Fish and Game wants to help you get started fishing, and more important, help you learn the basics so you can do it on your own and enjoy the state's amazing fishing opportunities with your family and friends.
Fish and Game's "Take Me Fishing" trailers will roam the state in spring and summer, and likely stop at a location near you. They are loaded with loaner fishing rods, tackle, bait and staffed by experienced anglers. You can fish for free during the trailer events, all budding anglers have to do is show up at a fishing trailer event with a willingness to learn, and most important, a desire to have fun.
Take Me Fishing trailers events are held on weekends and after work. A fish stocking truck will typically pay a visit to each event site to ensure there are plenty of trout available for anglers to catch. The rules for Take Me Fishing trailer events are simple:
- Anyone who signs up at the trailer does not need a fishing license to fish at the event.
- Fishing equipment can be checked out for free on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Before and after the event, a fishing license is required for anyone 14 years and older.
Here's a schedule of Take Me Fishing trailer events near you. To find more information about each of these locations, including maps, see our Fishing Planner page and type the location name. The schedule can change depending on weather, or unforeseen events, and you can call regional offices to get more details.
Panhandle Region (208) 769-1414
- Tuesday, May 7, Fernan Lake, 3 – 6 p.m.
- Thursday, May 9, Hauser Lake, 3 – 6 p.m.
- Saturday, May 11, Hayden Lake, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Tuesday, May 14, Jewel Lake, 3 – 6 p.m.
- Saturday, May 18, Post Falls Park, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Tuesday, May 21, Cocollala Lake, 3 – 6 p.m.
- Thursday, May 23, Hayden Lake, 3 – 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, May 28, Post Falls Park, 3 – 6 p.m.
- Thursday, May 30, Colollala Lake, 3 – 6 p.m.
- Saturday, June 1, Hauser Lake, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Tuesday, June 4, Jewel Lake, 3 – 6 p.m.
- Saturday, June 8, Rathdrum City Park, 8 a.m. – noon
- Tuesday, June 11, Fernan Lake, 3 – 6 p.m.
- Thursday, June 13, Gene Day Pond, 3 – 6 p.m.
- Saturday, June 15, Post Falls Park, 9 a.m. – noon
- Thursday, June 20, Round Lake, 3 – 6 p.m.
- Saturday, June 22, Kelso Lake, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Clearwater Region (208) 799-5010
- Saturday, April 20, Kiwanis Park, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Saturday, April 27, Hordemann Pond in Moscow: 8 a.m. – noon
- Saturday, May 4, Mann Lake in Lewiston: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Monday, May 6, Hordemann Pond in Moscow: 4 –7 p.m.
- Saturday May 11, Mann Lake, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Monday, May 13, Kiwanis Park Pond in Lewiston: 4 – 7 p.m.
- Saturday, May 18, Robinson Pond in Kamiah: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Saturday, June 1, Spring Valley Reservoir: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Monday, June 3, Mann Lake in Lewiston: 4 – 7 p.m.
- Saturday, June 8, “Free Fishing Day” Spring Valley Reservoir in Troy: 9 a.m. – noon
- Saturday, June 15, Robinson Pond in Kamiah: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Monday, June 17, Kiwanis Park in Lewiston: 4 – 7 p.m.
- Saturday, June 22, Winchester Lake, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Saturday, June 29, Spring Valley Reservoir, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Saturday, July 6, Winchester Lake in Winchester: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Saturday, July 13, Hells Gate State Park: 4 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Southwest Region (208) 465-8465
- Saturday, April 6, Kleiner Pond, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.,
- Wednesday, April 10, Settlers Pond, 4 – 8 p.m.
- Thursday, April 11, McDevitt Pond, 4 – 8 p.m.
- Saturday, April 13, Esthers Pond, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 17, Williams Pond, 4 – 8 p.m.,
- Thursday, April 18, Wilson Ponds, 4 – 8 p.m.
- Saturday, April 20, McDevitt Pond, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Wednesday, April, 24, Settlers Pond, 4 – 8 p.m.
- Thursday, April 25, Kleiner Pond, 4 – 8 p.m.
- Saturday, April 27, Ed’s Pond 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 1, Esthers Pond, 4 – 8 p.m.
- Thursday, May 2, Wilson Ponds, 4 – 8 p.m.
- Saturday, May 4, Kleiner Pond, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 8, Sterling Park Pond, 4 – 8 p.m.
- Thursday, May 9, Settlers Pond, 4 – 8 p.m.
- Saturday, May 11, Weiser Pond, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 15 Sawyers Pond 4 – 8 p.m.
- Thursday, May 16, McDevitt Pond, 4 – 8 p.m.
- Saturday, May 18, Sego Prairie Pond, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 22, Marsing Pond, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Thursday, May 23, Wilson Ponds, 4 – 8 p.m.
- Saturday, May 25, Eagle Island Pond, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 29, Kleiner Pond, 4 – 8 p.m.
- Thursday, May 30, McDevitt Pond, 4 – 8 p.m.
- Saturday June 1, Mill Pond (H. Bend), 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Saturday, June 8, McDevitt Pond, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Monday, June 17, Sego Prairie Pond, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Tuesday, June 18, Sego Prairie Pond, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Magic Valley Region (208) 324-4359
- Saturday, June 1, Fairfield Kids Pond, 8 a.m. – noon
- Saturday, June 8, Free Fishing Day event - Hagerman & Gavers Lagoon, 8 a.m. – Noon,
- Wednesday, June 12, Dog Creek, 8 a.m. – noon
- Saturday, June 15, Hagerman Oster #1, 8 a.m. – noon
- Wednesday, June 19, Dierkies Lake, 8 a.m. – noon
- Saturday, June 22, Castle Rock State Park, 8 a.m. – noon
- Saturday, June 29, Rock Creek Park, 8 a.m. – noon
- Wednesday, July 3, Dierkies Lake, 8 a.m. – noon
- Saturday, July 6, Elkhorn Resort, 9 a.m. – noon
- Saturday, July 13, Gavers Lagoon, 8 a.m. – noon
- Wednesday, July 17, Hagerman Oster #1, 8 a.m. – noon
- Saturday, July 20, Penny Lake, 8 a.m. – noon
- Saturday, July 27, Dierkies Lake, 8 a.m. – noon
Southeast, Upper Snake, Salmon Regions (208) 232-4703
- Saturday, May 25, Edson Fichter Pond, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Pocatello
- Tuesday, May 28, Rexburg Nature Park, 5 to 8 p.m., Rexburg
- Saturday, June 1, Lower Gem Dam, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Idaho Falls
- Tuesday, June 4, Edson Fichter Pond, 5 to 8 p.m.,Pocatello
- Saturday, June 8, FREE FISHING DAY, Becker Pond at Ryder Park, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Idaho Falls
- Tuesday, June 11, Blacktail at Ririe Reservoir, 5 to 8 p.m., Ririe
- Saturday, June 15, Ashton Reservoir, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ashton
- Tuesday, June 18, Bannock Reservoir Portneuf Wellness Complex, 5 to 8 p.m., Pocatello
- Saturday, June 22, Bannock Reservior Portneuf Wellness Complex, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Pocatello
- Tuesday, June 25, Sand Creek Pond #4, 5 to 8 p.m., St. Anthony
- Friday, June 28, Jensen Grove, 4 to 8 p.m., Blackfoot
- Saturday, June 29, Mackay Fish Hatchery, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mackay
- Tuesday, July 2, Montpelier Rearing Pond, 5 to 8 p.m., Montpelier
- Saturday, July 6, Crowthers Reservoir, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Malad
- Tuesday, July 9, Island Mill, 5 to 8 p.m., Island Park
- Saturday, July 13, Trail Creek Pond, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Victor
- Tuesday, July 16, Montpelier Rearing Pond, 5 to 8 p.m., Montpelier
- Saturday, July 20, LaMont Reservoir, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Preston
- Tuesday, July 23, Trail Creek Pond, 5 to 8 p.m., Victor
- Saturday, July 27, Blacktail at Ririe Reservoir, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ririe
- Tuesday, July 30, Upper Kelly Park Pond, 5 to 8 p.m., Soda Springs (This event is only open to anglers aged 13 and under. All youth under the age of 8 must be accompanied by an adult.)