Rainbow Stocking Report - PDF file
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Anderson Ranch Reservoir
The reservoir levels are still dropping and fishing for trout is only so so as is the kokanee fishing, which really never took off this year. Reports are that the kokanee are starting to stage in shallow water and starting to change color so they will soon be headed up the river in the next few weeks and the fishing for them will be over. The good news is the smallmouth bass are and up cruising early or late in the day, so topwater is working great, but you have to make long cast because the water is very clear, otherwise use plastics fished to 25 feet.
Big Wood River
The Big Wood River is fishing it's summer time patterns and attractors as well as stimulators, like smaller Humpy's, or parachute and Irresistible Adams should work throughout the day. Some caddis are still coming out in the afternoon and evenings in decent numbers and nymph fishing is fair most all day. Try using a dropper like a Copper John under a #12 Caddis or stimulator pattern and work the runs. Always remember to use your wader belt, it could save your life.
Boise River
The river flows are stable and running just under 1400 cfs. which is still fair for wading opportunities and still leaves plenty of places you can fish. A few trout are being caught in the deeper pools and riffles and fly casters are using caddis flies and PMD's, bank fishermen are using bait and small spinners to catch fish.
Brownlee Reservoir
The reservoir level has stabilized and will be 20 feet down through the weekend. The bass fishing remains reasonably good using plastics, but topwater lures like buzzbaits, Pop R's and Baby Zara Spooks can be a lot of fun early mornings or late in the evening fished along the steeper rocky banks, and points. Crappie fishing has been hit and miss with some anglers catching decent sized fish fishing deep with jigs. Perch fishing is only so so, but they're still catching a lot of catfish, especially in the shallower stretches in the upper section of the reservoir. It's hard to beat Sonny's Stink Bait for cats but any stink bait will work and there is always nightcrawlers.
Cascade Reservoir
Trout fishing is still slow, and only a few anglers are catching an occasional perch, but they're catching some up to 14 inches. Try using small pop gear for trout and cut bait and worms for perch. Bass anglers are still catching fish but the nice ones are a little harder to locate as well, try using soft plastics during the day, and especially topwater early or late in the evening. All of the boat ramps are still available except French Creek ramp, and Buttercup ramp is at its end.
C.J. Strike Reservoir
Anglers are still catching crappie along the steeper banks, points, and bluffs in the Bruneau Narrows and out in the main reservoir into the Snake River arm. Some anglers are still catching a few decent sized trout below the turbines, and some fish are still being caught in the reservoir just above the dam. Perch fishing is slow as most of the fish have gone deep and are hard to find. Bass fishing is fairly good for smaller fish throughout the reservoir using topwater early or late in the day, then fishing lipless crankbaits, and plastics during the day. Key to finding the bigger fish is finding some cooler water like inlets and current breaks up the Snake River arm. Folks are also catching bluegill, and some catfish near Jack Creek, and especially in the river below the dam. The sturgeon fishing below the dam is hit and miss but as usual it's best during peak flow hours.
High Mountain Lakes and Streams
All high mountain lakes are accessible and the streams are fishable, so grab a light action spinning rod or fly rod and head for the high country! On of the easiest ways to fish is by using a casting bubble on your spinning outfit. With the casting spinners like a yellow or black Panther Martin, Mepps, Blue Fox, or Rooster Tail always catch fish. Of course bait will bubble you can cast a #12 - #18 hoppers, ants, or any other terrestrial, stimulator, or attractor fly pattern. Small also work, but you need to check the regulations because some mountain lakes and streams are limited to single barbless hooks only.
Horsethief Reservoir
Anglers are still catching a few planted rainbows, and a few browns using floating Powerbait, worms, or spinners from shore, but most of the fish have moved into deeper water so you have to fish from the steeper banks and make long casts during the day. During low light hours the fish are up closer to shore cruising the shallows. Sheep Creek Specials, Stayner Ducktails or good ole' olive and black Woolly Buggers work great for fly casters, especially from some type of watercraft. Other boat anglers are trolling spinners and pop gear like Ford Fenders to catch trout.
Local Ponds
While there is no trout stocking during the summer in Treasure Valley ponds, the Southwestern Region of the Fish & Game has been planting some catfish, and the bluegill and bass are always eager to take a tempting morsel. They're close, it's free, and the kids might enjoy dunking a worm some evening before they head back to school.
Lucky Peak Reservoir
The reservoir is mostly full and should stay at that level for the next few weeks. Bank fishing for trout is still hit and miss and if you're going to have any chance you have to go early because shortly after the sun comes up the bite is pretty much over. A few anglers have been catching a few rainbows in the evening both from shore and trolling but the kokanee are starting to stage for spawning so fishing will slow way down once the move into shallower water in the next week or so. Try using a small spinner as a trailer tipped with maggots and shoepeg corn for the best results. All of the ramps are available. The smallmouth bass are taking plastics during the day, but buzzbaits and other topwater, or even spinners will also work to catch fish. Remember the boat traffic picks up early so I would be on the water at daylight!
Magic Reservoir (north of Mt. Home)
The trout fishing continues to be reasonably good for anglers catching fish both from shore and trolling around the inlets and up near the dam using Rapalas and pop gear. Fly casters are doing best fishing olive colored Wooly Buggers and damsel nymphs on sinking line.
Middle Fork of the Boise River (above Arrowrock Reservoir)
The river flows are running about normal and the river has been fishing fairly well. The hoppers are popping up all around and there is still some caddis flies buzzing around in the afternoons. The bigger fish are mostly hold up in the deeper runs so try using a weighted stonefly nymph and a dropper like a Copper John fished under a strike indicator. If you're into just catching fish, no matter the size, this river is fishing well with hopper, or other attractor or stimulator fly patterns.
Mt. View Reservoir (Duck Valley Reservoirs)
If you think its hot here, try fishing here with no shade and the moss is getting worse by the day, alhough, some folks are still catching a few planters it not my first choice. If you're a flycaster, take plenty of olive, brown, and burgundy colored Woolly Buggers and leech patterns. If you're a bank fisherman, you better know where the deep pockets are and have plenty of fresh worms, marshmallows, some Powerbait, and maybe even some shoepeg corn.
Owyhee Reservoir
Bass fishing has been reasonably good, but our hot weather is moving back in so it could slow fishing, especially during the day. The key to bass fishing here is locating the schools and once you find them you can usually catch a bunch, but its locating the fish that's the hard part! Try using watermelon, or green pumpkin colored plastics like lizards, spider jigs, or frogs fished "jig n' frog" style off shallow sloping rocky main lake points, steeper walls, and underwater islands and rock piles between 5 feet to 25 feet of water. Fishing early or late in the day is key, but evenings still seems to be the best time to catch fish. Anglers are still catching a fair number of crappie and a few fairly nice ones are still showing up here and there, but you have to track them down. Try using your favorite colored crappie jig in and around rock walls, drops off points, and creek channels throughout the reservoir. Oddly enough you can catch crappie throughout the day! The two ramps out of the water are at McCormack Park and the Leslie Gulch.
Owyhee River
The flows remain steady at just below 220 cfs. Moss is becoming a problem in some holes and stretches along the river and with projected hot weather returning it could slow the fishing even more, especially midday. Try caddis imitations and PMD's in the evening, and there are always some midge hatches in the morning as well. It's best to scout the river first to see where the active fish are then pick your spot. Nymphing is probably working best throughout the day.
Sage Hen Reservoir (west of Smiths Ferry)
The reservoir is still fishing fairly well, especially for fly casters. Some anglers are catching stocked trout from shore using worms and marshmallows, but you have to fish the steeper banks and fish early or late in the day. The fly casters are using olive and black Woolly Bugger, olive damsel nymphs, and Sheep Creek Specials from a watercraft of some sort, and other boat anglers can also catch trout using small pop gear, spinners, and flies, or anchor up and bait fish.
Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir (south of Buhl)
Anglers are still catching a few rainbows but it's getting harder to find them from the bank. They are also still catching a few walleye, and a few bass. The continued heat has driven most of the fish deep so you have to alter your fishing stradegy accordingly. Try fisihing deep with bait for trout, drift rigs for walleye, and plastics for bass. This is the time of year that a lot of walleye anglers still like to fish at night; at it sure is a great way to beat the heat!
Silver Creek
The creek is still fishing fairly well but it's now seThe creek is fishing fair as it settles into its summer pattern. If you go, try trico's, and baetis early in the day then switch to PMD's or callibaetis imitations later on, and don't forget about hoppers, ants, and beetles midday and on windy days. By far mornings and evenings have been the most productive especially on hot sunny days. The fishing is better on cloudy days but there are none in the forecast!
Snake River
Anglers are still catching a few bass, but the catfishing is about as good as it gets and with projected hot days if you haven't went night fishing now would be a good time. The floating moss is still a problem below Walters Ferry but you can still catch plenty of fish. Try your favorite stinkbait for cats, but for my money it's pretty hard to beat Sonny's Super Sticky Channel Catfish Dip. For bass try crawdad or minnow colored plastics or a topwater plug like a Pop R late in the day. Fishing from about two hours before dark to midnight seems to be the ticket, but the moon will be full this coming weekend so that could extent your fishing time! Remember the fish will often move into shallower water after dark to feed, especially on moonlit nights so casting a mile out into the river is not be where to find the fish.
South Fork of the Boise River
The river is still running well above normal summertime flows at about 1800 cfs. but that hasn't hurt the fishing at all! There are still some caddis coming off but the fish are starting to key in on the Pinks and Flavs. More and more grasshoppers are also popping up and when that happens I like to use a hopper n' dropper combination. That way, I can fish cover a lot of water and increase the chances of catching a nice fish. If you are planning on wading the river use extreme caution, at these flows wading is difficult, and it's hard to find many places to fish. The upper South Fork, above Anderson Ranch Reservoir is fishing fair, but the fish are of course much smaller. There were some fish planted at the Big Smokey Creek bridge a few weeks ago so there may be some fish nearby.
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