Little Payette Lake

Flows into the Lake Fork

  • Recommended Fishing Water

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

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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
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Date
Species
Quantity
General Size
2024/06/13 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 5,244 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2023/06/09 Tiger Muskellunge 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
2023/06/08 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 5,025 Catchable (6+ inches)
2022/08/10 Tiger Muskellunge 50 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2022/06/29 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 5,031 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2022/05/11 Tiger Muskellunge 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
2021/06/18 Smallmouth Bass 600 Catchable (6+ inches)
2019/06/06 Tiger Muskellunge 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
2018/06/06 Tiger Muskellunge 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
2017/06/22 Smallmouth Bass 560 Catchable (6+ inches)
2017/06/14 Tiger Muskellunge 512 Catchable (6+ inches)
2016/05/23 Tiger Muskellunge 500 Catchable (6+ inches)
2015/06/25 Smallmouth Bass 600 Catchable (6+ inches)
2014/06/12 Smallmouth Bass 782 Catchable (6+ inches)
2013/06/03 Tiger Muskellunge 1,304 Catchable (6+ inches)
2012/09/27 Smallmouth Bass 368 Catchable (6+ inches)
2012/05/23 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 9,300 Catchable (6+ inches)
2011/08/12 Smallmouth Bass 849 Catchable (6+ inches)
2010/05/27 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 10,062 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/07/09 Smallmouth Bass 473 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/05/26 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 10,062 Catchable (6+ inches)
2008/05/28 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 20,496 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/08/10 Smallmouth Bass 210 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/07/25 Tiger Muskellunge 1,499 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/05/24 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 10,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/08/02 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 5,002 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/07/20 Smallmouth Bass 620 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/07/10 Tiger Muskellunge 503 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/05/17 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 20,180 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/08/02 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 5,216 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/05/16 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 19,998 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/08/24 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 5,115 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/07/28 Smallmouth Bass 526 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/06/24 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 10,013 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/07/10 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 10,030 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/06/23 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 10,011 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/06/02 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 20,291 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2002/09/04 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 2,784 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/07/24 Tiger Muskellunge 196 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/06/27 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 9,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/06/01 Smallmouth Bass 743 Catchable (6+ inches)
2002/05/13 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 20,594 Catchable (6+ inches)
2001/08/09 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 3,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2001/06/15 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 9,440 Catchable (6+ inches)
2001/06/02 Smallmouth Bass 517 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/06/03 Smallmouth Bass 472 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/05/26 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 9,894 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/06/29 Rainbow Trout 10,540 Catchable (6+ inches)
1999/06/16 Tiger Muskellunge 200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1999/05/15 Smallmouth Bass 120 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/06/23 Tiger Muskellunge 264 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/06/15 Rainbow Trout 10,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/05/16 Smallmouth Bass 165 Catchable (6+ inches)
1998/05/14 Tiger Muskellunge 53 Catchable (6+ inches)
1997/07/01 Rainbow Trout 9,860 Catchable (6+ inches)
1996/10/15 Rainbow Trout 10,095 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1996/07/11 Splake 1,600 Adults
1996/05/16 Rainbow Trout 10,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1995/05/09 Rainbow Trout 10,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/05/12 Rainbow Trout 10,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/06/15 Rainbow Trout 10,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/06/02 Rainbow Trout 10,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/04/29 Rainbow Trout 10,080 Catchable (6+ inches)
1992/04/29 Rainbow Trout 10,375 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/07/02 Rainbow Trout 10,080 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/06/10 Rainbow Trout 11,360 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/05/11 Smallmouth Bass 461 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/07/21 5 Unknown Size
1990/06/26 Rainbow Trout 9,127 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/05/10 Rainbow Trout 5,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/10/18 Cutbow - Cutthroat x Rainbow Trout 10,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/10/18 Cutbow - Cutthroat x Rainbow Trout - Diploid 10,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/05/22 Rainbow Trout 13,800 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1988/10/13 Smallmouth Bass 200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1988/06/07 Rainbow Trout 10,125 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1988/05/23 Rainbow Trout 10,086 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/06/16 Rainbow Trout 10,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/08/07 Rainbow Trout 5,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/07/25 Rainbow Trout 1,473 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/05/23 Rainbow Trout 7,480 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/08/17 Cutthroat Trout - Bonneville 2,990 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/06/12 Rainbow Trout 10,580 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1984/05/24 Rainbow Trout 8,700 Catchable (6+ inches)
1983/09/29 Chinook Salmon - Fall 10,012 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/08/03 Rainbow Trout 2,240 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/07/07 Rainbow Trout 3,120 Catchable (6+ inches)
1983/05/25 Rainbow Trout 9,641 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/08/02 Rainbow Trout 9,180 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/07/21 Chinook Salmon - Fall 10,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1982/07/21 Rainbow Trout 3,760 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/05/25 Rainbow Trout 3,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/08/31 Rainbow Trout 2,890 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/05/20 Rainbow Trout 9,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/05/11 Rainbow Trout 8,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/05/23 Rainbow Trout 20,475 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/06/05 Rainbow Trout 5,280 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/06/01 Rainbow Trout 5,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/05/31 Rainbow Trout 9,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/05/24 Rainbow Trout 5,520 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/09/19 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 8,550 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/09/19 Rainbow Trout 3,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1978/05/31 Rainbow Trout 8,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/05/18 Rainbow Trout 6,960 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/08/23 Rainbow Trout 49,920 Fry (0-3 inches)
1977/06/21 Rainbow Trout 7,820 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/06/20 Rainbow Trout 4,830 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/05/24 Rainbow Trout 810 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/05/10 Rainbow Trout 800 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/05/03 Rainbow Trout 800 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/07/09 Rainbow Trout 6,510 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/06/10 Rainbow Trout 8,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/05/26 Kokanee 87,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1976/05/24 Rainbow Trout 5,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/09/11 Rainbow Trout 875 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/06/26 Rainbow Trout 5,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/06/23 Rainbow Trout 4,560 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/06/10 Rainbow Trout 1,380 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/05/28 Rainbow Trout 1,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/04/26 Kokanee 82,800 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/09/26 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 48,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/09/26 Rainbow Trout 29,700 Fry (0-3 inches)
1974/07/22 Rainbow Trout 4,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1974/06/04 Rainbow Trout 1,160 Catchable (6+ inches)
1974/06/03 Rainbow Trout 1,800 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/09/14 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 20,608 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/06/22 Rainbow Trout 7,560 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/06/12 Rainbow Trout 7,740 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/05/11 Rainbow Trout 50,400 Fry (0-3 inches)
1973/05/04 Rainbow Trout 1,620 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/08/29 Rainbow Trout 74,250 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/07/20 Rainbow Trout 2,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/06/19 Rainbow Trout 6,720 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/06/05 Rainbow Trout 412 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/06/02 Rainbow Trout 900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/05/19 Rainbow Trout 120 Adults
1972/05/17 Kokanee 84,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1972/05/17 Rainbow Trout 720 Adults
1972/05/17 Rainbow Trout 4,899 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/05/16 Kokanee 119,880 Fry (0-3 inches)
1971/06/14 Rainbow Trout 1,110 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/08/14 Rainbow Trout 1,050 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/07/10 Rainbow Trout 1,080 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/05/25 Rainbow Trout 1,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/07/11 Rainbow Trout 1,920 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/05/27 Rainbow Trout 1,260 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/06/08 Rainbow Trout 1,920 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

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 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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