Cast a Line: 10 Places to Fish in Southern Idaho

Twin Falls / Brayden Weeks

Southern Idaho is world renowned for fishing, and these 10 destinations are equally impressive for their landscapes, birding and wildlife viewing. Keep in mind that you’ll need a fishing license. 

The Snake River is one of North America’s most famous rivers, and it defines Southern Idaho, flowing across the state from its headwaters near Yellowstone National Park. As it passes through Twin Falls, the dramatic basalt cliffs of Snake River Canyon offer various access points. One of the best is Twin Falls Reservoir, located 15 minutes northeast of town and continuously stocked with trout. 

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Farther east is the Milner Historic Recreation Area, where you can view wagon wheel ruts left by pioneers traveling the Oregon Trail. With 4 miles of shoreline, Milner Lake is the region’s most extensive accessible section of public land along the Snake River. Bass, channel catfish, yellow perch and trout are common catches, and winter ice fishing is also popular. 

Continuing 12 miles northeast of Rupert, Lake Wolcott State Park is a premier disc golf and camping destination. It’s also a sublime park for fishing. Lake Wolcott is another large reservoir on the Snake River, surrounded by the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge with 80 miles of shoreline. 

Southeast of Twin Falls near Oakley is the 1,000-acre Lower Goose Creek Reservoir, also known as Oakley Reservoir. Rainbow trout, walleye and yellow perch are the resident game fish in a starkly beautiful setting. 

Running through Twin Falls, the 14.4-mile Perrine Coulee is stocked with trout. Near downtown, the river ends in an impressive 200-foot waterfall dropping into the Snake River. 

Down the Snake River, about 34 miles northwest of Twin Falls, the Hagerman Wildlife Management Area has stocked ponds with rainbow trout, largemouth bass and bluegill. The ponds are closed from Nov. 1 through the end of February to protect thousands of wintering waterfowl. 

Located west of Twin Falls, Thousand Springs State Park is divided into six distinct units. Two offer fishing: Billingsley Creek and Niagara Springs, where water cascades down a canyon wall and into a lake with year-round fishing and disability access. 

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The 130-mile Little Wood River offers two kinds of fishing. North of Little Wood Reservoir, it’s more of a small stream passing through cottonwood forests with smaller trout. The lower part runs through desert terrain with medium to large brown and rainbow trout. 

Magic Reservoir is popular with families year-round and offers fishing, ice fishing, boating, water skiing and camping. The easily accessible shoreline is particularly suited for young anglers. The beautiful lake is located 56 miles north of Twin Falls, and its diverse species include yellow perch, trout and smallmouth bass. 

From Magic Reservoir, it’s 70 miles west to Camas Creek Reservoir, a lesser-visited lake with mountain vistas, primitive camping, birding and wildlife watching. Rainbow trout and smallmouth bass are most commonly caught.