Idaho Fishing Reports

02-16-2008

Arrowrock Reservoir The reservoir levels are still rising several inches a day, and the road into the reservoir is not any fun, and there is still some ice floating around! If you go, please be careful and at least take a four-wheel drive. If it were me, I would still find another place to fish!

Boise River Although the temperatures have been fairly cold the last few days the river should start to fish fairly well in the coming weeks. The flows are about normal at around 250 cfs., which is still great for wading, and it tends to concentrate fish. Try fishing for trout, whitefish, and any steelhead that may be hanging off the ends of deeper runs and riffles where you might find some fish actively feeding. Try fishing with small spinners, drifting nightcrawlers, or fly casting beadhead nymph fly patterns.

Brownlee Reservoir Although the temperatures have been fairly cold the last few days the river should start to fish fairly well in the coming weeks. The flows are about normal at around 250 cfs., which is still great for wading, and it tends to concentrate fish. Try fishing for trout, whitefish, and any steelhead that may be hanging off the ends of deeper runs and riffles where you might find some fish actively feeding. Try fishing with small spinners, drifting nightcrawlers, or fly casting beadhead nymph fly patterns.

Cascade Reservoir Ice fishing is starting to pick up for trout but there are still only a few perch being caught. With a projected warming trend expected this weekend it might be a little slushy, and you still may have a lot of snow to shovel before you dig a hole, but the sun will sure feel good out on the ice so why not head up to Cascade and take in the ice fishing derby!. Tackle Tom’s is sponsoring the annual Cascade Cup Ice Fishing Derby this weekend. There will be plenty of prizes for the whole family! For more information or to sign up, drop by *Tackle Toms*, 304 N. Main, *Cascade*, ID. Or Phone: 208-382-4367.

C.J. Strike Reservoir The cold weather really didn't stop trout fishing either below or above C.J. Strike dam, and with warmer temperatures the fishing should continue to be good. Most anglers are using worms, white marshmallows, or floating Powerbait to catch some fairly nice fish. Troller’s can also catch fish using smaller Rapalas, small pop gear, and dark colored streamers. A few anglers were still catching perch through the ice in the cove at Cottonwood Campgrounds using worms, but projected warm weather may thin the ice in the cove so use extreme caution, and the ice is all but gone from the Bruneau Arm.

Clear Lake (Buhl, Idaho) This is an O.K. place to go if you’re not into ice fishing, but they are not going to plant more fish until next week so I would wait. They will be putting in another 1200 fish so it should be good fishing after that for a few weeks at least! Anglers are fishing near the inlets and falls with sowbug, and scud imitations, like a Hares Ear, or you might try a Beadhead Girdle Bug.

Horsethief Reservoir All you have to do is figure out how to get back to the water! The fishing could be fairly good for stocked rainbows up to 12 inches, but like elsewhere the snow is deep, even on the ice, and the road probably is not plowed! Besides, always be careful when ice fishing remote areas and take all the standard precautions; always let someone know where you are going, when you will return, and never fish alone. You should always have some safety equipment for getting out of the ice in case you fall in, and always check the thickness of the ice.

Local Ponds Many of the Treasure Valleys ponds may be stocked in the next week or so with our warmer weather. Wilson Spring's ponds near Nampa are spring fed and remain ice free and open year around. They were also recently stocked so this might be a good place to go for a little fresh air and fishing! Be sure a check the regulations for each pond before fishing.

Lucky Peak Reservoir The reservoir is only rising a few inches a day, but the trout fishing is slow for both boat and bank anglers, however it could improve with warmer days. Try fishing from shore with worms, marshmallows, and Powerbait, while trollers can look for fish to be cruising the steeper banks near coves and off points. Try small pop gear and Rapalas. The banks will probably still be a little icy, then slushy, so be careful not to slip into the cold water!

Magic Reservoir Magic is probably still the best place to ice fish! There have been some big trout caught lately, but the only downside is the ice is still plenty thick, so don’t forget to bring a power auger, or your big strong nephew! Anglers have also been catching perch using bait. The size of the perch are only running about 8-10 inches with an occasional one up to 12 inches, and many of the trout you catch are smaller, but there is a good chance you might catch a big rainbow or a brown trout.

Malad River Another good place to winter dry fly fish is the Malad River just out of Bliss. The fish aren't very big compared to what you might catch at Clear Lake, but some folks like fishing dry flies and stream fishing instead of nymph fishing for a tube. The best flies are Adams, PMD's, or a Royal Wulff. The access might be problem, and the rocks along the river bank might be trecherous, so be careful!

Owyhee Reservoir Fishing slowed way down from what can only be described as so-slow! Try fishing around the steeper banks and main lake points if you really want to!

General Regional Information - Winter 2008

Notice - Don't forget your 2008 fishing license once the new year gets here! The following provides an idea of what fishing opportunities exist in the Panhandle Region. It is not intended to be a real time report of current conditions on a daily basis.

Lake Pend Oreille Very few anglers have been out fishing due to the colder, blustery weather. The Hope Boat Basin and Bayview public launch are the only two launches open for public launching, but be prepared with chains for snow and ice. The $15/fish incentive for rainbow trout over 13 inches and any size lake trout is still in effect. Most anglers like to fish for rainbow trout with planner boards 50-100 ft. off the side of the boat and then troll surface flies another 150-200 ft. behind the board. The board slicing through the chop creates a real erratic movement. The 3-4 inch long flies need to be tuned so they troll upright, rather than tilted to one side or the other. Most angler troll along at a fast clip, 3+ mph. Other anglers like to troll Rapala, Rebel, Lyman or Apex type plugs. Lake trout anglers generally are trolling or jigging just off the bottom using the same techniques as described for Priest Lake mackinaw below. Lake Pend Oreille is so deep that areas of suitable depth are limited to the flats in the north end of the lake around the islands, off the mouth of the Clark Fork River, along the Green Monarchs, Garfield Bay, Whiskey Rock and in the south end around Cape Horn and off the Eagle Boat Ramp in Idlewilde Bay.

For anglers wanting more information on rainbow and lake trout fishing, two DVD's are now available. The rainbow trout fishing DVD is "Catch a Kam with Captain Ken" a 73 minute DVD produced by Ron Sharp with the assistance of Captain Ken Hayes of Seagull Charters. The other DVD produced in 2005 is "Reliable methods of catching lake trout on Lake Pend Oreille", a 45 minute production by commercial rod-and-reel lake trout angler Ron Sharp. You can check out a loaner copy of either DVD from our IDFG offices in Coeur d'Alene, Bayview and Clark Fork, or area libraries in Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Hayden, Sandpoint and Priest River. If you are tired of waiting, order your own copy from oakeysmokes@hotmail.com.

Bull trout are fairly numerous in Lake Pend Oreille, but they are closed to harvest. Make sure you can tell the difference between a lake trout and bull trout before you harvest a fish. If you catch a fish with pink or salmon colored spots on its side, it's a bull trout! Cutthroat trout and kokanee have also been turned in for cash rewards. Westslope cutthroat trout are limited in number in the Pend Oreille system, so harvest will be strictly catch-and-release in 2008. Cutthroat and cutthroat hybrids are not eligible for cash awards. Kokanee have been closed to harvest since 2000. Please know what you are harvesting before you kill it.

Gill and deepwater trap netting will resume in mid February to conduct a more comprehensive population estimate on the lake trout population. Estimates to date indicate good progress towards reducing the lake trout populations, but limited success on rainbow trout.

The kokanee egg take at Sullivan Springs was very poor this winter with only 486,000 eggs taken. We have secured about 2 million kokanee eggs from Colorado and are looking for more from Washington to supplement the egg take. Spawner counts of wild fish along the shoreline were also at record lows. Only the fry and age 1 year classes of the kokanee population are relatively abundant right now indicating the urgent need to harvest rainbow and lake trout before kokanee totally collapse.

Coeur d'Alene Lake Winter can be a great time to fish for chinook salmon. Winter anglers typically use glow flashers and mini squids on a relatively long leader. Trolling speeds are slow, generally in the 1.2 to 1.6 knot range. The fish are usually below 60 feet and often down to 130+ feet where the water temperature is slightly warmer once the lake reaches winter stratification. Most anglers are catching fish in the 2-8 pound size range right now. The best deep water boat ramp for winter launching is the IDPR ramp at Higgins Point. Call the IDPR Regional Office at 208-769-1511 to check on launch conditions and launch fees.

Priest Lake The lake is now at the winter pool level, so the only two deep water launches are located at Priest Lake Marina in Kalispell Bay on the west side and the Indian Creek State Park on the east side of the lake. Call ahead to the Priest Lake Marina (208-443-2405) to see if the ramp is open and plowed and what the launch fee is. You may need chains to launch. The launch fee at Indian Creek is $4.00 per launch or free if you have a IDPR Parks Pass. The launch is plowed, but you can call Priest Lake State Park (208-443-2200) to find out what the local conditions are like.

Both jigging and trolling are productive during the winter months and you will most likely have the lake pretty much to yourself. Cold water temperatures require a slower presentation, so trolling with Flatfish, Kwikfish or a baited fly or hootchie behind a dodger works well. Fish often do not hold as deep as they do during the summer months. Rocky points and drop-offs are always good locations to look for concentrated fish to jig on calm days. Lead headed jigs from ˝ to 2+ ounces and no-stretch line are needed to effectively jig fish at depths of over 150 feet. Cut bait or night crawlers will greatly increase your catch rates.

Ice fishing in the Panhandle can be a real hit and miss event. We don't have the consistently cold winters to produce dependable, solid ice. Frequent rain-on-snow winter storms can quickly change good ice conditions to poor in very little time. Ice anglers should always use extreme caution when venturing out because conditions can change quickly.

Ice Safety - How thick does the ice need to be? The general rule is that it takes about 3 inches of good hard ice to support a man and about 6-8 inches to support an ATV or snow machine. If the ice is frozen snow or slush, it will need to be thicker to be safe. In this part of the country, don't even think about driving a truck on the ice. Snow cover will insulate the ice and keep it from freezing. Honeycombed ice forms when ice freezes and thaws. The elongated crystals in honeycombed ice have no structural strength and will literally dissolve under your feet. Do not fish on honeycombed ice. It is very common for ice depth to be highly variable on a given lake and from one lake to another. Typically lakes further north in the region and smaller lakes will have thicker ice cover. However, never assume the ice is thick enough without checking first. This means cut a hole and check the thickness. Rain-on-snow events will cause rapid melting of ice around the shoreline and near any hole cut in the ice. Ice without snow cover is very slick and very hard if you fall. Wear cleats, creepers or some type of warm boot that will also give you good traction and prevent a fall.

Fishing Rules - Ice anglers are allowed to use up to five rods, lines or tip-ups while ice fishing with or without a two pole validation. You still must be attending the lines. Anglers are not allowed to cut or fish through a hole larger than 10 inches in diameter for safety purposes. You are allowed to use a gaff for landing fish caught through the ice if there are no length restrictions for that particular species in that particular water (most commonly used for landing northern pike). If you use a shelter and leave it overnight, you must have your name, telephone number and current address legibly marked on two opposing sides of the shelter and make sure you remove it from the ice before the ice thaws.

What To Use - You will need something to drill or chop a hole through the ice. A sharp ice auger is the best option to cut a nice clean hole. An ice spud can be made relatively cheaply to chop a hole through the ice. Weld a 2x5x1/4 inch piece of flat steel to a heavy rod about 5-6 feet long. Sharpen the flat steel on one side only so it will cut into the ice more quickly. A strap on the end of the pole may keep it around your wrist and off the bottom of the lake. Take a slotted ladle or scooper to clean the ice out of the hole and keep it clean while it refreezes on a cold day. Short rods, less than 4 feet long, with open face reels spooled with 4-6 lb. monofilament line work well for ice fishing. Try small 1/32nd to 1/8th ounce lead headed ice jigs, crappie jigs, Swedish Pimples, Rapala jigging minnows or a variety of other lures made for winter ice fishing. Glow in the dark colors are very effective because it's dark under the ice. Use maggots, pieces of worm, perch eyes or cut bait to greatly increase your catch rates. Fish near the bottom for perch. Crappies like to be near structure like weed beds or brush. Trout are often suspended in the water column and like power bait, worms or eggs. Jig your bait because the movement will attract fish. Move around if you are not into fish and change bait often.

The list of lakes below will give you an idea of what ice fishing opportunities exist at various lakes:

Avondale: Perch 6-12 in., fair for nice crappie, occasional largemouth bass, bluegill and bullhead.

Bonner: No limit on bass, pumpkinseed and a few rainbow trout.

Blue: (Bonner County) Perch 6-8 in., crappie, bass and occasional channel catfish.

Brush: Rainbow trout, bass and bluegill. Access can be limited by snow, about a 2-mile hike.

Cocolalla: Perch 6-9 in., and numerous, occasional crappie. Some nice rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout.

Dawson: Perch 7-9 in., with occasional crappie, bluegill and bass.

Fernan: Perch 7-10 in., with occasional crappie, bass and northern pike, rainbow and cutthroat trout.

Freeman: Perch 6-9 in., occasional crappie, sunfish, bass, tiger muskie and stocked rainbow trout. Access can be limited by snow, Ľ mile hike.

Gamble: (Gamblin) Perch 8-12+ in. but not very numerous. Occasional bass, sunfish and crappie.

Hauser: Perch 7-10+ in., occasional crappie, sunfish, and bass. Good for rainbow and cutthroat trout.

Hayden: Northern pike in the north end at Sportsman Park. Dead smelt or herring under a tip-up. Most run 24-30 in. Some perch, but slow. Trout 2 - 16 in. minimum size. Bass - 2 16 in. minimum size

Jewel: Perch 6-9 in., bluegill, channel catfish and stocked rainbow.

Kelso: Good lake for stocked rainbow trout and mixed warmwater fish.

Killarney: Popular lake for 18-24 in. northern pike. Perch are generally small.

Medicine: Perch 6-8 in., with occasional bass and northern pike.

Mirror: Rainbow trout and occasional kokanee. Pend Oreille: Limited ice fishing in Fry Creek Bay on the southeast end of the long bridge (Hwy. 95 south of Sandpoint), Condo Del Sol on the northwest end of the long bridge and in Denton Slough east of Hope. Also try Springy Point area on the Pend Oreille River. Good perch fishing with some large (12 in.+) but few in number. Harvest of bull trout, cutthroat and kokanee is closed.

Perkins: Perch 8-11 in., with occasional crappie, sunfish and bass.

Priest: IF the lake freezes, try the east shoreline from Cavanaugh Bay north to Pinto Point for lake trout. Try jigging spoons and lead headed jigs tipped with cut bait or night crawlers. Harvest of bull trout, cutthroat and kokanee is closed.

Robinson: Good fishing for 10-12 in. rainbow, brook, and occasional cutthroat trout. Some bluegill, pumpkinseed and bass. Bass - 2 16 in. minimum size

Rose: Perch 7-9 in., some crappie, bluegill, and bass.

Round: Perch 7-9 in., excellent fishing for stocked rainbow trout. State Parks Pass required for entrance.

Smith: Good fishing for 10-12 in. rainbow and cutthroat trout, some bass.

Spirit: Kokanee fishing is good with fish running 7-10 inches. Kokanee limit 15 fish.

Thompson: Popular lake for northern pike, with most fish running 18-28 in.

Lower Twin: Perch 7-10 in. nice sized rainbow and cutthroat trout and a few big kokanee.

Upper Twin: Perch 6-9 in, a few crappie, but hard to catch, bass and occasional northern pike.

River and Streams The Winter Stream Season will allow die-hard anglers to continue to catch-and-release trout through the last Friday in May and harvest whitefish and brook trout. The list of rivers open during the winter include the North Fork, Little North Fork, South Fork and mainstem Coeur d'Alene rivers, St. Joe River, St. Maries River and Spokane River. The Moyie River is now open all year.

Clearwater Region Fishing Information

Steelhead fishing, as one optimistic angler puts it, is great, and the catching is a bonus. In other words, the catching has been slow on the Clearwater and mediocre on the Snake River. Bait anglers are using small red cured shrimp or roe. Trollers are using dark colored plugs. Fly anglers should try big, fuzzy leeches along the bottom.

Efective January 1, 2008, it is illegal to use live shrimp as bait while fishing. See page 11 of the 2008-2009 fishing rules for clarification.

The catch and keep season on the Clearwater River upstream of the Memorial Bridge opened October 15. The fall catch and release steelhead season opened on July 1 in the Clearwater River and on August 1 on the Snake and Salmon rivers. The catch and keep season (for hatchery steelhead) opened on the Clearwater River downstream of the Memorial Bridge (~2 miles at Lewiston) on August 1 and opened on the Snake and Salmon rivers on September 1.

Know the difference between a steelhead and a salmon! Chinook salmon have a black mouth. Any salmon caught must be immediately released.

For current information on steelhead catch rates and water conditions, please click here. Check the USGS Water Resources website for water flow information and water conditions. Idaho's steelhead are often classified into two groups, A-run and B-run, based on their size and ocean life history.

Steelhead are actually rainbow trout that migrate to the ocean and return to fresh water (anadromous fish). Idaho's A-run steelhead are usually found in the Snake and Salmon rivers. They return from the ocean earlier in the year (usually June through August) and they most often return after spending one year in the ocean. Because they return early in the year and because they usually come back after only one year in the ocean, they weigh 4 to 6 pounds and are generally 23 to 26 inches in length.

The B-run steelhead most often return to the Clearwater River, but some return to tributaries in the Salmon River. These fish usually spend two years in the ocean, and start their migration to Idaho later in the summer or fall of the year (usually late August or September). Because of the extra year and the extra summer of growing in the ocean, they return as much bigger fish.

Average B-run steelhead weigh between 10 and 13 pounds and are 31 to 34 inches long. Steelhead grow very large when they spend a third year in the ocean before they return to Idaho to spawn. These steelhead are usually larger than 37 inches and often weigh more than 20 pounds. The Idaho state record steelhead was 30 pounds and was caught in the Clearwater River in 1973.

Panhandle Region Fishing Information

Boise River: A fair number of hardy souls continue to fish for steelhead and trout despite wintry temperatures.

Lucky Peak and Arrowrock: Water levels are low in Arrowrock and Lucky Peak but trout fishing from the bank can be the best way to go anyway.

Indian Creek Reservoir: For an easy bit of ice fishing, this small impoundment near the Boise Stage Stop off I-84 east of Boise is turning out some small perch—seven to nine inches—through the ice. Water conditions have not been right for some time there to allow the good populations this little reservoir can potentially produce but it is close to town.

McCall Subregion Fishing Information

Ice Safety: Angler should always use extreme caution when venturing out on the ice. The general rule is that it takes about 3 inches of good hard ice to support a man and about 6 inches to support an ATV or snow machine. If the ice is frozen snow or slush, it will need to be thicker to be safe. In this part of the country, don't even think about driving a truck on the ice. Snow cover will insulate the ice and keep it from freezing. It is very common for ice depth to be highly variable on a given lake and from one lake to another. Never assume the ice is thick enough without checking first. This means cut a hole and check the thickness. Rain-on-snow events can cause rapid melting of ice around the shoreline and near any hole cut in the ice. Heavy snows on ice can result in deep slush or multiple layers of ice and slush. These conditions can be very difficult to traverse on foot. Wear waterproof boots as you may have to walk and fish standing in water that has accumulated under the snow or between ice layers. Also multilayered ice and deep slush can be very hazardous for snowmobiles as they can get stuck quite easily in such conditions. Always snowmobile on ice with another snowmobile and stay far enough apart in case one of the machines gets into trouble.

Fishing Rules: Ice anglers are allowed to use up to five rods, lines or tip-ups while ice fishing with or without a two pole validation. You still must be attending the lines. Anglers are not allowed to cut or fish through a hole larger than 10 inches in diameter for safety purposes. If you use a shelter and leave it overnight, you must have your name, telephone number and current address legibly marked on two opposing sides of the shelter and make sure you remove it from the ice before the ice thaws.

What To Use: You will need something to drill or chop a hole through the ice. A sharp ice auger is the best option to cut a nice clean hole. An ice spud can be made relatively cheaply to chop a hole through the ice. Weld a 2x5x1/4 inch piece of flat steel to a heavy rod about 5-6 feet long. Sharpen the flat steel on one side only so it will cut into the ice more quickly. A strap on the end of the pole may keep it around your wrist and off the bottom of the lake if it slips from your hand. Take a slotted ladle or ice hole scoop to clean the ice out of the hole and keep it clean while it refreezes on a cold day.

Short rods, less than 4 feet long, with open face reels spooled with 4-6 lb. monofilament line work well for ice fishing. Try small 1/32nd to 1/8th ounce lead headed ice jigs, crappie jigs, Swedish Pimples, Rapala jigging minnows or a variety of other lures made for winter ice fishing. Glow in the dark colors are very effective because it's dark under the ice.

Rainbow trout are usually found either just under the ice a couple of feet or they are just off the bottom. Water depths to fish can vary greatly so try shallow to deep spots. Sometimes fish prefer the deepest spot in the lake as it is the warmest water under the ice. Take more than one pole (up to five ice fishing poles on one license) and try different depths of water with baits set at both just under the ice and just off the bottom.

Waters Horsethief Reservoir: Horsethief is owned by the Fish and Game Department and is kept full of water throughout the year and is managed strictly as a family trout fishing water. Access is via a 1 ˝ mile gravel road off of the Warm Lake highway. Large numbers of rainbow trout are stocked in the spring and fall months which maintains good fishing throughout the year.

Horsethief is typically a great ice fishing destination with lots of 9 to 11 in rainbow trout willing to take the bait. The reservoir typically freezes over and is safe to fish by early to mid December. The main gravel road into the reservoir is sometimes plowed but not always so check locally as it may take a few days after a snow to get it plowed. Also, even with the road plowed, it may only get you within a ˝ mile of the lake so be prepared to walk, snow shoe, ski or snowmobile to the lake. Check with local tackle stores for the latest ice and road conditions.

Lake Cascade: Cascade is typically iced over and fishable by mid December. In recent years rainbow trout from ľ to 5 pounds are the primary target of ice anglers on the lake. Anglers typically ice fish the area in front of the dam and the Crown Point area all the way south into the bay in front of the Blue Heron Campground. However trout can be found virtually any where in the reservoir and many times the best fishing is in areas where there are few other anglers around. The noise of lots of people out on the ice in a given area many times seems to slow fishing down. Many of the areas that can be accessed from the boat ramps can be good fishing.

The typical trout baits again include marshmallows, worms, powerbait, salmon eggs, shrimp or a combination of these baits. Local tackle shops in Cascade can be great sources of information on what baits and areas are producing fish.

The yellow perch fishery has really taken off in last year due to the stocking of over 860,000 adult yellow perch over the last 3 years by IDFG. The adult perch were stocked to overcome the predation problem of northern pikeminnow (squawfish) consuming all of the juvenile yellow perch. These adult perch have produced large numbers of juvenile fish which hopefully, will re-establish a strong and viable fishery over the next 3 to 4 years. IDFG personnel have also removed over ľ of the predatory northern pikeminnow from the reservoir over the last three years with trap nets and rotenone (a fish toxicant) treatments during spring pikeminnow spawning runs up the North Fork Payette River.

Typically, live baits such as night crawlers and meal worms are used to catch yellow perch under the ice as well as "cut bait" which is simply a fish cut up into bait size pieces. A perch you've already caught usually works especially well. Fish your bait just off the bottom when fishing for yellow perch. If you don't catch fish within 30 minutes or so move and keep moving until you find fish. Fishing for 8 to 11 inch perch should be good this winter.

Salmon River - Riggins Area: Winter steelhead fishing can be slow to excellent depending on the day (typical steelhead fishing!). Winter steelhead are typically found in the slower current, deeper areas of the river but will actively take bait and corky setups as well as jigs. Hot Shot (brightly colored crankbaits) fishing from boats can also be effective at times when there is no ice in the river and water temperature are on the rise.

Little Salmon River - Steelhead Fishing: There are a few steelhead that move into the lower Little Salmon River in the fall before water temperatures get real cold and these fish will hold through the winter. Most fish will be found below the Pollock area.

Magic Valley Region Fishing Information

Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir: Ice conditions are questionable. Some bays south of Grays Landing are reported to have 2-3 inches of blue-ice; however there is a lot of open water still out there. Anglers should be real careful. Catch rates have been great for 16-18 inch rainbow trout. No perch have been reported caught.

Magic Reservoir: Ice conditions are pretty good with ice thickness ranging from 10-12 inches. The reservoir is always rising during the winter months so be prepared to hear a lot of snaps, groans, and cracks while passing the day. Also be aware that on warmer days, the shoreline tends to soften up by late afternoon so where you walked onto the ice real easy in the morning may be a bit more tricky later on in the day. Wind is a given.

Most anglers have reported good fishing to date. Anglers report good catch rates 16-18 inch rainbow trout with the occasional 7-9 inch fish. Other fish species being pulled through the ice include the occasional brown trout and yellow perch. The majority of perch harvested are averaging 9 ˝ -10 inches with a few 12-13 inchers in the mix. There are plenty of 5-7 inch perch stealing bait and keeping your rods jiggling. The best fishing is just after sunrise to about 10:30 AM. The bite is soft so use light tackle. Bait (night crawlers, grubs, and meal worms) has been producing great, but most anglers will switch to cut-bait or perch eyes once they have a few perch on the ice.

Connor Pond (aka Ponderosa Pond, Burley Pond, Deadman Pond - Burley area): Reports of good ice with anglers catching bluegill, small bass, and the occasional 12 inch trout.

Lake Walcott: Earlier reports indicated anglers were catching large rainbow (~ 20 inches) in low numbers on the south side of the lake near the dam. No recent reports.

Little Wood Reservoir: One angler reported that he had fished for one hour and caught 3 rainbow trout between 10-12" long. The ice is 18" but has some slushy spots. Edges at the bottom of the boat ramp are weak and anglers need to be careful getting onto the ice.

Southeast Region Fishing Information

Ice fishing is in full swing. The bitter cold has formed ice in most reservoirs, such as Chesterfield Reservoir and Twenty-Four Mile Reservoir.

Other reservoirs with enough ice for fishing include Blackfoot, Daniels, Deep Creek, Devil Creek, Montpelier and Weston.

Though the reservoirs all have ice, anglers must use their own discretion when deciding whether or not the ice is thick enough for ice-fishing. Early season ice anglers should check ice before walking far from shore. Drill a hole and measure thickness. Four inches of solid ice – not mushy or porous – is generally considered safe.

Fish with a partner, take extra dry clothes and take a throw rope along just in case. A knife or other sharp object to provide purchase on the ice also is a good idea. The last reservoirs to form safe ice are those on the main stem Bear and Snake rivers.

Anglers also should pay attention to weather trends. If the weather warms up, ice may become less safe for fishing. And remember the reservoirs are filling through the winter, so be careful around the shoreline, as the ice is often thin on the edges.

Moving water fishing is available on area rivers and streams, with good results report from anglers using streamers, but one hazard is ice in the rod guides.

Upper Snake Region Fishing Information

Winter is a great time for fishing in the Upper Snake Region, whether you be young or old, novice or expert-as long as you can stand the cold. Though General Stream Season closed November 30, several streams in the area are open year-round and others offer winter stream seasons. Those with winter stream seasons are the Big Lost River (including tributaries), the Teton River, the Fall River, and the Warm River.

Winter stream season rules are catch-and-release for trout, although brook trout and whitefish can be harvested (Note: no whitefish harvest is allowed in the Big Lost River drainage). Any gear or bait restrictions which apply during the regular season also apply during the winter stream season. In the Big Lost River, this means that no fish or fish parts can be used for bait.

Streams open all year include the South Fork of the Snake River and those portions of the Henrys Fork from Riverside Campground to Ashton Reservoir, and from the Vernon Bridge to the South Fork.

South Fork Snake River: Flows will be about 800 cfs from Palisades Dam this winter, which means anglers will have easy walk and wade fishing. Winter fishing is best in slow, deep water. Anglers need to fish near the bottom, as fish are less active and have a smaller strike zone than during other times of the year. Remember, all cutthroat trout must be released, and anglers are encouraged to harvest rainbow and hybrid trout.

Henrys Fork Snake River: Also best in the deeper runs and slower water. Use weighted nymphs and bead heads. Check conditions, as slush ice can make the river virtually impossible to fish during extremely cold weather.

Ice fishing opportunities abound in the Upper Snake Region for anglers looking for trout and kokanee. Later in the winter, the ice can get over a foot thick, so make sure you have a sharp ice auger, or better yet, a gasoline powered auger. Also, the reservoirs are filling through the winter, so be careful around the shoreline, as the ice is often thin on the edges.

Ririe Reservoir: Regulations will change on Ririe Reservoir beginning January 1. Historically, the reservoir was only open to ice fishing in the winter months, so if it didn't freeze, there was no fishing opportunity. Beginning with the new year, Ririe Reservoir will be open to year-round fishing. HOWEVER, ice fishing may ONLY occur within one mile of the dam (as has been the rule in the past). If the reservoir doesn't freeze, anglers are allowed to fish anywhere, but once the lake is covered with ice, anglers must stay within 1 mile of the dam. These rules are to minimize disturbance to wintering wildlife. Ririe can be excellent fishing for kokanee, trout, and perch. Fish shallow for kokanee with an ice fly tipped with a maggot. Kokanee travel in schools, so the fishing can go from being very slow to very fast in a matter of minutes. For perch, fish with a small piece of night crawler or a maggot on an ice fly near the bottom.

Palisades Reservoir: Many anglers believe winter is the best time to fish Palisades Reservoir. Anglers catch cutthroat, brown, and lake trout. Popular spots are near the dam and around the Big Elk Creek arm. Try jigging spoons or jigs tipped with night crawlers near the bottom in 15-40 feet of water. Ice fishing is also a great opportunity to take kids out fishing. Catch rates are often fast enough to keep them excited, and if they do get bored, they can slide around on the ice or have a snowball fight. For some fast fishing action that should keep kids entertained, try:

Roberts Gravel Pond: Use small jigs tipped with bait for 5-8 inch perch and hatchery trout rainbow trout. Small jigging spoons are also a popular technique.

Rexburg Ponds: Use night crawlers or meal worms with a small jig or ice fly for hatchery rainbow trout.

Mackay Reservoir: Can be excellent for trout and kokanee. The low level of the reservoir this winter will have fish concentrated and catch rates should be very good.

Mud Lake: Mud Lake can be an excellent ice-fishery for yellow perch. Use small jigs tipped with bait in 3-6 feet of water.

Ashton Reservoir: On the heels of the recent landing of the new state record brown trout, many anglers may be more interested in trying Ashton Reservoir. The reservoir is heavily stocked with rainbow trout, and also has a good number of wild rainbow and brown trout-which as recent events have shown, can get to be very large!

Henrys Lake: Fishing season closed on November 30th. The season will reopen on Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend, 2008.

Island Park: The fishing season on Island Park Reservoir is open year round. Ice fishing can be good for rainbows and kokanee. Two good areas are near the dam and the Lakeside Lodge area. Both of these areas are accessible by car or pickup. The west end of the reservoir can also fish well, but is accessible by snow machine only. Ice conditions vary as the reservoir continues to fill over the winter. Always check the ice thickness before venturing out.

Salmon Region Fishing Information

Ice fishing continues to be the best bet for fishing in the Salmon Region. Williams Lake and Jimmy Smith Lake are both great spots. Recent catch rates at Jimmy Smith Lake were 3.6 fish per hour. Anglers report that mealworms are the hot bait right now. Mackay Reservoir is also a great spot for ice fishing. River fishing is very hit-and-miss depending upon how much ice is flowing in open water areas.

When ice fishing anywhere, remember safety comes first. At least four inches of solid clear ice is needed for maximum safety. Always check the ice each time you head out; do not rely on yesterday's conditions especially in early and late winter. Fish with a partner and make sure that someone knows where you are going and when you plan to be back. Carrying some extra warm dry clothing is also a good idea just in case.

Don't forget to check with the tackle shop nearest your fishing destination for bait, tackle and additional fishing tips and information.

11-16-2007

Special Note: Anglers need to check with the Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management before planning a trip. Some road and trail closures in the state are already in effect and more might be coming, depending on fire conditions. Check here for wildfire updates.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has scheduled a series of public meetings to gather comments on proposed statewide and regional changes to fishing rules for the 2008-2009 fishing seasons. The next meeting is from 7:00-9:00 in Kellogg on Wednesday, September 19, Avista Building, 120 N. Hill St.

Kokanee fishing is closed on Coeur d'Alene Lake for the rest of the year.

Chinook salmon are staying around 80-90 feet deep in Coeur d'Alene Lake; try large flashers, green mini squids or helmeted herring. Right now the best fishing for Chinook is in the north end of the lake. They are averaging 4-5 pounds; Chinook usually move into mid-lake in October.

Catch and release fly fishing has been really good for cutthroats on the lower parts of the Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe Rivers around Kingston. Anglers have been using hopper patterns, orange stimulators and pale morning duns which have been working out really well. The cutts are usually around 8-18 inches.

Northern Pike fishing is really picking up on Hayden Lake. Try using buzz spinners or rapalas. Northern pike are averaging 3-10 pounds. They are hanging around the north end of the lake in weed beds 5-15 feet deep.

There is a bounty on Lake Pend Oreille for rainbow at least 13 inches (with a 2 3/8 inch head length) and on any size lake trout…the angler incentive program is paying $15.00 for each one caught. Read more details online at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/fish/misc/pendoreille_cash.cfm.

Rainbow trout can still be found but you will need to fish deep; they are staying 50-100 feet deep; rainbows are hitting on flashers and small mini squids, apexes and flutter spoons. Smallmouth bass is really heating up with anglers using zooms and sinko worms to catch them. Try jigs and worms for perch and crappie fishing. Macs are also showing up in creels on LPO. Macs are still deep (60-120 feet) and anglers have been using apex plugs to catch them.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has scheduled a series of public meetings to gather comments on proposed statewide and regional changes to fishing rules for the 2008-2009 fishing seasons.

Meetings run from 7 to 9 p.m. at the following locations and dates:

Kellogg: Wednesday, September 19, Avista Building, 120 N. Hill St.

Clearwater Region Fishing Information

Special Note: Anglers need to check with the Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management before planning a trip. Due to extreme fire conditions, some road and trail closures in the state are already in effect and more might be coming. Check here for wildfire updates.

Steelhead Season - The fall catch and release steelhead season opened on July 1 in the Clearwater River and on August 1 on the Snake and Salmon rivers. The catch and keep season (for hatchery steelhead) opened on the Clearwater River downstream of the Memorial Bridge (~2 miles at Lewiston) on August 1 and opened on the Snake and Salmon rivers on September 1. The catch and keep season on the Clearwater River upstream of the Memorial Bridge will begin on October 15.

Steelhead catch rates - For current information on steelhead catch rates and water conditions, please click here. http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/fish/steelhead/weekly_harv.cfm

For water flow information, please click here: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/id/nwis/current/?type=flow Snake River – Steelhead are moving through at increasing rates, but the fishing is reportedly better on the Clearwater due to the lower water temperatures. Smallmouth bass fishing is great. Grubs and creature baits are attracting bass, some reportedly in the 2-3 pound range. Crow tail jigs are also currently popular with bass anglers. Clearwater River- Steelhead fishing is currently good. The A run steelhead are still hanging around and the B run are just starting to show up. Bobber fishermen are having success using shrimp bait, while fly anglers are using undertakers.

N. Fork Clearwater River, Lochsa River, Selway River – Fall trout fishing is in full swing. Fly anglers are having success with big, orange October caddis or small, size 14 to 16, flutter caddis.

Lowland Lakes and Ponds - All lowland lakes and ponds have been stocked with trout and are fishing very well. Most have good populations of warm water fish, such as largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish and yellow perch. Algae and aquatic plants can build up at some of these lakes in mid-summer, so prepare for some messy fishing. Try small bobbers with light line to keep your bait clear of the bottom.

Many of these lakes are managed as Family Fishing Waters, which designates simplified regulations (six trout and six bass bag limit, no length limits, and no special fishing gear restrictions). Besides the simplified regulations, Family Fishing Waters also are a great place to take youngsters to catch a fish. Most have fishing docks and restroom facilities. See link below.

Mountain Lakes - The Clearwater Region has over 700 mountain lakes, most of which are located in the southern and eastern portion of the region. While most of these lakes are fishless, over 250 of them have fish populations. Westslope cutthroat, brook trout, and rainbow trout are the most common game fish. Lakes without adequate natural reproduction are stocked with westslope cutthroat fry on a three year rotation.

Southwest Region Fishing Information

Special Note:Anglers need to check with the Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management before planning a trip. Fires are burning on the Boise and Payette Forest. Road and trail closures are in effect. Check here for wildfire updates.

Boise River: The river in town usually improves this time of year and has been stocked recently with rainbow trout at the standard locations. Some of the year’s best opportunity for flyfishing comes now.

South Fork Boise River: Flyfishing should be picking up now at temperatures and water levels both head downward. Fall fishing beats all and most of the crowd is watching football instead.

Lake Lowell: The only ramp still open at Lowell is located at the Upper Dam just east of the refuge headquarters office. Bass fishing is still good and you should fish while you can as the lake is closed to fishing from motorized boats from September 30 to mid-April. Fishing from human-powered craft is allowed in restricted areas during the closure, see refuge website for details. http://www.fws.gov/deerflat/

Brownlee Reservoir: Still not hearing overly encouraging stories from the big water.

C.J. Strike Reservoir: Cooling weather has brought the trout out of hiding and trout fishing should continue to pick up through the fall. Perch fishing is still good, fishing small baits on the bottom either out of a boat or off the dam. Small Crappie and bluegill are numerous and entertaining. Bass fishing should be good for a while longer as fish put on the feed bags before winter.

Lucky Peak and Arrowrock: Water levels are low in Arrowrock and dropping fast in Lucky Peak. Trout fishing is finally picking up again.

Boise Area Ponds: Rainbow trout stocking will resume on the normal schedule in early October. The Treasure Valley is loaded with small ponds that support neighborhood fisheries. Cooler weather means trout stocking can be resumed. These are excellent places for beginning and experienced anglers alike.

McCall Subregion Fishing Information

Specail Note: Anglers need to check with the Forest Service before planning a trip. Fires are burning on the Boise and Payette Forests. Road and trail closures are in effect. Check here for wildfire updates.

Mountain Lakes: It may be a trifle chilly up high at this time of year but fishing can still be good and the crowds are nonexistent. Terrestrial flies, small lures and bait (eggs) are all good choices.

Cascade Lake: Perch fishing remains good, as it has been for most of the year. Trout fishing should start to pick up again as soon as the fish realize winter is coming. Locals have been picking up some in the river below the dam. Fall fishing techniques and gear are called for now.

Fish and Game has moved about 850,000 perch into Cascade. The department has reduced northern pikeminnow adults to about a quarter of their previous numbers. So far, two large year-classes of perch have been produced.

Horsethief Reservoir: Bank anglers have been doing fairly well at Horsethief.

Lost Valley Reservoir: Perch and trout are available for salvage here. Be warned: it is muddy.

Magic Valley Region Fishing Information

Special Note: Anglers need to check with the Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management before planning a trip. Some road and trail closures in the state are already in effect and more might be coming, depending on fire conditions. Check here for wildfire updates.

Silver Creek: Fishing has picked up somewhat with more people heading to Silver Creek. Late summer hatches of baetis and callibaetis have been fairly consistent in late mornings or early afternoon. Hopper and beetle patterns may work in close to the grassy banks if no hatches are present.

Anderson Ranch Reservoir: Water is very low and reports of any kind of success at catching fish are few and far between.

Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir: Algae starting to decrease but not gone – cool nights will help get rid of the algae soon. Trout fishing has been reportedly slow however anglers report excellent catch rates for yellow perch, smallmouth bass, walleye, and small crappie.

Magic Reservoir: Very low water – boat access only for small car-top type of boats. Myrtle Point low water boat ramp not useable. Fishing is great for perch, trout, and bass particularly at the dam.

Mormon Reservoir: Boat access still available but the reservoir is largely non-navigable due to heavy aquatic vegetation. Open water is still reported in the norther quarter of the reservoir. Anglers report good catch rates of trout in the 14-16 inch size ranges.

Carey Lake: Vegetation is heavy resulting in relatively small amounts of open water for fishing and boating. Mossy and weedy.

Fish Creek Reservoir: Fish Creek Reservoir is dry.

Little Wood Reservoir: Still no boat access. Angler reports show fair catch rates for trout at the dam.

Little Camas: Extremely low water – no recent fishing reports.

Big Wood River: High catch rates – Site fishing conditions good. Anglers report catching lots of 8-11 inch rainbow trout. Brown trout fishing should be picking up in the lower Big Wood River from Magic Reservoir to Bellevue.

Richfield Canal: Due to low water, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game has removed the bag, possession, and size limits on the Big Wood River downstream from the Richfield Canal headgate, the Richfield Canal downstream to the Gooding County line, and on the Richfield and Lincoln Canal systems.

Fish may be taken by any method except firearms, explosives, chemicals, or electric current, effective August 21, 2007 through November 30, 2007.

A valid Idaho fishing license is required to salvage fish.

The Big Wood River downstream from Magic Dam to the Richfield Canal Diversion head gate, general fishing rules and limits still apply. No salvage allowed.

For more information on the salvage order, call 324-4359

Oakley Reservoir: Water is fairly clear with no algal bloom (mossy), and the boat ramp is still usable.

Thorn Creek Reservoir: The water is low, but the fish are still biting. There is some moss around the banks, but it can easily be casted over. Good for a float tube to get past the moss. You can still catch a limit of trout in under an hour if you fish in the morning.

Milner: Lots of moss beds reported, anglers will have to search for spots

Southeast Region Fishing Information

Special Note: Anglers need to check with the Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management before planning a trip. Some road and trail closures in the state are already in effect and more might be coming, depending on fire conditions. Check here for wildfire updates.

The fishing keeps getting better in the Southeast Region. Not much has changed, but the cooler weather has helped improved fishing. Trout fishing in reservoirs that still have water is still good.

This is a good time of year to fish grasshoppers and grasshopper imitations in rivers and streams. Leech patterns, damsel nymphs, pale morning duns, elk-hair caddis and Copper Johns are working well.

Smallmouth bass fishing generally improves in the Massacre Rocks area of the Snake River in late August and September. The fishing is good below and above the Tilden Bridge on the Snake River.

The American Falls Reservoir is empty.

The reports are stellar from Chesterfield, Twenty-four Mile and Daniels reservoirs.

The Portneuf River is low and clear, and the fish are “twitchy” but there are some nice ones.

Reports from the Bear River also are good.

Interested anglers may comment on proposed rule changes to the 2008-2009 fishing rules. Comments may be made to regional fishery manager, Dick Scully, or regional fishery biologist, David Teuscher, by phone 208-232-4703 or at the Pocatello Fish and Game office between now and October 5.

Upper Snake Region Fishing Information

Special Note: Anglers need to check with the Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management before planning a trip. Some road and trail closures in the state are already in effect and more might be coming, depending on fire conditions. Check here for wildfire updates.

Note: Interested anglers will have opportunities to comment on proposed rule changes to the 2008-2009 fishing rules. Idaho Fish and Game has set an open house from 8am - 7pm September 19 at the Upper Snake Idaho Regional Fish and Game office at 4279 Commerce Circle, Idaho Falls.

South Fork Snake/Teton Rivers

Fisheries crews are busy conducting electro-fishing population surveys on the South Fork and the Teton rivers now. Initial results are showing a very good population of brown trout in the lower South Fork. Anglers who see the crew on the water may be initially discouraged, believing that electro-fishing will disrupt the fishing for the day. However, our surveys are limited to about 1.5 miles of river per day, so any effect is very localized. It's also important to recognize that we generally only touch 10-15 percent of the population in a given reach when electro-fishing, as the electrical field is limited to a very small area.

Flow out of Palisades Dam remains around 7500 cfs, and the river remains discolored. But streamer fishing remains effective on most of the river. When flow out of the dam drops the river will clear, expect an improvement in dry fly fishing. With cooler and unsettled weather the BWOs will become important to trout. The same will happen with mahogany duns.

As water temperatures cool going into the fall, the brown trout fishing will pick up. Fishing streamers and lures near the bank is an effective technique.

Henry’s Lake

The water temperatures have cooled into the mid 50's and the fish are on the move. Bait anglers are doing well near the cliff area and in the center of the lake, catching mostly hybrids of various sizes. Not enough trollers have been out yet to report, but the vegetation is dying down enough to soon give it a try. Fly anglers should start to pick up fish in the shallower areas near the north shore, Duck, Hope and Howard creeks. Brook trout should start to show up in these areas as well. The lake level is at 80 percent of capacity, so use caution at the boat launches.

Salmon Region Fishing Information

Special Note: Anglers need to check with the Salmon-Challis National Forest, the Sawtooth National Forest or Bureau of Land Management before planning a trip. Some road and trail closures in the state are already in effect and more might be coming, depending on fire conditions. Check here for wildfire updates.

As the fall turns cooler, many folks think it is time to hang up the fishing equipment. But fall fishing in the Salmon region can be exciting. Fishing is picking up as cooler temperatures move in to stay. High mountain lakes are still great fishing and will make a good weekend fishing destination until mid-October when many of these lakes will begin to ice up. Smaller tributaries are still low, but anglers can expect good fishing if they know how to fish shallow waters.

Fly fishermen are still having good luck with terrestrial patterns. Grasshoppers are still catching fish especially during the warmer parts of the day in most parts of the region. Hungry fish needing to prepare for winter are not as picky as they were earlier in the summer and a number of terrestrials should tempt them. Several insect hatches are yet to come and anglers should pay attention to the bugs they see in the next few weeks. Midges and October caddis flies are targets for fish and anglers should try these patterns.

William’s Lake outside of Salmon is still fishing fairly well. Catch rates have slowed, but anglers are still pulling out decent-sized fish. Many fish are hanging in at 25 – 30 feet below the surface right now.

Cooler weather continues to put a damper on area fires, but they continue to burn in a number of areas around the region. Before heading out for a day of fishing, check with the Salmon-Challis National Forest office to find about fire closures in the region. You can also access a variety of fire information websites from the Fish and Game website.

Don’t forget to check with the tackle shop nearest your fishing destination for bait, tackle and additional fishing tips and information.