Idaho Administrative Code › Title IDAPA 24 - Occupational and Professional Licenses, Division of › Rule 24.35.01 - RULES OF THE OUTFITTERS AND GUIDES LICENSING BOARD › Section 24.35.01.259 - RIVER, LAKE, AND RESERVOIR POWER AND FLOAT OUTFITTER LIMITS

Current through August 31, 2023
For the express purpose of safeguarding the health, safety and
				welfare of the public, for the conservation of wildlife and range resources,
				and to enable the outfitted and non-outfitted public to enjoy the recreational
				value of Idaho's rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs and other natural
				resources, the Board has discretion to limit the number of outfitters licensed
				on waters that lie totally or partially within the State of Idaho. Pursuant to
				Section 36-2107(e), Idaho
				Code, the Board may cooperate with federal and state government to evaluate
				relevant factors in decisions related to setting outfitter licensure limits on
				navigable waterways. The following rivers and streams or sections that lie
				totally or partially within the state of Idaho are open to commercial boating
				operations by outfitters and guides. (4-6-23)
01.
Licensable Waters - River Sections
			 (BL1) Blackfoot River through (PR1) Priest River -Table
:
River/Section
Maximum No.
							 Power
Maximum No.
							 Float
(BL1) Blackfoot River
- Blackfoot
							 Reservoir/Government Dam to Trail Creek Bridge. For each license/permit issued,
							 no more than two (2) boats per section/ per day may be used by any outfitter at
							 any one time in each of the following river sections:
a) Blackfoot Reservoir/Government Dam to Sage Hen
							 Flats/Cutthroat Campground
b) Sage Hen Flats/Cutthroat Campground to Morgan
							 Bridge
c) Morgan Bridge to Trail Creek Bridge No outfitter
							 may have more than six (6) boats on the BL1 in any one (1) day.
OGLB licenses are for the entire BL1 segment; a
							 section of BL1 cannot be separated from BL1 for the purposes of selling a
							 portion of an outfitter's business.
none
2
(BO1) Boise River, South Fork
- Danskin
							 Bridge to the Neal Bridge EXCEPT on weekends or holidays. Each outfitter may
							 use only one (1) boat for fishing only with a maximum of two (2) fisherman. No
							 overnight camping or walk-and-wade fishing allowed.
none
2
(BO1A) Boise River
- Eckert Road Bridge
							 to Main Street Bridge.
none
(BO1B) Boise River
- Main Street Bridge
							 to West side of Garden City limits.
none
(BO2) Boise River
- Downstream from the
							 west side of the Garden City municipal limits to the east side of the Caldwell
							 municipal limits. A maximum of two (2) outfitters may be licensed for fishing
							 in addition to float boating. Each outfitter may use at any time a maximum of
							 four (4) boats for boating activities. The Board may approve adjustments of
							 these boat limitations to accommodate canoeing or kayaking activities that are
							 part of an outfitters operating plan.
none
4
(CF1) Clark Fork River
- Montana state
							 line to Lake Pend Oreille (boating closing date September 30)
4 outfitters for either power or float or combination
							 thereof
(CL1) Clearwater River
- Lowell to the
							 Lower Bridge at Kooskia. Each outfitter may use at any one time a maximum of
							 (a) three (3) boats for fishing, and (b) five (5) boats for other boating
							 activities. Fishing may not be conducted downstream from the Upper Bridge at
							 Kooskia by CL1 outfitters. The Board may approve adjustments of these boat
							 limitations to accommodate canoeing or kayaking activities that are part of an
							 outfitter's operating plan.
none
5
(CL2) Clearwater River
- The Upper
							 Bridge at Kooskia to the Orofino Bridge. Each outfitter may use at any one time
							 a maximum of (a) three (3) boats for fishing, and (b) five (5) boats for other
							 boating activities. The Board may approve adjustments of these boat limitations
							 to accommodate canoeing or kayaking activities that are part of an outfitter's
							 operating plan.
6
10
(CL3) Clearwater River
- The Orofino
							 Bridge to the mouth of the Clearwater River with the Snake River at Lewiston.
							 Each outfitter may use at any one time a maximum of (a) three (3) boats for
							 fishing, and (b) five (5) boats for other boating activities. The Board may
							 approve adjustments of these boat limitations to accommodate canoeing or
							 kayaking activities that are part of an outfitters operating
							 plan.
10
10
* (NFCL) North Fork Clearwater River
-
							 Kelly Forks Bridge downstream to backwaters of Dworshak
							 Reservoir
none
4
(CDNF) Headwaters of North Fork Coeur
							 d'Alene
- Including tributaries (Independence and Tee Pee Creeks)
							 upstream from Devils Elbow Campground.
Three (3) walk and wade only licenses. Up to four (4)
							 clients on the river at one time per license.
none
none
(CD1) Coeur d'Alene River
- Devil's
							 Elbow to South Fork confluence.
Fishing limit is two (2) float boats per license with
							 a maximum of two (2) clients at a time per boat. Two (2) additional walk and
							 wade licenses can be issued. Walk and wade limited to a maximum of two (2)
							 clients at a time per license.
none
1
(CD2) Coeur d'Alene River
- South Fork
							 confluence downstream to Cataldo Mission Boat Ramp. Fishing limit is one (1)
							 float boat per license with a maximum of two (2) clients or two walk and wade
							 clients per license at a time. Walk and wade activities do not have to be
							 initiated from a float boat.
none
1
(CD3) Lateral (Coeur d'Alene chain)
							 Lakes
- Connected by the Coeur d'Alene River. Cataldo Mission Boat Ramp
							 to Highway 97 Bridge. A limit of one (1) power boat per license with a maximum
							 of two (2) clients at a time or a limit of one (1) guide per license and two
							 (2) float tubes at a time or two (2) clients walking and wading. The walk and
							 wade activities must be associated with the power boating.
3
none
* (JB1) Jarbidge/Bruneau
							 Rivers
none
4
(KO1) Kootenai River
- Montana state
							 line to Canada boundary
5
5
(LCL1) Little North Fork Clearwater
							 River
- Mouth of Canyon Creek to first bridge on the Little North Fork
							 Clearwater River. Fishing only. Each outfitter may use only two (2) boats per
							 day with a maximum of two (2) fishermen per boat.
none
2
* (LO1) Lochsa River
none
5
(MO1) Moyie River
- Canada boundary to
							 Bonners Ferry Municipal Dam (boating closing date July 20)
none
5
* (OW1) Owyhee River
- Nevada state line
							 to Oregon state line or South Fork to confluence with Owyhee River and
							 continuing on to a take-out point.
none
6
(PN1) Payette River, North Fork
-
							 Payette Lakes Outlet to Hartsell Bridge. Four (4) boat or ten (10) canoe limit
							 per trip, and only two (2) trips per day per outfitter.
none
2
(PN1A) Payette River, North Fork
-
							 Cascade City Park, 1/4 mile south of Cascade on Highway 55 to Cabarton.
							 Restrictions: Catch and release for TROUT ONLY, other species F & G rules
							 apply. No stopping by commercial groups from 1/4 mile above to 1/4 mile below
							 heron nesting trees. Four (4) boat or ten (10) canoe limit per trip, and only
							 two (2) trips per day per outfitter.
none
2
(PN2) Payette River, North Fork
-
							 Cabarton to Smiths Ferry Bridge
none
5
(PS1) Payette River, South Fork
-
							 Grandjean to Deadwood River
none
5
* (PS2) Payette River, South Fork
-
							 Deadwood River to Banks
none
5
(PA1) Payette River
- Banks to Black
							 Canyon Dam
none
5
(PO1) Pend Oreille River
5
5
(PR1) Priest River
- Dickensheet
							 Campground to Priest River City
none
5
(4-6-23)
02.
Licensable Waters - River Sections (MF1) Middle Fork Salmon River through
			 (SE2) Selway River - Table
:
River/Section
Maximum No.
							 Power
Maximum No.
							 Float
*##(MF1) Salmon River, Middle Fork
-
							 Boundary Creek to Cache Bar on the Salmon River
none
27
(SA1) Salmon River
- First bridge across
							 Salmon River above Redfish Lake Creek to Torrey's Bar
none
6
(SA2) Salmon River
- Torrey's Bar to
							 first Highway 93 bridge above Challis.
Each outfitter may use at any one time a maximum of
							 (a) three (3) boats for fishing, and (b) five (5) boats for other boating
							 activities. The Board may approve adjustments of these boat limitations to
							 accommodate canoeing or kayaking activities that are a part of an outfitter's
							 operating plan.
none
5
(SA3) Salmon River
- First Highway 93
							 bridge above Challis to Kilpatrick River access. Each outfitter may use at any
							 one time a maximum of (a) three (3) boats for fishing, and (b) five (5) boats
							 for other boating activities. The Board may approve adjustments of these boat
							 limitations to accommodate canoeing or kayaking activities that are a part of
							 an outfitter's operating plan.
none
6
(SA4A) Salmon River
- Kilpatrick River
							 access to North Fork - License period from May 1 to September 30. Each
							 outfitter may use at any one time a maximum of (a) three (3) boats for fishing
							 and (b) five (5) boats for other boating activities. The Board may approve
							 adjustments of these boat limitations to accommodate canoeing or kayaking
							 activities that are part of an outfitter's operating plan.
5
11
(SA4B) Salmon River
- Kilpatrick River
							 access to North Fork - License period from October 1 to April 30. Each power
							 boat outfitter may use at any one time a maximum of one (1) boat and each float
							 boat outfitter may use at any one time a maximum of three (3)
							 boats.
2
8
(SA5) Salmon River
- North Fork to Corn
							 Creek
3
9
*##(SA6) Salmon River
- Corn Creek to
							 Spring Bar Boat Ramp with no outfitter fishing below Vinegar Creek from
							 September 15 through March 31 except that on a case-by-case basis, outfitter
							 fishing may occur when permitted by the BLM and with the notification to and
							 concurrence of the Board Executive Officer.
14
31
* (SA7A) Salmon River
- Vinegar Creek to
							 Hammer Creek - License period from March 15 to October 15. No power boating is
							 allowed from the Saturday before Memorial Day through Labor Day from 10:30
							 a.m./Mountain Time to 5:00 p.m./Mountain Time daily between the Riggins City
							 Boat Dock and Lucile.
10
26
* (SA7B) Salmon River
- Power boats from
							 Vinegar Creek to Spring Bar Boat Ramp and float boats from Vinegar Creek to
							 Island Bar Boat Ramp, open from September 15 to March 31 only. Each float boat
							 outfitter may use at any one time a maximum of three (3) boats for fishing, or
							 two (2) additional boats for fishing when permitted by the BLM and with the
							 notification to and concurrence of the Board Executive Officer; and each power
							 boat outfitter may use at any one time a maximum of two (2) boats for fishing,
							 or one (1) additional boat for fishing when permitted by the BLM and with the
							 notification to and concurrence of the Board Executive Officer.
6
12
* (SA7C) Salmon River
- Riggins City
							 Park Boat Ramp to Hammer Creek. Three (3) designated outfitters may utilize
							 float boats to fish from the Riggins City Boat Dock to Hammer Creek during the
							 period from September 15 to March 31.
none
3
*##(SA8) Salmon River
- Hammer Creek to
							 Heller Bar or Lewiston on the Snake River
15
35
* (SE1) Selway River
- Paradise
							 Campground to Selway Falls
none
4
(SE2) Selway River
- Selway Falls to the
							 mouth of the Selway River at Lowell. Each outfitter may use at any one time a
							 maximum of (a) three (3) boats for fishing, and (b) five (5) boats for other
							 boating activities. The Board may approve adjustments to these boat limitations
							 to accommodate canoeing or kayaking activities that are part of an outfitter's
							 operating plan.
none
5
(4-6-23)
03.
Licensable Waters - River Sections (SH1) Henry's Fork Snake River through
			 (TE3) Teton River - Table
:
River/Section
Maximum No.
							 Power
Maximum No.
							 Float
(SH1) Snake River, Henry's Fork
-
							 Henry's Lake Outlet to Hatchery Ford. (Each outfitter may use at any one time a
							 maximum of (a) eight (8) boats for fishing No more than three (3) of these
							 boats may be used at any one time on any of the following river reaches:
							 Henry's Lake Outlet to Island Park Dam, Island Park Dam to Last Chance, Last
							 Chance to Osborn Bridge, and Osborn Bridge to Hatchery Ford), and (b) five (5)
							 boats for other boating activities. The Board may approve adjustments to these
							 boat limitations to accommodate canoeing or kayaking activities that are part
							 of an outfitter's operating plan.
none
7
(SH2) Snake River, Henry's Fork
- Mesa
							 Falls to St. Anthony. Each outfitter may use at any one time a maximum of (a)
							 eight (8) boats for fishing, no more than three (3) of these boats may be used
							 at any one time on any one of the following river reaches: Mesa Falls to Stone
							 Bridge, Stone Bridge to Ashton Dam, and Ashton Dam to Chester Dam, and Chester
							 Dam to St. Anthony, and (b) five (5) boats for other boating activities. The
							 Board may approve adjustments of these boat limitations to accommodate canoeing
							 or kayaking activities that are part of an outfitter's operating
							 plan.
none
8
(SH3) Snake River, Henry's Fork
- No
							 more than three (3) boats for fishing may be used by an outfitter at any one
							 (1) time in each of the following river sections:
a) St. Anthony to Red Road Bridge Boat Access (i.e.,
							 Parker/Salem or Fort Henry)
b) Red Road Bridge Boat Access to Warm Slough Boat
							 Access
c) Warm Slough Boat Access to Menan Boat
							 Access
No outfitter may have more than six (6) boats on the
							 SH3 in any one (1) day.
When permitted by the BLM and with the notification
							 to and concurrence of the Board Executive Officer, each outfitter may be
							 allowed adjustments to the maximum boat limits in order to accommodate
							 non-fishing boating activities (e.g., canoeing, paddle boards, and kayaks) and
							 hazardous excursions that are part of an outfitter's operating plan. These
							 adjustments must be reviewed and approved annually.
OGLB licenses are for the entire SH3 segment; a
							 section of SH3 cannot be separated from SH3 for the purposes of selling a
							 portion of an outfitter's business.
none
4
(SS1) Snake River - South Fork
- No more
							 than four (4) boats per section/per day may be used by an outfitter at any one
							 (1) time in each of the following river sections:
a) Palisades Dam Boat Access to the Spring Creek Boat
							 Access (Swan Valley Bridge) or Conant Boat Access. Exception: Not more than
							 eight boats would be permitted between Spring Creek Boat Access and Conant Boat
							 Access to allow for the flexibility to launch/take-out boats.
b) Spring Creek or Conant Boat Access to Fullmer Boat
							 Access. Exception: Not more than eight (8) boats would be permitted in Section
							 (b) on the same day, provided that no more than four (4) of said boats are in
							 this Section after 11:00 a.m. due to overnight use at designated outfitter
							 camps.
c) Fullmer Boat Access to Byington Boat
							 Access.
d) Byington Boat Access to Lorenzo Boat
							 Access.
e) Lorenzo Boat Access to Menan Boat Access.
Additionally, no outfitter may have more than twelve
							 (12) boats on the SS1 in any one day.
A one-time per year exception after July 15 may be
							 granted from Conant Boat Access to Byington Boat Access that would allow two
							 (2) additional boats per section to accommodate large client groups. During
							 this one-time exception, if the two (2) additional boats do not accommodate the
							 large client group, additional boats must come from slots allocated to other
							 outfitters. The maximum daily boat limit for SS1 may not be exceeded. This
							 would require written concurrence from the BLM/USFS and the Board Executive
							 Officer.
Float boats may use motors (5HP or less) for
							 downstream steerage only within the entire SS1 reach. Downstream steerage would
							 not include holding or upstream travel of watercraft with a motor.
OGLB licenses are for the entire SS1 segment; a
							 section of SS1 cannot be separated from SS1 for the purposes of selling a
							 portion of an outfitter's business.
None*
8**
* Each licensed float boat outfitter may use one (1)
							 supply boat (float or power) that does not carry clients. During periods of
							 preparing overnight camps (i.e., setting up tents and portable toilet
							 facilities, boating in grills and other cooking supplies) for the season,
							 usually May or June of each year; and removing the same items listed above from
							 overnight camps at the end of the season, usually October or November; multiple
							 supply boats may be used.
** One (1) license additional for waterfowl hunting
							 covering both BLM and USFS managed lands and waters for the South Fork
							 (Palisades Dam to Wolf Flats Boat Access may be issued. This license
							 opportunity is in addition to the eight (8) float licenses and is limited to
							 providing waterfowl hunting during waterfowl hunting season as defined by Idaho
							 Fish and Game Rules and where no more than two (2) float or power boat boats
							 per day per section a and b only can be used by the outfitter at any one time
							 for that purpose. Fishing may not be provided or conducted unless the outfitter
							 is also licensed and permitted as one (1) of the eight (8) outfitters addressed
							 in this rule who may not provide hunting activities. This business opportunity
							 may be sold separately.
(SN1) Snake River
- For each
							 license/permit issued, no more than four (4) boats per section/per day may be
							 used by an outfitter at any one time in each of the following river
							 sections:
a) Menan Boat Access to Mike Walker Boat Access
							 (includes Federally managed lands).
b) Mike Walker Boat Access to Gem State Power Plant
							 (includes non-Federal lands).
Float boats may use motors (5HP or less) for
							 downstream steerage only within the entire SS1 reach. Downstream steerage would
							 not include holding or upstream travel of watercraft with a motor.
OGLB licenses are for the entire SN1 segment; a
							 section of SN1 cannot be separated from SN1 for the purposes of selling a
							 portion of an outfitter's business.
3 outfitters either float or power or combination
							 thereof
(SN2) Snake River
- Gem State Power
							 Plant. Idaho Falls, downstream to headwaters of American Falls Reservoir. For
							 each license/permit issued, no more than four (4) boats per section/per day may
							 be used by any outfitter at any one time in each of the following river
							 sections:
a) Gem State Power Plant to Shelley/Firth
b) Shelley/Firth to Porterville
c) Porterville to Blackfoot (Boating limited,
							 walk-wade if there is access)
d) Blackfoot to Tilden Bridge
e) Tilden Bridge to the headwaters of American Falls
							 Reservoir
No outfitter may have more than twelve (12) boats on
							 the SN2 in any one day.
OGLB licenses are for the entire SN2 segment; a
							 section of SN2 cannot be separated from SN2 for the purposes of selling a
							 portion of an outfitter's business.
3 outfitters either float or power or combination
							 thereof
(SN3) Snake River
- American Falls Dam
							 to Massacre Rocks State Park. For each license/permit issued, no more than five
							 (5) boats per section/per day may be used by any outfitter at any one time in
							 each of the following river sections:
a) American Falls Dam to Pipeline (includes federally
							 and non- federally managed lands)
b) Pipeline to Vista (includes federally and non-
							 federally managed lands)
c) Vista to Eagle Rock (includes non-federally
							 managed lands)
d) Eagle Rock to Massacre Rocks (includes
							 non-federally managed lands)
No outfitter may have more than ten (10) boats on the
							 SN3 in any one day.
Float boats may use motors (5HP or less) for
							 downstream steerage only. Downstream steerage does not include holding or
							 upstream travel of watercraft with a motor.
Sturgeon Fishing: Pipeline to Massacre Rocks, no more
							 than five (5) boats per section/per day may be used by any outfitter at any one
							 time in each of the river sections between Pipeline to Massacre Rocks.
American Falls Dam to Pipeline, one (1) boat within
							 this section/two (2) weekdays per week/two (2) weekend days per month. Idaho
							 Department of Fish and Game, Southeast Region (Pocatello) needs to be notified
							 prior to Sturgeon Fishing.
OGLB licenses are for the entire SN3 segment; a
							 section of SN3 cannot be separated from SN3 for the purposes of selling a
							 portion of an outfitter's business.
3 outfitters either float or power or combination
							 thereof
(SN4) Snake River
- Massacre Rocks State
							 Park to Milner Dam
3
3
* (SN5) Snake River
- Milner Dam to Star
							 Falls
none
3
* (SN6) Snake River
- Star Falls to Twin
							 Falls
none
5
(SN7) Snake River
- Twin Falls to Lower
							 Salmon Falls Dam
3
3
(SN8) Snake River
- Lower Salmon Falls
							 Dam to Bliss Dam
3
5
(SN9) Snake River
- Bliss Dam to
							 headwaters of C.J. Strike Reservoir
5
5
(SN10) Snake River
- C.J. Strike Dam to
							 Walter's Ferry
5 outfitters for either power or float or combination
							 thereof
(SN11) Snake River
- Walter's Ferry to
							 headwaters of Brownlee Reservoir
5
none
* (SN12) Snake River
- Hells Canyon Dam
							 to Pittsburg Landing
18
15
* (SN13) Snake River
- Hells Canyon Dam
							 to Pittsburg Landing, two (2) one-day float trips only
none
2
(SN14) Snake River
- Pittsburg Landing
							 to Heller Bar or Lewiston
19
15
(SN15) Snake River
- Washington/Oregon
							 stateline to Lewiston
Limitations pending. (This section is set aside for
							 future rules of fishing only outfitters.)
(SJ1) St. Joe River
- St. Joe River
							 Headwaters to Red Ives. No outfitted boating. One (1) walk and wade only
							 fishing outfitter.
none 2
none
(SJ2) St. Joe River
- Red Ives to Avery.
							 In addition to one (1) float boat license, three (3) walk and wade only
							 outfitters. No fishing from float boats, boat clients may fish via walk and
							 wade.
none
1
(SJ3) St. Joe River
- Avery to St. Joe
							 City Bridge
none
2
(SJ4) St. Joe River
- St. Joe City
							 Bridge to Lake Coeur d'Alene
2
none
(SM1) St. Maries River
5
5
(TE1) Teton River
- Upper put-in to
							 Cache Bridge, motors not to exceed 10 hp
5 outfitters for either power or float or combination
							 thereof
(TE2) Teton River
- Cache Bridge to
							 Harrop Bridge, motors not to exceed 10 hp
6 outfitters for either power or float or combination
							 thereof
(TE3) Teton River
- No more than two (2)
							 boats per section/per day may be used by an outfitter at any one time in each
							 of the following river sections: a), b), d), e) and f). No more than four (4)
							 boats per section/per day may be used by an outfitter at any one time on river
							 section c) and where two (2) boats from same outfitter must be spaced at
							 three-hour (3) intervals:
a) Harrop Bridge Boat Access to Felt Dam Boat
							 Access.
b) Felt Dam Boat Access to Spring Hollow Boat
							 Access.
c) Spring Hollow Boat Access to Teton Dam Site Boat
							 Access.
d) Teton Dam Site Boat Access to Hog Hollow Bridge
							 Boat Access.
e) Hog Hollow Bridge Boat Access to Teton
							 Highway.
f) Teton Highway to confluence with the Henrys Fork
							 of the Snake River. Note:
No boat access exists at the confluence with the
							 Henrys Fork of the Snake River. Outfitters would utilize Hibbard Bridge or Warm
							 Slough Access on SH3.
No fishing on SH3.
No outfitter may have more than eight (8) boats on
							 the TE3 in any one day.
Float boats may use motors not to exceed 10 hp in
							 section a) (Harrop Bridge to Felt Dam Access) only. Float boats may use motors
							 (5HP or less) for downstream steerage only in sections d), e) and f). Motors
							 are not allowed in other sections. Downstream steerage does not include holding
							 or upstream travel of watercraft with a motor.
OGLB licenses are for the entire TE3 segment; a
							 section of TE3 cannot be separated from TE3 for the purposes of selling a
							 portion of an outfitter's business.
none
5
* Classified rivers
## Floatboat and powerboat outfitters on these sections are
				considered within their area of operations when hiking from the river or
				fishing in tributaries away from the river but does not include overnight
				activities. Conflicts with land-based outfitters will be handled on a
				case-by-case basis. (4-6-23)
04.
Other -- Table
. The
			 following lakes and reservoirs or portions thereof that lie totally or
			 partially within the state of Idaho are open to fishing by outfitters with the
			 following limitations:
Lake or
							 Reservoir
Maximum No. of
							 Operators
Maximum No. Boats per Operator
							 per Lake or Reservoir
Lake Coeur d'Alene
8
1
Dworshak Reservoir
7
2
Hayden Lake
1
2
Henry's Lake
8
2
Island Park Reservoir
7
2
Magic Reservoir
3
2
Palisades Reservoir
10
2
Lake Pend Oreille
11
1
Priest Lake
5
1
American Falls Reservoir
3
2
C.J. Strike Reservoir
4
2
Brownlee Reservoir
5
2
Oxbow Reservoir
3
2
Hells Canyon Reservoir
3
2
(4-6-23)
05.
Other Lakes and Reservoirs
. All other Idaho lakes and reservoirs
			 are limited to two (2) outfitters with a maximum of two (2) boats (float or
			 power) per outfitter. (4-6-23)