Rainbow Stocking Report - PDF file
Fish images provided by
Windsor Nature Discovery
Anderson Ranch Reservoir
Fishing is fair since the reservoir is mostly full and the run-off coming down the South Fork is starting to subside. Anglers have been catching a few trout from shore, but mostly boat anglers are catching smaller kokanee and trout trolling. The bass fishermen are catching fish as well, especially during nicer days off main lake points next to spawning flats. Plastics work best but try a jerkbait or topwater just for the fun of it.
Arrowrock Reservoir
The reservoir is about six feet from full and there are still a few bank anglers catching fish, but the boat anglers are still doing a little better. Most of them are catching some nice kokanee but others are catching a few trout as well. Bank anglers are using worms, marshmallows and floating Powerbait, while trollers are catching their fish using small pop gear trailing a Wedding Ring with bait like Shoepeg corn, maggots, or worms. Various spinners or Rapalas might also work to catch fish. Bass anglers in the know have been catching some nice sized smallmouth as well, mostly using plastics but don't hesitate to try spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and even topwater.
Boise River
The river flows are still fairly high and even though they are subsiding somewhat the flows are still not very safe for boat or fishing, so continue to use extreme caution if you're going down to the river. I would still just wait a few weeks and let the flows subside before taking any chances.
Brownlee Reservoir
The reservoir level is holding steady at about 1 feet from full, and with all the boat ramps useable there is plenty of access and lots of fish to catch! While the flows have been up lately the fish haven't seemed to mind so much, and anglers are catching fish just about everywhere on the reservoir. For bass try jerkbaits or topwater plugs early in the day, and then move to deeper water with plastics later in the day. Fish just off rocky banks or main lake points with ledges adjacent to spawning flats. Anglers are also catching some fair sized crappie in and around the coves and secondary points. The perch fishing is O.K. if you can find the schools, and folks are catching some nice sized catfish.
Cascade Reservoir
Anglers are still catching some nice sized perch from the island to Crown Point, around the Golf Course and across the lake from Crown Point. A few folks are still catching trout, mostly trolling, but a few are catching fish from the bank using bait. The smallmouth bass are also biting well on plastics, but jerkbaits will also catch some fish especially early or late in the day.
C. Ben Ross Reservoir
Some anglers are catching smaller bass along the remaining submerged willows using spinnerbaits and buzzbaits early or late in the day. Plastic jigs will also work, especially up close to the willows.
C.J. Strike Reservoir
Finally the crappie are starting to thin out! Can't imagine why, there has only been about a trillion of them taken home in the last two years. However, if you still haven't got your crappie fix, you can still catch enough to fill your skillet, just not a pickup bed full anymore. Try fishing the Narrows and up into the main reservoir up stream of the Air Force Marina for the best fishing. Anglers are mostly using small jigs, but just about anything works. Perch fishing is O.K. but it's nothing to brag about. The best location seems to be in the Bruneau Arm near Cottonwood. Anglers are still catching bass using swimbaits, jerkbaits and plastics, with a few reports of some real nice largemouth being caught lately. A few trout are also still being caught, mostly by boat anglers anchoring, but some bank anglers fishing on the bottom with worms, marshmallows, or Power Bait are also catching a few fish. However with our crazy weather the bite has been unpredictable. One day it's early, the next later in the day. The best spots are in the Bruneau Arm near the Narrows, and along the north side of the dam near the Idaho Power Park.
Crane Falls Reservoir
Anglers continue to catch a few bluegill, small bass and an occasional trout. The bluegill finished bedding but the bass are still hanging out in shallow water while the bluegills are feeding mostly in the evening. Boat anglers have been catching a few trout using worms, or spinners, but remember you can use a small boat here, but no gas motor.
Horsethief Reservoir
Trout are still biting for boat anglers but the bank anglers are only catching a few fish early or late in the day. You won't catch too many big fish here but you can still probably catch your limit if you work at it.
Lake Lowell
Anglers are still catching smaller bass, but the water levels are back on the rise so the fish will have more places to hide. You still have to go early, especially on the weekend to avoid the boat traffic, but if you get back into the trees or past the buoys on the east side it's not bad. The bite has been a little mixed up with the crazy weather, but it should start getting better in the afternoons and early mornings once high pressure builds back in. Spinnerbaits, flipping soft plastics, and tossing a buzzbait or a weedless frog in and around the duckweed and remaining willows will work to catch most fish. Some anglers have also been catching an occasional bluegill, crappie, and the channel catfish are biting farily well.
Local Ponds
Free Fishing Day went off without a hitch and there was plenty of fish to go around for everyone. Many of the Treasure Valley ponds were well stocked and should still be holding fish. Fishing should be good to fair for both trout and warmwater fish like bluegill, bass and some big catfish for a few more weeks. Worms will catch anything, but small spinners might catch some fish as well.
Lucky Peak Reservoir
The reservoir level is nearly full but starting to drop slightly, and bank fishing has picked up a little but still slower than boat fishing, but even the boaters are having trouble finding consistent schools to fish. Most boat anglers have been catching a few trout and a few nice sized kokanee trolling anywhere between 15-25 feet using small pop gear topped off with a Wedding Ring tipped with a worm or Shoepeg corn. But the fish are often still hard to find, and sometimes they're hanging out in deeper water down to 35 feet.
Magic Reservoir
Anglers are still catching an occasional nice sized trout, mostly by boat, and some are catching a few smaller perch. The upper end of the reservoir near Hot Springs Landing is still fishing the best for flycasters using wet flies and nymphs. The boat ramps at East and West boat ramps are still open but the Moonstone Landing is at its end and the Hot Springs Landing Ramp is reported to not useable. For more information call West Magic Resort at: 208-487-2571.
Mann Creek Reservoir
Fly anglers are catching a lot of nice sized trout between the inlet and the campground on the west side of the reservoir using pheasant tail nymphs, or Woolly Buggers and leech patterns. Other boat anglers are using bait and trolling small spinners and doing very well.
Milner Reservoir
Bass fishing is still pretty good in the shallows around current breaks, and submerged islands. Catfish fishing is also still improving and should continue to improve, especially once our warmer weather builds back in.
Mt. View Reservoir (Duck Valley)
Trout fishing has been great and if you don't get caught in a thunderstorm the cooler weather has made it nice for fishing. Both Mt. View an Lake Billy Shaw have been fishing well, and it should continue to be good for a few more weeks, or until warm weather brings up the moss. Most bank anglers are either using worms or Powerbait. Flycasters are using a variety of wet flies depending on conditions and the time of day, including Woolly Buggers and leach patterns, especially Canadian brown, but smaller chironomids and nymphs are also working at times. To check weather conditions you may want to call 208-759-3246 before heading out.
Owyhee Reservoir
Crappie fishing is still doing just fine and the bass fishing is phenomenal! For crappie the only thing you need is a little red and white jig but for bass it's best if you try a jig frog, or similar type jig n' crawdad or Texas rigged lizard. For crappie try fishing off main lake points, rock walls, and into the backs of the deeper coves. The big bass are still fairly shallow, especially early and late in the day and can be found hanging out on long points. Folks are even catching some nice catfish in the upper end of the reservoir.
Owyhee River
The river flows are holding just under 220 cfs.. This is a great flow to wade with plenty of midges coming off a couple times a day along with a few small BWO's and some larger PMD's, which are probably your best bet. The cooler wet weather hasn't really stopped the bugs much and once the weather warms there will be even more bugs. If you go try using #16-18 PMD's, 20-22 BWO's, or midge patterns either dry or emerger. Fish the riffles and tailouts with the dries or add a pheasant tail or an emerger as a dropper to increase your chances. Once it heats back up look for more terrestrials to be showing up as well.
Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir (Rogers, south of Twin Falls)
Trout fishing has been O.K., but the crazy weather has made fishing a little more unpredictable this past week. Boat or float tube anglers have been doing best, but some bank anglers are still catching a few nice rainbows. Other boat and some bank anglers are catching bass and walleye off main lake points and flats. Anglers are catching a few kokanee in the 14-16 inch range. Most ramps are still available.
Lower Snake River
The Snake River flows are now running below normal and the smallmouth and catfish are biting up and down the river. Plastics work best for bass, and the nastiest stinkbait you can find for cats.
South Fork of the Boise River
The flows have come down a little to just below 2700 cfs. which is still not very good for wading but boatable. This river holds a fair number of large wild trout but it's a little more difficult to fish at these flows. Remember the South Fork is barbless lures and flies only (no bait), and trophy harvest rules apply (2 fish, none under 20 inches).
Swan Falls Reservoir (Snake River)
Bank anglers are still catching bass below the dam but both bank and boat anglers are still catching smallmouth, largemouth, and catfish in the reservoir. The flows are starting to drop in the river but the current is still swift in some stretches in the reservoir and the water is shallow in the upper end, so be careful when operating a boat on the reservoir. Bass anglers are mostly using plastics to catch fish, both above and below the dam. Worms and stinkbait are best for catfish and folks have been catching some nice ones.
Our fishing reports locations vary each week, but if there is a new lake, stream or river you would like to see on our fishing reports, . For more Fishing information in the Southwestern Region of Idaho and throughout the state, e-mail us at: askus@idfishnhunt.com
