Crappie Fishing in Idaho – My TOP 8 Fly Fishing Spots

Many of the fishing waters in Idaho are a bit on the cold side for crappie. However, there are still plenty of places for you to fly fish and catch crappie in Idaho.

Here are a few of the major lakes with a population of crappie.

Fly fishing for Crappie is becoming very popular across the nation it is also becoming popular here in the state of Idaho.

C J Strike Reservoir

Most of the fish listed here can and are caught on a fly rod.

CJ Strike offers some great fishing for all different types and species of fish. Some of the species you can fish for are largemouth, and smallmouth bass, channel catfish, black, and white crappie, rainbow trout, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow perch, chinook salmon and white sturgeon all at C J Strike Reservoir in Idaho.

Because of the relatively low elevation of 2,450, C J Strike Reservoir is an ideal lake for both cold-water and warm-water species of fish. Because of this condition the lake has populations of trout, bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish, perch, and salmon.

This 6,700-acre lake in the southwest part of the state has around 100 miles of shoreline. It sits close to Bruneau, and Grandview, ID the lake has multiple access points off highways 51 and 78.

If and when it is cold enough for ice conditions this is a good destination for catching trout, sunfish, and perch by ice fishing – especially on the Bruneau Arm of the lake.

Pleasure and fishing boats are allowed and have no HP restrictions and there several boat ramps from which to choose.

Fishing from the bank is popular here with shoreline access available at campgrounds, boat ramps and quite a few places around the lake where the roads veer near the water.

Most of these shoreline access areas are also good for portage of a canoe or kayak.

Cascade Reservoir

At this reservoir, you can fly fish for many different types of fish. It has both largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, and white crappie.

There are also rainbow trout, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow perch, coho salmon, kokanee salmon and tiger muskie at Lake Cascade in Idaho.

Boasting a wide variety of fish species, Cascade Reservoir is an anglers paradise. This 27,000-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, at Cascade, ID is literally surrounded by roadways providing access for fishing from the bank, portage of canoes or kayaks and sightseeing.

And, there are around 86 miles of shoreline that you will be able to explore. At an elevation 4,830 feet above sea level, it supports both warm-water and cold-water fish species.

And even offers ice fishing opportunities when ice conditions allow in winter.

There are numerous boat ramps that allow for the launch of fishing boats and pleasure boats with no HP restrictions.

The primary targets for anglers these days include crappie, bass, catfish, salmon, trout, bluegill, and yellow perch. Both salmon and trout are stocked with regularity.

Brownlee Reservoir

Fly fishing for different varieties of fish there is bass, channel catfish, crappie, rainbow trout, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish and yellow perch all at Brownlee Reservoir in Idaho.

Spanning a little over 50 miles of the Snake River, Brownlee Reservoir is an 11,000-acre fishing paradise along the Idaho-Oregon state line.

Much of the 190 miles of shoreline is not accessible due to steep mountain terrain and no roads.

Steck Park and Woodhead Park are the primary access points from the Idaho side. Camping, boat ramps, and other amenities are available in both areas.

The lake is at an elevation of just over 2,000 feet above sea level, it offers a wide variety of both warm-water and cold-water fish species. There are bass, crappie, catfish, trout, and sunfish that all live here and flourish during different seasons.

This waterway has no motor HP restrictions and is a great destination for pleasure boats, fishing kayaks, canoes and all types of fishing boats.

Crane Creek Reservoir

Crane Creek Reservoir is a reservoir located just 18.9 miles from Weiser, in Washington County, in the state of Idaho, United States, near Crane (historical), ID.

Fishermen will find a variety of fish including bream/bluegill, cutthroat trout, largemouth bass, bullhead, brown trout and crappie here.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re fly fishing or regular fishing your chances of getting a bite here are good.

So grab your favorite fly fishing rod and reel, and head out to Crane Creek Reservoir.

Please remember to check with the Idaho Fish and Game department to ensure the stream is open to the public. Now get out there and fish!

Dworshak Reservoir

You can fly fish for smallmouth bass, black crappie, rainbow, and cutthroat trout, along with kokanee salmon and steelhead at Dworshak Reservoir in Idaho.

It extends more than 50 miles. Dworshak Reservoir covers 16,500 surface acres providing an excellent fishing lake in the northwest part of the state.

Most of the 175 miles of shoreline are mostly accessible by boat. There are some roads that surround the lake, some primitive, that do provide some access for fishing from the bank.

Shoreline fishing can be done along the sections of the roads that run close to the lake, at both ends of Dent Bridge, and the campgrounds and boat launch ramps.

Fishing and pleasure boats are welcome as are pontoon boats, canoes, and kayaks. This lake does not have any restrictions on the boat motor HP.

Sitting at an elevation of only 1,600 feet above sea level, the waters are ideal for both warm-water and cold-water fish species. Trout, salmon, steelhead, crappie, and bass are some of the favorites here and the lake receives annual stockings of rainbow trout.

Hayden Lake

You are able to fish for both large and smallmouth bass, crappie, rainbow, and cutthroat trout, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow perch, kokanee salmon and northern pike at Hayden Lake in Idaho.

It is located in the Upper Spokane Basin, Hayden Lake is a 3,800-acre lake that has over 40 miles of shoreline.

This popular fishing lake offers anglers the opportunity to fish for both cold-water and warm-water fish species.

There are salmon, trout, northern pike, sunfish, crappie, perch, and bass here in Hayden Reservoir.

The rainbow trout along with the kokanee are stocked here with regularity.

Located in the northwest corner of the state, just west of Coeur d’Alene National Forest, this is a great destination for water sports, fishing and vacationing.

The lake is at an elevation 2,240 feet above sea level and provides the opportunity for ice fishing when there is safe ice, during winter months.

The northern end of the lake can be very good if you want to fish for northern pike through the ice.

Boat launch ramps are available for launching pleasure and fishing boats with no motor HP restrictions.

Camping, lodging, marina services, restaurants, and shopping are all handy to enhance your stay.

Lake Lowell

If you want to fly fish for largemouth, or smallmouth bass, channel, and blue catfish, black, and white crappie, rainbow, and cutthroat trout, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow perch, chinook, and kokanee salmon you can find them at Lake Lowell in Idaho.

Bass is one of the most popular species for anglers at Lake Lowell. This 8,800-acre lake in the southwest part of the state also offers decent fishing for crappie, sunfish, and catfish.

The Idaho Fish & Game Department regularly stocks catfish, to enhance the fishing opportunities. The lake, with its 28 miles of shoreline, is surrounded by roadways that provide access to a lot of the shore for fishing from the bank or launch of a canoe or kayak.

There are several boat launch ramps, including the one at Lake Lowell Park, which provides launching for pleasure and fishing boats. See Lake Lowell boat motor HP restrictions.

The lake’s elevation is 2,500 feet above sea level and often provides some ice fishing during the winter when there, is safe ice.

Lake Pend Oreille

Try fishing for large, and smallmouth bass, crappie, walleye, rainbow, cutthroat, brown, and lake trout, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow perch, kokanee salmon and northern pike at Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho.

This is Idaho’s largest and deepest lake, Lake Pend Oreille is a very picturesque setting for fishing, boating camping and vacationing. There are 84,000 surface acres that are home to a wide variety of fish species. The fish here include warm-water species like bass, crappie, bluegill, sunfish and perch.

It also has cold-water species of trout, salmon, walleye, and northern pike. Kokanee is regularly stocked by the Idaho Fish & Game Department.

There are a lot of people who come here to fly fish for the different species of fish.

Visit this lake in the upper northern section of the state, near Sandpoint, ID for a weekend fishing trip or an extended vacation.

There you will have 111 miles of shoreline for you to explore and fish. The elevation is 2,060 feet above sea level and offers ice fishing in the winter and plenty of fishing from the bank or a boat once the ice melts.

Boat launch ramps around the lake are available for launching pleasure boats, pontoon boats, all, boat types with no boat-motor HP restrictions. Kayaks and canoes can be portaged from some of the same areas open for bank fishing.

Several marinas are ready to service your boating, fishing and camping needs. Stores, restaurants, campgrounds, and RV parks are all handy for visitors to the area.