Rules & Regulations
Cast net laws in Idaho
Legal with restrictions (not cast-net-specific)Informational only — this is not legal advice
Fishing regulations change, sometimes with little notice, and can vary further by county, water body, or season within a state. This page is a starting point for research, not a substitute for the law. Always verify current rules directly with your state's fish & wildlife agency or TakeMeFishing.org before you fish. BasicGear is not responsible for citations, fines, or gear seizures resulting from reliance on this page.
Last verified: 2026-07-08 — regulations are re-checked periodically; see the date above before assuming this is current.
Summary
Idaho's code never uses the term "cast net" — this reflects the general net/seine rule for taking nongame fish, crayfish, and yellow perch, not gamefish. Idaho also bans live minnow bait statewide with narrow exceptions.
Size, mesh & licensing
- Max size
- 10 ft (length or width — the rule doesn't specify radius vs. diameter)
- Mesh
- Maximum 3/8 in square mesh
- Water type
- Freshwater only
- License
- Yes — standard Idaho fishing license
Recommended BasicGear net
Cast Net — Basic Series — Choose 1/4" or 3/8" mesh (not 1/2") to stay under Idaho's 3/8" cap, and pick a smaller radius size to stay safely under the 10 ft figure however it ends up being measured.
Official source
Idaho Fish and Game — Rules (IDAPA 13.01.11.200)↗
Low confidenceThis is an inference from a general net/seine rule, not a confirmed cast-net-specific statute — a secondary source reframes the figure as a 5 ft radius, which is unconfirmed.
Last verified: 2026-07-08
See all 50 states, or shop the cast net lineup for Idaho.