Boise River
Tributary of the Snake River
- Recommended Fishing Water
- Family Fishing Water
The Boise River offers miles of fishing in one of the finest urban trout rivers in the country. Wild trout and stocked hatchery rainbow and brown trout are abundant.
Learn more about how Fish and Game works to manage and improve Trout populations on this section of river.
Facilities
Directions
The Boise River is accessible along the Boise River Greenbelt from Lucky Peak Dam through most of Boise to Eagle, and points further west. There is easy access at bridges and city parks along the Boise River, with boat ramps at Willow Lane and Westmoreland Park.
Recommended Game Fish
- Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
- Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
- Brown Trout (Salmo trutta)
- Mountain Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni)
- Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu)
- Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus)
- Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
- Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss pop. 21)
Species Observed in Surveys
- Arctic Char Salvelinus alpinus observed in 2021
- Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus observed in 2021
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus observed in 2021
- Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis observed in 2021
- Brown Trout Salmo trutta observed in 2021
- Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus observed in 2021
- Common Carp Cyprinus carpio observed in 2021
- Cottus Cottus observed in 2021
- Dace Rhinichthys observed in 2021
- Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus observed in 2021
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides observed in 2021
- Largescale Sucker Catostomus macrocheilus observed in 2021
- Northern Pikeminnow Ptychocheilus oregonensis observed in 2021
- Oriental Weatherfish Misgurnus anguillicaudatus observed in 2021
- Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss observed in 2021
- Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss observed in 2021
- Redside Shiner Richardsonius balteatus observed in 2021
- Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu observed in 2021
- Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss observed in 2021
- Longnose Dace Rhinichthys cataractae observed in 2020
- Mountain Whitefish Prosopium williamsoni observed in 2020
- Speckled Dace Rhinichthys osculus observed in 2020
- Bridgelip Sucker Catostomus columbianus observed in 2019
- Catostomus sp. Catostomus observed in 2019
- Bullhead Ameiurus observed in 2018
- Chiselmouth Chub Acrocheilus alutaceus observed in 2017
- Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus observed in 2016
- Yellow Perch Perca flavescens observed in 2015
- Crappie Pomoxis observed in 2013
- Mottled Sculpin Cottus bairdi observed in 2005
- Kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka observed in 2004
- Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss observed in 1996
Fish Stocking Records
Date | Species | Quantity | General Size |
---|---|---|---|
2009/07/22 | Spring-Summer Chinook | 900 | Adults |
2004/06/03 | Spring-Summer Chinook | 220 | Adults |
2004/05/26 | Spring-Summer Chinook | 220 | Adults |
2003/11/20 | Steelhead | 333 | Adults |
2003/11/13 | Steelhead | 283 | Adults |
2003/11/06 | Steelhead | 334 | Adults |
2002/11/05 | Steelhead | 333 | Adults |
2002/10/31 | Steelhead | 334 | Adults |
2002/10/29 | Steelhead | 333 | Adults |
2002/04/05 | Steelhead | 400 | Adults |
1993/03/08 | Steelhead | 12 | Adults |
1988/08/25 | Rainbow Trout | 3,000 | Less than 6 inches |
1978/09/08 | Rainbow Trout | 10,400 | Less than 6 inches |
1978/09/07 | Rainbow Trout | 4,472 | Less than 6 inches |
1978/08/16 | Rainbow Trout | 3,600 | Less than 6 inches |
1978/08/08 | Rainbow Trout | 5,280 | Greater than 6 inches |
1978/06/16 | Rainbow Trout | 2,380 | Greater than 6 inches |
1978/06/06 | Rainbow Trout | 2,025 | Greater than 6 inches |
1978/04/24 | Brown Trout | 9,555 | Less than 6 inches |
1978/03/22 | Brown Trout | 13,448 | Less than 6 inches |
1978/03/17 | Brown Trout | 3,565 | Less than 6 inches |
1978/03/16 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | Greater than 6 inches |
1978/03/01 | Rainbow Trout | 3,200 | Greater than 6 inches |
1977/11/28 | Rainbow Trout | 3,998 | Greater than 6 inches |
1977/11/14 | Rainbow Trout | 1,045 | Greater than 6 inches |
1977/07/21 | Rainbow Trout | 5,390 | Greater than 6 inches |
1977/07/15 | Rainbow Trout | 5,760 | Greater than 6 inches |
1977/06/14 | Rainbow Trout | 2,145 | Greater than 6 inches |
1977/06/13 | Rainbow Trout | 2,556 | Greater than 6 inches |
1977/06/02 | Brown Trout | 40,250 | Less than 6 inches |
1977/05/20 | Rainbow Trout | 480 | Greater than 6 inches |
1977/04/07 | Rainbow Trout | 4,875 | Greater than 6 inches |
1976/12/18 | Brown Trout | 11,600 | Eyed Eggs |
1976/12/09 | Rainbow Trout | 2,400 | Greater than 6 inches |
1976/11/15 | Rainbow Trout | 3,200 | Greater than 6 inches |
1976/08/24 | Rainbow Trout | 4,700 | Greater than 6 inches |
1976/08/23 | Rainbow Trout | 4,818 | Greater than 6 inches |
1976/07/22 | Brown Trout | 20,466 | Less than 6 inches |
1976/07/16 | Rainbow Trout | 2,720 | Greater than 6 inches |
1976/07/13 | Rainbow Trout | 2,700 | Greater than 6 inches |
1976/04/07 | Rainbow Trout | 3,360 | Greater than 6 inches |
1976/03/31 | Rainbow Trout | 4,480 | Greater than 6 inches |
1976/03/29 | Brown Trout | 32,384 | Less than 6 inches |
1976/02/12 | Rainbow Trout | 2,250 | Greater than 6 inches |
1976/02/11 | Rainbow Trout | 2,160 | Greater than 6 inches |
1975/11/19 | Rainbow Trout | 3,625 | Greater than 6 inches |
1975/11/17 | Rainbow Trout | 3,625 | Greater than 6 inches |
1975/09/30 | Rainbow Trout | 2,450 | Greater than 6 inches |
1975/09/19 | Rainbow Trout | 3,600 | Greater than 6 inches |
1975/09/17 | Rainbow Trout | 3,780 | Greater than 6 inches |
1975/08/08 | Rainbow Trout | 3,255 | Greater than 6 inches |
1975/07/14 | Rainbow Trout | 2,970 | Greater than 6 inches |
1975/06/27 | Rainbow Trout | 100 | Greater than 6 inches |
1975/06/19 | Rainbow Trout | 3,600 | Greater than 6 inches |
1975/05/06 | Brown Trout | 20,468 | Less than 6 inches |
1975/03/17 | Brown Trout | 34,560 | Less than 6 inches |
1975/02/03 | Rainbow Trout | 5,440 | Greater than 6 inches |
1974/11/26 | Rainbow Trout | 6,160 | Greater than 6 inches |
1974/11/12 | Rainbow Trout | 1,200 | Less than 6 inches |
1974/09/16 | Rainbow Trout | 8,000 | Less than 6 inches |
1974/08/09 | Rainbow Trout | 2,500 | Less than 6 inches |
1974/08/08 | Rainbow Trout | 2,800 | Less than 6 inches |
1974/07/09 | Rainbow Trout | 3,300 | Greater than 6 inches |
1974/04/23 | Brown Trout | 14,766 | Less than 6 inches |
1974/04/12 | Brown Trout | 4,797 | Less than 6 inches |
1973/12/13 | Rainbow Trout | 5,040 | Greater than 6 inches |
1973/12/12 | Rainbow Trout | 5,250 | Greater than 6 inches |
1973/10/03 | Rainbow Trout | 1,200 | Adults |
1973/09/05 | Rainbow Trout | 4,300 | Greater than 6 inches |
1973/08/06 | Rainbow Trout | 7,963 | Greater than 6 inches |
1973/07/12 | Rainbow Trout | 4,000 | Less than 6 inches |
1973/06/20 | Rainbow Trout | 107 | Greater than 6 inches |
1973/06/01 | Rainbow Trout | 6,140 | Greater than 6 inches |
1973/04/25 | Rainbow Trout | 2,800 | Greater than 6 inches |
1973/03/01 | Rainbow Trout | 5,040 | Greater than 6 inches |
1973/01/30 | Rainbow Trout | 3,600 | Greater than 6 inches |
1973/01/25 | Rainbow Trout | 4,200 | Greater than 6 inches |
1972/12/29 | Rainbow Trout | 3,120 | Greater than 6 inches |
1972/11/13 | Rainbow Trout | 4,800 | Greater than 6 inches |
1972/11/09 | Rainbow Trout | 3,840 | Greater than 6 inches |
1972/09/25 | Rainbow Trout | 7,920 | Greater than 6 inches |
1972/08/23 | Rainbow Trout | 6,370 | Greater than 6 inches |
1972/07/31 | Rainbow Trout | 4,875 | Greater than 6 inches |
1972/07/07 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | Greater than 6 inches |
1972/07/06 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | Greater than 6 inches |
1971/12/21 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | Greater than 6 inches |
1971/12/17 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | Greater than 6 inches |
1971/12/16 | Rainbow Trout | 6,800 | Greater than 6 inches |
1971/11/08 | Rainbow Trout | 160 | Less than 6 inches |
1971/09/13 | Rainbow Trout | 3,200 | Greater than 6 inches |
1971/07/29 | Rainbow Trout | 4,703 | Less than 6 inches |
1971/07/28 | Rainbow Trout | 2,880 | Greater than 6 inches |
1970/12/24 | Rainbow Trout | 5,940 | Greater than 6 inches |
1970/12/01 | Rainbow Trout | 35 | Adults |
1970/10/22 | Rainbow Trout | 1,920 | Adults |
1970/10/22 | Rainbow Trout | 7,980 | Greater than 6 inches |
1970/09/09 | Rainbow Trout | 500 | Greater than 6 inches |
1970/08/28 | Rainbow Trout | 6,720 | Greater than 6 inches |
1970/08/14 | Rainbow Trout | 2,220 | Greater than 6 inches |
1970/07/24 | Rainbow Trout | 5,440 | Greater than 6 inches |
1969/12/12 | Rainbow Trout | 7,140 | Greater than 6 inches |
1969/11/28 | Rainbow Trout | 7,140 | Greater than 6 inches |
1969/11/25 | Rainbow Trout | 4,000 | Greater than 6 inches |
1969/10/07 | Rainbow Trout | 2,520 | Adults |
1969/10/07 | Rainbow Trout | 7,560 | Greater than 6 inches |
1969/08/11 | Rainbow Trout | 6,450 | Greater than 6 inches |
1969/07/30 | Rainbow Trout | 3,125 | Greater than 6 inches |
1969/07/24 | Rainbow Trout | 8,000 | Greater than 6 inches |
1969/04/03 | Rainbow Trout | 4,000 | Greater than 6 inches |
1968/12/27 | Rainbow Trout | 10,200 | Greater than 6 inches |
1968/11/18 | Rainbow Trout | 13,200 | Greater than 6 inches |
1968/11/14 | Rainbow Trout | 5,700 | Greater than 6 inches |
1968/11/06 | Rainbow Trout | 3,380 | Adults |
1968/07/09 | Rainbow Trout | 2,600 | Greater than 6 inches |
1968/05/01 | Rainbow Trout | 15,000 | Greater than 6 inches |
1967/12/05 | Rainbow Trout | 3,200 | Greater than 6 inches |
1967/11/28 | Rainbow Trout | 6,000 | Greater than 6 inches |
1967/11/13 | Rainbow Trout | 7,440 | Greater than 6 inches |
Licenses and Tags
- Online
- By phone & credit card:
1-800-554-8685 - License Vendors
- IDFG Offices
Learn more about IDFG Licenses, Tags & Permits
- See our separate page for Steelhead Season and Rules
- Be aware of seasonal flow fluctuations. Check local parks websites for rules, facilities, and more information on river access along the Boise River Anglers are advised to check USGS flow gauging stations before embarking on a trip and use caution when wading. The best and safest fishing occurs when river flows are less than 1,500 cfs.
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
Boise River All other sections of the lower Boise River- Southwest Region general rules apply
- Trout limit is 2, none under 14 inches