Idaho Lake Reports
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Idaho Lake Reports 11/05/2015
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American Falls Reservoir
No Reports.
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Anderson Ranch Reservior 07/04/2013
Kokanee has slowed for mostly smaller ones, most of the fish are being caught fairly deep. Smallmouth fishing is fair with folks catching fish shallow using topwater early and late in the day and plastics during the day around the rocky shorelines.
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Arrowrock Reservoir 11/05/2015
The reservoir has been rising almost a foot a day the last few days but is still about 78 feet from full. This might slow the trout bite but bank and boat anglers have been catching trout using PowerBait and marshmallows from shore and small spinners trolled between the dam and the boat ramp. The Dept. of Fish & Game stocked over 10,00 trout last week so fishing should be fair for the foreseeable future or unless the weather continues to take a turn for the worse.
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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!
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Beulah Reservior 05/22/2014
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Boise Area Ponds:
Nom recent Reports.
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Brownlee Reservoir 11/05/2015
Time has about run out for catching warmwater species like crappie and bass, especially since water temperatures have been dropping the last week or so. Fishing has continued to be fair for crappie but its not going to last forever. Most of the crappie are being caught in the Powder River Arm but some fish are also being caught at most of the major coves, especially those with steep rock walls and banks like Sturgill Creek. Small chartreuse jigs tipped with white PowerBait Nibbles seems to work best to catch most of the fish. Bass anglers are still catching a few smaller fish dragging plastics between 10-20 feet deep.
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Bruneau Sand Dunes 07/15/2010
Anglers are still catching some bass using top water baits and a few bluegill on little foam spiders, mostly early and late in the day. Other places like Crane Falls Reservoir and Halverson Ponds are also fishing fair, again mostly during low light hours. Mostly you'll find warmwater species like bass; bluegill or catfish in Idaho's small valley lakes, but Crane Falls is also planted with trout. No gas motors are allowed but you can troll with an electric motor with spinners or flies and catch fish. Bait will work until the weed beds take over, which is already starting to happen.
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Bully Creek Reservior 08/13/2009
The water level have dropped out of most of the structure so fishing is a lot more difficult. The reservoir was only half full as of July 5. Anglers are catching a few bass and the crappie bite is slow. However if you catch one it's a biggun!
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Cascade Reservoir 11/05/2015
Boat anglers are still catching perch in anywhere between around 18-24 feet deep. Cut bait and worms will work best to catch them but with much colder weatherl ook for the fish to move into a deeper water and bet a lot more finicky. A few boat anglers are catching trout on small spinners and trolling pop gear or dodgers trailed with Hoochies or Wedding Rings. Shore anglers are also catching a few trout using PowerBait and worms.
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C. Ben Ross Reservoir (east of Cambridge)
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C.J. Strike Reservoir 11/05/2015
Anglers are still catching perch, cut bait and worms work best. Trout fishing is picking up and with cooler wet weather the fish should remain hungry. Bank anglers are mostly using cheese Natural Scent PowerBait or nightcrawlers. Boat anglers are also starting to catch a few trout using small spinners or trolling pop gear. Bass fishing is slow but fish are biting, although they might be hitting one day and not the next. Try plastics in 12-20 feet but don't hesitate to try tossing a crankbait off the rocky points and shelves to catch fish.
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Chesterfield Reservoir
Good carry-over water should provide good fishing this fall, winter and into next year. The reservoirs are slowly cooling off, which is turning on trout in Chesterfield and Daniels reservoirs.
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Clear Lake (near Buhl) 01/09/2014
This can be a good place to winter fish because the little lake keeps open water to fish all year. I still haven't heard any real good reports but fishing here could be better than sitting at home waiting for ice fishing to start. The lake usually gets stocked with some real bruisers sometime in late fall to late winter. It costs $10 a day to fish and only fly fishing special regulations apply.
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Coeur d'Alene Lake
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Condie reservoir
NO reports.
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Crane Falls Reservoir 05/01/2014
The Dept. of Fish & Game stocked Crane Falls with 2,000 with a lot of catchable rainbows and there is also bass and bluegill available for fly casters as well. Remember no gas motored boats allowed but you can use an electric trolling motor.
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Daniels reservoirs
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Deadwood Reservior 08/27/2015
Boat fishing for rainbows and kokanee is still fair. Most are trolling small dodgers trailed with Hoochies or Wedding Rings tipped with white shoepeg corn to catch their fish. Shore fishermen are still catching a few trout using PowerBait, worms or marshmallows.
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Devils Reservior
No reports.
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Duck Valley Reservoirs 04/05/2015
Mountain View Reservoir is still fishing pretty well and anglers are catching some nice sized fish from shore and float tubes. The fishing season started this week at Sheep Creek and Lake Billy Shaw but no reports have surfaced as of this posting. Perhaps next week I'll have some more good news. Most bank fishermen on Mountain View are using PowerBait and marshmallows or nightcrawlers, and the fly casters are using olive/brown nymph patterns to catch their fish.
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Glendale Reservior
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Hagerman Hagerman Wildlife Management Area 04/05/2015
The Hagerman Valley and surrounding area has many local spring-fed ponds and streams that remain open year-round. When the weather permits the Malad offers some decent winter dry fly fishing opportunities for trout. Clear Lake at the Country Club Golf Course is better suited for inclement weather and stays open year around. For the latest fishing information on Clear Lake call 208-543-4849. It costs $10 a day to fish. For more information on the Magic Valley Region call the Idaho Dept. of Fish & Game at 208-324-4359.
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Hayden Lake
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Hebgen Lake
No Recent Reports.....
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Hells Canyon Reserviors 10/23/2014
Bass fishing is still great on both reservoirs. Anglers are still catching a few decent sized crappie on Oxbow. The trout fishing is also fair on both Oxbow and in Hells Canyon Reservoir and anglers are catching some decent sized fish, especially on Oxbow. Catfish are still biting throughout the Hells Canyon Complex.
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Henry's Lake
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High Mountain Lakes and Streams 10/01/2015
There is still time to get in one last blast in the mountains before the hunters take over and the fishing starts to wane. The fishing is certainly not going to get any better and with fish about has hungry as they're going to get all you need is some worms, salmon eggs, a few small spinners or a terrestrial fly or two and you should catch all the fish you're willing to clean.
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Horsethief Reservoir 10/01/2015
The reservoir continues to be open to salvage fishing through October 20. The salvage suspends fish bag and possession limits. Anglers must have a valid Idaho fishing license. With the exception of firearms, explosives, chemicals and electricity, fish may be taken with any method, including seines and dip nets. All fish must be killed before transport from the reservoir. Fishing has been a bit more difficult because of access due to the quickly dropping water level. Bank anglers fishing with bait and other methods are still taking home fish but not without some considerable effort.
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Island Park Reservior
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Lake Billy Shaw 06/16/2011
Anglers have also been having reasonable success on Lake Billy Shaw.
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Lake Lowell 10/01/2015
The lake is closed to motorized boating but it's not closed to fishing and the fish are still biting, so don't overlook fishing from shore. Bait, lures and plastics will all catch fish. Maybe a bass, a bluegill, crappie, catfish or who knows, maybe even a perch.
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Lake Pend Oreille
The $15/fish incentive for rainbow trout over 13 inches and any size lake trout harvested from Lake Pend Oreille will be in place through 2008. The bounty also applies to the Clark Fork River and starting April 1 Lightning Creek and tributaries, Grouse Creek and the Pack River. Deep water trap netting and gill netting will also be active during March, April and May. Up to 14 trap nets will be set around the lake. Watch for the orange buoys and avoid trolling with downriggers in the vicinity of trapnets.
For anglers wanting additional information on both lake trout and rainbow fishing techniques, two DVD's have been developed; "Reliable methods of catching lake trout on Lake Pend Oreille" and "Catch a Kam with Captain Ken". Loaner copies are available for check out at area libraries in Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Hayden, Sandpoint and Priest River, and at the IDFG Regional office in Coeur d'Alene. You can order your own copy from from oakeysmokes@hotmail.com.
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.
When water temperatures are cold and uniform top to bottom, a variety of lure types can be effective on rainbow trout. Many rainbow trout anglers like to fish 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. Other anglers like to troll Rapala, Rebel, Lyman or Apex type plugs near the surface or at depths to 50 feet.
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. Westslope cutthroat trout are limited in number in the Pend Oreille system and harvest is now closed. Lake whitefish are very abundant in Lake Pend Oreille and their distribution overlaps that of lake trout (mackinaw) very closely. They eat primarily invertebrates, so they are difficult to catch. The few angler that do catch lake whitefish carefully anchor over concentrated schools and then fish with relatively light line and small glow hooks baited with a single maggot. Lake whitefish have relatively small mouths, so a small hook and minimal sized bait is recommended. The bass limit on LPO and the Pend Oreille River is now 6, with no more than 2 largemouth bass, and largemouth must be at least 16".
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Little Camas Reservoir 04/18/2013
Anglers are catching trout up cruising with floating bait, marshmallows and eggs. This time of year can be excellent fishing. Spring Shores and near the dam are favorite fishing locations.
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Local Ponds and streams 11/05/2015
Numerous ponds and streams throughout the Treasure Valley and beyond will continue to be stocked as water and weather conditions permit. For the latest and future stocking reports refer to the Idaho Dept. of Fish & Game web site at: https://fishandgame.idaho.gov.
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Lost Valley Reservoir 11/27/2008
Lost Valley is still fishing fair but the road is not so good and there is ice forming around the lake. Try bait, flies.
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Lower Salmon Falls (Hagerman) 04/23/2009
This can be a great early spring fishin' hole for catching some nice rainbows, as well as largemouth and smallmouth bass. A few bass are being caught along the rocky banks using crankbaits and spinnerbaits, and the trout are up cruising. Try Rapalas or bait fish from shore or the boat. Just so you know, for bass it is "catch and release" until July 1st.
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Lucky Peak Reservoir 09/10/2015
Anglers were catching some decent sized kokanee and few rainbows but the water levels are dropping as much as a foot and a half a day and that's not good for fishing, of any kind. If you have to give it one more shot, try using small pop gear or a dodger trailed by a Wiggle Hoochie or Wedding Ring baited with white shoepeg corn or Pautzke's Fire Corn. Most of the fish being caught lately were anywhere from 20-45 feet down and even deeper depending time of day.
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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.
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Magic Reservoir (north of Mt. Home) 03/05/2015
No new reports, it may be because the ice has not recovered. The forecast is for cooler but mayabe not cool enough for ice fishing but folks might be catching some fish from shore. Perhaps it would be a good idea to call West Magic Resort at (208) 487-2581 for the latest conditions. Again, if there is some open shoreline trout fishing could actually be excellent. There is some big trout in this reservoir so perhaps a phone call might be in order.
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Malheur Reservior (Oregon) 05/22/2014
Bank anglers are still catching a few smaller trout but you have to get out on the water to catch any fish up to 16-18 inches. Try using worms, marshmallows or Powerbait. Float tubers are using olive Woolly Worms to catch fish.
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Mann's Creek Reservoir (north of Weiser) 05/28/2015
I heard anglers had some decent success catching trout over the weekend. The weather wasn't always the best but if you got in some fishing in between the storms it wasn't too bad, especially if you were fishing along the right bank. Bait from shore worked best but some boat anglers were catching fish trolling small spinners and flatfish. Remember there are some bass lurking in Mann's Creek so don't hesitate to bring along a few bass plugs and plastic worms.
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Milner Reservoir 10/08/2009
Bass fishing is fair, but cool weather should improve the fishing. First try fishing along eddies and current breaks, then fish off deeper structure around submerged islands and rock piles during the day. If you're into catfish then they're still biting.
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Morman Reservior 09/18/2008
No recent reports.
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Mountain Lakes 09/26/2013
Mountain streams and lakes are still fishing fairly well, but snow will put a damper on the fishing in the higher elevations this week. Also if you do head for some mountain fishing be sure and be cautious of the hunting community. This time of year they too will be tromping through the high country in search of their favorite table fare. Deer or elk hair dry fly's or small black and yellow spinners are all you need to catch fish. And be sure to check with the U. S. Forest Service for any road closures and make sure you know your regulations for the area you intent do fish. Many of the high mountain streams and lakes have some restrictions.
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Mt. Home Reservoir 06/21/2012
Anglers are still catching fish from shore using worms, marshmallows and PowerBait. Fly fishermen are doing a little better stripping olive/green, brown or black Midges and various leech patterns using a Type I-II sinking tip. Spin casters tossing weighted Rooster tails, Mepps spinners, and DareDevils are still catching a few fish as well, but mostly from a boat.
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Mt. View Reservoir (Duck Valley) 11/03/2012
All three reservoirs were producing a few fisha but Mt. View seems to be doing the best. Click here for more information and the lastest fishing report from the Duck Valley Indian Reservation.
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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.
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Oakley Reservior
Ice fishing is largely over with open water along shoreline, ice softening and likely to break up over the next week
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Oster Ponds (Hagerman) 05/20/2010
Lots of ponds, lots of fish, that's the motto for keeping Oster Ponds stocked. With several ponds to choose from fishing should be fairly good with a lot of fish recently stocked trout in many of them and hungry bass and bluegill in the rest.
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Owyhee Reservoir 08/27/2015
The only place you can launch a boat is below the old resort ramp because the reservoir is almost 78 feet down and there are no ramps left in the water! Although the old ramp has been widened and straightened it's still a long way to the bottom and once you get there your trailer will actually be launching from the gravel so using a four wheel driver vehicle is highly recommended. Crappie fishing remains decent off steep rock walls, deep coves or points and the few docks that are still in the water. The usual red and white crappie jig works just fine but just about any crappie jig will work. Bass anglers are catching most of their fish jigging big crawdad looking bugs off ledges and drop-offs around the steeper banks, deeper points and humps in about 15-25 feet. Early mornings or especially late evening into dark seems to be the best time to fish. Or given the full moon maybe even some night fishing is in order? Hot August nights anyone?
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Oxbow Reservoir (Hells Canyon Complex) 10/09/2014
Bass fishing is still great on both reservoirs. Anglers are still catching crappie on Oxbow and the fish are a little bigger by average then Brownlee but you won't catch nearly as many fish. The trout fishing is also fair on both Oxbow and in Hells Canyon Reservoir and anglers are catching some decent sized fish, especially on Oxbow. Catfish are still biting throughout the Hells Canyon Complex.
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Paddock Reservoir (northeast of Payette) 10/23/2008
No recent reports.
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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.
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Payette Lake 01/29/2015
Ice fishing has only been so so for catching a few nice sized lake trout. Last year there were some big fish caught through the ice using rubber jigs and big jigging spoons.
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Pend Oreille Lake 09/24/2008
Every lake trout of any size and rainbow trout more than 13 inches long harvested from Lake Pend Oreille through March 2009 pays $15.00. Lake trout of any size and rainbow trout more than 13 inches long from Lake Pend Oreille count for the $15 cash reward. Rainbow trout more than 13 inches caught in Lower Clark Fork River below the railroad bridge at Clark Fork (open all year) and from Lightning Creek, Grouse Creek and Pack River between April 1 and August 31 are also eligible. Please see details here.
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Priest Lake
Spring fishing for mackinaw on Priest Lake was traditionally one of the best season openers of the year. As the water warms and becomes uniform in temperature, lake trout can be caught near the surface on light spinning tackle pulling spoons or plugs early in the morning or in the evening. The most consistent method however is bottom trolling with downriggers or leaded line. Try trolling slowly just off the bottom using big spoons, Flatfish, Kwikfish, Litefish, Apex, Rapala, Rebel, or Lyman type plugs or dodgers with hootchies or flies on a short leader. A small strip of fresh cut bait or night crawler will greatly improve your chances of a hook-up. Natural color combinations of black or blue over silver or white are good choices for lures, as are lighter colored, fluorescent and glow-in-the-dark colors. Jigging with baited lead headed jigs, spoons and buzz baits over rocky out crops and drop-offs is also a proven technique for catching mackinaw if you find concentrated fish. Use low or non-stretch line because many of the fish are holding in 140+ feet of water and it is difficult to detect a bite and set a hook with monofilament line. Reel fish up slowly from those depths to prevent bloating. Not all boat ramps may be accessible at this time or year due to low lake levels.
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Quake Lake
Same as Hebgen.
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Rexburg Ponds
Use night crawlers or meal worms with a small jig or ice fly for hatchery rainbow trout.
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Rigby Lake 09/24/2008
Rigby Lake: Was added to the Idaho Fish and Game stocking rotation earlier this year, has been producing great catches of hatchery fish, and is probably one of the better areas to take a kid or new angler. Fishing from a boat is slightly better than fishing from the shore, but anglers are catching fish using both techniques.
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Ririe Reservoir 04/08/2011
Ririe Reservoir - The ice has come off of the reservoir, and walleye are starting to move up into the Willow Creek arm to spawn. April is likely the best time to capitalize on congregated walleye in this area. Anglers should focus at the mouth of Willow Creek and in the stream channel immediately below the mouth.
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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.
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Roseworth Reservior 09/18/2008
No recent reports.
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Sage Hen Reservior (West of Smiths Ferry) 05/28/2015
The Fish & Game was scheduled to stock 2.400 trout in Sage Hen this week and with plenty of fish already up cruising the shoreline in search of food fishing should be good for the next few weeks. Anglers hear have plenty of places to fish from shore and there is a small boat launch available for trollers who also like fishing this little treasure in the mountains. The road into the reservoir isn't the best, either way you come in, but the scenery alone is worth the trip.
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Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir (Rogers, south of Twin Falls) 10/20/2011
Anglers are still catching a few fish. Some trout, bass, perch, and a few walleye, but as the reservoir is low and access is limited. Try fishing plastics for bass, baited spinner rigs for walleye, and bait for trout. Troller's are catching the majority of their trout using small pop gear and spinners.
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Sand Creek Ponds 09/24/2008
Sand Creek Ponds: Have been fishing well with the cooler temps, and several very large trout have been reported.
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Sheep Creek Reservior 10/24/2013
Folks are catching fish on the res, mostly on Sheep Creek, both from the bank and especially from various float boats. Fly anglers are using leech patterns, Woolly Buggers, Sheep Creek Special and Stayner Ducktails.
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Springfield reservoir 10/23/2008
Hot spots also include Twenty-four Mile and Springfield reservoirs. Fishing is good with fall color leeches. Most of the smaller lakes are good for bluegill and crappie, and the rivers and streams good for trout.
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Swan Falls Reservoir (Snake River) 03/20/2014
Anglers are still using bait and spinners in the tailrace below the dam to catch a few trout and bass. Anglers fishing the reservoir are also catching smallmouth and folks are catching catfish all along the Snake River to include Steck Park on Brownlee.
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Treasure Vally Ponds 05/29/2008
The Idaho Dept. of Fish & Game stocked many of the Treasure Valley's ponds for Memorial Day Weekend, and as warmer weather builds back in, fishing for recently stocked trout, and bass, bluegill, and catfish should all be good.
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Twenty-four Mile 10/23/2008
Hot spots also include Twenty-four Mile and Springfield reservoirs. Fishing is good with fall color leeches. Most of the smaller lakes are good for bluegill and crappie, and the rivers and streams good for trout.
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Twin Lakes Reservior 10/23/2008
Bass fishing has been good.
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Warm Lake 11/05/2015
Boat anglers are still catching trout trolling small spinners, pop gear or anchored and bait fishing. Bank fishermen aren't catching as many fish but flycasters are still doing fairly well stripping Woolly Buggers, Woolly Worms, or nymphs with a sink tipped line to catch fish.
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Weston Creek Reservoir 10/23/2008
To catch the big bass in Weston Creek Reservoir anglers have to get down below the little ones. This is a no-motors reservoir.
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Wildhorse Reservoir 03/08/2012
Fishing for trout is still fair with most of the trout being taken in very shallow water near shore. Most of the fish being caught are two to three feet below the ice. Anglers are having the best luck using brightly colored jigs tipped with a piece of worm or wax worm. The best areas to fish are just off of the rock face south of the boat ramp, along the beach north of the boat ramp, the west shore straight across from the state park boat ramp and south of Goose Island.
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Wilson Springs Ponds 09/26/2013
Wilson Springs Creek and Pond were stocked last Monday. Numerous other ponds, reservoirs and streams throughout Idaho's southwest region and will continue to be stocked this month. Check out the Idaho Fish & Game web site at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov for more information on stocking and fishing regulations.
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Yellowstone Lake
Black Leeches and Black Wooly Buggers are taking some nice Cutts from Gull Point to Sand Point and Mary's Bay. Callibaetis and PMDs in the AM before the wind blows.
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Contributing to this report: Idaho Rod and Reel and updated by Idaho fish N Hunts Store.
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