Southwestern Idaho Fly Fishing Report
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Rainbow Stocking Report - PDF file


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Windsor Nature Discovery


Anderson Ranch Reservoir
Anglers are picking up some trout from shore and trolling, even a few kokanee are showing up in a few coolers, but recently its been crapy and cold so it might still be another week or so before things really start to improve.

Arrowrock Reservoir
Anglers were catching a few trout along the shore but now the water levels are beginning to come back up fairly fast so it might effect fishing. Trollers were also still finding a few nice sized kokanee and an occasional trout, but rising water levels will scatter schools. The water temperatures are actually starting to drop with cool runoff so the smallmouth have gone back into hiding. Floating Powerbait, marshmallows and worms should all work for trout from shore, and small pop gear and a matching baited trailer like a Wedding Ring works best for trolling.

Boise River
The riverriver flows are starting to climb a bit but they are still below normal and low enough in many places so you can wade and fish. The flows are around 580 cfs. and fishing should still be best during the warmest part of the day. Salmon eggs, dry flies or spinners will all catch trout, but a big juicy night crawler or dark colored leech fly pattern might catch just about anything.



Brownlee Reservoir
The reservoir water temperatures are still struggling to gain much ground, which in turn keeps anglers struggling to find fish, of any kind. The reservoir levels are remaining steady at about 13 feet down, and should be at about that level for the weekend, but look for things to change any day, especially with recent rains. All the major boat ramps will be available.

C.J. Strike Reservoir
Our crazy weather is still raising havoc with some of the fishing, however anglers are still catch crappie through the Narrows, up the Snake Arm, and in front of Cove Arm. The perch went off the bite, well they really never got started, but its gotten worse this past week due to continued cool water temperatures. Anglers are catching a few trout near the dam using worms on the bottom, and the bass fishing has been reasonable but not consistent. Try using crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits, and plastics to catch bass. Call Jim at the Bruneau 1 Stop at 1-208-845-2511 for the latest information.

Local Ponds
Most of the Treasure Valley's ponds have either been planted or will be in the next week, and with bass, bluegill and catfish getting hungrier by the day this might not be a bad place to wet a line.

Lucky Peak
Boat anglers are really crisscrossing the reservoir in search of Kokanee but not many are deploying their nets, which could only mean one thing, these fish are tricky and catching them is an art. Well that's what I heard, I really think that's just an excuse for not catching fish. Since the reservoir levels are continuing to come up the fish will likely continue to be hard to locate. The rising water levels have also slowed bank fishing. Anglers were finding the Kokanee anywhere from 15 to 40 feet down but it's the depth the schools are concentrating that's really important. Small pop gear trailed with a Wedding Ring tipped with shoepeg corn is standard fare but you might want to mix it up until you find their depth. The smallmouth bass are still slow to get active and now that cooler water is dumping into the reservoir it might still be awhile before bass fishing is really good.

Mt. View Reservoir (Duck Valley)
Bank fishermen are doing best using nightcrawlers and marshmallows at Sheep Creek and most of the fish are chunky and between 14-18 inches long. So far all reports from this reservoir have been very positive for a change from other years. Lake Billy Shaw is fishing fair, but cool rainy weather will slow fishing for awhile. Mountain View reservoir is almost full and both bank anglers and fly casters are catching fish. Small maroon or olive and black leech patterns are working for tubers, the usual for bait fishermen. The Tribes will be stocking the reservoirs over the next few weeks. If you want to check the latest conditions call the Shoshone Paiute Tribal Office - Toll Free: (800) 761-9133.

Mann Creek Reservoir
Some anglers have been catching fish from shore and boats. The reservoir even has bass in it. Bait fishermen can use Powerbait, worms or marshmallows, and fly fishermen can use small olive colored nymphs and Woolly Buggers, and boaters can even catch fish with spinners.


Oster Ponds (Hagerman)
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.

Owyhee Reservoir
This place is getting colder, especially in the upper end where a lot of cool muddy water is coming in. So with that said the bass fishing is not coming on quite yet. You can catch plenty of 10-11 inch crappie if you know the back of which creek channel to look in.

Owyhee River
The flows are now running at irrigation levels which averages about 225 cfs. Since they just started coming up a few days ago the fishing might suffer for a little while until things settle but once they do there should be even more bugs than before including a few caddis, callibaetis, and BWO's. However the fish will be spread out compared to where they were. Folks are still using small sizes in fly patterns either dry or emerger. Fish the open pools with the dries, or add a pheasant tail, gnat, or a tiny midge emerger as a dropper while fishing the riffles and tailouts into the pools to catch fish.

Snake River (C. J. Strike all the way to Oregon)
Bass fishing is slow with higher flows but once things settle down it should undoubtedly improve. If you go try crankbaits, spinners and crawdad or minnow colored plastics. The catfish should also start stirring around once we ever get any consistent weather.

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, let us know. For more Fishing information in the Southwestern Region of Idaho and throughout the state, e-mail us at: askus@idfishnhunt.com