Mountain Home Reservoir

Snake River Drainage

  • Recommended Fishing Water

Mountain Home Reservoir in Elmore County is 405.2 acres.

Interactive Map
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Mountain Home Reservoir has widely fluctuating water levels. In high water years, the reservoir fills and trout are stocked. Fishing in the early spring and through early summer can be good. In poor water years, no trout are stocked as the reservoir quickly becomes low and trout survival is reduced.

Facilities

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

Recommended Game Fish

Fish Stocking Records

Date Species Quantity General Size
2018/04/12 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,766 Catchable (6+ inches)
2018/04/11 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 1,785 Catchable (6+ inches)
2017/03/15 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 5,216 Catchable (6+ inches)
2016/02/24 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 5,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
2016/02/23 Rainbow Trout 742 Adults
2012/10/11 Rainbow Trout 2,724 Catchable (6+ inches)
2012/05/08 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 5,390 Catchable (6+ inches)
2011/10/14 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,148 Catchable (6+ inches)
2011/03/30 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 8,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
2010/09/28 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,072 Catchable (6+ inches)
2010/03/10 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,380 Catchable (6+ inches)
2010/02/18 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 4,080 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/05/19 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 5,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
2008/04/15 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 6,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/04/26 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 5,890 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/05/09 Bluegill 129 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2006/05/09 Largemouth Bass 63 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/05/08 Bluegill 79 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2006/05/08 Largemouth Bass 61 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/05/03 Bluegill 187 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2006/05/03 Largemouth Bass 59 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/04/24 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 6,072 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/04/11 Bluegill 126 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2006/04/11 Largemouth Bass 38 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/03/09 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,760 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/04/08 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 6,300 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/05/15 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 6,380 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/10/30 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/07/02 Rainbow Trout 1,818 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/03/21 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 3,895 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/05/17 Steelhead 14,656 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/05/02 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 4,440 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/04/26 Rainbow Trout 200 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/04/26 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 450 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/05/19 Rainbow Trout 600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/05/05 Steelhead 20,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/06/04 Rainbow Trout 3,300 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/04/16 Rainbow Trout 8,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/03/30 Rainbow Trout 15,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1997/04/15 Rainbow Trout 21,080 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1996/12/17 Rainbow Trout 10,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1996/06/06 Rainbow Trout 1,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
1996/04/23 Rainbow Trout 15,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1996/03/19 Rainbow Trout 4,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1995/04/17 Rainbow Trout 15,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1995/03/14 Rainbow Trout 3,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/03/24 Rainbow Trout 2,535 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/06/14 Rainbow Trout 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/03/22 Rainbow Trout 999 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/04/02 Rainbow Trout 4,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/11/14 Rainbow Trout 1,540 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/11/14 Rainbow Trout 3,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/03/22 Rainbow Trout 1,980 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/03/11 Rainbow Trout 510 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/04/09 Rainbow Trout 2,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/02/20 Rainbow Trout 2,013 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/04/02 Rainbow Trout 4,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/05/24 Rainbow Trout 1,540 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/04/08 Rainbow Trout 2,175 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/04/11 Rainbow Trout 2,160 Catchable (6+ inches)
1983/05/13 Rainbow Trout 4,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/03/04 Rainbow Trout 3,630 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/03/19 Rainbow Trout 1,870 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/03/19 Rainbow Trout 2,990 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/03/21 Rainbow Trout 5,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/03/30 Rainbow Trout 2,080 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/03/10 Rainbow Trout 3,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/03/03 Rainbow Trout 3,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/04/15 Rainbow Trout 2,700 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/03/25 Rainbow Trout 2,550 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/03/11 Rainbow Trout 1,985 Adults
1976/06/25 Rainbow Trout 8,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/03/09 Rainbow Trout 1,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/03/04 Rainbow Trout 3,150 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/03/13 Rainbow Trout 2,520 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/03/10 Rainbow Trout 2,314 Catchable (6+ inches)
1974/03/01 Rainbow Trout 3,780 Catchable (6+ inches)
1974/02/08 Rainbow Trout 6,090 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/03/06 Rainbow Trout 10,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1972/03/07 Rainbow Trout 4,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/03/06 Rainbow Trout 5,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/03/11 Rainbow Trout 5,006 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/03/08 Rainbow Trout 5,006 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/03/10 Rainbow Trout 5,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/02/27 Rainbow Trout 5,062 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/04/04 Rainbow Trout 2,942 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/03/14 Rainbow Trout 3,211 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/03/06 Rainbow Trout 3,880 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/05/01 Rainbow Trout 3,001 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/03/13 Rainbow Trout 3,529 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/03/12 Rainbow Trout 3,588 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

No Special Rules for Mountain Home Reservoir.
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 apply when fishing for Brook Trout

Bull Trout

  • Bull Trout - catch-and-release

Kokanee

  • Kokanee limit is 6

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 Snake River drainage below Hells Canyon Dam, 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 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 20 inches with the adipose fin clipped (as evidenced by a healed scar)
  • 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 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
  • Chinook Salmon and steelhead placed in ponds are counted in the trout bag limit
  • 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

  • May not be harvested or possessed

All Other Fish Species includes bullfrogs and crayfish

  • No bag, length, or possession limits
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