Fellow Anglers,
I have an opportunity to travel with my wife to Boise while she is on business later this month. I would really like to get in some river/stream fishing while I'm there and she is off working. I have not fly fished much in my life ... most of my trout and salmon fishing has been with a spinning rod.
So with that in mind do any of you have any suggestions for where I might start? What are the fishing opportunities around Boise? Are there some good guides you might suggest? Do I need a guide?
Any point in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.
Not sure where to start....but their is tons of fishing in Boise. The river running through downtown is starting to even out so fishing should be good on it. There are plenty of ponds around with bass and sunfish.
What are you looking to get into? Give some details and we should be able to assist more. You going to stick to spinner rod fishing, or try to flyfish? How far you willing to travel?
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Here is some more information. I'm interested in fishing for trout and or salmon in the rivers and streams. Either putting on some waders or getting in a boat. I like to throw spinners on a spinning rod. I have nothing against fly fishing I have just never learned how and don't know that with my short visit this would be the best time to start.
I am not interested in fishing for sunfish or bass, I can do that all day around my house.
A great river with some awesome scenery would not be a bad thing either.
Maybe a guide would be best for this trip? Or don't I need a guide for a great time.
As far as travel. I think I could travel as far as an hour outside of Boise. My wife will be working so I'll have most of the day for a few days to really get in some nice fishing.
I hope this helps. Any information is appreciated.
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Trout fishing in the Boise river down town can be very rewarding. You just have to find the right holes by exploring, big fish are pulled out a lot. Much of the trout fishing is a little slow right now because we had a late heat year so many of the rivers close are still running very high. Fishing with a spinner rules out the South Fork of the Boise, you could do the middle fork up above arrowrock dam but that is about a hour and 20-30 from downtown. You could also go over to emmett and fish below black canyon dam. There is the owyhee in eastern oregon which has tons of really nice browns but then you need a fishing license for oregon.....as well as idaho if your going to fish in and around boise. There is horsethief and cascade reservoir's about an hour and 20 out of Boise. Horsethief has been hot all year for trout, but cascade has not turned on yet but it should soon. Finally, there is the sanke river between CJ strike and swan falls dam, I have not been there this year but there is some good trout fishing always near grandview and tons of catfish if your into that.
Maybe someone will chime in on the payette rivers because I don't fish those much.
BTW, no salmon fishing in and around Boise.
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Dear MrBrown,
The previous responder gives you some good advice. The Middle Fork of the Boise River does have some good fishing, and you do not have to go too far above the backwaters of Arrowrock Reservoir to get into the fish. The South Fork of the Boise (below Anderson Ranch Res.) is a quality river with some nice-sized trout. You do not need to fish it with a fly rod, because you can do quite well with a torpedo-style clear bobber and a fly. As the other fellow mentioned, Horsethief Res. is fishing quite well off the bank, but it is almost two hours north of Boise.However, the ride is beautiful, and you will see lots of our famous "white water". Tackle Tom's in Cascade will set you up for fishing. They are most generous with their advice. Mike
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Very true about the SF, I just have not had many people have good luck with it on a bobber and flies but it is doable as he said. That is also rattlesnake country so be cautios with your step.
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Actually, I believe the South Fork below Anderson Ranch is open to any lure, as long as it is single hook and barbless. Bait is prohibited. The limit is two over 20", but almost everyone catches and releases, making it a good fishery.
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Find a guide to take you sturgeon fishing on the snake. If you've never fished for dinosaurs, your in for a treat.
See the post on sturgeon fishing on CJ Strike below this thread.
Nothing compares to having a 6' fish hooked up and tailwalking. Nothing is like a sturgeon. Not even tarpon.
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I visited a buddy in boise a year or two ago. What we did was we bought a float tube "black ones" from i think it was big o tires. We parked the car by this little dam. We floated it and fished all the way down the river and did quit well. We got out where everyone gets out at and payed a dollar or 2 and got on the raft buss. It takes about 2 hours if i remember right to float the river but we did catch a lot of fish. I hope all this makes sense. Pineviewfisher From Utah
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