Fishing Forum

Tackle Tom posted a pic of a fellow who was fishing the open water between the dam and Crown Point at Cascade. Caught two jumbos. Sure hope this is a good indicator of things to come. Can't wait to do a little spring perch fishing up there. Guess I'll have to squeeze it in between my other spring goal to figure out the new Chinook fishery at Anderson Ranch. Link to T. T's facebook site is below. Mike

[url "https://www.facebook.com/tackletoms"]https://www.facebook.com/tackletoms[/url]
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Nice! I'm biting my nails waiting to get my boat in up there. Just don't want to end like the last guys. I'm also wanting to figure out those Anderson Chinook this year. If I can figure it out this year it could mean several years of good fishing.
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When mid-March or April come around, I am def. giving the Chinook a good try. I plan on using tactics used both on the Olympic Pen. and Lake Coeur d'Alene. We need to do a little PM'ing when the time comes around. Together we can figure it out a little sooner. Mike
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plus with the early reports of the Kokanee being in the 12 to 14 inch range, they will be an added bonus.
May have to get the little pontoon boat out and cruise around the open water at Cascade.
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Didn't realize there were Chinook in Anderson Ranch. Would like more info about them. Do you fish them like Kokanee? What's the bag limit? I take it they are spring running fish.

I live in Idaho Falls and Ririe has been awful slow for Kokes this winter and spring. I am looking to find another Kokanee fishery. Chinook would be bonus at Anderson Ranch.

Cheers---Jim
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Good question re limits. The F and G does not list Chinook in the Magic Valley section, nor do they list it under special restrictions. I would fish for them differently than kokanee, but certainly koke gear might pick them up. A better choice would be larger dodgers or flashers, and larger bait/lures. Chinook in Lake C d'A go from quite deep to fairly shallow depending on the time of year. Mike
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[size 3]All Other Fish Species [/size][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 2][font "Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][size 2]includes bullfrogs and crayfish
• No bag, size or possession limit


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Yeah, I laughed when I saw that! Wonder what they would say when they stopped you with the back of your pickup filled with Chinook?!! I sent an email to F & G asking about this, and also asked them what the approx. size of the Chinook might be. Hope they return with an answer. Mike
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Sparked my curiosity, I'd say it's closed until they set a season for Anderson ranch. It is in the snake river drainage. The regs don't say anything about Boise river chinook, they could escape down stream to arrow rock and lucky peak. How many did they plant in down town Boise last time? Think any are still there? Steelhead? Wonder if you'll have to have a tag? Fall limit was 6/18 on ocean run fish, could it be same? Think they'll go up to big and little smokey and have a successful spawn? Thanks a lot guys, I'll think about this in my bed. I'll have to get me some chinook swim baits for our may bass tournament. Fat salmon fed Smallies, may compete with dworsak. Future state record?
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They did respond to a ? in Jan about them:

Fall Chinook were stocked in Anderson Ranch Reservoir two years ago. They are used as a management tool to reduce kokanee numbers to prevent size stunting from over-population. In reservoirs like Deadwood and Lake Coeur d'Alene where they also feed on kokanee, fall Chinook will achieve ~30" and 20+ pounds. In the Lake Coeur d'Alene system fall Chinook do run-up tributary streams and successfull spawn. In the Anderson Ranch system, fall Chinook may attempt to spawn but the lack of suitable habitat will prevent success.
We anticipate the fall Chinook in Anderson Ranch should be in the 16"+ range during the 2015 season. Based on our previous experience with fall Chinook in Anderson Ranch, we expect these fish will live 4-5 years.
Answered on:
January 22, 2015 - 7:47am
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They spawned there before the dams were built, salmon falls creek too.
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