02-23-2011, 05:49 AM
Anybody know of any good places for catfish in Eastern Idaho? Been living here for about 5 years now and haven't heard much about 'em here.
[signature]
[signature]
02-23-2011, 05:49 AM
02-23-2011, 06:02 AM
There's catfish in eastern Idaho?!?!? Seriously though, I've heard of them in the bear river around Preston area and then one of the reservoirs by Soda. Other than that, not a thing.
[signature]
[signature]
02-23-2011, 06:10 AM
Yeah, only place I've heard of so far is Robert's gravel pond. Fish and Game website says there are Channel Cats in the Snake River. Hopefully I can find out where they're hiding.
[signature]
[signature]
02-23-2011, 07:00 AM
Yep there is GOOD cat fishing in the Bear River down by Preston!!!!! Soda has some really good "COOKIE CUTTERS" but not much of BIG uns that i found... Roberts has some kitties but little from my understanding but could be wrong......
[signature]
[signature]
02-23-2011, 11:45 AM
Alexander in Soda is the so called premier spot in SE Idaho. It is a reservoir on the Bear River. Search out some old threads here for more info but the upper end near the hospital seems to be the place to go.
[signature]
[signature]
02-23-2011, 03:30 PM
Not many catfishing spots in eastern Idaho. I got into catfishing several years ago for a few years. The lack of good fishing holes and giving up a night's sleep for two or three 10 to 12" cats was too high a price. You can catch a few south of Malad, Idaho on the Malad River but have to have permission to cross private ground. You're limited to about a mile stretch before you get to the Utah border. Seagull Bay on the eastern end of American Falls Reservoir has some bullhead catfishing at night by lantern light- of course bring your own lantern. Carey Lake west of Craters of the Moon National Monument and just outside the little town of Carey, Idaho has a few bullheads around 6 to 8" that were fun to catch by lantern light until they kind of died off 12 years ago. My son caught one last summer about six inches so I guess there are still some in there. McTucker ponds about twenty miles west of Blackfoot has some bullheads and IDFG does plant some channel cats in there every year or so. Alexander Reservoir just west of Soda Springs is the premier kitty catching spot. The best place is just west of the hospital up from where the Bear River enters into Alexander reservoir. Most years a few cats get taken that are 8 to 12 lbs. Most are probably a pound or two-nice eating size. A few cats are taken on the Bear River a few miles south of Preston, Idaho.
The problem with fishing for cats in eastern Idaho is the rivers are mostly too cold for successful spawning by channel cats. Bullheads seem to find a few small shallow coves where they can pull off a successful hatch of fry. Enough fiherman from the deep South U.S. moving into the area and some locals interested in catfishing had multiple requests of the F|ish and Game Dept to stock channel catfish especially in the Snake River. The Dept. decided to stock them in the Roberts Gravel Pond to see if they would naturally spawn, they didn't so that blew those plans. They were also stocked in the Portneuf River between McCammon and Pocatello and didn't take hold there either--probably not to there liking. Now most years the Dept brings up catfish from Oklahoma or Kansas or somewhere and stocks them in Alexander and McTucker Ponds etc to try and take care of us fisherman.
If you're really interested in fishing for cats, northern Utah at Utah Lake and the Bear River is the place to go. Good catfishing and warmer waters to a cat's liking. Or travel over to western Idaho to the Boise Valley for good catfishing. The reservoir impoundments along the Snake River provides some great catfishing starting about mid April on through the summer. I have seen photos of some nice cats taken there. Fish average about three pounds and on up in weight. Milner Dam around the Twin Falls, Idaho area is about the closest starting point on the Snake River from eastern Idaho to catfish. Hope this helps you. Good luck catfishing!
DeeCee [fishin]
[signature]
The problem with fishing for cats in eastern Idaho is the rivers are mostly too cold for successful spawning by channel cats. Bullheads seem to find a few small shallow coves where they can pull off a successful hatch of fry. Enough fiherman from the deep South U.S. moving into the area and some locals interested in catfishing had multiple requests of the F|ish and Game Dept to stock channel catfish especially in the Snake River. The Dept. decided to stock them in the Roberts Gravel Pond to see if they would naturally spawn, they didn't so that blew those plans. They were also stocked in the Portneuf River between McCammon and Pocatello and didn't take hold there either--probably not to there liking. Now most years the Dept brings up catfish from Oklahoma or Kansas or somewhere and stocks them in Alexander and McTucker Ponds etc to try and take care of us fisherman.
If you're really interested in fishing for cats, northern Utah at Utah Lake and the Bear River is the place to go. Good catfishing and warmer waters to a cat's liking. Or travel over to western Idaho to the Boise Valley for good catfishing. The reservoir impoundments along the Snake River provides some great catfishing starting about mid April on through the summer. I have seen photos of some nice cats taken there. Fish average about three pounds and on up in weight. Milner Dam around the Twin Falls, Idaho area is about the closest starting point on the Snake River from eastern Idaho to catfish. Hope this helps you. Good luck catfishing!
DeeCee [fishin]
[signature]
02-24-2011, 12:57 AM
this summer get ahold of me on a private message and we will set a day up and I'll take you cat fishing here in southeast idaho.... Where the norm is 5-6lbs....
[signature]
[signature]