I tried to fish Condie today. I even took a pile of 2x6 lumber with me to get on the water.
Not a chance.
The lake is now a good 50-60' past the boat ramp. The northern and eastern bays you see as you're driving up are dry.
No less than 60 birds were on the water - I assume gorging on fish (dead or alive, I cannot say).
Here's a picture and I'll try to link to a video.
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That's what I was afraid of. A week ago the water was at the boards. I guess I'll be giving fish and game a call in the morning. It's such a waste. It kind of pisses me off that fish and game doesn't really seem to give a crap. I spent $100 for a license, not to mention gas to get up there all the time, for this? I'm certainly not going to be doing it next year if all I have are a bunch of reservoirs full of the same ugly planter rainbows that they toss in to "restart" the fisheries like they did with Foster and Winder. Even if they do plant a few bass in there to get things going again, it's going to be about ten years before it's back where it was, and that's only if we don't get more dry years. Thank goodness that camper infested dung heap Devil's Creek has a minimum pool though. At least I'll have that to enjoy after this year. I kind of wish I hadn't spent so much on fishing gear the past few years. I'm not going to have much use for it anymore.
That was a pretty depressing video. It's a good thing I don't know who's in charge at the canal company as they'd be getting a knock on the door at 1am.
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Oh wow that is getting ridiculously low. It's been a couple weeks since I've been up there and I can't believe the difference in the water level, and it was already pretty low the last time I saw it. I wonder when/how they decide about putting it to salvage, there can't be a lot of water left for the number of fish that are in there to winter over.
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At the rate it's dropping, and with more hot, dry weather in the forecast, I'm not even worrying about winter kill. They're all going to be dead this summer.
Maybe if we all start calling the southeast office to voice our concerns, it will get more accomplished.
(208) 232-4703
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Figgered that news wasn't going to make your day.
So when do they get the sense to at least lift the slot if they're just going to let it go? I'd be expecting to see some of them little panfish belly up pretty soon due to lack of oxygen/competition.
Pharti - I'm guessing that whole stretch below the ramp is gush gush mud and goo, right? The ONE time I made it up there I could still keep my front toes on the ramp for launch. That was good enough for me.
Just that much more disappointed that those two nice bass I got had to go back in the drink, only for it to run dry.
Why would they plant cold water fish in warm water puddles?
Looks like I better go fish there one more time before it is gone for a few years..
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[quote gstott]I'm certainly not going to be doing it next year if...[/quote]Yeah, I realized that the draw I feel to Preston is based HEAVILY on Condie... I can catch 10-12" bass at the 3 Cache Valley spots just fine...
[quote brownieguy]...there can't be a lot of water left for the number of fish that are in there to winter over.[/quote]Exactly. Even if the pool remained where it was, the fish would consume all the oxygen under the ice long before spring thaw...
[quote CoyoteSpinner]Pharti - I'm guessing that whole stretch below the ramp is gush gush mud and goo, right? [/quote]About halfway down that gap is where it starts to go soft. I walked to the shore by moving those boards down with me...
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As much as i dont support the damn, up onieda a year like this shows how bad the farmers on the west side actualy need the water. There is alot of talk on how the f&g doesnt care. They cant do anything about it. the water is owned by the farmers and if they need it they will use it, I dont see the fish and game buying shares to keep water in. Its a shame but thats how it goes
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Here is what I think, because they were denied the dam. They decided to take it out on the water way. Basicly they are draining them to prove a point. The funny thing is that big pipe line you see stretching clear accross the valley thats what feeds condie twin lakes treasurton and so on. All they have to do is open it up and let the water flow through. There just being a bunch of whining snob farmers, that didnt get there way so they are putting on a show trying to make it look like if the dam was there then this problem wouldnt have been created, here is the thing even if they were allowed the dam it wouldnt be finished tell 2014 so its not like it would have mattered for the year. Just a bunch of crying farmers taking there anger out on the sportsmen and the fish.
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Condie is by far the biggest draw for me to come to Idaho. Besides the best quality bass in the area, it was generally peaceful with no ski boats and abundant wildlife.
Weston is good that way too, so if Weston survives I'll probably still get a license. If it goes, I probably won't.
Glendale and Twin both have some nice fish too, but they are party lakes, and I'd rather not deal with the spectacle except early and late in the season. Who knows though, those places could end this year too.
Oneida is fun for smallies, but it can get infested with ski boats in the summer, and it's definitely the longest drive to get there of all the lakes in the area.
It's just frustrating to see every reservoir on The Bear totally full, seeing all that water being flushed down into the Salt Lake while all these reservoirs wither and die. And because of that, I can't even fish the river for smallies because it's all blown out and full of vegetation.
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I just talked with IDFG asking about a possible salvage and they are considering it but have not put it out yet on a few places. They said it may or it may not happen.
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I left Dave a voicemail but haven't heard back yet. So what does a salvage entail? Do they try to move fish to a new place, or is it just lifting restrictions so that fish will at least be eaten?
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Im actually going out to condie tomorrow to do a salvage of my own, not for fish but to attempt to find an ore I lost a couple years ago. And to see what other cool treasures I can find.
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I know last time condie was drained for the dam repair they transplanted allot of the fish to the bordering reservoirs. I dont remember a take and eat salvage there but who knows what they will do with it this time. I left him a message also I talked to the receptionist im guessing. She said they are out checking the lakes lately so havnt been in much.
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Well, I guess it's good that they're out checking. Then they can see first hand just have bad it's getting. I'm just wondering if there's even going to be any neighboring lakes to put them in. Now that the dam is fixed, it would be cool if they put some in Foster since it's electric motors only, it would be a nice place for me to go in my tube. I'm just really not liking the idea of Twin and Glendale being my only options.
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I know that feeling twin is only good for fishing without power squad early spring to late spring. And ice fishing isnt to bad out there.. I really like twin first thing during pre spawn ive caught some nice bass out of there and allot of them during pre spawn never fished glendale much as it seems to be full of people early in the.season
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Twin is definitely a good prespawn place, especially if you can get there before they start charging.
I hit Glendale last October and got some pretty nice bass and a bonus slab. I got into several fish in the 14-17" range, but it still wasn't as good as Condie.
Good luck on your oar search. I was actually going to head up there today to have a farewell trip, but looking at all that stinky, black, mud and the thought of going straight to work to sterilize surgical instruments without showering after that didn't seem like a good idea. I may check it out Monday as I have the day off. I guess if I can't even get my tube in I'll see what Glendale has to offer.
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Yeah thats part of our plan for Saturday condie has been a family favorite for many many years. Figure I will give it a few last casts, because chances are it will not survive the winter and then it will be another 10 years before the fishing is back to normal.
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Isn't Foster already 'bout bone dry?
Mr Stott - you might just have to start hitting the Trout Farm in Amalga to get your tugs off! [crazy]
(or maybe it's time to chase some Wiper Boils!)
And by the way - lots of thanks for talking ME into getting an ID license this year buddy! Looks like I picked the best year yet. Between you and Mr Pharts. . . word! Course my own fault for missing all the hot spring action (cats on the brain! what can I say)
I hope the farmers aren't just being stingy and pissy - that would really be a sucky way to "make a point". (anyone got a monkey wrench that can open that big pipe?!?![blush])
It's true, the bass fishing has been awesome since April.
You're probably right about Foster. If they do transfer some fish, it will likely be to one of the squad ponds. [:/]
I can definitely find some slimers no problem. All the rivers and creeks on the east side have them, and I do pretty well at catching them, it's just not the same as bass fishing.
I would love to get into some wipers, it has been on my list for a while, but I don't know how well I'll be able to chase them in a float tube. It would kind of just be luck if I stumbled into one.
I guess I'll have to put up with the dirtbags, Barney and the power squad at Mantua if I want bass. I definitely am not as much a fan of those shallow bowl kind of reservoirs. I really prefer places with some good structure like Condie and Weston. I guess it will be a new experience.
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