Idaho Fish and Game Fishing Report 7-04-10

[Saltwater Fishing]

Panhandle Region Fishing Information

Spring Fishing Report
Updated: July 2, 2010
This report highlights a few of the best places to fish, what anglers are using and what they are catching. The information is compiled from regional Fish and Game fishery managers, local tackle shops and anglers.

The Coeur d'Alene River is fishing pretty well right now; just remember when the water is still a little high you have to be cautious with the currents. But it has cold so there are some big fish in the system that haven't moved down into the lake yet.

Exercise caution if you want to cross the waist high water. But 10-12 inch trout are chasing 10-to-12 black stimulators, adams flies or tan elk hair patterns. Mayflies are hatching too.

Hauser Lake has slowed down since the bass have spawned.

Many anglers are targeting small and largemouth bass on Hayden, Fernan and the Chain Lakes. Bass are active, chasing senko worms, while pike and largemouth are also chasing senkos and spinner baits on the Chain Lakes. Pike will also eat spinners, along with Husky Jerks in a variety of patterns. Bluegill, pumpkinseed and perch can all easily be caught with nightcrawlers or jigs accented with maggots.

The St. Joe River is fishing well right now, also. Fish are eating on the surface and are also striking at nymphs and streamers. Many fishermen are fishing large stone and stimulator patterns with good success. Fish are also eating heavily on small mayflies. The "purple haze" parachute adams pattern always works well this time of year and remember to pack a few princes and green drakes. Some of the larger fish have been eating sub-surface on olive wooly buggers and sculpin patterns.

If you are looking for a place to take your kids this weekend, try some fishing at our Family Fishing Water locations around the Region. They are listed at the first link in the box below and feature simplified rules for family fun. Children 13 and younger can fish without a license.

No matter where you catch a tagged fish, it can be reported online at FishTag. Some tags can earn you a reward.

Whatever you do this weekend, have a Happy Fourth of July!


Clearwater Region Fishing Information

This report highlights a few of the best places to fish, what anglers are using and what they are catching. The information is compiled from regional Fish and Game fishery managers, local tackle shops and anglers. Other general regional information is available below.

Salmon Season: It's still going. IDFG will announce when the season is closing. Fishing is still in high gear on the SF Clearwater and Salmon River.

Snake River: Smallmouth bass fishing is improving and reports are that fishing is good.

Dworshak Reservoir: Kokanee are still biting, but reports are fish are small around 8 inches this year and catching them at depths around 20 feet.

Lowland Lakes and Ponds: Bluegill fishing is especially good. Catfishing is usually great in July with the warmer temperatures around the corner. All of our lowland lakes and ponds have been stocked to the brim - go fish! These areas have good populations of warm water fish, such as largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish and yellow perch. 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 good fishing docks and restroom facilities.

Mountain Rivers and Streams: The Lochsa River is coming down. The Selway River is still running high with recent rains.


Southwest Region Fishing Information

Spring Fishing Report
Updated: July 2, 2010
This report highlights a few of the best places to fish, what anglers are using and what they are catching. The information is compiled from regional Fish and Game fishery managers, local tackle shops and anglers.
View the Southwest Region
July Fish Stocking Schedule
[PDF, 16 KB]
Boise River:
Chinook were released July 1 into the Boise. About 400 fish from Oxbow were greeted at four drop points by salmon enthusiasts. River flows have returned to nicely fishable levels after being too high for much of June.

C.J. Strike Reservoir:
Fishing in general should be picking up now that temperatures have risen after the cold spring that made success spotty at best.

Yellow Perch: Use small pieces of cut bait.
Smallmouth bass: Fishing was fair through last month; it should pick up as fish recover from the post-spawn blues.
Fish rocky shoreline areas with plastic baits -- tubes, grubs, etc.
Crappie: Success was way off through the cold spell but should be better now if you find the level where they are holding.
Catfish: Channel cats should be showing up now after chilly water temperatures moderate.

Brownlee Reservoir:
Bass and crappie fishing has just picked up in the last few days from a slow spring of cold water temperatures and lots of floating debris.

Bruneau River
Although the fishing regulations state that the river is open from the mouth in CJ Strike Reservoir to the Hot Springs Bridge south of Bruneau, the portion that runs through the CJ Strike Wildlife Management Area is not accessible because of the annual nesting closure in the management area.

Area Ponds:
Trout stocking is in full swing. Remember that early season fishing can be some of the best of the year. Stocking will be discontinued once summer temperatures make these waters too warm for trout to survive. See the Family Fishing Waters brochure to find the nearest pond.


McCall Subregion Fishing Information

Spring Fishing Report
Updated: July 2, 2010
This report highlights a few of the best places to fish, what anglers are using and what they are catching. The information is compiled from regional Fish and Game fishery managers, local tackle shops and anglers.

Little Salmon:
The river has settled down and the Chinook season is still on until further notice. Whoopee!

South Fork Salmon:
Over the holiday and for a week or 10 days after ought to be prime time on this little river for Chinook. Mind the washed out road at milepost 23 at Buckhorn Creek; no motorized vehicles can go through there.

Cascade:
After a cold, slow start, trout fishing should be picking up now. Large yellow perch are available again following years of restoration work.

Deadwood:
Kokanee fishing has been good recently. The fish are not huge but 13-15 inches is not bad. Mostly found at about 20 feet.

Horsethief:
Trout fishing has been steady and reliable. Should remain good at least through the early part of summer.


Magic Valley Region Fishing Information

Summer Fishing Report
Updated: July 2, 2010
This report highlights a few of the best places to fish, what anglers are using and what they are catching. The information is compiled from regional Fish and Game fishery managers, local tackle shops and anglers.

At Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir anglers fishing for walleye are generally fishing about 15 feet down and using jigs as well as wedding rings. Bass fishing is very consistent with keepers being caught. Trout fishing has slowed down.

At Magic Reservoir the water is continuing to rise. Anglers are seeing perch show up in the Narrows. They are catching small mouth up Camas Creek. Trout fishing continues to be good from the bank and from boats. 2-3 pound trout are not uncommon. At Roseworth Reservoir anglers say larger trout are showing up and catch ratios are good.

Little Wood reservoir is full and trout fishing off the dam is said to be good. Trout are hungry and are running 10"-14."

Trout fishing at Lake Walcott and Sublett Reservoir continues to be good. Lots of small planters being caught in both places with some larger fish mixed in.

At Dierkes Lake the water is warming up so trout seem to be going deep and the bass/bluegill are slowly picking up. Most bass being caught are not keeper size. The Take Me Fishing trailer's next stop is Dierkes Lake on Wednesday, July 7. From 9am - 2pm fishing equipment and supplies are provided for anyone who wants to learn to fish.

Carey Lake is said to be slow with some small bluegill and perch being caught.

Cassia Creek, Crystal Lake and Niagara Springs Pond have all recently been stocked. (Check fish stocking schedule for other locations recently stocked by Fish and Game.)

Fishermen at Anderson Ranch Reservoir are catching small mouth bass and a few trout.

The Big Wood, Big Lost and South Fork of the Boise Rivers are still running high and for safety reasons are not being recommended for fishing. Silver Creek is a good choice for stream fishing. Anglers say it is fishing well using pmds and baettis

Local ponds have been stocked and fishing well. All in all, these are better choices than the Big Wood River Valley at the moment.


Southeast Region Fishing Information

Summer Fishing Report
Updated: July 1, 2010
This report highlights a few of the best places to fish, what anglers are using and what they are catching. The information is compiled from regional Fish and Game fishery managers, local tackle shops and anglers.

The fishing is good in all the reservoirs in the Southeast Region. Some of the rivers and streams are still a little high from all the rain the past few weeks.

Anglers report great blue-gill fishing in Twin Lakes Reservoir. Fish are hitting damsel fly nymphs hard in Chesterfield, Daniels and Hawkins reservoirs, with Springfield bringing up the rear.

Not much action in Black Canyon on the Bear River. But the fishing is good in the narrows below Onieda Dam. And anglers are catching big fish on big streamers in the Snake River below American Falls.

Fishing is good in the upper Portneuf River and in the Fort Hall bottoms.


Upper Snake Region Fishing Information

Spring Fishing Report
Updated: July 2, 2010

South Fork Snake River - This is normally the time when the salmon flies start hatching and anglers start arriving from across the country. There are reports circulating that the hatch has begun on the lower river and should progress upstream over the next week or so.

Henrys Fork Snake River - Anglers are having good luck on the Henrys Fork. Box Canyon has been productive and some nice fish have been caught in the lower river including several large brown trout.

Birch Creek - The creek has been consistently good for anglers through the spring and now into the summer. New anglers looking for high catch rates may consider taking a trip to Birch Creek.

Henrys Lake - Fishing is excellent and just in time for the holiday weekend! Fly anglers and trollers are catching lots of two year old cutthroat and brook trout in 16-18 feet of water. Fly anglers are drift fishing when the winds allow, but stripping as the wind dies down. A wide variety of flies are working, but leeches, renegades, and damsel patterns seem to be the most popular. The fish aren't too picky so don't be afraid experiment. Likewise with the trollers, many lures are working just fine. Use your favorite Henrys lure, but make sure you're fishing near the bottom. Bait anglers are also catching their share, with a few more larger fish taken this way. The lake is 100 percent full and water temperatures are in the low to mid 60's.

Island Park Reservoir- Good fishing has been reported near Grizzly Springs and Trude Bay. Trollers and bait anglers are doing fine, but fly anglers should soon have success.


Salmon Region Fishing Information

Summer Fishing Report
Updated: July 1, 2010

Recent heavy rains and warm temperatures have kept the main Salmon River running high and off-color, hampering fishing efforts. Conditions on regional streams and tributaries are similar right now, making them difficult to fish. Continuing clear weather should help improve conditions for the weekend.

Lake anglers are having good luck in a number of regional lakes. Bayhorse Lake outside of Challis opened last week and fishing for holdover rainbows has been excellent. Anything from worms to corn to PowerBait has been giving anglers their limits. Mosquito Flats Reservoir is also excellent right now. Anglers are catching their limits using salmon eggs, worms, and chartreuse PowerBait. Mackay Reservoir has slowed down somewhat as the water has turned slightly off-color. Fishing by boat on the east side of the reservoir has been good.

Family fishing opportunities can be found at area ponds. Check out Kids' Creek and Hyde Creek Ponds in Salmon, Hayden Ponds near Lemhi, and Blue Mountain Pond in Challis for some good fishing. These ponds are all stocked with catchable rainbow trout on a regular basis.

Chinook salmon are being seen in the main Salmon River as they move upstream. Poor river conditions continue to deter anglers, but as river conditions improve, salmon fishing opportunities should improve as well. Chinook may be harvested from the Ellis section of the river. This section runs from the posted boundary approximately 150 yards downstream of Island Park in Salmon upstream to the posted boundary 20 yards above the mouth of the Pahsimeroi River. The daily limit is 5 chinook salmon, only 3 of which may be adults (24 inches or longer). The possession limit is 15 fish no more than nine of which may be adults.

July 3 marks the opening of the Stanley Basin chinook salmon fishery. Anglers will have from July 3 - 5 to fish for salmon in this river section. This fishing section is located at a posted boundary approximately 20 yards upstream of Valley Creek in Stanley upstream to a posted boundary 100 yards downstream of the Sawtooth Hatchery weir. The daily limit for this section is 3 chinook salmon only one of which may be an adult. Possession limit is 9, only three of which may be adults.

Don't forget to check with the tackle shop nearest your fishing destination for more fishing information and equipment.


http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/