Guide To The Best Fishing Lakes In Idaho
Top places to fish for bass, catfish, crappie and more in ID.
Brownlee Reservoir, C J Strike Reservoir, Cascade Reservoir, Coeur D'Alene Lake, Dworshak Reservoir, Hayden Lake, Henry's Lake, Lake Lowell, Lake Pend Oreille and Priest Lake are the most popular places for fishing in Idaho, offering anglers the chance to pursue a variety of fish species. Ice fishing is an option at many of these lakes.
Bass Lakes
Anderson Ranch Reservoir, Brownlee Reservoir, C J Strike Reservoir, Cascade Reservoir, Coeur D'Alene Lake, Dworshak Reservoir, Lake Lowell, Little Payette Lake, Magic Reservoir and Lake Pend Oreille are considered the best options for largemouth and smallmouth bass. More...
Catfish Lakes
Brownlee Reservoir, C J Strike Reservoir, Cascade Reservoir, Coeur D'Alene Lake, Dworshak Reservoir, Lake Lowell and Lake Pend Oreille are favorite options for channel and flathead catfish. More...
Crappie Lakes
Brownlee Reservoir, C J Strike Reservoir, Cascade Reservoir, Coeur D'Alene Lake, Crane Creek Reservoir, Dworshak Reservoir, Hayden Lake, Hells Canyon Reservoir, Lake Lowell and Lake Pend Oreille are the most popular for black and white crappie. More...
Sunfish & Panfish Lakes
American Falls Reservoir, Anderson Ranch Reservoir, Brownlee Reservoir, C J Strike Reservoir, Cascade Reservoir, Coeur D'Alene Lake, Lake Lowell, Lake Pend Oreille, Lake Walcott and Priest Lake are popular spots to fish for bluegill, bream, perch and other sunfish. More...
Walleye Lakes
Lake Pend Oreille, Oneida Lake, Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir and Oakley Reservoir (which produced the Idaho state record walleye) are some of the better lakes for walleye fishing. More...
Trout Lakes
Arrowrock Reservoir, Bear Lake, Chesterfield Reservoir, Deadwood Reservoir, Hayden Lake, Henry's Lake, Lake Pend Oreille, Lucky Peak Lake, Payette Lake and Priest Lake are the favorite options for steelhead, rainbow, cutthroat, brook, brown and lake trout. More...
Salmon Lakes
Cascade Reservoir, Coeur D'Alene Lake, Deadwood Reservoir, Dworshak Reservoir, Hayden Lake, Island Park Reservoir, Lake Lowell, Lake Pend Oreille, Payette Lake, Palisades Reservoir and Priest Lake are the most popular for atlantic and coho salmon fishing. More...
Visit the Idaho fishing page for links to information covering a wide variety of fish species and destinations in the state. Visit the Idaho map to identify your best route to these top fishing locations. Look to our sister site for additional information about boating in ID at many of the most popular destinations in the state.