Little Payette Lake

Flows into the Lake Fork

  • Recommended Fishing Water

Little Payette Lake in Valley County is 1,439.5 acres.

Interactive Map
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Little Payette Lake is a natural lake with a depth of over 100ft. A 15ft tall dam was built in 1926 to hold more water for irrigation storage. From June through mid-September, irrigation storage doubles the surface area of Little Payette Lake, and inundates a large expanse of shallow flats containing stumps and root wads from what used to be forest land. This area can be productive fishing for quality size smallmouth bass during the summer.

Once irrigation season ends (mid-September) the boat ramp is no longer usable. Very small crafts (14ft or less) still have the potential to dry-launch late into the fall, but use caution as the ground is soft.

Facilities

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

Recommended Game Fish

Species Observed in Surveys

Fish Stocking Records

Date Species Quantity General Size
2022/08/10 Tiger Muskie 50 Greater than 6 inches
2022/06/29 Rainbow Trout 5,031 Greater than 6 inches
2022/05/11 Tiger Muskie 500 Greater than 6 inches
2021/06/18 Smallmouth Bass 600 Greater than 6 inches
2019/06/06 Tiger Muskie 500 Greater than 6 inches
2018/06/06 Tiger Muskie 500 Greater than 6 inches
2017/06/22 Smallmouth Bass 560 Greater than 6 inches
2017/06/14 Tiger Muskie 512 Greater than 6 inches
2016/05/23 Tiger Muskie 500 Greater than 6 inches
2015/06/25 Smallmouth Bass 600 Greater than 6 inches
2014/06/12 Smallmouth Bass 782 Greater than 6 inches
2013/06/03 Tiger Muskie 1,304 Greater than 6 inches
2012/09/27 Smallmouth Bass 368 Greater than 6 inches
2012/05/23 Rainbow Trout 9,300 Greater than 6 inches
2011/08/12 Smallmouth Bass 849 Greater than 6 inches
2010/05/27 Rainbow Trout 10,062 Greater than 6 inches
2009/07/09 Smallmouth Bass 473 Greater than 6 inches
2009/05/26 Rainbow Trout 10,062 Greater than 6 inches
2008/05/28 Rainbow Trout 20,496 Greater than 6 inches
2007/08/10 Smallmouth Bass 210 Greater than 6 inches
2007/07/25 Tiger Muskie 1,499 Greater than 6 inches
2007/05/24 Rainbow Trout 10,200 Greater than 6 inches
2006/08/02 Rainbow Trout 5,002 Greater than 6 inches
2006/07/20 Smallmouth Bass 620 Greater than 6 inches
2006/07/10 Tiger Muskie 503 Greater than 6 inches
2006/05/17 Rainbow Trout 20,180 Greater than 6 inches
2005/08/02 Rainbow Trout 5,216 Greater than 6 inches
2005/05/16 Rainbow Trout 19,998 Greater than 6 inches
2004/08/24 Rainbow Trout 5,115 Greater than 6 inches
2004/07/28 Smallmouth Bass 526 Greater than 6 inches
2004/06/24 Rainbow Trout 10,013 Greater than 6 inches
2003/07/10 Rainbow Trout 10,030 Greater than 6 inches
2003/06/23 Rainbow Trout 10,011 Greater than 6 inches
2003/06/02 Rainbow Trout 20,291 Less than 6 inches
2002/09/04 Rainbow Trout 2,784 Greater than 6 inches
2002/07/24 Tiger Muskie 196 Greater than 6 inches
2002/06/27 Rainbow Trout 9,900 Greater than 6 inches
2002/06/01 Smallmouth Bass 743 Greater than 6 inches
2002/05/13 Rainbow Trout 20,594 Greater than 6 inches
2001/08/09 Rainbow Trout 3,000 Greater than 6 inches
2001/06/15 Rainbow Trout 9,440 Greater than 6 inches
2001/06/02 Smallmouth Bass 517 Greater than 6 inches
2000/06/03 Smallmouth Bass 472 Greater than 6 inches
1999/06/29 Rainbow Trout 10,540 Greater than 6 inches
1999/06/16 Tiger Muskie 200 Less than 6 inches
1999/05/15 Smallmouth Bass 120 Greater than 6 inches
1998/06/23 Tiger Muskie 264 Greater than 6 inches
1998/06/15 Rainbow Trout 10,000 Greater than 6 inches
1998/05/16 Smallmouth Bass 165 Greater than 6 inches
1998/05/14 Tiger Muskie 53 Greater than 6 inches
1997/07/01 Rainbow Trout 9,860 Greater than 6 inches
1996/10/15 Rainbow Trout 10,095 Less than 6 inches
1996/07/11 Splake 1,600 Adults
1996/05/16 Rainbow Trout 10,000 Greater than 6 inches
1995/05/09 Rainbow Trout 10,000 Greater than 6 inches
1994/05/12 Rainbow Trout 10,040 Greater than 6 inches
1993/06/15 Rainbow Trout 10,000 Less than 6 inches
1992/06/02 Rainbow Trout 10,000 Less than 6 inches
1992/04/29 Rainbow Trout 10,080 Greater than 6 inches
1992/04/29 Rainbow Trout 10,375 Less than 6 inches
1991/07/02 Rainbow Trout 10,080 Greater than 6 inches
1991/06/10 Rainbow Trout 11,360 Less than 6 inches
1991/05/11 Smallmouth Bass 461 Greater than 6 inches
1990/07/21 Gammarus Species 5 Unknown size
1990/06/26 Rainbow Trout 9,127 Less than 6 inches
1990/05/10 Rainbow Trout 5,000 Greater than 6 inches
1989/10/18 Cutbow - Cutthroat x Rainbow Trout 10,000 Less than 6 inches
1989/05/22 Rainbow Trout 13,800 Less than 6 inches
1988/10/13 Smallmouth Bass 200 Less than 6 inches
1988/06/07 Rainbow Trout 10,125 Less than 6 inches
1988/05/23 Rainbow Trout 10,086 Greater than 6 inches
1986/06/16 Rainbow Trout 10,200 Greater than 6 inches
1985/08/07 Rainbow Trout 5,000 Greater than 6 inches
1985/07/25 Rainbow Trout 1,473 Greater than 6 inches
1985/05/23 Rainbow Trout 7,480 Greater than 6 inches
1984/08/17 Cutthroat Trout 2,990 Greater than 6 inches
1984/06/12 Rainbow Trout 10,580 Less than 6 inches
1984/05/24 Rainbow Trout 8,700 Greater than 6 inches
1983/09/29 Fall Chinook 10,012 Less than 6 inches
1983/08/03 Rainbow Trout 2,240 Less than 6 inches
1983/07/07 Rainbow Trout 3,120 Greater than 6 inches
1983/05/25 Rainbow Trout 9,641 Greater than 6 inches
1982/08/02 Rainbow Trout 9,180 Greater than 6 inches
1982/07/21 Fall Chinook 10,200 Less than 6 inches
1982/07/21 Rainbow Trout 3,760 Greater than 6 inches
1982/05/25 Rainbow Trout 3,600 Greater than 6 inches
1981/08/31 Rainbow Trout 2,890 Greater than 6 inches
1981/05/20 Rainbow Trout 9,000 Greater than 6 inches
1981/05/11 Rainbow Trout 8,100 Greater than 6 inches
1980/05/23 Rainbow Trout 20,475 Greater than 6 inches
1979/06/05 Rainbow Trout 5,280 Greater than 6 inches
1979/06/01 Rainbow Trout 5,040 Greater than 6 inches
1979/05/31 Rainbow Trout 9,600 Greater than 6 inches
1979/05/24 Rainbow Trout 5,520 Greater than 6 inches
1978/09/19 Cutthroat Trout 8,550 Less than 6 inches
1978/09/19 Rainbow Trout 3,000 Less than 6 inches
1978/05/31 Rainbow Trout 8,400 Greater than 6 inches
1978/05/18 Rainbow Trout 6,960 Greater than 6 inches
1977/08/23 Rainbow Trout 49,920 Less than 6 inches
1977/06/21 Rainbow Trout 7,820 Greater than 6 inches
1977/06/20 Rainbow Trout 4,830 Greater than 6 inches
1977/05/24 Rainbow Trout 810 Greater than 6 inches
1977/05/10 Rainbow Trout 800 Greater than 6 inches
1977/05/03 Rainbow Trout 800 Greater than 6 inches
1976/07/09 Rainbow Trout 6,510 Greater than 6 inches
1976/06/10 Rainbow Trout 8,400 Greater than 6 inches
1976/05/26 Kokanee 87,500 Less than 6 inches
1976/05/24 Rainbow Trout 5,040 Greater than 6 inches
1975/09/11 Rainbow Trout 875 Greater than 6 inches
1975/06/26 Rainbow Trout 5,040 Greater than 6 inches
1975/06/23 Rainbow Trout 4,560 Greater than 6 inches
1975/06/10 Rainbow Trout 1,380 Greater than 6 inches
1975/05/28 Rainbow Trout 1,200 Greater than 6 inches
1975/04/26 Kokanee 82,800 Less than 6 inches
1974/09/26 Cutthroat Trout 48,000 Less than 6 inches
1974/09/26 Rainbow Trout 29,700 Less than 6 inches
1974/07/22 Rainbow Trout 4,500 Greater than 6 inches
1974/06/04 Rainbow Trout 1,160 Greater than 6 inches
1974/06/03 Rainbow Trout 1,800 Greater than 6 inches
1973/09/14 Cutthroat Trout 20,608 Less than 6 inches
1973/06/22 Rainbow Trout 7,560 Greater than 6 inches
1973/06/12 Rainbow Trout 7,740 Greater than 6 inches
1973/05/11 Rainbow Trout 50,400 Less than 6 inches
1973/05/04 Rainbow Trout 1,620 Greater than 6 inches
1972/08/29 Rainbow Trout 74,250 Less than 6 inches
1972/07/20 Rainbow Trout 2,100 Greater than 6 inches
1972/06/19 Rainbow Trout 6,720 Greater than 6 inches
1972/06/05 Rainbow Trout 412 Greater than 6 inches
1972/06/02 Rainbow Trout 900 Greater than 6 inches
1972/05/19 Rainbow Trout 120 Adults
1972/05/17 Kokanee 84,000 Less than 6 inches
1972/05/17 Rainbow Trout 720 Adults
1972/05/17 Rainbow Trout 4,899 Greater than 6 inches
1972/05/16 Kokanee 119,880 Less than 6 inches
1971/06/14 Rainbow Trout 1,110 Greater than 6 inches
1970/08/14 Rainbow Trout 1,050 Greater than 6 inches
1970/07/10 Rainbow Trout 1,080 Greater than 6 inches
1970/05/25 Rainbow Trout 1,200 Greater than 6 inches
1969/07/11 Rainbow Trout 1,920 Greater than 6 inches
1969/05/27 Rainbow Trout 1,260 Greater than 6 inches
1968/06/08 Rainbow Trout 1,920 Greater than 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

Little Payette Lake
  • Bass limit is 2, none under 20 inches
  • Kokanee limit is 25
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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