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 Salmon 402,786 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2020/03/17 Chinook Salmon 791,296 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2017/01/04 Chinook Salmon 16,219 Fry (0-3 inches)
2016/03/18 Chinook Salmon 244,485 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2016/01/21 Chinook Salmon 293,553 Fry (0-3 inches)
2016/01/20 Chinook Salmon 309,023 Fry (0-3 inches)
2004/04/08 Chinook Salmon 56,174 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2003/04/03 Chinook Salmon 52,225 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2002/04/10 Chinook Salmon 57,461 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1999/04/17 Chinook Salmon 47,950 Catchable (6+ inches)
1995/07/21 Chinook Salmon 5 Adults
1995/04/05 Chinook Salmon 55,300 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/04/06 Chinook Salmon 63,457 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/03/16 Chinook Salmon 223,627 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/10/24 Chinook Salmon 358,372 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/09/19 Chinook Salmon 29 Adults
1991/03/25 Chinook Salmon 70,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/09/01 Chinook Salmon 160 Adults
1990/08/16 Rainbow Trout 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/07/13 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/06/05 Chinook Salmon 62,440 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/05/23 Rainbow Trout 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/04/30 Steelhead 51 Adults
1990/03/29 Chinook Salmon 50,095 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/09/10 Chinook Salmon 154 Adults
1989/07/24 Rainbow Trout 957 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/06/30 Rainbow Trout 1,536 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/06/28 Rainbow Trout 1,105 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/05/26 Rainbow Trout 2,430 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/06/11 Rainbow Trout 2,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/05/21 Rainbow Trout 2,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/06/23 Rainbow Trout 1,498 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/05/12 Rainbow Trout 993 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/07/21 Rainbow Trout 2,380 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/07/15 Rainbow Trout 2,460 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/07/10 Rainbow Trout 2,870 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/06/09 Rainbow Trout 720 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/08/08 Rainbow Trout 3,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/07/11 Rainbow Trout 2,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/06/13 Rainbow Trout 1,320 Catchable (6+ inches)
1983/07/13 Rainbow Trout 1,850 Catchable (6+ inches)
1983/06/22 Rainbow Trout 3,710 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/05/27 Rainbow Trout 617 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/08/21 Rainbow Trout 2,700 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/08/06 Rainbow Trout 2,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/07/28 Rainbow Trout 2,550 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/07/19 Rainbow Trout 2,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1981/07/16 Rainbow Trout 3,178 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/07/01 Rainbow Trout 1,650 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/06/25 Rainbow Trout 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 Trout 1,170 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/05/21 Rainbow Trout 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 Trout 1,650 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/06/25 Rainbow Trout 2,380 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/06/19 Rainbow Trout 1,750 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/06/17 Steelhead 500,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1980/06/03 Rainbow Trout 2,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/05/29 Rainbow Trout 1,620 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/07/19 Rainbow Trout 2,210 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/07/11 Rainbow Trout 2,520 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/06/21 Steelhead 400,076 Fry (0-3 inches)
1979/06/20 Rainbow Trout 1,750 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/06/13 Rainbow Trout 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/06/11 Steelhead 400,076 Fry (0-3 inches)
1979/04/26 Chinook Salmon 29,582 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/04/25 Chinook Salmon 44,373 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/04/19 Chinook Salmon 44,373 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/04/19 Steelhead 210 Adults
1979/04/18 Chinook Salmon 38,034 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1979/04/11 Steelhead 235 Adults
1978/10/02 Rainbow Trout 1,040 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/08/03 Chinook Salmon 148,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/07/25 Rainbow Trout 2,590 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/07/18 Rainbow Trout 4,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/07/12 Rainbow Trout 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 Salmon 119,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/05/31 Chinook Salmon 42,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/04/25 Chinook Salmon 28,800 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/04/19 Chinook Salmon 86,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1977/06/27 Rainbow Trout 4,700 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/06/23 Steelhead 90,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1977/06/14 Rainbow Trout 3,440 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/06/02 Rainbow Trout 2,050 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/05/24 Rainbow Trout 1,595 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/04/07 Chinook Salmon 62,100 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1977/04/06 Chinook Salmon 56,700 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1977/04/05 Chinook Salmon 64,800 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/07/21 Rainbow Trout 2,560 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/07/20 Rainbow Trout 2,560 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/07/08 Rainbow Trout 2,960 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/06/30 Rainbow Trout 2,280 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/06/29 Rainbow Trout 2,280 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/05/03 Chinook Salmon 11,500 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/04/30 Chinook Salmon 19,550 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/04/29 Chinook Salmon 20,700 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/04/28 Chinook Salmon 66,700 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1976/04/27 Chinook Salmon 48,300 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1975/07/30 Rainbow Trout 800 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/07/23 Rainbow Trout 2,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/07/15 Rainbow Trout 2,560 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/07/10 Rainbow Trout 2,080 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/07/02 Rainbow Trout 2,880 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/03/27 Chinook Salmon 83,700 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1975/03/26 Chinook Salmon 97,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1974/08/07 Rainbow Trout 1,710 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1974/08/06 Rainbow Trout 4,560 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1974/07/24 Rainbow Trout 1,800 Catchable (6+ inches)
1974/07/02 Steelhead 150,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/07/27 Rainbow Trout 2,870 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/07/17 Rainbow Trout 2,460 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/06/28 Rainbow Trout 3,680 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/06/27 Rainbow Trout 3,680 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/06/13 Rainbow Trout 5,160 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/05/31 Rainbow Trout 981 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/05/25 Rainbow Trout 3,840 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/05/23 Rainbow Trout 3,840 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/05/16 Chinook Salmon 356,396 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/05/15 Steelhead 1,194 Adults
1973/04/11 Chinook Salmon 25,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1972/08/02 Rainbow Trout 2,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/07/24 Rainbow Trout 3,240 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/07/18 Rainbow Trout 3,150 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/07/13 Rainbow Trout 3,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/06/30 Rainbow Trout 5,320 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/06/26 Chinook Salmon 29,800 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/06/08 Rainbow Trout 1,680 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/04/19 Chinook Salmon 327,565 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/03/30 Chinook Salmon 116,875 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1972/03/29 Chinook Salmon 70,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1971/07/28 Rainbow Trout 4,250 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1971/07/13 Rainbow Trout 6,160 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/07/09 Rainbow Trout 7,350 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/07/08 Rainbow Trout 4,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/07/07 Rainbow Trout 4,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/07/01 Rainbow Trout 5,740 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/03/30 Chinook Salmon 6,968 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1971/03/29 Chinook Salmon 6,960 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1971/03/23 Chinook Salmon 11,475 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1970/07/31 Rainbow Trout 1,360 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/07/28 Rainbow Trout 3,060 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/07/15 Rainbow Trout 3,840 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/06/23 Rainbow Trout 3,720 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/06/18 Rainbow Trout 3,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/06/04 Rainbow Trout 4,650 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/06/02 Rainbow Trout 3,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/05/27 Rainbow Trout 1,760 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/08/06 Rainbow Trout 4,680 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/07/29 Rainbow Trout 3,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/07/16 Rainbow Trout 2,760 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/07/09 Rainbow Trout 2,760 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/06/11 Rainbow Trout 2,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/06/06 Rainbow Trout 3,150 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/06/03 Rainbow Trout 2,520 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/05/29 Rainbow Trout 2,520 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/07/25 Rainbow Trout 3,570 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/07/23 Rainbow Trout 3,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/07/20 Rainbow Trout 3,080 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/06/27 Rainbow Trout 4,290 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/06/21 Rainbow Trout 4,320 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/06/14 Rainbow Trout 2,560 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/06/07 Rainbow Trout 3,500 Catchable (6+ 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

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 – 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 – catch-and-release only
  • No bait allowed, barbless hooks required
Clearwater Region Bag Limits
Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)

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

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 prohibited. Defined as ocean-run Oncorhynchus nerka longer than 14 inches in the Snake River drainage below Hells Canyon Dam, the Salmon River drainage (excluding above Mosquito Flat Dam), and the Clearwater River drainage (excluding that portion above Dworshak Dam and lakes)
  • 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 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)
  • 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 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
  • Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately

Walleye (Stocked illegally in this Region. May be harmful to existing fisheries.)

  • No bag, length, or possession limits. Harvest is encouraged

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 includes Pacific Lamprey and Sand Roller

  • May not be harvested or possessed

All Other Fish Species includes bullfrogs and crayfish

  • No bag, length, or possession limits
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