Fishing Forum

Put up a post for ice and conditions info on Blackfoot last week, our yearly Palies fish camp gathering had to be moved because of conditions there. We decided to move it to Blackfoot.

I pulled a recon mission on Thursday to make sure it was ice free, which it was, put the word out to the boys to head to Pebble Beach.

A few of our group got there thursday night, the rest (self included) got there fairly early friday morn. Friday was perfect weather all day, glass water, not too stained in the middle of the lake, was bad where creeks/rivers churned in.

Long story short, the fishing was TERRIBLE !! We had 10 guys in 4 boats and threw basically every combo of trolling, spinning, flies, and bait possible. I stayed within a few miles of camp and never marked a fish at any level of the water column. deepest water I marked was 24 feet. One of our group with a bigger boat graphed several promising looking spots from the dam, poison creek, back to camp and even the other way and never saw one on the graph or had a bite. Wind came on with a vengance Saturday and turned the trip into a big horseshoe and drinking tournament, which was fine given the fishing..

The overwhelming feeling I came away with was what a crying shame and a waste blackfoot has become, great scenery, great camping, lots of water and area, every handful of moss I picked up was teaming with freshwater shrimp and all kinds of bugs. It seems it could be an incredible trout fishery if the water levels could remain consistent and they'd stock some fish but until something changes I'll be leaving Blackfoot to the carp bowhunters, if there are any trout in there they're few and far between..

10 guys put in $3 each in the weekend prize pool, $1 for first fish, $1 for most fish, and $1 for biggest fish..

During Saturday afternoon horseshoes one of our group had a worm out from shore and ended up landing a 16" sucker, which ended up taking honors in all 3 catagories..

How stupid is that?!?
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Sounds like i wont even wonder about Blackfoot Res any more lol. Sorry about your fishing trip but thanks for the report.
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Thanks for the report for sure. I will be over a few times this summer hopefully starting in the next week or two. I seem to be a glutton for tough fishing spots with Blackfoot and Palies at the top. I will report off and on as I go over. I never went to Blackfoot until last summer, skunked about every time but really like the place.
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Glad you could make the most out of it. It is a shame that such a beautiful piece of water has become so bad.

Windriver
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What a heart break. It used to be one of the best lakes in the state.

Thanks for taking the time to give us a report back.
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yup no big fish in there any more especially rainbows.......


sorry it sucked for you all
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I have never fished Blackfoot Res., but I notice that they planted 126,000 trout in 2010. So, why has it become such a dismal destination? Mike
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[quote Kodiak1]I have never fished Blackfoot Res., but I notice that they planted 126,000 trout in 2010. So, why has it become such a dismal destination? Mike[/quote]


Ill bite so to speak. First is the pelican/black cormorant problem. And 2nd bad timing. I have reports about blackfoot that are polar opposites. Some are like the OP, that it skunked them the entire weekend, and others that claim to knock the crap out of decent sized bows. So Its pretty hit and miss. I can tell you that the bows that come out of there are pretty tasty. Been eating on filet's that the ole man caught last summer up there. I should be headed up there in the next few weeks and see if they can get me into fish. Ill report and throw up a few pics of how it goes.
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Since the ice just barely came off, I am guessing that the water is really cold and should go into turnover soon. Fishing might be very iffy for several weeks.

Wonder how many fish are up the river spawning this year??? There is certainly lots of runoff everywhere. A good runoff be a good thing to get the res up and the fish past the birds, but does anyone know if the amount we are getting now is "beyond good" and into the "not so good"?
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I would have no clue what would be the "beyond not so good" amount of water but if there was ever a year rhat we would see it, this is the one for sure.
All reservoirs in the line up will be full in August without a doubt and without any more water. We still have all or most of the snow from 8,000' or so up to melt off.
Is it good it cooled off again or not? I am really wondering about that.
Bring it all down and get it over with or let it trickle out?
It still looks like the end of March to mid April for snow in the mountains all around.
An interesting few weeks in front of us.
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My boss's Son went up yesterday . Him and two buddys caught 15 fishing off the bank . The smallest one was 3 pounds . Curt G.
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Very cool Curt! Guess you just need to know where to cast! [fishin]
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[quote curt69]My boss's Son went up yesterday . Him and two buddys caught 15 fishing off the bank . The smallest one was 3 pounds . Curt G.[/quote] Pictures...or it never happen
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Ok it never happened . I don't care if you believe me . 10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish . Curt G.
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[quote curt69]Ok it never happened . I don't care if you believe me . 10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish . Curt G.[/quote]

Those numbers work for me!
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To think I was in the minority on most things, this isn't one of them.
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Judging from the F&G survey reports there are still some nice fish in there, but I have no clue where to find them!! I am going to try and get to Blackfoot at least once this year to try it out for myself. -- One of those bucket list firsts.

Hopefully in the coming years Blackfoot will get better as the pelican residents get fewer. Now if we could just magically reduce the carp too........
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They are catching them at Poison Creek in shallow water . I think they are there because that is where fish and game plant them and every spring they hang out there right after ice out . Also the water is warmer in the shallow bay . The same happens at Henry's at ice out the fish come in very close to the bank . Curt G.
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Funny this time of year when you see guys casting way out getting skunked and some little kid who can only cast 20' catches all the fish.
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