2026 regulation year
Lochsa River 2026 — Idaho Fishing Regulations
Idaho statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Lochsa River carries a special-regulation overlay on top of Idaho's 2026 fishing rules. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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State-level special regulation
Hwy 12 cutthroat river, mouth up to the Wilderness Gateway motor bridge: Dec 1 – before Memorial Day catch-and-release (no bait except maggots); Memorial Day weekend – Nov 30 trout limit 2, none under 14 in, no bait, barbless hooks.
Source: Idaho special-water list
Official source
Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) publishes the authoritative 2026 Idaho fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.
Visit official Idaho fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven 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.
Other special-regulation waters in Idaho
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Lochsa River?
- Lochsa River carries one special-regulation overlay that overrides Idaho's statewide 2026 rules. It reads: "Hwy 12 cutthroat river, mouth up to the Wilderness Gateway motor bridge: Dec 1 – before Memorial Day catch-and-release (no bait except maggots); Memorial Day weekend – Nov 30 trout limit 2, none under 14 in, no bait, barbless hooks." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Lochsa River?
- Yes. Lochsa River is in Idaho, so a valid Idaho fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Lochsa River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Idaho rules.
- Do Lochsa River's special rules replace Idaho's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Idaho's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Lochsa River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rule for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.