The Best Fishing Lakes In Idaho

Guide to 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
Catfish Lakes
Crappie Lakes
Sunfish & Perch Lakes
Walleye Lakes
Trout Lakes
Striped Bass Lakes
Salmon Lakes

Idaho is blessed with a diverse range of fishing lakes, offering a variety of warm water and cold water fishing opportunities. Warm water lakes, known for their higher water temperatures, provide habitat for species such as bass, panfish, and catfish. These lakes are abundant in vegetation and offer excellent fishing for anglers targeting warm water species.

Lake Lowell, located near Boise, is a popular warm water lake in Idaho. It offers exceptional fishing for largemouth bass, crappie, and catfish. Anglers can explore its coves and channels to target bass or cast around submerged structure for crappie. Lake Lowell provides an ideal setting for a day of warm water fishing excitement.

In contrast, cold water lakes in Idaho are known for their lower water temperatures and are home to popular cold water species like trout and salmon. These lakes often have cooler, oxygen-rich waters that support thriving populations of cold water fish species.

One such cold water lake is Henrys Lake, situated in southeastern Idaho. Known for its trophy-sized trout, Henrys Lake offers excellent fishing opportunities for native Yellowstone cutthroat trout and hybrid cutthroat-rainbow trout. Anglers can experience the thrill of casting flies or trolling lures in the clear waters of Henrys Lake, surrounded by stunning mountain views.

Idaho's diverse fishing lakes cater to a wide range of angling interests, whether it's pursuing warm water species in lakes like Lake Lowell or targeting cold water species in lakes like Henrys Lake. With its wealth of lakes and the abundance of fish species, Idaho remains a haven for anglers seeking memorable fishing experiences in both warm and cold water environments.

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.