Rainbow Stocking Report - PDF file
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Anderson Ranch Reservoir
Fishing is fair for trout and even better for kokanee being caught, but they are smaller then Lucky Peak, 8-10 inchers. Bank fishermen are not doing as well as boat anglers except in the evening. Bass fishermen are doing fairly well fishing off main lake rocky points using plastic, but try a jerkbait or topwater plug just before dark, or early in the day, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Arrowrock Reservoir
The reservoir levels are starting to drop, which could change the fishing, but whether it will be for the better or not remains to be seen. Bank anglers are still catching an occasional fish, but the boat anglers are doing best. Some of them are catching nice kokanee between 25-35 feet, while others are catching a few trout in shallower water, especially later in the day. Bank anglers are trying everything, including worms; marshmallows and floating Powerbait, while the trollers are mostly 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 if you can get them deep enough. If you're an avid bass anglers you can even catch some nice smallmouth using plastics, but don't hesitate to try jerkbaits or topwater plugs early in the day.
Boise River
The river flows are dropping to summer rafting flows, which means two things. There will be a lot of floaters now that daytime temperatures are high, and there will be more places to fish. The two don't mix very well so look for places away from boaters if you want to catch many fish. Even at these flows it's still high enough to make boating or fishing precarious, so continue to use caution if you're going down to the river.
Brownlee Reservoir
The reservoir is full and all the boat ramps are available. The in-flows are still running a bit high but it's only marginally effected the fishing in the upper end of the reservoir. The crappie fishing is bringing the most anglers along with some fair bass fishing and the catfish are also getting into the act. Anglers catching plenty of fair sized crappie off the deeper main lake points and coves. The bass are still taking jerkbaits or topwater plugs real early in the day, but once the sun hits the water the fish move to deeper structure where they are a lot harder to find but plastics will catch some fish. Fish just off rocky banks or main lake points with ledges adjacent to long flats. Anglers are catching the catfish all over the reservoir but the upper end seems to be producing the better fish.
Cascade Reservoir
A few boat anglers are catching trout trolling, but bank fishing is still not very good. The smallmouth bass are biting, first try plastics, but jerkbaits will also catch fish and it might surprise you to try a topwater, especially early or late in the day off long sandy points. Anglers are still catching a few nice sized perch but they are getting harder to find. Try fishing around the island to Crown Point, around the Golf Course and across the lake from Crown Point.
C. Ben Ross Reservoir
Some anglers are still catching smaller bass along the remaining submerged willows using spinnerbaits and buzzbaits early or late in the day. Plastic jigs work best especially flipped in close to the remaining willows.
C.J. Strike Reservoir
Crappie fishing is starting to wane but anglers are adjusting to the fish by fishing later in the day and into the night. Try fishing just outside the Narrows from the Bruneau Arm and up through the Narrows into the main reservoir. Anglers are mostly using small jigs, but it might help to put a little Crappie Nibbles or worm on just for good measure. Perch fishing is slow and not consistent enough to get very excited about fishing for them. The best location to catch any seems to be in the Bruneau Arm between Cottonwood and the Narrows in about 20 feet or more. Anglers are not catching as many bass as they were a week or so ago, and with warm weather setting in the best and only times to fish are likely very early in the day, and late in the evening. Try using plastics, but topwater is a possibility to try first if you're fishing early or late. Most of the trout being caught are below the dam. Anglers are mostly using bait to catch some nice sized fish. A few trout are also still being caught in the reservoir, mostly by boat anglers anchoring up, and using worms, marshmallows, or Power Bait on the bottom.
Crane Falls Reservoir
Anglers continue to catch a few bluegill, a few small bass and an occasional trout. The bluegill are deep during the day, but some are still hanging out in the shallows along with the bass, mostly feeding in the evening. Bass have to be 20 inches to keep but you won't likely catch any that size. Boat anglers are the only ones catching any trout at all, and they are using worms, or spinners, but remember you can only use a small boat here, and no gas motor.
Deadwood Reservoir
Kokanee fishing is as good as it gets, maybe even better than it's been for some time! You might even catch a few trout near the inlet if you're not careful. The kokanee seem to be bigger than they have in the past and most anglers are catching them trolling, but that's not the only way you can catchem'!
Horsethief Reservoir
Boat and bank anglers are still catching trout, but the warmer weather tends to move the fish out into deeper water during the day. You won't catch as many fish here as you would have a few weeks or a month ago and you also won't catch too many big fish, but you can still catch your limit, especially if you fish very early or late in the day.
Lake Lowell
The reservoir is still maintaining about two feet from full and anglers are still catching fair numbers of smaller bass along the remaining willows and duckweed. In this heat you should fish early or late in the day to avoid the boat traffic and the heat, besides, it's the best time to fish. You can avoid some of the wake boarders by fishing in the trees on the southside, or past the buoys on the eastside of the lake. Spinnerbaits, flipping soft plastics, and tossing a buzzbait or a weedless frog in and around the structure will work to catch most fish. Some anglers have also been catching an occasional bluegill, crappie, and the channel catfish are still biting fairly well. Remember now you can only keep 2 bass, none between 12 and 16 inches.
Local Ponds
Most of the Treasure Valley ponds are either holding leftover fish or will be stocked in the next few days to weeks. The fishing should continue to be good for a few more weeks but the trout fishing will slow as the warm weather increases, but warmwater fish like bluegill, bass and catfish will continue to bite. Worms or crickets will catch anything, but small spinners might catch some fish as well.
Lucky Peak Reservoir
The reservoir level is full and while a few bank anglers are catching an occasional trout but most of the fish being caught are nice sized kokanee from boats. However, the fish are scattered anywhere from between 25-35 feet. Try using small pop gear topped off with a Wedding Ring or various small spinners tipped with a worm or Shoepeg corn.
Magic Reservoir
Anglers are still catching some nice sized trout, mostly by boat, and some are catching a few smaller perch. The upper end of the reservoir near is still fishing the best for flycasters using nymph patterns. Most of the boat ramps are still open but Moonstone and Hot Springs Landing are likely not useable. For more information call West Magic Resort at: 208-487-2571.
Mann Creek Reservoir
Fly anglers continue to catch a few nice sized trout between the inlet and the campground on the west side of the reservoir using pheasant tail nymphs, Woolly Buggers or leech patterns. It's not as good as it was, but persistance will pay off, especially towards evening. Other boat anglers are using bait and trolling small spinners and also catching a few fish. There are a few bass to catch as well.
Milner Reservoir
Bass fishing is still fairly good along eddies and current breaks or submerged islands. Try fishing early in the day, then the fish are will move out over deeper structure. Catfish are still biting and should continue to bite as warmer weather holds.
Mt. View Reservoir (Duck Valley)
Fishing on Mountain View has been good with anglers catching 1 to 2 fish per hour. Most of the fish caught were in the 12 to 14 inch range but quite a few 18 to 22 inch fish were also caught. Fishing at Lake Billy Shaw has been slower with anglers reporting catch rates of less than 1 fish per hour. At Sheep Creek, the fishing was variable. Some day's anglers were catching only 1 or less fish per hour while other days anglers were catching over two fish per hour. Most of the fish caught were in the 12 to 13 inch range but several 16 to 18 fish were reported. If you catch yellow perch, please do not release them back into the water. 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, damsel nymphs and Pheasant Tail nymphs are also working at times. To check weather conditions you may want to call 208-759-3246 before heading out.
Owyhee Reservoir
rappie fishing is hanging on and anglers are still catching bass. Once you find a school of crappie the only thing you need is a red and white jig. Try fishing off main lake points, rock walls, and into the backs of the deeper coves. The bass are mostly hanging out in deeper water except early or late in the day. Most fish are being caught from drop-offs and ledges off main lake points with a jig frog, jig n' crawdad or Texas or Carolina rigged lizard, but I wouldn't hesitate to try a topwater plug off steep walls, but only early or late in the day. Folks are also still catching catfish in the upper end of the reservoir.
Owyhee River
The river flows continue to run just under 220 cfs.. There are PMD's, a few caddis and plenty of midges still coming off a couple times a day. Projected warmer weather should continue along with plenty of 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 fished into the pools to increase your chances. Terrestrials are also on the menu.
Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir (Rogers, south of Twin Falls)
Anglers have been catching some nice walleye off main lake points and deeper flats, especially early and late in the day. Try drift jigging or Rapalas. Bass fishing is so-so, with most of the best fish coming from the upper reservoir using plastics. Trout fishing is starting to decline as water temperatures climb, and with warmer weather continuing to build in trout fishing will continue to be a little more unpredictable. It's the bank anglers that are especially finding it a little more difficult to catch fish, however, boat or float tube anglers are still catching a few nice rainbows here and there.
Silver Creek
There are plenty of PMD's coming off and it won't be long until the terrestrials are showing up. Fishing here is never easy, but it can be the most rewarding place you'll ever fly fish.
Lower Snake River
The Snake River flows are still running above normal but 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
Trout fishing from some type of float craft has been very good, especially in the lower river. There are salmon flies coming off and they will start moving up stream along with the fish as the days go by. This is a great time to fish the river if you've got a boat, but wading is still not so much fun at this flow. So grab someone with a boat and get you buns down there for some great fishin'!
Swan Falls Reservoir (Snake River)
Bank anglers are still catching a few bass below the dam but the moss is starting to grow and with warm weather on the way it won't take long before it's a real problem. Both bank and boat anglers are still catching smallmouth, largemouth, and catfish in the reservoir. Unfortunately the flows are high again and swift currents in some stretches on both the reservoir and the river can be hazardous, so be careful when operating a boat. Bass anglers are mostly using plastics to catch fish, both above and below the dam. Worms and stinkbait are best for catfish.
Warm Lake
The lake was recently stocked with catchable trout, and with plenty of hold over fish the fishing should be pretty good. Take plenty of worms, but flies like Woolly Buggers will work and don't forget the ole' Stayner Ducktail and Sheep Creek Special flies that are popular to our area are great for mountain lake fishing.
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
