Lightning Creek

Tributary of the Clark Fork River

    Lightning Creek in Bonner County is 25.6 miles in length.

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    Species Observed in Surveys

    Fish Stocking Records

    Date
    Species
    Quantity
    General Size
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    Date
    Species
    Quantity
    General Size
    2015/11/01 Rainbow Trout 5,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
    1981/07/29 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 11,400 Fry (0-3 inches)
    1977/05/25 Rainbow Trout 2,160 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1976/07/23 Rainbow Trout 1,088 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1976/07/22 Rainbow Trout 1,015 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1976/06/29 Rainbow Trout 1,920 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1975/07/14 Rainbow Trout 1,036 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1975/06/27 Rainbow Trout 1,120 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1975/06/11 Rainbow Trout 1,920 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1974/10/07 Rainbow Trout 6,930 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
    1974/07/28 Rainbow Trout 1,035 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1974/07/02 Rainbow Trout 138 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1974/06/28 Rainbow Trout 99,184 Fry (0-3 inches)
    1974/05/28 Bull Trout 145,832 Fry (0-3 inches)
    1974/05/21 Rainbow Trout 2,214 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1973/07/11 Rainbow Trout 38,272 Fry (0-3 inches)
    1973/06/15 Rainbow Trout 600 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1973/06/13 Rainbow Trout 1,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1973/06/11 Bull Trout 35,040 Fry (0-3 inches)
    1973/06/04 Rainbow Trout 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1973/04/24 Bull Trout 36,864 Fry (0-3 inches)
    1972/08/04 Rainbow Trout 16,768 Fry (0-3 inches)
    1972/07/11 Bull Trout 29,256 Fry (0-3 inches)
    1972/07/10 Rainbow Trout 1,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1972/06/21 Rainbow Trout 640 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1972/06/21 Rainbow Trout 1,560 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
    1971/09/02 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 53,504 Fry (0-3 inches)
    1971/07/22 Rainbow Trout 28,175 Fry (0-3 inches)
    1971/07/16 Rainbow Trout 2,210 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1971/06/29 Rainbow Trout 2,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1970/07/28 Rainbow Trout 13,392 Fry (0-3 inches)
    1970/07/08 Rainbow Trout 58,135 Fry (0-3 inches)
    1970/06/24 Rainbow Trout 260 Adults
    1970/06/24 Rainbow Trout 860 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1970/06/11 Bull Trout 35,144 Fry (0-3 inches)
    1970/06/10 Bull Trout 68,384 Fry (0-3 inches)
    1970/06/10 Rainbow Trout 3,440 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1969/07/15 Rainbow Trout 50,965 Fry (0-3 inches)
    1969/07/07 Rainbow Trout 2,640 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1969/06/23 Rainbow Trout 2,560 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1969/06/20 Bull Trout 47,920 Fry (0-3 inches)
    1969/06/05 Bull Trout 62,400 Fry (0-3 inches)
    1968/09/30 Rainbow Trout 84,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
    1968/07/09 Rainbow Trout 60,600 Fry (0-3 inches)
    1968/07/08 Rainbow Trout 2,160 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1968/06/12 Rainbow Trout 3,085 Catchable (6+ inches)
    1968/06/10 Rainbow Trout 61,476 Fry (0-3 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

    Clark Fork River tributaries (includes Lightning Creek and tributaries)
    • Trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
    • Rainbow Trout catch-and-release December 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend
    • No bait allowed December 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend
    Panhandle Region Bag Limits
    Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)

    • Bass 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

    Burbot

    • Burbot limit is 6

    Chinook Salmon (land-locked)

    • Chinook Salmon limit is 2, none under 24 inches

    Kokanee

    • Kokanee limit is 15

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

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

    Sturgeon

    • Fishing for sturgeon in the Kootenai River is illegal
    • Sturgeon caught incidentally must be released immediately

    Tiger Muskie

    • Tiger Muskie limit is 2, none under 40 inches

    Trout includes Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Golden Trout, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Arctic Grayling, trout hybrids (e.g. Tiger Trout)

    • 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

    All Other Fish Species includes bullfrogs and crayfish

    • No bag, length, or possession limit
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