Lake Lowell

Boise River Drainage

  • Recommended Fishing Water

Lake Lowell in Canyon County is 8,826.0 acres.

Interactive Map
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Lake Lowell is a large reservoir with several management entities including the USFWS, USBOR, Canyon County, and IDFG. Most fishing opportunity occurs during the open boating season, April 15 - September 30. Two park areas, managed by Canyon County, offer access to the north shore, while several smaller access points (SUFWS) exist along the south shore. Largemouth bass are the most popular sport fish, but good fishing for channel catfish and fair fishing for panfish exists. Recently, bowfishing for carp has become popular.

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
2024/10/04 Tiger Muskellunge 627 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2024/07/24 Channel Catfish 5,038 Catchable (6+ inches)
2023/07/11 Channel Catfish 5,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2023/06/01 Tiger Muskellunge 1,716 Catchable (6+ inches)
2022/07/11 Channel Catfish 4,018 Catchable (6+ inches)
2022/06/01 Tiger Muskellunge 1,786 Catchable (12-14 inches)
2021/10/28 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 575 Catchable (6+ inches)
2021/05/27 Tiger Muskellunge 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2020/07/16 Channel Catfish 21,378 Catchable (6+ inches)
2020/06/02 Tiger Muskellunge 700 Catchable (6+ inches)
2019/09/12 Tiger Muskellunge 1,122 Catchable (6+ inches)
2019/07/24 Channel Catfish 5,015 Catchable (6+ inches)
2018/07/11 Channel Catfish 5,009 Catchable (6+ inches)
2017/07/19 Channel Catfish 9,796 Catchable (6+ inches)
2016/07/14 Channel Catfish 5,006 Catchable (6+ inches)
2015/06/24 Channel Catfish 2,505 Catchable (6+ inches)
2014/07/16 Channel Catfish 5,005 Catchable (6+ inches)
2013/06/12 Channel Catfish 10,005 Catchable (6+ inches)
2011/07/20 Channel Catfish 10,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2010/07/14 Channel Catfish 7,992 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/09/08 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 45,084 Fry (0-3 inches)
2009/07/15 Channel Catfish 9,434 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/07/13 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 35,904 Fry (0-3 inches)
2009/05/26 Crappie 1,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/05/23 Crappie 1,985 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/05/22 Crappie 300 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/05/21 Crappie 700 Catchable (6+ inches)
2009/05/13 Crappie 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
2008/07/16 Channel Catfish 7,673 Catchable (6+ inches)
2008/06/26 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 85,272 Fry (0-3 inches)
2007/07/11 Channel Catfish 7,828 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2007/06/29 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 44,430 Fry (0-3 inches)
2006/07/19 Channel Catfish 13,716 Catchable (6+ inches)
2006/06/14 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 164,531 Fry (0-3 inches)
2005/08/10 Channel Catfish 5,955 Catchable (6+ inches)
2005/06/23 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 102,992 Fry (0-3 inches)
2004/07/07 Channel Catfish 6,897 Catchable (6+ inches)
2004/06/25 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 91,350 Fry (0-3 inches)
2003/08/19 Channel Catfish 9,063 Catchable (6+ inches)
2003/07/01 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 43,550 Fry (0-3 inches)
2002/06/25 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 52,920 Fry (0-3 inches)
2001/06/27 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 39,479 Fry (0-3 inches)
2000/09/06 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 21,600 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
2000/06/27 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 66,376 Fry (0-3 inches)
1999/09/21 Channel Catfish 11,428 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/09/29 Channel Catfish 9,900 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/09/01 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 12,090 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1998/08/26 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 51,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1998/07/07 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 84,330 Fry (0-3 inches)
1998/04/25 Crappie 2,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
1997/09/08 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 22,750 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1996/09/11 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 42,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1996/06/19 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 25,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1995/09/25 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 7,065 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1995/06/27 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 25,265 Fry (0-3 inches)
1992/04/21 Rainbow Trout - Triploid 10,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1992/04/15 Rainbow Trout 16,530 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/12/19 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 7,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/11/26 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 58,500 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/04/30 Rainbow Trout 20,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/04/24 Rainbow Trout 58,100 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/03/28 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 62,400 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1991/03/18 Rainbow Trout 9,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/11/26 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 50,350 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1990/10/07 Bluegill 5 Unknown Size
1990/10/07 Channel Catfish 1,200 Unknown Size
1990/10/07 Crappie 10 Unknown Size
1990/10/07 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 2 Unknown Size
1990/10/07 Largemouth Bass 4 Unknown Size
1990/10/07 Rainbow Trout 2 Unknown Size
1990/10/06 Bluegill 20 Unknown Size
1990/10/06 Channel Catfish 800 Unknown Size
1990/10/06 Crappie 20 Unknown Size
1990/10/06 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 3 Unknown Size
1990/10/06 Largemouth Bass 20 Unknown Size
1990/10/06 Rainbow Trout 2 Unknown Size
1990/10/06 Smallmouth Bass 10 Unknown Size
1990/04/27 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Adults
1990/03/19 Rainbow Trout 5,060 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/03/19 Rainbow Trout 5,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/12/19 Rainbow Trout 1,520 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/12/19 Rainbow Trout 1,500 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/12/15 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 67,680 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1989/03/21 Rainbow Trout 5,130 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/11/17 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 8,037 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1988/11/16 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 63,960 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1988/11/15 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 15,600 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1988/11/14 Cutthroat Trout - Lahontan 13,755 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1988/09/22 Channel Catfish 18,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1988/04/27 Rainbow Trout 98,685 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1988/03/17 Rainbow Trout 175 Adults
1988/03/17 Rainbow Trout 1,838 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/03/25 Rainbow Trout 1,007 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/02/24 Rainbow Trout 1,560 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1981/07/09 Smallmouth Bass 161,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1980/07/02 Channel Catfish 500,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1980/05/08 Smallmouth Bass 40,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1969/10/31 Crappie 2,000 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/11/07 Yellow Perch 35,200 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1968/08/12 Smallmouth Bass 423 Fry (0-3 inches)
Source: IDFG Fish Stocking Database.

Licenses and Tags

Learn more about IDFG Licenses, Tags & Permits
 

Be aware of Fish Consumption Advisories associated with this waterbody. More information can be found here.

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

Lake Lowell
  • January 1 to June 30 - bass – catch-and-release
  • July 1 to December 31 - bass limit is 2, none between 12 and 16 inches
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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