring 6,960 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1971/03/23 Chinook Spring 11,475 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1970/07/31 Rainbow Unspecified 1,360 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/07/28 Rainbow Unspecified 3,060 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/07/15 Rainbow Unspecified 3,840 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/06/23 Rainbow Unspecified 3,720 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/06/18 Rainbow Unspecified 3,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/06/04 Rainbow Unspecified 4,650 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/06/02 Rainbow Unspecified 3,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/05/27 Rainbow Unspecified 1,760 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/08/06 Rainbow Unspecified 4,680 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/07/29 Rainbow Unspecified 3,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/07/16 Rainbow Unspecified 2,760 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/07/09 Rainbow Unspecified 2,760 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/06/11 Rainbow Unspecified 2,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/06/06 Rainbow Unspecified 3,150 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/06/03 Rainbow Unspecified 2,520 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/05/29 Rainbow Unspecified 2,520 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/07/25 Rainbow Unspecified 3,570 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/07/23 Rainbow Unspecified 3,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/07/20 Rainbow Unspecified 3,080 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/06/27 Rainbow Unspecified 4,290 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/06/21 Rainbow Unspecified 4,320 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/06/14 Rainbow Unspecified 2,560 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/06/07 Rainbow Unspecified 3,500 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

Lochsa River From the mouth upstream to Wilderness Gateway Campground Motor Bridge, near Highway 12 milepost 122
  • Barbless hooks required
  • December 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend - trout limit is 0, catch-and-release, no bait allowed except maggots
  • Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30 - trout limit is 2, none under 14 inches, no bait allowed
Lochsa River From Wilderness Gateway Campground Motor Bridge upstream to the confluence of Colt Killed Creek and Crooked Fork Creek
  • Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release
  • No bait allowed, barbless hooks required
Clearwater Region Bag Limits
Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)

  • In rivers and streams, no bag, size or possession limits
  • In lakes and reservoirs, limit is 6, both species combined

Brook Trout

  • Brook Trout limit is 25

Bull Trout

  • Bull Trout limit is 0, catch-and-release

Kokanee

  • Kokanee limit is 25

Salmon 

  • Spring and summer Chinook Salmon seasons and limits are set annually 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 limit is 0 and fishing for or targeting Sockeye Salmon is illegal
  • Fishing for or targeting salmon is prohibited unless a salmon season is specifically opened for that water

Steelhead (ocean-going)

  • Defined as Rainbow Trout longer than twenty (20) inches in length in the Snake River drainage below Hells Canyon Dam, the Salmon River drainage (excluding lakes and reservoirs), and the Clearwater River drainage (excluding that portion above Dworshak Dam, and lakes)
  • Seasons and limits for steelhead can be found here
  • Fishing for or targeting steelhead is prohibited unless a steelhead season is specifically opened for that water 

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 Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, and trout hybrids (e.g. Tiger Trout)

  • In rivers and streams, trout limit is 2, all species combined
  • In lakes, reservoirs, ditches and canals, trout limit is 6, all species combined
  • Does not include Bull Trout and Brook Trout which are listed separately

Whitefish

  • Whitefish limit is 25

Protected Nongame Fish includes Pacific Lamprey and Sand Roller

  • May not be harvested or possessed

All Other Fish Species includes bullfrogs and crayfish

  • No bag, size or possession limit
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