Fishing in
Idaho
12,875 named waters · 64 stocked in the last 30 days
Idaho's Lake Pend Oreille produced the world-record Kamloops rainbow trout, and its depth and cold water still hold trophy-class rainbows and lake trout. Steelhead and Chinook salmon run hundreds of miles up the Salmon and Clearwater rivers from the Pacific, while the Henry's Fork of the Snake River is one of the most technical dry-fly trout streams in the country.
Idaho holds 12,875 fishable waters on the books. IDFG has logged 1,104 stockings in the last year, led by rainbow trout (triploid). The biggest water in the state is Lake Pend Oreille at 92,766 acres.
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When does Idaho stock?
Stocking peaks in May and June, going by every record on the books.
What you'll catch here
- Rainbow Trout (Triploid)132 waters
- Rainbow Trout19 waters
- Kokanee13 waters
- Cutthroat Trout - Yellowstone11 waters
- Steelhead6 waters
- Tiger Trout5 waters
- Chinook Salmon5 waters
- Cutbow - Cutthroat x Rainbow Trout (Triploid)4 waters
Freshest stockings
Full report →- Salmon RiverRainbow Trout (Triploid)Jul 24, 2026
- Wilson DrainRainbow Trout (Triploid)Jul 24, 2026
- East Fork Rock CreekRainbow Trout (Triploid)Jul 24, 2026
- Buffalo RiverRainbow Trout (Triploid)Jul 23, 2026
- Warm RiverRainbow Trout (Triploid)Jul 23, 2026
Most-stocked waters, last 12 months
- Salmon River21× stocked
- Wilson Drain17× stocked
- Little Wood River16× stocked
- American Falls Reservoir16× stocked
- Salt River14× stocked
- Mackay Reservoir14× stocked
- Bear River11× stocked
- North Fork Payette River10× stocked
- Niagara Springs9× stocked
- South Fork Boise River8× stocked
Biggest waters
- Lake Pend Oreille92,766 ac
- American Falls Reservoir55,320 ac
- Coeur d'Alene Lake26,892 ac
- Lake Cascade25,043 ac
- Priest Lake23,426 ac
- Blackfoot Reservoir16,914 ac
- Dworshak Reservoir16,362 ac
- Palisades Reservoir15,823 ac
Major rivers
- Clark Forkorder 8 · ~24,593 cfs
- Clearwater Riverorder 8 · ~15,630 cfs
- Salmon Riverorder 8 · ~13,516 cfs
- Rock Creekorder 8 · ~11,233 cfs
- Boise Riverorder 8 · ~2,942 cfs
- Dry Creekorder 8 · ~12 cfs
- Blackwell Sloughorder 8 · ~1 cfs
- Watson Sloughorder 8
Waters by county
All counties →Idaho (1,828) · Valley (850) · Custer (818) · Shoshone (763) · Owyhee (657) · Lemhi (627) · Clearwater (578) · Elmore (502) · Boise (462) · Cassia (411) · Bonner (403) · Kootenai (334) · Blaine (320) · Bonneville (279) · Bingham (260) · Canyon (258) · Boundary (237) · Adams (230) · Lincoln (216) · Camas (207) · Jerome (207) · Fremont (190) · Caribou (177) · Gooding (175) · Latah (160) · Bannock (160) · Clark (153) · Ada (145) · Washington (126) · Benewah (125)
Seasons, limits, and rules are Idaho's call — read the official regulations and buy your license from the state, not a middleman. We link the source; we never restate the rules.
Explore nearby states
Idaho fishing — FAQ
Where does Idaho stock fish?+
IDFG logged 1,104 stockings across Idaho in the last year, led by rainbow trout (triploid), rainbow trout, kokanee and cutthroat trout - yellowstone. Browse the map and most-stocked waters above for exact locations.
When does Idaho stock fish?+
Stocking in Idaho peaks in May and June, going by every record on the books. See each water's page for its own seasonality.
Do I need a license to fish in Idaho?+
Yes — Idaho requires a fishing license for most anglers. Buy one from the state agency and check current seasons and limits before you go.
How many fishable waters are in Idaho?+
Idaho has 12,875 named fishable waters mapped on FishableWaters, from stocked reservoirs to wild streams.