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The first word that comes to the mind of an angler when he hears about Idaho is GREAT FISHING OPPORTUNITIES. Idaho is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Idaho means “Land of many waters,” which clearly states its extraordinary specialty in fishing. Why fish in Idaho? Idaho offers the anglers to pursue the greatest fish in the world as it is a home for different types of fish, including Trout, Steelhead, Salmon, Muskie, etc.
People mostly prefer oceans to satisfy their fondness for fishing. It is because oceans provide a large variety of fish, and there is a thrill of what you might find at the end of the line. However, some people prefer lakes because it offers them a more intimate relationship than ocean fishing.
The best fishing season can be both spring and fall. An important fishing tip is to avoid it during extreme weather conditions. In summer, early mornings are the best time to fish, whereas, in spring and fall, it’s preferred to go around dusk.
Best Locations to Fish In Idaho
Idaho offers a lot of fishing lakes, oceans, and rivers which makes it a fishing vacation destination hard to resist. We’ve gone through and done the research for you and listed out some of our favorite places and cities in Idaho to fish!
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Lake Couer d'Alene Fishing
Lake Coeur d’Alene is a dam-controlled lake in North Idaho. It is located in the Pacific North-West region of the United States. Its coordinates are given below: Longitude 47°N, longitude 116°W. The length of the lake is almost 25 miles, and its width stretches from 1-3 miles with 109 miles of shoreline.
Lake Coeur d’Alene is a home for a number of fish, including Brown Trout, Chinook Salmon, Brown bullhead, Bull trout, Black Crappie, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Tiger Muskie, etc. A lake providing a wide range of fish species clearly brings people from all over the world to enjoy excellent fishing, breathtaking views, and all the amenities you are looking for on vacation.
The weather conditions in Coeur d’Alene are average. It offers all four seasons. The summers are mostly warm and dry while winters are cold. The temperature typically varies from 24°F to 86°F and is rarely below 9°F or above 95°F. July is the hottest month where temperature increases to 89.2°F while January is the coldest month, the temperature lowers down to 23.6°F.
People mostly fish Chinook Salmon and Steelhead in this particular area.
Snake River Idaho Fishing
The Snake River flows through the Snake River Plain of southern Idaho. It emerges from western Wyoming and it is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest region in the United States. Its coordinates are as follows: Latitude 46°N and Longitude, 119°W. The Snake River stretches to about 1078 miles and is the largest North American River to empty into the Pacific!
Snake River is a home for a variety of fish species like Smallmouth Bass, Trout, Steelhead Rainbow Trout, Sturgeon, and Channel Catfish, etc. Anglers are encouraged to pay their visit to the Snake River due to the diversity of fish species. Sturgeon is one of the greatest populations of fish to provide food and income to a number of people.
The weather conditions in the Snake River depends on what time of the year and state you’re in but they are mostly warm and sunny, and it rarely rains there on the Idaho section. The daylight temperature ranges from 85-95 degrees Fahrenheit in June, where it is warm. The night temperature fairly drops down to 65-70 degrees in August. There is a random change in temperatures with sudden rainstorms.
People mostly fish Steelhead, Sturgeon, and Salmon in Snake River and it is widely regarded as one of the top rivers to fish in the Pacific Northwest and Idaho!
Lake Pend Oreille Fishing
Lake Pend Oreille is located on the northern Panhandle and is the largest lake in the U.S. state of Idaho. It covers an area of 148 square miles and has 111 miles of shoreline! The lake gets its water from Clark Fork River and the Pack River and is surrounded by national forests and a few small towns. The average depth is about 540 feet and the maximum depth gets all the way up to 1150 ft. Geographically, it is located as follows: Latitude 48°N and Longitude 116°W.
Lake Pend Oreille offers a great number of fishing opportunities as well, including Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and Lake Trout. One of the best things about fishing in Lake Pend Oreille is the massive shoreline, so you can catch huge fish in plenty of locations without needing a boat!
The northern Lake Pend Oreille offers average weather conditions. The summers are short but warm and dry, whereas winters become very chilly. The temperature typically varies from 24°F to 86°F and is rarely below 9°F or above 95°F.
People mostly fish Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Northern Pike, and Kokanee Salmon as they find their way from Clark Fork River.
Dworshak Reservoir Fishing
Dworshak Reservoir is found in central Idaho and is located on the north of the Clearwater River. It provides a beautiful and thrilling fishing environment for its visitors. People indulge themselves in a ton of different ventures like swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, water-skiing, camping, hiking, etc. Its coordinates are given as Longitude 116°W and Latitude 46°N.
Dworshak Reservoir is a home for smallmouth bass, black crappie, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, kokanee salmon, and steelhead. Like the lakes mentioned above, the Dworshak reservoir being located near the Clearwater River becomes a major source for bringing different species of fish into this massive calm reservoir.
As with the other lakes and rivers in Idaho, the weather conditions are almost the same. There are sudden rainstorms. The average temperature varies from 24°F to 86°F and is rarely below 9°F or above 95°F. The summers are short and dry, whereas the winters are very brisk, thus creating an adequate temperature for fishing and other activities such as hiking, boating, and hunting, etc.
Most people are seen fishing all types of fish in Dworshak Reservoir, including rainbow trout, steelhead, kokanee salmon, and a variety of different types of Trout.
Brownlee Dam is basically a hydroelectric powered dam located in the western United States right along the border of Idaho and Oregon. . It is situated on Snake River and offers a 50 mile stretch of calm water perfect for fishing! The Brownlee Reservoir also offers spectacular views as it almost looks like a valley since the embankment of the Snake River is so high.
Brownlee Reservoir is on Snake River but gets a special mention due to the serene landscape and pristine fishing conditions you get. There are no restrictions on using a boat either, so you can choose to fish from the shore or get right out on the water! People from all over the world fish the Brownlee Reservoir and get to attempt catching a variety of fish such as Bass, Crappie, Trout, Bluegill, Catfish, Yellow Perch, etc.
Brownlee Reservoir brings about all four seasons. The weather remains average there. There are hailstorms and rainstorms during the course of the year. June is one of the warmest months of the year, while January being the coldest. It is one of the most breathtaking tourist attractions and compels people to leave their four-walled room and give themselves the experience of a soothing place like Idaho.
Best Cities for Fishing in Idaho
Idaho has contributed a major role in enhancing the economy of the United States of America by its endless breathtaking and awe-inspiring fishing lakes and rivers. Idaho gives its visitors a charm that makes them hooked to the place. Some of the cities that will make your fishing trip to Idaho more enjoyable, or if you just need to stock up on some more bait are described below!
Nampha, Idaho for Fishing
Being Idaho’s most populous city, the population was marked to be 81,557 at the 2010 census. Nampa is about 20 miles west of Boise. Like Kuna, Nampa is also considered to be one of the important cities for sight-seeing and being near the capital of the U.S. state of Idaho. Its coordinates are as follows Longitude 116°W and Latitude 44°N.
Talking about different tourist attractions, Nampa has set a different level for all those people who are looking for a good vacation. Nampa has twenty-four parks, the largest of which is Lakeview Park.
The Nampa Recreation Center facility with a six-pool aquatic center, theaters, racquetball courts for sports, and exercise equipment for fitness, and other activity areas. The different parks, all with different amenities to offer, compel people to visit there.
Nampa provided a wide range of fishing opportunities in the following lakes/rivers that a easily accessed closeby:
- Lake Lowell
- Lucky Peak State Park
- Lake Owyhee State Park
Kuna, Idaho
Kuna is one of the fastest-growing cities in Idaho with a population of 15,210, as recorded in the 2010 census, with 4,782 households and 3,838 families residing in it. Geographically it is located at Longitude 116°W and Latitude 44°N.
If we search for different festivities and attractions here, Kuna doesn’t disappoint us. Regular festivities include food vendors around the park, live music concerts, a free kids funfair, a barbecue charity at the fire station, a procession, a street dance, and a fireworks show.
Kuna is a safe place to live in. It has less crime rate than any other state in Idaho. It is a small town with a lot of facilities to offer, and it is around 13.5 miles to Boise, which is the capital city of the U.S. state of Idaho.
Following are some of the fishing opportunities in City of Kuna:
- Eagle Island State Park
- Boise River Greenbelt.
- Ontario State Recreation Site.
- Bruneau Dunes State Park.
- Lake Cascade State Park.
Meridian, Idaho
Meridian is the third most populous city in the U.S. state of Idaho after Boise and Nampa. Its population, as marked from the 2010 census, is 75,092. It is considered the fastest-growing city in the United States. Geographically, it is located on Longitude 116°W and Latitude 44°N.
Meridian shares boundaries with the two largest cities in Idaho. Boise and Nampa. Boise is on the east, whereas Nampa is located on the west. Therefore, residents of Meridian often take advantage of the recreation and sports opportunities in those cities.
Meridian provides a wide range of fishing opportunities in the following lakes/rivers:
- Lake Lowell.
- Lucky Peak State Park.
- Lake Owyhee State Park.
- Swan Falls Dam.
- Arrow Rock Reservoir.
- South Fork Boise River.
- Local Ponds.
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital city of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is the highly populated city in Idaho, with a population of 709,845. Being the capital of the state, it is the cultural center and home to many small businesses, and the major business of the state runs through it.
Hence, its importance cannot be negated in any way. Geographically, it is located as the given below coordinates: Longitude 116°W and Latitude 44°N.
The area contains the Basque Block, which displays Boise heritage. Downtown Boise’s main attractions include the Idaho State Capitol and Julia Davis Park. Julia Davis Park includes the Boise Zoo and Art Museum that exhibits the rich history Of Boise.
There are opera performances and music concerts near the Egyptian Theater that catches the attention of millions of people around the world.
Boise will also not discourage you if you need a vacation and plan to fish. Following are its some of the lakes/rivers that is a home for a wide range of fish species:
- Swan Falls Dam
- Arrow Rock Reservoir
- South Fork Boise River
Couer d'Alene, Idaho
Coeur d’Alene located geographically on: Longitude 116°W and Latitude 44°N is one of the most important cities in the state of Idaho. It has significantly grown itself in recent years all because of the tourism resorts, fishing lakes, and amazing views that take the tourist’s breath away.
Tourism has played an important role in enhancing the economy of the city. Its population is 51,303, as estimated by the United States Census Bureau. As of the census of 2010, there were 44,137 people, 18,395 households, and 10,813 families residing in the city.
Tourist attraction places are abundant in the city that includes Tubbs Hills, Lake Coeur d’Alene, McEuen Park and Dog Park, Museum of North Idaho, Coeur d’Alene City Park, and etc.
As far as fishing is concerned, the following are some of the opportunities that will make you fall for them. Some of them are given below:
- Lake Pend Oreille
- Lake Coeur d’Alene
- Sandpoint City Beach.
- Hayden Lake.
- Coeur d’Alene River
- Priest River
- Priest Lake.
Wrapping Up The Best Fishing in Idaho
The U.S. state of Idaho has never let us down with its magnificent and spectacular sceneries and beautiful lakes/rivers that bring people to life as they leave their houses to find peace and calm. If you really are looking for a place that relaxes your mind and takes you to another world, you have got to visit Idaho.
Idaho offers not only bewildering resorts but also promises great fishing experience with hunting and multiple amenities to bring tranquility in your busy lives. Lake Coeur d’Alene with its exotic fishing experience and resort, Snake River for its Sturgeon Fish, Lake Pend Oreille for its Northern Pike, Dworshak reservoir for numerous activities like swimming, boating, and skiing, etc. Brownlee Reservoir for all kinds of Trout. You just can’t miss Idaho if you feel like fishing!