Perch

Walleye Fishing in Idaho

The signature fish of Northern lakes and big rivers. Walleye feed at dawn, dusk, and night and are caught jigging, trolling, and through the ice.

Waters: 2
State: Idaho
Water: Freshwater
Methods: Spin & Bait

Prime Months in Idaho: Jul

From the agency months on 1 Idaho water: Lake Pend Oreille.

Highlighted months are the best fishing; the other months are slower, not empty.

What to Use for Walleye

Fishing In

Walleye

Prime: Jul

Spin / Cast

7 to 8 ft medium casting rod and line-counter reel for trolling crawler harnesses behind bottom bouncers and deep crankbaits, 10 to 12 lb line. For jigging, a 6.5 ft medium-light rod with 10 lb braid to a 6 to 8 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Rod, Reel and Line

RodSt. Croix Eyecon Trolling Rod · 7 ft 6 in or 8 ft 6 in, medium, moderate, 10 to 20 lb line (telescopic)Check Price
ReelOkuma Magda Pro Line Counter Reel · size 20, right handCheck Price
LineBerkley Trilene XL Monofilament · 10 or 12 lbCheck Price

Tie On in November

Lure for November · 1/8 to 3/8 ozJig and Minnow · Northland Fire-Ball JigCheck Price
Lure for November · 2.75 to 4.4 inDeep-Diving Crankbait · Rapala Deep Tail DancerTrolled or cast.Check Price
Lure for November · 1.5 to 4.75 inJerkbait · Rapala X-Rap JerkbaitAfter dark.Check Price

Picks: general for this fish, each checked against state and federal agency pages, not specific to this water. Ask a local shop what is working.

Gear: rods, reels and lines are starting points, sized from each maker's page. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.

Also Worth Packing

Terminal Tackle

Northland Rock-Runner Bottom Bouncer

A bottom bouncer with a 10 in stainless steel wire feeler that glides over rocks, logs and weeds, for drifting and trolling spinner rigs and live bait for walleyes.

Check Price Maker's Page

Nets & Tools

Frabill Rubber Mesh Landing Net

A floating trout net with tangle-free micromesh rubberized netting and a flat bottom that supports the fish's weight evenly.

Check Price Maker's Page

Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.

Licenses & Regulations

Most anglers need an Idaho fishing license; age cutoffs and exemptions are set by the state. Seasons, limits, and tackle rules vary by water, so check current regulations before you go.

Idaho Fish and Game

Where to Catch Walleye

2 of 2 waters

Rivers & Streams · Idaho

Clark Fork River (Idaho)

Part of the Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork in Idaho, from below Cabinet Gorge Dam to its delta in Lake Pend Oreille, where Idaho Fish and Game's recommended game fish include walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, lake trout and rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout.

Walleye: no agency season found here

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