Idaho Fish and Game is stocking almost 312,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout throughout the state in October. It’s typically a big month for stocking trout because predatory birds that feed on the fish are gone or leaving, waters are cooler, and fishing managers are providing good fall fishing opportunities and loading up for ice fisheries.

With so many fish stocked in so many places, it can be hard for anglers to sift through the stocking forecasts and records to identify noteworthy stocking events. To make it easier, we asked Fish and Game hatchery staff to highlight some stocking events for the month.

Many of the waters highlighted below are easy to access, family-friendly fishing destinations. All you need to get started is a fishing license and some basic tackle. Annual adult fishing licenses cost around $30, junior licenses (ages 14 to 17) cost $16, and youth under 14 fish for free.

Fishing for stocked rainbow trout, particularly in community ponds, is a great way to introduce new anglers to the sport by using simple (and relatively thrifty) setups like worm/marshmallow combinations or commercial baits like Powerbait or Crave, either near the bottom or below a bobber.

Most Idaho waters are open to fishing year-round, but some may have slightly different rules. Be sure to pick up a 2019-21 Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules Booklet, which outlines season dates, special regulations and bag limits at any Idaho Fish and Game offices or most sporting goods stores statewide.

To view a complete list of waters being stocked around the state, visit tinyurl.com/2c7e4t2e. Below are some of the waters closer to Pocatello.

Magic Valley Region

Blair Trail Fishing Pond: 2,000 rainbow trout. Located on Little Canyon Creek, this is a remote desert water surrounded by sagebrush solitude.

Burley Pond: 2,000 rainbow trout.

Dog Creek Reservoir: 5,000 rainbow trout. Located in Gooding County, check out this video to learn what to expect from this high desert reservoir: youtu.be/wUOy_gnXfXE.

Freedom Park Pond: 700 rainbow trout. This trout pond was built with young kids in mind!

Lake Walcott: 24,000 rainbow trout.

Southeast Region

American Falls Reservoir: 42,000 rainbow trout.

Blackfoot Reservoir: 80,000 rainbow trout.

Chesterfield Reservoir: 19,200 rainbow trout. This reservoir is known for growing ‘em big! It’s a trophy trout water so the limit is two fish.

Devil Creek Reservoir: 11,650 rainbow trout. This reservoir provides some of the best trout fishing in the region and it’s easily accessible. Located 8 miles north of Malad, it is visible from Interstate 15.

Edson Fichter Pond: 1,600 rainbow trout. This community pond is located in southwest Pocatello along the Portneuf River at Edson Fichter Nature Area. It features several docks and a trail for access around the pond. Limited development and the Nature Area provide a rural feel. Just minutes from downtown Pocatello, this site offers local anglers a convenient escape close to home.

Snake River: 31,950 rainbow trout. Stocking will occur at Tilden, Blackfoot and Firth.

Upper Snake Region

Island Park Reservoir: 13,270 rainbow trout. This is a large scenic reservoir on the Henrys Fork. Bank fishing can be quite good in the fall. In the winter, anglers often ice fish near the dam.

Salmon Region

Hayden Creek Pond: 600 rainbow trout. Here is a family friendly fishing area in the high desert along Hayden Creek. Anglers will find ample bank fishing opportunities and a dock for anglers with limited mobility.

Hyde Creek Pond: 400 rainbow trout. This small pond is surrounded by sagebrush. The open site and level terrain provide ideal bank fishing for beginning anglers and those who want to practice casting techniques.

Idaho Fish and Game is stocking 300,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout throughout the state in June.

Many of the waters highlighted below are easy to access, family-friendly fishing destinations. All you need to get started is a fishing license and some basic tackle. Annual adult fishing licenses cost around $30, junior licenses (ages 14 to 17) cost $16, and youth under 14 fish for free. 

Fishing for stocked rainbow trout, particularly in community ponds, is a great way to introduce new anglers to the sport by using simple (and relatively thrifty) setups like worm/marshmallow combinations or commercial baits like PowerBait or Crave, either near the bottom or below a bobber.

Here are some of the notable stockings from the eastern part of the state.

Southeast Region

Bannock Reservoir — 3,000 rainbow trout. Located within the Portneuf Wellness Complex in Pocatello, this community park offers good trout fishing. Multiple docks provide fishing access around the 5-acre pond.

Bear River — 3,500 rainbow trout. These fish will be stocked in the scenic Oneida Narrows reach of the river. Make it an overnight trip and set-up camp at Redpoint Campground. Ten developed sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Cub River — 1,000 rainbow trout. This beautiful little river is located south of Preston. All fish will be stocked in and around the Willow Flat Campground area.

Johnson Reservoir — 1,750 rainbow trout. This 50 acre irrigation reservoir is surrounded by large cottonwood trees and offers a boat ramp, dock and restrooms. There is also a variety of warm-water game fish so bring your entire tackle box.

Montpelier Reservoir — 1,000 tiger trout. This reservoir offers angling opportunities for a variety of fish species in a peaceful rural setting.

Upper Snake Region

Birch Creek — 3,400 rainbow trout. A productive spring creek in a high desert basin, this small stream is ideal for kids and less experienced anglers. Rainbow trout are stocked heavily around access areas and wild brook trout are fairly common.

Camas Creek — 750 rainbow trout. Located near Spencer, this is one of our newer stocking locations that’s quickly become a popular fishery. 

Henrys Fork — 10,000 rainbow trout. The river is suitable for wade fishing, bank fishing and fishing from a boat.

Horseshoe Lake — 3,000 rainbow trout. This is a great place to take newer anglers to catch rainbow trout. More experienced anglers may try to catch some of the Arctic Grayling that are stocked annually.

Island Park Reservoir — 12,000 rainbow trout. There are several developed campgrounds and boat launches near this large scenic reservoir on the Henrys Fork. Fishing is best from a boat, but bank fishing can be quite good in the springtime.

Salmon Region

Bayhorse Lake — 2,000 rainbow trout. Anglers will find good catch rates at this drive-in mountain lake. Primitive campsites are available. Check out Little Bayhorse Lake (1,000 rainbow trout) while you’re in the area. The two lakes are connected by a mile-long hiking trail.

Cape Horn Lake No. 1 — 600 rainbow trout. This is the larger of two picturesque lakes endowed with fish, lily pads and frogs. Especially well-suited to float tubes or a small boat, this lake offers limited shoreline access. The area is good for wildlife viewing and is Stop 20 on the Idaho Birding Trail. Camping is available at nearby Forest Service sites. No facilities are available here.

Salmon River — Sections 5 to 8 will be stocked with a total of 8,000 rainbow trout: Section 5, O’Brien Campground to Torrey’s Hole; Section 6, Lower Stanley to Sunbeam Hot Springs; Section 7, Sunny Gulch Campground to Stanley; and Section 8, Decker Flats to Buckhorn Bridge.

Stanley Lake — 2,100 rainbow trout. This is a popular spot known for its breathtaking view of the Sawtooth Mountains. It offers great fishing and places for kids to explore nature.

Wallace Lake — 1,500 tiger trout. Kids will enjoy fishing from shore and exploring the surrounding woods. Grown-ups will appreciate this high-country fishing retreat to a beautiful mountain lake. 

Fish stocking is starting to ramp back up in most of the state for March as the weather gets warmer and spring gets closer, and many waters are being stocked for the first time since fall. About 70,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout will be stocked throughout Idaho during the month.

With so many fish stocked in so many places, it can be hard for anglers to sift through the stocking forecasts and records to identify noteworthy stocking events. To make it easier, we asked Fish and Game hatchery staff to highlight some stocking events for the month of March:

Southeast Region

American Falls Reservoir: 18,000 Rainbow Trout. This large waterbody on the Snake River provides abundant boating opportunity. Additionally, there is good shoreline fishing near the west side boat ramp located by the dam. These fish will be stocked once ice is off.

Bannock Reservoir: 1,000 Rainbow Trout. Located within the Portneuf Wellness Complex Park near the County Fairgrounds in Pocatello, this community park offers trout fishing with many recreational amenities nearby. The five-acre pond is surrounded by playgrounds, soccer fields, basketball courts, running and biking trails, and an amphitheater for community events. Multiple docks provide fishing access around the pond.

Bear River below Oneida Dam: 1,500 Rainbow Trout. These fish will be stocked in the very scenic Oneida Narrows reach of the river below the dam. This popular section of the river offers the longest continuous public access along the entire Bear River.

Bear River below Alexander Dam: 1,250 Rainbow Trout. This “tucked away” section of river can provide some awesome fishing opportunity for those willing to walk along the banks.

Edson Fichter Pond: 950 Rainbow Trout. This community pond is located in southwestern Pocatello along the Portneuf River at Edson Fichter Nature Area. It features several docks and a trail for access around the pond. Limited development and the Nature Area provide a rural feel. Just minutes from downtown Pocatello, this site offers local anglers a convenient escape close to home.

Upper Snake Region

Gem Lake: 3,000 Rainbow Trout. Conveniently located near Idaho Falls at the Gem Lake Recreation Area.

Salmon Region

Hayden Creek Pond: 650 Rainbow Trout. This is a family friendly fishing area in the high desert along Hayden Creek. Anglers will find ample bank fishing opportunities and a dock for anglers with limited mobility.

Kids Creek Pond: 300 Rainbow Trout. Located near downtown Salmon, this small fishing pond offers good trout fishing and is regularly stocked throughout the spring and summer. Take the kids out for a fun afternoon of fishing!

Clearwater Region

Kiwanis Park Pond: 1,500 Rainbow Trout. This convenient community pond is located next to the Snake River within walking distance to picnic shelters and a playground. The pond is stocked with Rainbow Trout from March through June and in October to maintain high catch rates for anglers. Access this levee pond in Lewiston’s Kiwanis Park along Snake River Avenue south of Bridge Street.

Mann Lake: 5,400 Rainbow Trout. Located in Nez Perce County, this lake provides a multi-species fishery. In addition to Rainbow Trout, anglers can catch bass, catfish and a variety of panfish. Only electric motors are allowed on this waterbody.

Southwest Region (Nampa)

Caldwell Rotary Pond: 900 Rainbow Trout. Rotary Pond is a park-like setting. Lots of bank fishing offers young anglers easy access to fish for bluegills and bass. A dock invites visitors of every mobility level to enjoy the fishing.

Crane Falls Reservoir: 1,200 Rainbow Trout. This waterbody is alongside the Snake River in the sagebrush south of Mountain Home. This lake is best fished from small boats and float craft, though several fishing docks are available.

Dick Knox Pond: 800 Rainbow Trout. Located just south of the corner of West Sales Yard and Airport roads in Emmett, this pond gives anglers the chance to pursue a wide variety of fish species. Pond amenities include five floating docks – one ADA accessible, two restrooms, a boat launch and ample parking.

Duff Lane Pond: 325 Rainbow Trout. A small ramp is available for launching small boats and float craft. There are also two fishing docks. In addition to Rainbow Trout, bass and bluegill are often targeted by anglers.

Ed’s Pond: 200 Rainbow Trout. This small fishing pond is located in Emmett’s Gem Island Park along the Payette River. It’s adjacent to the greenbelt so it provides the opportunity for more outdoor recreation options.

Horseshoe Bend Mill Pond: 650 Rainbow Trout. Just north of town, this pond features easy access and productive fishing for bass and trout in a pleasant setting next to the Payette River. This pond is one of more than seventy waters designated as Family Fishing Waters in Idaho. These waters have been established to make it easier for families to go and enjoy fishing. The rules are simple and there are lots of fish to catch.

Kleiner Pond: 900 Rainbow Trout. Within Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park, there is a large fishing platform and plenty of shoreline access. This is a family-friendly water with paved paths and full-feature city park activities.

Magic Valley Region

Blair Trail Fishing Pond: 1,200 Rainbow Trout. Located on Little Canyon Creek, this remote desert water is surrounded by sagebrush solitude.

Cedar Creek Reservoir (Roseworth Reservoir): 2,000 Rainbow Trout. If you are looking to get out of town for the day, this reservoir is a remote trout fishery in the high desert. It has great shoreline access as well as high water and low water boat ramps.

Freedom Park Pond: 1,000 Rainbow Trout. Located in Burley, this trout pond was built with young anglers in mind. Go cast a line with the kiddos!

Idaho Fish and Game has continued stocking fish during COVID-19, and despite this being an abnormal year, most of Idaho’s angling opportunities remain unchanged. Here’s a sampling of some places that will get generous trout stockings during June.

To see more about what waters have been stocked, go our the Fish Stocking webpage at https://idfg.idaho.gov/fish/stocking.

Magic Valley Region

Little Wood Reservoir — 6,000 rainbow trout. This reservoir provides great trout fishing and a retreat from the heat in an upland desert setting.

Camas Kids Pond — 1,500 rainbow trout. This is a small, scenic pond near Fairfield. The Centennial Marsh and Camas Prairie Wildlife Management Area are nearby and provide great bird watching opportunities.

Penny Lake — 1,000 rainbow trout. Great rustic fishing on a small pond! Penny Lake also offers hiking and biking opportunities.

Southeast Region

Bannock Reservoir — 1,000 rainbow trout. Located within the Portneuf Wellness Complex in Pocatello, this community park offers good trout fishing. Multiple docks provide fishing access around the 5-acre pond.

Montpelier Reservoir — 1,000 tiger trout. This reservoir offers angling opportunity for a variety of fish species in a peaceful rural setting.

Upper Snake Region

Camas Creek — 750 rainbow trout. This was a new stocking location beginning in 2019. Come experience what it has to offer.

Henry’s Fork — 10,000 rainbow trout. World famous for trout fishing! The river is suitable for wade fishing, bank fishing and fishing from a boat.

Birch Creek — 3,400 rainbow trout. A productive spring creek in a high desert basin, this small stream is ideal for kids and less experienced anglers. rainbow trout are stocked heavily around access areas and wild brook trout are fairly common.

Salmon Region

Salmon River — Sections 5 to 8 will be stocked with a total of 8,800 rainbow trout.

Stanley Lake — 4,200 rainbow trout. This is a popular spot known for its breathtaking view of the Sawtooth Mountains. It offers great fishing and places for kids to explore nature.

Alturas Lake — 3,480 rainbow trout.

Idaho Fish and Game stocks over 30 million fish from its hatcheries into waters throughout the state every year, providing Idahoans with fishing opportunities for a variety of species.

Stocking is ramping back up in many parts of the state in March as the weather gets warmer and spring approaches, and many waterbodies are being stocked for the first time since the fall. With so many fish stocked in so many places, it can be hard for anglers to sift through the stocking forecasts and records to identify noteworthy stocking events. To make it easier, we asked Fish and Game hatchery staff to highlight some stocking events for the month of March.

Whether it is a large number of fish being stocked relative to the size of the water, a unique species, a new location, or a one-time-only stocking, we asked them to point out events anglers would be interested in knowing about. Here’s what they came up with:

Clearwater Region

Kiwanis Park Pond — 1,500 rainbow trout. This convenient community pond is located next to the Snake River within walking distance to picnic shelters and a playground. The pond is stocked with rainbow trout from March through June and in October to maintain high catch rates for anglers. Access this levee pond in Lewiston’s Kiwanis Park along Snake River Avenue south of Bridge Street.

Mann Lake — 5,400 rainbow trout. Located in Nez Perce County, this lake provides a multi-species fishery. In addition to rainbow trout, anglers can catch bass, catfish and a variety of panfish. Only electric motors are allowed on this waterbody.

Southwest Region (Nampa)

Caldwell Rotary Pond — 1,000 rainbow trout. Rotary Pond is a park-like setting. Lots of bank fishing offers young anglers easy access to fish for bluegills and bass. A dock invites visitors of every mobility level to enjoy the fishing.

Crane Falls Reservoir — 1,200 rainbow trout. This waterbody is alongside the Snake River in the sagebrush south of Mountain Home. This lake is best fished from small boats and float craft, though several fishing docks are available.

Esther Simplot Pond — 1,300 rainbow trout. Located next to the Boise River, this park offers fishing, walking and biking paths, docks, shelters and a playground.

Horseshoe Bend Mill Pond — 450 rainbow trout. Just north of town, this pond features easy access and productive fishing for bass and trout in a pleasant setting next to the Payette River. This pond is one of more than seventy waters designated as Family Fishing Waters in Idaho. These waters have been established to make it easier for families to go and enjoy fishing. The rules are simple and there are lots of fish to catch.

McDevitt Pond — 900 rainbow trout. Located in west Boise’s McDevitt Sports Park, this pond is between Meridian and Eagle at the northwest corner of McMillan and Eagle roads. This small neighborhood pond offers easily accessible fishing to catch tasty trout for dinner.

Riverside Pond — 900 rainbow trout. This is a quiet neighborhood pond right off the Boise Greenbelt. It is tucked into the trees off Glenwood Road. It offers good bank fishing and a large fishing dock.

Magic Valley Region

Blair Trail Fishing Pond — 2,000 rainbow trout. First stocking event for 2020! Located on Little Canyon Creek, this remote desert water is surrounded by sagebrush solitude.

Cedar Creek Reservoir (Roseworth Reservoir) — 2,000 rainbow trout. If you are looking to get out of town for the day, this reservoir is a remote trout fishery in the high desert. It has great shoreline access as well as high water and low water boat ramps.

Southeast Region

American Falls Reservoir — 18,000 rainbow trout. This large waterbody on the Snake River provides abundant boating opportunity. Additionally, there is good shoreline fishing near the west side boat ramp located by the dam. These fish will be stocked once ice is off.

Bannock Reservoir — 1,000 rainbow trout. Located within the Portneuf Wellness Complex near the county fairgrounds in Pocatello, this community park offers trout fishing with many recreational amenities nearby. The five-acre pond is surrounded by playgrounds, soccer fields, basketball courts, running and biking trails, and an amphitheater for community events. Multiple docks provide fishing access around the pond.

Bear River below Oneida Dam — 1,500 rainbow trout. These fish will be stocked in the very scenic Oneida Narrows reach of the river below the dam. This popular section of the river offers the longest continuous public access along the entire Bear River.

Upper Snake Region

Gem Lake — 3,000 rainbow trout. Conveniently located near Idaho Falls at the Gem Lake Recreation Area.

Salmon Region

Hayden Creek Pond — 650 rainbow trout. This is a family friendly fishing area in the high desert along Hayden Creek. Anglers will find ample bank fishing opportunities and a dock for anglers with limited mobility.

Kids Creek Pond — Located near downtown Salmon, this small fishing pond offers good trout fishing and is regularly stocked throughout the spring and summer. Take the kids out to cast a line!