The Best Fishing Spots in Idaho
In Idaho, United States, anglers find world-class fishing across clear mountain rivers, streams, high alpine lakes and large reservoirs; popular waters include the Snake, Salmon, Clearwater and Henry's Fork systems. The state is renowned for wild and stocked trout—especially rainbow trout, brown trout and cutthroat trout—plus seasonal runs of steelhead and salmon, and abundant lake species such as kokanee, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye and northern pike. Anglers enjoy fly fishing on freestone streams, as well as bank and boat fishing for lake and reservoir species.
Top Cities For Fishing
Lake Fishing
American Falls Reservoir
Bear Lake
Lake Walcott
Lake Pend Oreille
River Fishing
Other
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
American Falls Reservoir
A powerhouse fishery on the Snake for rainbow trout, walleye, and smallmouth bass; spring and fall shine for walleyes on points and rock piles, with shore access at Massacre Rocks and productive trout action near the dam and river mouth.
Anderson Ranch Reservoir
Fed by the South Fork Boise River , this reservoir produces quality smallmouth bass, kokanee, and rainbow trout; trolling the main channel and jigging rocky points are staples, with bank access at campgrounds and the dam area.
Bear Lake
This turquoise natural lake on the Idaho–Utah line is home to endemic Bear Lake cutthroat plus lake trout and whitefish; trolling off St. Charles and jigging on deep reefs are prime tactics, with shore access at state parks and marinas.
Blackfoot Reservoir
A southeast Idaho favorite for hefty rainbow trout and cutthroat trout, with productive spring and fall action; boats cover wind-driven shorelines and the mouths of Blackfoot River and Meadow Creek , while shore anglers still-fish baits from points and dikes.
Boise River
Flowing through Boise , this urban fishery is stocked and sustained with rainbow trout, plus wild brown trout in the lower reaches; waders and shore anglers work riffles and undercut banks, while float anglers drift from Barber Park through town for consistent action.
Brownlee Reservoir
Straddling the Idaho–Oregon border in Hells Canyon , Brownlee is renowned for crappie, channel catfish, smallmouth bass, and seasonal walleye; boaters probe coves and brushy shorelines, while bank anglers score near parks, inlets, and bridge accesses.
Clearwater River
Renowned for big B-run steelhead and seasonal chinook salmon, the Clearwater below Orofino offers long, even glides perfect for drifting bait or swinging spoons, while the North Fork near Dworshak provides cold-water refuges that congregate fish in late summer and fall.
Coeur d'Alene Lake
A sprawling lake with excellent chinook salmon plants, quality cutthroat trout, and robust smallmouth/largemouth bass; spring trolling along points near Wolf Lodge Bay and summer jigging on humps off Harrison are complemented by productive shore fishing at docks and parks.
Dworshak Reservoir
Steep-sided and deep, Dworshak is famous for giant smallmouth bass and fast limits of kokanee; boaters troll open-water basins and target submerged timber, while shore access around Ahsahka and park areas provides opportunities for trout and panfish.
Henrys Fork
Legendary for technical dry-fly action on wild rainbow trout and brown trout, Henrys Fork features prolific summer hatches from the Railroad Ranch to Box Canyon ; wade anglers stalk weed-lined flats while boaters drift long riffles and foam lines for consistent action.
Lake Cascade
Known for trophy-class yellow perch, solid rainbow trout, and smallmouth bass, Lake Cascade shines from ice season through summer; boats work weed edges and mid-lake flats, and shore anglers do well at points and inflows near Cascade and Donnelly .
Lucky Peak Lake
Minutes from Boise , Lucky Peak offers easy access to kokanee, rainbow trout, and growing smallmouth bass numbers; trollers work the river channel and Spring Shores area, while shore anglers fish parks and points for trout and panfish.
Palisades Reservoir
Set in the upper Snake, Palisades offers strong cutthroat trout, brown trout, and kokanee; boats work creek mouths and submerged points, while shore anglers fish the upper arms near Alpine and along accessible pullouts on the reservoir’s north shore.
Payette Lake
A scenic alpine lake at McCall featuring lake trout, stocked chinook, and catchable rainbow trout; trollers run deep lines along drop-offs and the Narrows, while bank anglers work public docks, beaches, and creek mouths for trout and kokanee.
Lake Pend Oreille
Idaho’s deepest lake is famed for trophy lake trout (mackinaw), strong rainbow trout (Gerrard strain) and booming kokanee; trollers work steep drop-offs near Bayview and Scotchman while shore anglers hit piers and parks around Sandpoint and City Beach .
Priest Lake
This crystal-clear northern lake holds trophy lake trout, abundant cutthroat, and seasonal kokanee; deep-trolling along the main basin and near Priest Lake State Park is popular, with accessible shore angling at marinas, campgrounds, and creek mouths.
Salmon River
Running through rugged country from Stanley to Riggins , the “River of No Return” offers excellent steelhead in fall–spring, chinook in season, and strong summer smallmouth bass; drift boats cover long gravel bars while shore anglers work bouldery runs and side channels.
Owyhee River
In its Idaho reaches and nearby tailwater stretches below Owyhee Dam , this desert river is known for selective brown trout and rainbow trout; wade anglers match sparse hatches in clear flows, while rafts explore remote runs and undercut bends for larger fish.
Snake River
From Hells Canyon to American Falls , the Snake River offers diverse fisheries with smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and seasonal runs of steelhead and salmon; boat anglers work deep ledges and current seams while shore fishers target back-eddies and rip-rap near access points like Hells Gate and Wilson Springs .