A COUPLE FREINDS AND I ARE HEADING UP STURGEON FISHING NEXT WEEKEND TO THE BLISS AREA. ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE TRIP WE WERE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO CATCH SOME TROUT WITH OUR FLY RODS. I CAME ACROSS A PLACE UP IN IDAHO CALLED CLEAR LAKES WHICH IS A PRIVATE LAKE NEXT TO A GOLF COURSE. IT IS FLY FISHING ONLY AND COSTS $10.00 A DAY TO FISH. I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE HAD BEEN THERE AND WHAT WAS IT LIKE? IT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT PLACE. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
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If you enjoy walking into a Golf Clubhouse in your chestwaders, paying a green fee, then catching large trout out of a fish hatchery, then Clear Lake is right up your alley!!
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I grew up in Buhl fishing Clear Lake with my pop. Now is a good time of the year to go because it mosses up pretty bad in the summer. PBH is correct, there are mostly hatchery pets in there, but they can get pretty healthy.
It is best fished from a float tube with an intermediate or full sinking line. Buggers are a good option along with scud/shrimp patterns.
I've attached a couple of pics. The first is one of yours truely holding one of the larger bows that that lake holds (I caught it right under the "B" in the panoramic pic).
The other pic is a panoramic that I pieced together of the lake. The red lines show the main currents. The current is slight and easily navigable in a tube. Most of the fish can be found along one of those red lines and where they converge to go out the outlet of the lake (on the far right of the photo). When I go, I kick up and fish "Line A" up to the northwest corner (far left of the pic). The lake is REALLY deep in that corner and there is a funky diffuser that spreads the incoming spillway out to create some interesting currents. Those currents make it difficult to get a fly down deep right by the diffuser. If you can do it though, there are some BIG boys there.
I then will go and fish each of the spillways along "Line B" as they will hold many fish as well. I fish along "Line B" to where the currents converge, also very deep. Just be very carefull how close you get to the outlet. It turns from a lake into a powerful river pretty quickly.
It is best to come prepared with sinking or intermediate line and possibly a floating line. That way you can hit the full water column.
There is a Sportmans Warehouse (208-737-9900) in Twin Falls (about 25 miles from Clear Lake) that might be able to give you a more current update. I tried calling my Dad who still hangs out down at Clear Lake almost everyday golfing. He wasn't home though.
Good luck and send us a report if you go!
nate
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THANKS EMUSCUD THAT IS GREAT INFO. MY FREIND IS FLYING DOWN FROM SEATTLE SO I FIGURE IT WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO BEND THE ROD A LITTLE. SINCE THOSE ARE YOUR STOMPING GROUNDS HOW IS THE STURGEON FISHING UP THERE? WE ARE SET UP TO GO WITH A GUIDE NEXT FRIDAY.
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I was too busy golfing or fishing at Clear Lake to go for the big boys.
There are many on this board that go up there for the sturgeon. I think Kentofnsl goes after the sturgeon regularly. You could always zip him a Private Message to get more info.
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Sorry, but I can't be of much help on the sturgeon fishing in that area. I head a couple hours north of there. Several guides fish out of the Bliss Area. Thomason Outfitters [url "http://www.thomasonoutfitters.com/"]Link to Thomason Outfitters[/url]
ran a sturgeon charter out of Bliss for many years. This is the charter that Doug Miller does a show on every year. He sold his business last month, and I am not familiar with the new owners. You should have a good chance of catching a few. Less than fifteen minutes ago, I settled on a date in May to go sturgeon fishing! Can't wait to go after those beautiful (don't let anyone tell you otherwise) huge fish again.
BTW -- I haven't fished Clear Lake, but I have golfed that private course a few times. That is one huge spring, and I could see lots of trout in it. I have fished one of the ponds owned by the golf course and caught some nice bass out of it. It might also be worth a try.
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Bass?????? You have my interest now! Were you golfing Blue Lakes Country Club in Twin Falls when you fished the bass pond? Clear Lake Country Club is in Buhl. I am not familiar with a bass pond owned by Clear Lakes, but I know that Blue Lakes CC has several ponds on the course. Never chased the round ball down that way though.
I'm not trying to be disagreeable, if Clear Lakes has a bass pond, I would love to know where it is the next time I head home! I'm tired of playing with the hatchery pets.
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My bad -- it was [size 1]Blue Lakes Country Club north of Twin Falls. Sorry for the confusion -- halfeimers is hell![/size]
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It is still really good information[
]! Did you have to pay to play with the LM at Blue Lakes?
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[size 1]"Did you have to pay to play with the LM at Blue Lakes?"[/size]
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[size 1]No my wife's parents live in Twin Falls, and while my father in law was a banker he had a membership to Blue Lakes Country Club. I was playing the course once when Evil Knievel stopped and chatted with us. This was shortly before he made his ill-fated attempt to jump The Snake River.[/size]
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I guess it really is about who you know [shocked]. . .
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If you like flyfishing streams, the stream that goes into the big pond is a blast to fish. There is about a quarter mile stretch that is loaded with fish. Fish nymphs. I like using a beadhead Hares Ear, Pheasant Tail, Prince, or a good egg pattern. Occasionally they will bust the surface if there is something hatching. It is a fun place to go.
GoFish
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