05-07-2009, 09:10 PM
This report highlights a few of the best places to fish, what anglers are using and what they are catching. The information is compiled from regional Fish and Game fishery managers, local tackle shops and anglers.
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Rivers and Streams
Little Wood River: Water flows are up, anglers still catching some browns in deep holes from Bear Tracks area upstream to the confluence with Silver Creek.
Snake River: Trout fishing has been OK in the Pillar Falls area as well as in areas with spring outlets such as Riley Creek, Niagara Springs, and Thousand Springs. Snake River flows are very high and most people aren't doing much fishing in the River itself. Sturgeon fishing has been great with high catch rates below Lower Salmon Dam and in the Hammett and Glenns Ferry reach of the Snake River. Again, flows are up making fishing fairly difficult.
Lakes and Reservoirs<br />
Magic Reservoir: Reservoir is filling, water muddy on the upper 1/3 of the reservoir. East and West boat ramps open. Anglers report spotty trout fishing with catch rates ranging from 0 fish to about 15 fish per hour. Some anglers report a few 18-20 inch trout, but the majority are in the 12-16 inch range. Best reports come from float tube anglers fishing the flat near Curlew low water ramp and the narrows just south on the west side. No perch reports.
Little Wood Reservoir: Boat ramp is open, no recent fishing reports.
Milner Reservoir: Bass fishing is picking up concentrating on pre-spawn smallmouth bass. Catfishing is slow to non-existent - need warmer water yet.
Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir: Muddy water from spring runoff in the Southern portion of the reservoir south of Grays Landing. Water temperatures are in the low 50's. Most walleye and bass fishing slows down in the muddy water but will pick up in a few weeks when spring runoff tapers down a bit. Trout fishing has been great but has slacked off the in last week or so. Anglers report very spotty success based on "pods" of larger rainbow trout moving around the fishery. Walleye bite was doing quite well but also slacked off likely due to spawning walleye. Bass and crappie catch rates have been pretty slow.
Oakley Reservoir: Anglers reported slow fishing for trout prior to being stocked about a week ago. Carryover trout were in the 17-19 size range, but they weren't catching them well from the shore - boat anglers were picking them up trolling. Since stocking, catch rates have improved drastically for trout in the 8-10 inch range.
Anderson Ranch Reservoir: Slow is the main word. Spring is a little late this year leaving water temperatures a bit below average. We expect kokanee to be a bit larger this year. Anglers should consider fishing the upper 10-15 feet of the reservoir until mid June when water temperatures increase.
Mormon Reservoir: Likely to be relatively poor fishing this year. Fish it early to take advantage of the relatively high water and light vegetation load. Low snow/water equivalent bodes poorly for storage and vegetation levels. Catchable stocking has been reduced to 5,000 based on forecasted storage conditions. Will likely be drawn down this year.
Little Camas Reservoir: The reservoir may have achieved its 2009 full pool already. Little Camas won't fill this year and will likely be drawn down again by late summer. There has been very little overwinter survival from last year's stocked trout so anglers can expect trout in the 8-10 inch size range. Stocking was reduced to 5,000 catchable trout based on forecasted storage conditions.
Lake Walcott: Anglers were doing well from the shore at the State Park as well as near the South Side Canal along the shoreline. Anglers were catching fish in the 16-20 inch range earlier, but high flows in the Snake River has slowed catch rates.
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Rivers and Streams
Little Wood River: Water flows are up, anglers still catching some browns in deep holes from Bear Tracks area upstream to the confluence with Silver Creek.
Snake River: Trout fishing has been OK in the Pillar Falls area as well as in areas with spring outlets such as Riley Creek, Niagara Springs, and Thousand Springs. Snake River flows are very high and most people aren't doing much fishing in the River itself. Sturgeon fishing has been great with high catch rates below Lower Salmon Dam and in the Hammett and Glenns Ferry reach of the Snake River. Again, flows are up making fishing fairly difficult.
Lakes and Reservoirs<br />
Magic Reservoir: Reservoir is filling, water muddy on the upper 1/3 of the reservoir. East and West boat ramps open. Anglers report spotty trout fishing with catch rates ranging from 0 fish to about 15 fish per hour. Some anglers report a few 18-20 inch trout, but the majority are in the 12-16 inch range. Best reports come from float tube anglers fishing the flat near Curlew low water ramp and the narrows just south on the west side. No perch reports.
Little Wood Reservoir: Boat ramp is open, no recent fishing reports.
Milner Reservoir: Bass fishing is picking up concentrating on pre-spawn smallmouth bass. Catfishing is slow to non-existent - need warmer water yet.
Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir: Muddy water from spring runoff in the Southern portion of the reservoir south of Grays Landing. Water temperatures are in the low 50's. Most walleye and bass fishing slows down in the muddy water but will pick up in a few weeks when spring runoff tapers down a bit. Trout fishing has been great but has slacked off the in last week or so. Anglers report very spotty success based on "pods" of larger rainbow trout moving around the fishery. Walleye bite was doing quite well but also slacked off likely due to spawning walleye. Bass and crappie catch rates have been pretty slow.
Oakley Reservoir: Anglers reported slow fishing for trout prior to being stocked about a week ago. Carryover trout were in the 17-19 size range, but they weren't catching them well from the shore - boat anglers were picking them up trolling. Since stocking, catch rates have improved drastically for trout in the 8-10 inch range.
Anderson Ranch Reservoir: Slow is the main word. Spring is a little late this year leaving water temperatures a bit below average. We expect kokanee to be a bit larger this year. Anglers should consider fishing the upper 10-15 feet of the reservoir until mid June when water temperatures increase.
Mormon Reservoir: Likely to be relatively poor fishing this year. Fish it early to take advantage of the relatively high water and light vegetation load. Low snow/water equivalent bodes poorly for storage and vegetation levels. Catchable stocking has been reduced to 5,000 based on forecasted storage conditions. Will likely be drawn down this year.
Little Camas Reservoir: The reservoir may have achieved its 2009 full pool already. Little Camas won't fill this year and will likely be drawn down again by late summer. There has been very little overwinter survival from last year's stocked trout so anglers can expect trout in the 8-10 inch size range. Stocking was reduced to 5,000 catchable trout based on forecasted storage conditions.
Lake Walcott: Anglers were doing well from the shore at the State Park as well as near the South Side Canal along the shoreline. Anglers were catching fish in the 16-20 inch range earlier, but high flows in the Snake River has slowed catch rates.