The Forest has approximately 250 miles of streams and 8,100 acres of lakes and reservoirs. Game fish species living in these waters include rainbow trout, eastern brook trout, brown trout, cutthroat trout, bluegill and bass.
Fishing in the Pocatello District of the Caribou National Forest is available on a number of small streams, almost all of which are tributaries of the Portneuf River. Because of the size of the streams, a 10-inch trout is often a lunker and fish tend to be wary. As a result, the fisherman seeking an "easy" place to fish will probably prefer the reservoirs and larger rivers of the area. Many anglers, however, enjoy the type of angling that is offered by the small forest streams, and the level of use is high, especially at the season opening and through the summer. Some of the best fishing is often found during the fall, when angling pressure is normally very light. All District streams normally come under the general fishing regulations of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game—check these regulations before you start fishing.
Four species of trout are found in streams in the Pocatello District. Cutthroat trout are the only species native to the area. They are easily recognized by their red slashes on each side of the throat under the gill covers and their large black spots that are concentrated towards the tail. Populations of cutthroat trout in Idaho are rapidly declining because of loss of habitat and competition from non-native species that have been introduced. If you would like to help preserve the cutthroat trout that traditionally have been an important component of western streams, please release some or all of the cutthroat trout you catch.
Rainbow trout are stocked each year by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game in lower sections of a few streams in the District. They are easily identified by their abundance of black spots on the head and along the entire body.
Brook trout are native to eastern North America, but were introduced into the Caribou Forest several decades ago. No stocking now occurs, but brook trout maintain themselves in some streams in the Pocatello District, especially in beaver ponds. The distinguishing characteristics of brook trout are the white and black bands along the leading edges of the paired fins and an olive-green back with darker "worm-tracks," or vermiculations.
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