Dawson Lake

Kootenai River Drainage

  • Recommended Fishing Water

Dawson Lake in Boundary County is 29.9 acres.

Interactive Map
 Download KMZ

Facilities

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

Recommended Game Fish

Species Observed in Surveys

Fish Stocking Records

Date Species Quantity General Size
2023/05/18 Tiger Muskellunge 15 Catchable (6+ inches)
2022/05/16 Tiger Muskellunge 20 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2021/05/17 Tiger Muskellunge 20 Catchable (6+ inches)
2020/06/09 Tiger Muskellunge 20 Catchable (6+ inches)
2019/06/13 Tiger Muskellunge 40 Catchable (6+ inches)
2018/06/13 Tiger Muskellunge 40 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2017/06/19 Tiger Muskellunge 40 Catchable (6+ inches)
2016/05/25 Tiger Muskellunge 16 Catchable (6+ inches)
2015/06/08 Tiger Muskellunge 40 Catchable (6+ inches)
2014/06/24 Tiger Muskellunge 50 Catchable (6+ inches)
2013/06/13 Tiger Muskellunge 50 Catchable (6+ inches)
2007/06/26 Tiger Muskellunge 49 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/06/22 Tiger Muskellunge 43 Catchable (6+ inches)
2000/06/13 Tiger Muskellunge 40 Catchable (6+ inches)
1997/09/29 Tiger Muskellunge 55 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1993/10/07 Tiger Muskellunge 50 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/09/30 Channel Catfish 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/11/04 Tiger Muskellunge 35 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/05/10 Channel Catfish 2,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/09/21 Channel Catfish 2,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/09/19 Bluegill 9,000 Unknown Size
1990/09/10 Tiger Muskellunge 110 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/07/24 8 Unknown Size
1989/09/30 Channel Catfish 2,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/09/27 Tiger Muskellunge 100 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/08/30 Bluegill 130 Fingerling (3-6 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

Dawson Lake
  • Electric motors only
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
Find an error? Please let us know what is wrong so we can get it fixed up! Report a Problem