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Fly Fishing in Idaho

50 featured rivers, lakes and streams in Idaho, each with target species, a hatch chart and a map of nearby access.

Bear River (Idaho) (Cutthroat Trout, Brown Trout)
Southeastern Idaho with cutthroat and brown trout. Scenic fishing near Bear Lake.
Bear Valley Creek (Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout)
Remote wilderness stream with native cutthroat. Frank Church Wilderness gateway.
Big Lost River (Rainbow Trout)
Central Idaho stream that disappears into lava fields. Wild rainbow trout in unique landscape.
Big Wood River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Flowing through Sun Valley, this river offers excellent fishing with beautiful mountain scenery and easy access.
Blackfoot River (Idaho) (Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Eastern Idaho stream with cutthroat and rainbow trout. Scenic fishing near Blackfoot Reservoir.
Boise River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Urban fishing opportunity below Lucky Peak Dam. Stocked with rainbows and browns, offering year-round fishing.
Box Canyon (Henry's Fork) (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Below Island Park Dam on Henry's Fork. Trophy rainbow trout in crystal-clear spring water.
Bruneau River (Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout)
Desert canyon river with smallmouth bass. Remote southwestern Idaho fishing adventure.
Buffalo River (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout)
Near Island Park with rainbow and brook trout. Gateway to Yellowstone fishing.
Clark Fork River (Idaho) (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Below Lake Pend Oreille with large rainbow and brown trout. Recovering fishery with big fish potential.
Clearwater River (Steelhead, Rainbow Trout)
Famous for its fall steelhead run. Beautiful canyon scenery and excellent fishing for wild steelhead.
East Fork Salmon River (Rainbow Trout, Bull Trout)
Tributary of the main Salmon with wild trout. Remote central Idaho fishing.
Fall Creek (Swan Valley) (Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Near Swan Valley with cutthroat and rainbow trout. Beautiful eastern Idaho fishing.
Henry's Fork (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
The Railroad Ranch section is considered one of the most challenging and rewarding trout streams in the world. Large, educated rainbow trout.
Kelly Creek (Cutthroat Trout)
Tributary of the North Fork Clearwater. Famous catch-and-release cutthroat fishery.
Kootenai River (Rainbow Trout, Bull Trout)
Below Libby Dam with large rainbow trout. Idaho's northernmost quality trout fishery.
Lemhi River (Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Lewis and Clark route with wild rainbow and cutthroat. Historic fishing near Salmon.
Little Lost River (Rainbow Trout)
Central Idaho stream with wild rainbow trout. Less pressured than nearby waters.
Little Salmon River (Steelhead, Rainbow Trout)
Tributary of the main Salmon with steelhead and trout. Good public access near Riggins.
Lochsa River (Cutthroat Trout, Steelhead)
Wild and Scenic River along Highway 12. Native cutthroat and steelhead in beautiful canyon.
Marsh Creek (Cutthroat Trout)
Headwaters of Middle Fork Salmon. Wild cutthroat in scenic mountain meadows.
Middle Fork Boise River (Bull Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Remote wilderness stream with native bull trout and rainbow. Backcountry fishing adventure.
Middle Fork of the Salmon River (Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Steelhead)
Wild and Scenic River through Frank Church Wilderness. World-class multi-day float trips for cutthroat and steelhead.
Moyie River (Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout)
Northern Panhandle stream near Canadian border. Native cutthroat and bull trout.
North Fork Boise River (Rainbow Trout)
Boise National Forest stream with wild rainbow trout. Scenic mountain fishing near Idaho City.
North Fork Clearwater River (Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout)
Remote Idaho Panhandle river with native cutthroat and bull trout. Pristine wilderness fishing.
North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River (Cutthroat Trout)
Crystal clear water with native cutthroat trout. Excellent hiking and fishing access in the Idaho Panhandle.
Owyhee River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Remote desert canyon river with brown trout. Stunning redrock scenery in southwestern Idaho.
Pack River (Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout)
Tributary of Lake Pend Oreille with cutthroat and bull trout. Northern Idaho gem.
Pahsimeroi River (Rainbow Trout, Steelhead)
Central Idaho stream with wild rainbow and steelhead. Remote fishing near Challis.
Palisades Creek (Cutthroat Trout)
Near Palisades Reservoir with cutthroat trout. Scenic canyon fishing near Wyoming border.
Palouse River (Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass)
Eastern Idaho stream with rainbow trout and smallmouth bass. Scenic Palouse Falls area.
Payette River (North Fork) (Rainbow Trout, Bull Trout)
Near McCall with rainbow and bull trout. Beautiful mountain fishing near resort town.
Payette River (South Fork) (Rainbow Trout, Bull Trout)
Below Deadwood Reservoir with rainbow and bull trout. Popular whitewater and fishing destination.
Portneuf River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Near Pocatello with rainbow and brown trout. Accessible southeastern Idaho fishing.
Potlatch River (Steelhead)
North-central Idaho stream with steelhead runs. Less crowded than major rivers.
Priest River (Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout)
Northern Idaho Panhandle stream with cutthroat and bull trout. Scenic fishing near Priest Lake.
Rapid River (Rainbow Trout, Steelhead)
Near Riggins with wild rainbow and steelhead. Scenic canyon fishing.
Salmon River (Steelhead, Chinook Salmon, Rainbow Trout)
The River of No Return offers steelhead, salmon, and trout fishing in remote wilderness. Multi-day float trips available.
Selway River (Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Remote wilderness river in the Selway-Bitterroot. Native westslope cutthroat in pristine water.
Silver Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
A legendary spring creek with crystal-clear water and highly selective trout. Technical dry fly fishing at its finest.
South Fork Boise River (Rainbow Trout, Bull Trout)
Above Anderson Ranch Reservoir with wild rainbow and bull trout. Remote mountain fishing.
South Fork Clearwater River (Steelhead, Rainbow Trout)
Good steelhead fishing below Harpster. Accessible alternative to remote wilderness rivers.
South Fork of the Snake River (Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
One of the best cutthroat fisheries in the lower 48. Float fishing through scenic canyons with prolific hatches.
St. Joe River (Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout)
A pristine freestone river with native westslope cutthroat. Remote fishing in beautiful forested mountains.
Teton River (Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout)
A smaller river with excellent dry fly fishing. Native cutthroat and stocked rainbows in scenic Teton Valley.
Valley Creek (Rainbow Trout, Bull Trout)
Near Stanley with wild rainbow and bull trout. Headwaters of the Salmon River system.
Warm River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Near Ashton with rainbow trout. Scenic fishing near Island Park and Yellowstone.
Weiser River (Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout)
Western Idaho stream with smallmouth bass and some trout. Scenic fishing near Weiser.
Yankee Fork Salmon River (Rainbow Trout, Bull Trout)
Historic mining area stream with wild rainbow and bull trout. Scenic backcountry fishing.

Fly Fishing in Idaho

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