When is cutthroat trout season in Idaho?

Idaho keeps cutthroat trout open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What is the Idaho bag limit for cutthroat trout?

The Idaho daily bag limit for cutthroat trout is 2 / day on Snake River drainage; 0 / day catch-and-release-only on Salmon + Clearwater + St. Joe + listed wild-trout reaches (native cutthroat protection). The possession limit is 4 in possession on harvest waters. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size cutthroat trout can you keep in Idaho?

The Idaho size rule for cutthroat trout is No statewide minimum; 18 in min on South Fork Snake + 20 in min on Henrys Lake + 22 in min on Bear Lake TROPHY MANAGEMENT. Slot limit: South Fork Snake 18 in min + Henrys Lake 20 in min + Bear Lake 22 in min — release inside slot mandatory on TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches. Trophy rule: Henrys Lake 20 in min + 2 / day TROPHY MANAGEMENT (country's premier trophy Yellowstone cutthroat fishery); Bear Lake 22 in min + 2 / day TROPHY MANAGEMENT on endemic Bear Lake cutthroat (Oncorhynchus clarkii utah subspecies — one of only four endemic Bear Lake fish species); South Fork Snake 18 in min + 2 / day TROPHY MANAGEMENT; Salmon + Clearwater + St. Joe wild-trout reaches catch-and-release-only (IDFG native-cutthroat protection).

Do you need a license to fish for cutthroat trout in Idaho?

Yes. Idaho requires a valid fishing license to fish for cutthroat trout, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Idaho license — compare resident and non-resident Idaho fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for cutthroat trout in Idaho?

Yes. In Idaho, cutthroat trout fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; fly-fishing-only on listed wild-trout reaches; Artificial-lures-only + barbless single hook on Henrys Lake + South Fork Snake + listed catch-and-release reaches; Electric-motor-only special-regulation on Henrys Lake; IDFG Fishing Licence required ages 14+ ($30.50 res / $108.25 NR annual); Confirm current-year IDFG Fish + Game Rules for wild-trout reach + season list.

Do specific Idaho waters have different cutthroat trout rules?

Yes. 5 named Idaho waters carry rules that override the statewide cutthroat trout regulation, including Henrys Lake, Bear Lake, South Fork Snake River, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Idaho Cutthroat trout 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Oncorhynchus clarkii

Last updated May 27, 2026

Idaho is the heart of native cutthroat trout country in the West — four distinct cutthroat subspecies inhabit Idaho waters: westslope cutthroat (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) in the panhandle + St. Joe River + Coeur d'Alene drainage + upper Salmon + Selway + Lochsa headwaters; Yellowstone cutthroat (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri) in the upper Snake River + South Fork Snake + Henry's Fork + Henrys Lake + Teton drainage; Bear Lake cutthroat (Oncorhynchus clarkii utah subspecies endemic to Bear Lake — one of only four endemic Bear Lake fish species); and Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat (Oncorhynchus clarkii utah-bouvieri intergrade) in the lower South Fork Snake + Hoback + Greys River drainage of the Wyoming border. IDFG-managed Quality Management + catch-and-release-only protections on Henrys Lake + South Fork Snake + Salmon River + Clearwater River + St. Joe River + Bear Lake reflect aggressive native-cutthroat protection in response to non-native rainbow trout hybridization pressure (cutbow hybrids) + non-native brown trout + lake trout predation on Pend Oreille + Priest. Henrys Lake (6,500 acres natural lake on the Henry's Fork headwaters at the Continental Divide near Yellowstone NP) is one of the country's premier trophy Yellowstone cutthroat fisheries — IDFG-distinctive 20 in min + 2 / day TROPHY MANAGEMENT + electric-motor-only special-regulation. Bear Lake (110 sq mi natural lake on the ID/UT boundary) carries the endemic Bear Lake cutthroat trout under the IDFG/UDWR joint reciprocal compact + 22 in min + 2 / day TROPHY MANAGEMENT. The South Fork Snake River (65-mile tailwater) carries 18 in min cutthroat TROPHY MANAGEMENT + 2 / day per IDFG. The Salmon River + Clearwater + St. Joe wild cutthroat reaches carry 0 / day catch-and-release-only on listed reaches (IDFG protection for native westslope + Yellowstone cutthroat against non-native rainbow hybridization). IDFG stocks Henrys Lake cutbow hybrid annually via the Henrys Lake State Fish Hatchery + Bear Lake Bonneville cutthroat via the Mackay State Fish Hatchery. Open year-round on most waters; Henrys Lake season opening + closure tied to ice-out + ice-in.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round on most waters; Henrys Lake season opening tied to ice-out (mid-May) + ice-in (early November); Bear Lake + Snake River drainage wild-trout reaches managed under IDFG special-regulation.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 2 / day on Snake River drainage; 0 / day catch-and-release-only on Salmon + Clearwater + St. Joe + listed wild-trout reaches (native cutthroat protection)
Possession: 4 in possession on harvest waters

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No statewide minimum; 18 in min on South Fork Snake + 20 in min on Henrys Lake + 22 in min on Bear Lake TROPHY MANAGEMENT
Slot: South Fork Snake 18 in min + Henrys Lake 20 in min + Bear Lake 22 in min — release inside slot mandatory on TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches
Trophy rule: Henrys Lake 20 in min + 2 / day TROPHY MANAGEMENT (country's premier trophy Yellowstone cutthroat fishery); Bear Lake 22 in min + 2 / day TROPHY MANAGEMENT on endemic Bear Lake cutthroat (Oncorhynchus clarkii utah subspecies — one of only four endemic Bear Lake fish species); South Fork Snake 18 in min + 2 / day TROPHY MANAGEMENT; Salmon + Clearwater + St. Joe wild-trout reaches catch-and-release-only (IDFG native-cutthroat protection)

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; fly-fishing-only on listed wild-trout reaches
Artificial-lures-only + barbless single hook on Henrys Lake + South Fork Snake + listed catch-and-release reaches
Electric-motor-only special-regulation on Henrys Lake
IDFG Fishing Licence required ages 14+ ($30.50 res / $108.25 NR annual)
Confirm current-year IDFG Fish + Game Rules for wild-trout reach + season list

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Idaho waters:

Henrys Lake
20 in min, 2 / day TROPHY MANAGEMENT; electric-motor-only special-regulation; country's premier trophy Yellowstone cutthroat fishery
Bear Lake
22 in min, 2 / day TROPHY MANAGEMENT; endemic Bear Lake cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii utah subspecies); IDFG/UDWR joint reciprocal compact
South Fork Snake River
18 in min, 2 / day TROPHY MANAGEMENT; native Yellowstone cutthroat + Snake River fine-spotted intergrade
Salmon River
0 / day CATCH-AND-RELEASE-ONLY on listed wild-trout reaches; IDFG native westslope cutthroat protection
Clearwater River
0 / day CATCH-AND-RELEASE-ONLY on listed wild-trout reaches

Official source

Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) publishes the authoritative 2026 Idahofishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

Visit official Idaho fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Cutthroat trout closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Idaho Department of Fish and Game's emergency-order feed — check it before any Idaho trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is cutthroat trout season in Idaho?: Idaho keeps cutthroat trout open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the Idaho bag limit for cutthroat trout?: The Idaho daily bag limit for cutthroat trout is 2 / day on Snake River drainage; 0 / day catch-and-release-only on Salmon + Clearwater + St. Joe + listed wild-trout reaches (native cutthroat protection). The possession limit is 4 in possession on harvest waters. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size cutthroat trout can you keep in Idaho?: The Idaho size rule for cutthroat trout is No statewide minimum; 18 in min on South Fork Snake + 20 in min on Henrys Lake + 22 in min on Bear Lake TROPHY MANAGEMENT. Slot limit: South Fork Snake 18 in min + Henrys Lake 20 in min + Bear Lake 22 in min — release inside slot mandatory on TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches. Trophy rule: Henrys Lake 20 in min + 2 / day TROPHY MANAGEMENT (country's premier trophy Yellowstone cutthroat fishery); Bear Lake 22 in min + 2 / day TROPHY MANAGEMENT on endemic Bear Lake cutthroat (Oncorhynchus clarkii utah subspecies — one of only four endemic Bear Lake fish species); South Fork Snake 18 in min + 2 / day TROPHY MANAGEMENT; Salmon + Clearwater + St. Joe wild-trout reaches catch-and-release-only (IDFG native-cutthroat protection).
Do you need a license to fish for cutthroat trout in Idaho?: Yes. Idaho requires a valid fishing license to fish for cutthroat trout, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Idaho license — compare resident and non-resident Idaho fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for cutthroat trout in Idaho?: Yes. In Idaho, cutthroat trout fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; fly-fishing-only on listed wild-trout reaches; Artificial-lures-only + barbless single hook on Henrys Lake + South Fork Snake + listed catch-and-release reaches; Electric-motor-only special-regulation on Henrys Lake; IDFG Fishing Licence required ages 14+ ($30.50 res / $108.25 NR annual); Confirm current-year IDFG Fish + Game Rules for wild-trout reach + season list.
Do specific Idaho waters have different cutthroat trout rules?: Yes. 5 named Idaho waters carry rules that override the statewide cutthroat trout regulation, including Henrys Lake, Bear Lake, South Fork Snake River, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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