Crawfish in Idaho

Even though crawfish are a "game fish" in Idaho, the Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game does not track population numbers or trends for crawfish.  With that said, we are unaware of any populations of crawfish being over-exploited in Idaho. There are many areas where you can set traps for crayfish in the Boise area.  Let's start with the Boise River in-town.  The Boise River has a robust population of crawfish that can be seen just by rolling rocks in side channels.  Find some deep water at the river's edge and soak a couple of traps overnight.  Lucky Peak Reservoir is also a good place to find crawfish near Boise.  If you don't mind traveling a little further, C.J. Strike and Brownlee reservoirs also have healthy populations. Remember, with a valid Idaho fishing license, you can have a maximum of 5 traps.  Traps can not be more than 2 feet in any direction and can't exceed 8 cubic feet.  They must have a tag or identifying information that includes name, address, telephone number or fishing license number.  They must also be checked, at minimum, every 48 hours.