My wife is flying out of Salt Lake City on April 17, returning April 24. I'm thinking that me and my boys (ages 4 and 8) will just go camping and fishing while she is gone, rather than drive back to SE Utah.
My concern is weather (we have a tent, not an RV) and location (family friendly with decent fishing and scenery preferred.) I don't know SE Idaho at all. The best I have come up with, searching online, is to take one of the camping cabins at a KOA. I'd rather give them more of an experience than that, though.
Your suggestions on a good spot to go for fishing and camping with youngsters, in mid-April, are appreciated.
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welcome to the forum! well i look at it like this give them an experiance and let them freeze their little tails off or let them sleep warm in a cabin either way they are gonna talk about when they are older and either way you are gonna go fishing right?
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Thanks, Chrome. You made me realize that I wasn't too clear on what I'm asking... so, I edited the post.
The main thing I am looking for is advice on where to go. If you were going to take two little boys fishing and camping in SE Idaho, where would you go to give them the best experience? Is it reasonable to think about tent camping with youngsters in mid-April? Do you know of a reasonably priced cabin that would be a real kicker? Is there a protected lake that will keep them fishing and jumping so much that they don't care that it is cold?
I just don't know the area at all. I just see it as a welcome respite from the high desert where we live.
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Ok. Here is an idea and only worth what you paid for it. You could "camp" at Miracle Hot Springs. You could use a tent or rent a dome. Also swimming is also available. Here is a link.
[url "http://www.mhsprings.com/"][#800080]http://www.mhsprings.com/[/#800080][/url]
From this location you could go North and fish the Hagerman WMA ponds “oster lakes”, or you could go a couple miles farther and fish Bell Rapids boat launch. That spot was planted not long ago and is producing some planted trout. Also not far from Miracle HS, are the Filer ponds. These ponds are east on Highway 30 North and east of filer. These ponds were planted within the last week with 2 to 5 pound trout. One of the ponds is a kid’s only pond. My guess is that pond is going to have 5 pound fish.
Also not far from Miracle is Billingsley creek WMA. This area will have some brown trout in it but this is probably the toughest spot to fish.
Here are just some thoughts. Ron
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idahoron has a great idea and its cheaper than a cabin. i garuntee no matter where you are in idaho in any direction there is going to be great fishing. just know what you are fishing for and how to do it. ill tell you my opinion on the camping its not a bad idea if you plan on sharing a sleeping bag with you little boy. im not gonna lie to you it is still down right cold anywhere in idaho in april still bellow freezing at night anywhere you camp and i can remember being younger and camping in late march with a sleeping bag rated bellow -40 and still was shivering at about 3 in the morning till the sun made an appearance. and now that i am older i have camped in april steelhead fishing in salmon with a -100 mummy bag and still had the shivers. kids just are not capable of generating the kind of body heat teenagers and adults are capable of.......on a side note though if he sleeps in a bag doubled up with you _like two bags zipped togather you will both be toasty warm. i have no prob with sharing a sleeping bag with my little guy and he digs it also but he is only 3 so we will see how fast that might change.
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There are ways of making tent camping comfortable even when its pretty cold. Throw a bunch of hand warmers in your sleeping bag and you'll be nice and toasty. Those things are worth their weight in gold when your cold. Also a Catalytic heater like a Mr Heater will keep your tent toasty. Another idea you might consider, a buddy of mine who guides in Washington and Alaska called me and he has some openings for spring chinook on the Columbia. The prices are reasonable and he is super excited about the numbers this spring. Its a little warmer down that way and catching some big Kings with your boy would be a trip of a lifetime. Send me a PM if you want some more info.
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I have to say be careful with the propane heaters. If you use something like that, make sure that you have LOTS of good ventilation. Carbon monoxide kills, so don't give it a chance.
The hand warmers are a great idea. Also a good snack that is high in carbs right before bed helps. Another is a hot water bottle (that doesn't leak!) Good insulation under you is a must, and wear a stocking hat to bed. And as was said snuggle the little guy and make sure he is warm.
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Thanks for the suggestions, guys, good stuff all. I love the idea that no matter where we go in Idaho there's going to be good fishing nearby. Really, I've wanted to check it out for a possible move. We live at the base of Mt. Abajo, with two great fishing lakes within a few miles, but it's still a desert, any way you cut it. You're right--no matter whether we are cold or not, we're in for a memorable trip to God's country.
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Mid April is very iffy in Idaho. I would check the Idaho F&G website and see what has been stocked recently. THere is good fishing almost anywhere, but kids fishing is another thing.
I like the Idea of camping at a Hotspring like Lava, Donetta, or another one and then the kids can swim as well as look for good fishing.
You are kind of hitting a time when the big rivers may be rising with run off and the lakes haven't warmed enough to really turn on the warm water species. That is why I would look to the ponds and small stocked lakes for action.
Windriver
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Thank you, WindRiver.
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I have to agree with Windriver; kids' fishing is different. F&G in the Southeast region have only stocked the Bear River and Crystal Springs Pond so far this year. Crystal Springs is a good kids pond but is over by Springfield on the other side of American Falls Res. I don't know of any camping over there. Does anyone else?
Camping at the hot springs is a good idea. I am not sure if Downette's pool etc is open yet. If not there is also one at Indian Springs (near Am Falls and Rockland) not sure if it is open either and one that at least has the hot pools open is Lava hot pools.
A fishing option might be Johnson Res. near Preston. It is smaller. Has a couple of camping spots if the snow is off, and it was planted with some trout in Sept of last year. If they didn't get fished out in the fall or winter it should have a few. Also Blue Gills if they thaw out enough to cooperate.
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Another possiblity is Crowthers in Malad. It is fairly small and is mostly bank angling.
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I do a decent amount of lurking here, but not too many posting. But...I think idahoron hit the nail on the head.
I have a 3.5 year old daughter and there's not a chance I would consider tent camping in SE this early in the year -- and I grew up in SE Idaho.
I personally think Miracle Hot Springs would be a great place to hole up for a night or three. Obviously, there's the warm/hot water for the kids (and you) to play in. The various ponds will offer good fishing for youngsters. This part of the state is typically the warmest it gets this time of year. Plus, the various locations where water is gushing out of the rocks is pretty darn cool.
In fact, I'm planning on taking my daughter down there in the next week or 2 to give her a good shot at landing a fish. We tried the small lakes at Bruneau Sand Dunes a couple of weeks ago, but it was just too cold yet.
Good luck!
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I stayed at miracle hot springs recently for my anniversary and i highly recommend it nice people. also if the fishing sucks you can take the kiddos to look at the alligators. A fun thing about the osler lakes is if you go to the creek below the hatchery there are small (3-5 ft) sturgeon and on a salmon/steal head rod there a kick. Pick up some morts and 1-6/0 hooks at any sports shop in the area and get your kidos a sturgeon
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I see a Riverdale Resort near Preston. It is 2 hours from SLC, vrs. 4 hours for Miracle. Could it work for us, or would the extra two hours driving each way be made up for in better fishing and more warmth at Miracle? We are pretty well down to decision time. Your advice is and has been much appreciated.
That's a hard call.
I am guessing that both weather and fishing ops will be better in the Hagerman area for this time of year. We are just coming out of ice here in SE Idaho.
It is a longer drive, but as has been said the area is beautiful and is usually warmer. Lots of small stocked ponds, but I am not local to there so can't help much with the details.
If it was me and I had little kids that would be my choice. Ultimately you will need to compare the costs etc.
There are a number of "camping" areas too. Miracle Hot Springs has been mentioned, there is also a Banbury hot springs and I think a Thousand Springs Resort area. I don't know what all is open or what is available at them. Some have tent areas and some I think have cabins.
Good luck -- have fun where ever you go! Essentially it is all about the kids' experience.
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