North Fork Boise River

Tributary of the Boise River

  • Recommended Fishing Water

North Fork Boise River in Boise and Elmore Counties is 50.3 miles in length.

Interactive Map
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This is a popular mountain river where anglers target a variety of salmonids within the mainstem and tributaries. Redband, bull trout, and whitefish are prized native sportfishes and may be caught readily. In addition, nonnative brook and cutthroat trout may be caught at times. This is cold, relatively sterile river. Growth rates and maximum sizes are on the lower end of the spectrum, but catch rates can more than make up for it.

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
2024/06/11 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,672 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2023/08/10 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,755 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2023/07/28 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,660 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2023/07/12 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,778 Catchable (6+ inches)
2023/06/13 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,732 Catchable (6+ inches)
2022/08/19 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,702 Catchable (6+ inches)
2022/08/17 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,452 Catchable (6+ inches)
2022/07/07 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,275 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2022/06/08 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,743 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2021/08/18 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,763 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2021/08/04 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,763 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2021/07/20 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,775 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2021/07/07 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,750 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2021/06/23 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,729 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2020/08/19 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,755 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2020/08/05 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,692 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2020/07/22 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,836 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2020/07/09 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,728 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2020/06/24 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,734 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2019/08/20 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,760 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2019/08/07 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,760 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2019/07/24 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,833 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2019/07/10 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,760 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2019/06/20 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,771 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2018/08/22 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 2,049 Catchable (6+ inches)
2018/08/08 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 2,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
2018/07/20 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 2,003 Catchable (6+ inches)
2018/07/10 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,990 Catchable (6+ inches)
2018/06/20 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,998 Catchable (6+ inches)
2017/08/25 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,980 Catchable (6+ inches)
2017/08/10 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 2,041 Catchable (6+ inches)
2017/07/24 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,998 Catchable (6+ inches)
2017/07/17 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 2,038 Catchable (6+ inches)
2016/07/20 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 4,096 Catchable (6+ inches)
2016/07/14 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 3,528 Catchable (6+ inches)
2016/06/28 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 3,984 Catchable (6+ inches)
2015/08/25 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,972 Catchable (6+ inches)
2015/08/18 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,036 Catchable (6+ inches)
2015/07/21 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,965 Catchable (6+ inches)
2015/07/07 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 2,030 Catchable (6+ inches)
2015/06/26 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,934 Catchable (6+ inches)
2015/06/26 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 100 Catchable (6+ inches)
2014/08/19 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 2,037 Catchable (6+ inches)
2014/08/07 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 2,091 Catchable (6+ inches)
2014/07/08 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,512 Catchable (6+ inches)
2014/06/24 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,014 Catchable (6+ inches)
2013/07/23 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,703 Catchable (6+ inches)
2013/07/12 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,707 Catchable (6+ inches)
2013/06/26 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,666 Catchable (6+ inches)
2013/06/10 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 2,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
2012/08/08 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,420 Catchable (6+ inches)
2012/07/24 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,988 Catchable (6+ inches)
2012/07/10 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,114 Catchable (6+ inches)
2012/06/20 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,156 Catchable (6+ inches)
2011/08/09 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,149 Catchable (6+ inches)
2011/08/02 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,897 Catchable (6+ inches)
2011/07/20 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,890 Catchable (6+ inches)
2010/08/19 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,170 Catchable (6+ inches)
2010/08/03 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,275 Catchable (6+ inches)
2010/07/14 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
2010/06/29 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,275 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/08/26 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,926 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/08/12 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,725 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/08/10 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/07/21 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,240 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/07/14 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,240 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/06/24 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
2008/08/19 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,380 Catchable (6+ inches)
2008/08/05 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 780 Catchable (6+ inches)
2008/07/29 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,925 Catchable (6+ inches)
2008/07/15 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,450 Catchable (6+ inches)
2008/06/30 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,360 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/08/15 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,660 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/07/31 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,520 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/07/25 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 4,130 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/07/10 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,050 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/06/21 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 680 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/06/21 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/08/16 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,450 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/08/14 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,450 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/07/10 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/06/28 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,450 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/08/09 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 3,744 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/07/26 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,981 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/07/11 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,485 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/06/23 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/08/18 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,820 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/08/03 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 3,091 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/07/27 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,092 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/07/13 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,650 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/06/30 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,645 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/08/27 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,079 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/08/15 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,296 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/07/29 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,687 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/07/23 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,440 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/07/15 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 897 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/07/01 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 759 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/08/20 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 2,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/08/07 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/07/17 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 1,715 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/07/03 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/06/19 Rainbow - Hayspur Triploid 600 Catchable (6+ inches)
2001/08/08 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 1,395 Catchable (6+ inches)
2001/07/26 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 625 Catchable (6+ inches)
2001/07/03 Rainbow - Troutlodge Triploid 910 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/08/09 Troutlodge 1,725 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/08/03 Troutlodge 460 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/07/25 Troutlodge 1,502 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/07/11 Troutlodge 1,430 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/06/27 Troutlodge 1,068 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/06/07 Troutlodge 948 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/08/24 Domestic Kamloops 1,800 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/08/11 Domestic Kamloops 1,320 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/08/10 Domestic Kamloops 1,850 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/07/27 Domestic Kamloops 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/07/14 Domestic Kamloops 1,620 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/10/14 Domestic Kamloops 1,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/08/25 Domestic Kamloops 3,120 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/08/06 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 1,360 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/07/16 Rainbow Unspecified 975 Catchable (6+ inches)
1997/08/28 Domestic Kamloops 1,960 Catchable (6+ inches)
1997/08/05 Domestic Kamloops 1,260 Catchable (6+ inches)
1997/07/16 Domestic Kamloops 1,700 Catchable (6+ inches)
1996/08/22 Domestic Kamloops 1,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
1996/08/14 Domestic Kamloops 1,960 Catchable (6+ inches)
1996/07/31 Domestic Kamloops 980 Catchable (6+ inches)
1996/07/09 Domestic Kamloops 1,845 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/07/27 Domestic Kamloops 1,950 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/07/13 Domestic Kamloops 1,014 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/06/29 Domestic Kamloops 1,520 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/06/02 Domestic Kamloops 1,110 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/08/27 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 2,019 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/08/11 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 1,037 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/07/28 Wild Kamloops 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/06/25 Rainbow X Cutthroat - Diploid 1,512 Catchable (6+ inches)
1992/08/12 Rainbow Unspecified 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1992/07/21 Rainbow Unspecified 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1992/07/06 Domestic Kamloops 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1992/06/23 Rainbow Unspecified 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1992/06/08 Mt Lassen Rainbow 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1992/05/22 Mt Lassen Rainbow 1,001 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/08/06 Rainbow Unspecified 2,025 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/07/25 Rainbow Unspecified 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/07/12 Rainbow Unspecified 1,495 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/06/26 Rainbow Unspecified 1,523 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/06/14 Rainbow Unspecified 1,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/08/22 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 1,314 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/08/13 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 1,314 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/07/31 Rainbow - Hayspur Diploid 1,368 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/07/12 Rainbow Unspecified 1,340 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/06/28 Rainbow Unspecified 1,688 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/06/20 Rainbow Unspecified 1,340 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/05/25 Rainbow Unspecified 1,950 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/09/14 Domestic Kamloops 775 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/08/30 Domestic Kamloops 1,240 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/08/16 Domestic Kamloops 759 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/07/26 Rainbow Unspecified 2,262 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/07/12 Rainbow Unspecified 760 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/06/28 Rainbow Unspecified 2,250 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/06/20 Rainbow Unspecified 760 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/08/11 Mt Lassen Rainbow 1,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/06/29 Mt Lassen Rainbow 4,940 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/05/24 Mt Lassen Rainbow 2,063 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/08/28 Mt Lassen Rainbow 810 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/07/29 Mt Lassen Rainbow 2,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/06/25 Mt Lassen Rainbow 3,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/05/19 Mt Lassen Rainbow 4,368 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/07/17 Mt Lassen Rainbow 3,750 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/06/25 Mt Lassen Rainbow 250 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/06/17 Mt Lassen Rainbow 3,750 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1986/05/21 Mt Lassen Rainbow 3,750 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/08/14 Mt Lassen Rainbow 3,763 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/07/16 Rainbow Unspecified 3,760 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/06/26 Rainbow Unspecified 3,740 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/05/23 Rainbow Unspecified 3,740 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/07/30 Rainbow Unspecified 6,932 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/07/12 Mt Whitney Rainbow 5,700 Catchable (6+ inches)
1983/09/01 Rainbow Unspecified 4,165 Catchable (6+ inches)
1983/08/09 Rainbow Unspecified 2,205 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/07/13 Rainbow Unspecified 5,060 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/09/01 Rainbow Unspecified 5,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/08/11 Rainbow Unspecified 3,300 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/07/27 Rainbow Unspecified 3,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/08/20 Rainbow Unspecified 5,280 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/07/27 Rainbow Unspecified 5,080 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/06/23 Rainbow Unspecified 2,312 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/05/22 Rainbow Unspecified 2,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/07/28 Rainbow Unspecified 5,187 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/06/09 Rainbow Unspecified 3,798 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/08/20 Rainbow Unspecified 1,840 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/07/26 Rainbow Unspecified 5,940 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/06/11 Rainbow Unspecified 2,750 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/08/09 Rainbow Unspecified 5,490 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1978/07/10 Rainbow Unspecified 5,280 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/08/04 Rainbow Unspecified 5,640 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/07/11 Rainbow Unspecified 4,025 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/05/24 Rainbow Unspecified 5,600 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1977/05/03 Brook Trout 12,330 Fry (0-3 inches)
1976/08/12 Rainbow Unspecified 3,060 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/07/22 Rainbow Unspecified 3,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/07/21 Rainbow Unspecified 3,485 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/06/21 Rainbow Unspecified 4,598 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/08/12 Rainbow Unspecified 2,640 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/08/04 Rainbow Unspecified 4,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/07/10 Rainbow Unspecified 3,330 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/06/30 Rainbow Unspecified 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1974/08/16 Rainbow Unspecified 4,420 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1974/07/11 Rainbow Unspecified 4,100 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1973/08/22 Rainbow Unspecified 4,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1973/08/01 Rainbow Unspecified 4,300 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/07/17 Rainbow Unspecified 3,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/06/11 Rainbow Unspecified 5,280 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/06/08 Rainbow Unspecified 5,280 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/08/30 Rainbow Unspecified 3,335 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/08/22 Rainbow Unspecified 3,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/08/08 Rainbow Unspecified 3,645 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/08/07 Rainbow Unspecified 3,640 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/07/13 Rainbow Unspecified 3,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/07/06 Rainbow Unspecified 2,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/08/05 Rainbow Unspecified 3,180 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1971/08/04 Rainbow Unspecified 3,313 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1971/07/14 Rainbow Unspecified 3,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/07/12 Rainbow Unspecified 3,700 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/08/24 Rainbow Unspecified 4,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/08/12 Rainbow Unspecified 4,940 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/07/28 Rainbow Unspecified 3,060 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/06/30 Rainbow Unspecified 4,800 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/06/23 Rainbow Unspecified 3,800 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/08/19 Rainbow Unspecified 7,050 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/07/14 Rainbow Unspecified 6,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/06/20 Rainbow Unspecified 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/08/13 Rainbow Unspecified 10,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/07/03 Rainbow Unspecified 6,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/05/29 Rainbow Unspecified 4,800 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 North Fork Boise River.
Southwest 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

Salmon

  • 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 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 Salmon River drainage (excluding lakes and reservoirs). Between Hells Canyon Dam and Oxbow Dam and the Boise River from its mouth upstream to Barber Dam during steelhead seasons, steelhead are Rainbow Trout over twenty (20) inches in length with the adipose fin clipped (as evidenced by a healed scar)
  • Fishing for or targeting steelhead is prohibited unless a steelhead season is specifically opened for that water. See fishing regulations for details

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 hybrids (e.g. Tiger Trout)

  • Trout limit is 6, all species combined
  • Does not include Bull Trout and Brook Trout which 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 must be followed when fishing for whitefish

Protected Nongame Fish includes Pacific Lamprey

  • May not be harvested or possessed

All Other Fish Species includes bullfrogs and crayfish

  • No bag, size or possession limit
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