They say, “there’s no place like home for the weekends and holidays. However, you’d be heedless to skip Idaho; Boise’s state capital is surprisingly sophisticated and friendly, but above all, this is a destination for the outdoors enthusiast. You can’t come to Idaho without going for angling. Idaho is known for its world-class fishing. When talking about angling in Idaho, most people automatically think of rainbow trout, cutthroat, majestic Chinook Salmon, steelhead, or the hardy sockeye. If you like to catch and release, only a few veterans will mention bass because they want to enjoy the same wild and untouched waters by themselves. It’s time to reveal their beautiful secret!
Idaho’s best bass fishing spots have taken every form, from deep water boating with heavy gear to alpine walk-and-wade fly fishing. Idaho has it all. Idaho’s most recognized bass fishing spots are the lakes and rivers such as the South Fork of the Boise River, Lake Lowell, and Snake River
They have calm, clear waters filled with a wide variety of fish species that is unmatched. Whether you want to go for a slow-paced day teaching your family how to fish or a technical day targeting difficult species, the lakes, streams, and rivers have it all.
Explore Idahos Best Bass Fishing Spots.
If you are looking for epic bass fishing spots in Idaho or unforgettable fishing family memories, look no further than the following list.
1. Dworshak Reservoir
The Dworshak Reservoir is a 55-mile water reservoir with over 17,000 surface acres of water that offers the largest Smallmouth Bass in Idaho. Located on the North Fork of the Clearwater River, it’s one of three major dams constructed by The Bureau Of Reclamation. It is the second-largest dam in the U.S. Dworshak Reservoir has a well-deserved reputation for producing big bronzebacks and holds the state’s current certified weight record caught by Dan Steigers at 9.72 pounds.
Fervent bass anglers look forward to springtime each year, as it gives the best chances to see large smallmouth bass. Smallmouths feed more aggressively as water temperatures rise into the 50’s before spawning.
2. Lake Pend Oreille
Lake Pend Oreille is an incredible lake with plenty to offer for the bass angler. The lake stretches nearly 50 lineal miles from Sandpoint to Idlewilde Bay at Farragut State Park. It has different fishing options to choose from- including shoreline access points that are easily fished on foot or by boat. Lake Pend Oreille has many small coves with heavy cover where fish love to spawn close to underwater structures like rocks, sunken trees, and boat docks.
You can also find various fish species such as walleye, trout, white bass, crappie, and some northern pike. The lake is well known for its trophy smallmouths over ten pounds in size- with the current IGFA world record is caught here at 16 lbs., 15 ozs. The lake also has several largemouth basses, often overlooked. You’ll find them in the shallows around the mouth of Pack River and farther east in the waters around Denton Slough near the mouth of the Clark Fork. No matter which shoreline you fish in Lake Pend Oreille, it’s a good bet you’ll have a great day on the water!
3. Snake River
The Snake River is one of the most famous rivers in Idaho. Many anglers go to this river for its large population of Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, and White Sturgeon. Smallmouth bass is plentiful, with the best bite from late spring to early fall, while the rainbow trout focus on the first 15 miles below the dam, especially at tributary mouths. This incredible fishery stretches over 200 miles from Hells Canyon Dam through Northwestern Wyoming into Eastern Oregon before entering Washington, where it flows into the Columbia River at Boardman, OR.
The Snake River offers various fishing spots for anglers to choose from, including bank access points and boat docks. It has an incredible scenery that provides an unforgettable backdrop when you’re out on the water- making it well worth multiple trips back!
4. Lake Lowell
You will find Lake Lowell near Nampa in Canyon County. The construction of the earthen created this reservoir during Lowell Dam in 1963. It’s a great place to fish for largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow perch, chinook salmon, and other species. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout each spring by the Department Of Fish And Game (DFG).
Lake Lowell has three public boat ramps located at Kings Landing County Park, Lake Lowell Park, and Stein’s Landing for fishing and pleasure. It also has many private marinas that provide boat slips, dry storage lots, and other services for boaters such as fuel, repairs, and equipment rentals. The lake is a popular place to fish during the summer because it stays cool even on the hottest days, thanks to its depth of 55 feet at a complete pool. Lake Lowell is at an elevation of 2,500 feet above sea level and often provides ice fishing during winter when there is safe ice. There is also a good largemouth bass population in the lake, with some reaching trophy size (over five pounds).
5. Lake Cascade
Lake Cascade is on the Middle Fork Boise River right outside Cascade and McCall, Idaho. This lovely reservoir was created by building Coyote Dam to meet irrigation requirements for farmers downstream. The pool is approximately seven miles long and has 15 miles of shoreline, an elevation 4,830 feet above sea level that supports warm-water and cold-water fish species. Lake Cascade offers excellent trout, bass, and panfish action.
The lake has terrific camping opportunities at Coyote Creek County Park on its west end and Wilderness Resort Campground on its eastern end. This lake is somewhat unique in that it has both west slope cutthroat trout and rainbow trout; however, most anglers will find them to be no more than two pounds each if they are lucky enough to get one after hours of fishing at this beautiful reservoir.
6. Anderson Lake
The famous Anderson lake is on the South Fork of the Boise River reservoir; it’s 14 miles long, 1 mile wide, 50 miles of shoreline, and 315 feet deep. Notorious for its kokanee fishery, Anderson lake is a treasured fishing spot in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. This lake has been the site of many state and world records for kokanee salmon, weighing 16 pounds! Underground waters connect Anderson lake, providing habitat for several fish species, including rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, kokanee salmon, mountain whitefish, and suckers. The best fishing will be from mid-May to early September, with the peak in late June when the kokanee run is at its height.
7. Brownlee Reservoir
Brownlee Reservoir location is on the Snake River. It’s a powerhouse for largemouth bass, crappies (both white and black), rainbow trout, white-center suckers, bluehead suckers, and speckled dace. The reservoir spans over 50 miles of the snake river with an 11000-acre fishing paradise. The best access points for this reservoir are Steck Park and Woodhead Park. The 190 miles of shoreline is not welcoming due to steep mountain terrain and no roads
8. Boise River
The Boise River flows thru the capital of Idaho, which provides an excellent opportunity for angling. Its bank holds many spots to fish from shore or on your boat. According to an article in “The Outdoor Wire” published by Angler’s Newsgroup, this river holds large numbers of smallmouth bass, walleye, and northern pike. It also has a good population of white sturgeon, but they are not famous for their trophy size. Boise river stretches for over 40 miles along the edge of Boise, Idaho. The best fishing is below Lucky Peak Dam, opening into Arrowrock Reservoir or upstream at Barber Park in Caldwell.
Conclusion
The bass fishing in Idaho stands out to a lot of people. With the best fish and some great locations, you can have a memorable time fishing! It’s essential to have a fishing license for these locations to avoid problems with the authorities.
