Southwestern Idaho Fly Fishing Report
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Rainbow Stocking Report - PDF file


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Boise River
The riverriver flows are still running a little over average at around 280 cfs.. These flows are just about right for wading and great for fishing. The warmest part of the day is still best for catching trout, including browns, and there are still some whitefish, and who knows maybe there is even a steelhead or two left to catch. Try a salmon egg or worm, or a fly like a Prince Nymph to catch both trout and whitefish. Spinners, drifting bait and flies will also catch the steelhead and a big juicy night crawler or dark colored fly in a leech pattern might catch just about anything.



Brownlee Reservoir
Some bass and crappie are being caught but it's not exactly a barnburner, but if you're looking for a lunker, this is the time of year they start showing up. Look for the crappie to be stacking up off secondary points and in coves anywhere from 10 to 40 feet down. The bass will be transitioning from deep water to shallower gravel and mud banks. The reservoir levels have came up a little to about 16 feet down and should remain there for the weekend. All the major boat ramps are available.

Cascade Reservoir
Ice fishing is still fair with a few anglers catching trout and a few nice perch, but the ice is starting to go so check it out before you go out. If you go try jigging spoons or small baited crappie jigs in about 25 feet or so for perch, and for trout fish nearer the surface with marshmallows, worms, and Powerbait. Most of the fishing is between Crown Point and the dam. Call Tackle Tom's at (208)-382-4367 for the latest updates on fishing, weather, and ice conditions.

Clear Lake
This little lake should still be fishing fairly well with plenty of stocked trout. But these fish aren't exactly pushovers, especially since by now they've seen all the usual stuff, so change it up a little. Either go real small or real big, see what happens. Try big Woolly Buggers or leech patterns or maybe tiny nymphs on a sinking line. I would give the good folks down at the Clear Lake Country Club a call before you go just to check fishing and weather conditions, (208) 543-4849.

C.J. Strike Reservoir
Here is your smorgasbord. Anglers are catching crappie, trout, perch, a few bass, an occasional sturgeon and even a few catfish. It's still not really red hot for anything in particular, but as long as the weather isn't too cold and blustery the fishing should continue to be good, especially for crappie and trout. Most anglers are locating crappie along the west end of the Narrows or up the Snake River between Goose Island to just past the Air Force docks. The fish are hanging out in about 25 feet but some are shallower. Just about any crappie jig will catch fish. Bank anglers are also still catching trout anywhere there is a gravel bank, like near Black Sands, the Idaho Power North Park and occasionally up the Bruneau Arm at Jacks Creek, even below the dam. Trollers are also still catching a few fish up towards the Narrows with small pop gear or Count Down Rapalas. There are even folks catching perch in about 15-25 feet. Cut bait works best but worms will do the trick. The bass are tight against cover and won't move far for a bite, but a well-placed crawdad colored jig or crankbait drug slowly across a rock pile could get some action. Call the good folks down at The Fishin' Hole in Bruneau at 1-208-845-2001 for the latest information.

Horsethief Reservoir
Ice fishing is still fair, but poor weather headed into this weekend might make getting back to the reservoir a challenge. I would still take at least a 4-wheel drive or a snowmobile for the trip, and don't forget to take plenty of worms, marshmallows or Powerbait. Better yet, you might want to call Howdy's Gas & Grub (208) 382-6712 for road conditions before heading out.

Local Ponds
Most of the Treasure Valley's ponds were planted with fish in early February and a few others were stocked again a few weeks ago. Most of them are fishing fairly well, especially the ones with bass and bluegill in them.

Magic Reservoir
Ice fishing is still fair for both trout and some decent sized perch. No one is catching a bunch of perch but they're at least a bigger than last year. Try bright colored jigs in about 30 feet for perch and marshmallows, worms, or Powerbait for trout. The weather report is calling for snow or rain depending on the temperatures before this weekend so you might call the good folks at West Magic Resort at (208)-487-2571 just to be sure conditions are favorable for fishing.

Malad River
This little river is still plenty low and holds a lot of smaller rainbows, however bigger ones will start heading up stream any day to spawn. The river is ideal for winter fly fishing, and sometimes you can even fish dry flies like Coachman, Royal Wulffs, and Adams, but nymphs work as well, especially when there are no bug hatches.

Mt. View Reservoir (Duck Valley)
Ice fishing here is about over. Warmer than normal temperatures have melted the ice from the shoreline in most places making it difficult to find a safe place to ice fish. The good news is it won't be long until ice out and the fishing should be great! They're supposed to continue to get snow the rest of this week and it might make for treacherous road conditions so you might want to check the latest conditions by calling the Shoshone Paiute Tribal Office - Toll Free: (800) 761-9133.


Owyhee River
Fishing has been kind of hit and miss with our passing cold fronts, but in between all the blustery days the fish have been fairly active, just not as active as the anglers, if you know what I mean. The midges and baetis are out best around noon and then again before dark. If you go try using #18-24 BWO's, or midge 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 ends of a tailout into the open pools to catch fish. Skwala Stoneflies should start showing up any day.

South Fork of the Boise River
The river flows are running at about 300 cfs. which is as good as it's going to get for wade fishing before spring. The fly fishing is still reasonably good but with a little more snow in the forecast it might be a little iffy dropping down into the canyon, so be careful. There will mostly be midges showing up but you will likely see a few BWO's showing up at different times of the day as well. Streamers will work or larger stoneflies followed by a Copper John. Key on the feeding fish for best results.

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