Idaho Fishing Advice - Want to be a Respectfull Tourist and Learn the Basics

[Nick_PA]

Hello all,
I'll be in southern Idaho May 29-31st. My brother, sister and I want advice on fishing, hiking and camping in southern Idaho. We are all in our mid 20's, healthy, and experienced hikers/campers. We know how much it sucks dealing with rude tourists in our local fishing/outdoor spots in Pennsylvania and we do not want to be those 'ignorant' tourists!
I'm looking for help with planning a 2-3 trip where we hike back in 15-30 miles and camp/fish the mountain lakes. If anybody can put us on a general area or trail network near Challis that I can look into further I'd really appreciate it. We're looking for remote areas, we don't mind hiking through rough terrain and snow, actually, we kind of prefer it haha. Is spinning gear, using small spinners or locally caught live bait a good method to catch trout in the mountain lakes?

I'd also love to fish a river/creek for salmon, but want to stay away from crowds and we don't have much time to drive up north. Do the salmon run in the southern rivers near Challis or are they all up in northern Idaho? Can salmon be effectively caught using spinning gear?

I know I asked a lot, but any and all information would be helpful. Also information on some local tackle shops, local hole in the wall good restaurants, local outfitter stores, etc in southern Idaho near Challis would be greatly appreciated!

thanks in advance,
Nick
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[customweld]

I wouldn't be suprised if some of the high country lakes still have ice on them. There is still a lot of high elevation snow choking access to trailheads.
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[windriver]

I don't know much about the high mountain lakes in the area. I would think they would be under ice until about mid June.

I hope somebody that knows more about the area you are going to will chime in.

Live bait is illegal in Idaho.

For fishing I think Mackay Reservoir with spinners would be good.

Windriver
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[Nick_PA]

I'm quickly learning there are a lot of things to consider when planning what trails to take. It seems like a lot could be affected by fire damage, snow covered (I've generally hiked in 12" of snow just fine but I don't need to be in snow that required snowshoes). So...any local shops places between Challis - middle fork that can give me up to date knowledge of trail/fishing conditions...?
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[dtayboyz]

Go into the white clouds, get ahold of Hailey chamber or the sawtooth ranger district. May be kinda early for salmon in the high country. Really neat stuff near Cape Horn and the Boy Scout camp Bradley. Indendence lakes near burley are really cool.
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[Biigfish33]

I would have to second customweld's post.

My dad grew up in the challis area and we are up there every year over Memorial Day. The lowest altitude lakes are up 7000 feet, with the majority of them being 8000+. In low snowpack years, you MIGHT have a chance of getting into a lake, and then once you get there, there's a possibility of it being frozen. Considering that this year the salmon river drainage had an above average snowpack, the odds of getting into the lakes and then having them be open is very very unlikely.

This time of year in that area, hiking in 10+ miles is going to be tough business, even if you like hiking in snow. If you are bound and determined, you may try calling the forest service in challis for more information. If you decide to pack in, make sure you have winter clothes with you. Id say every two years or so it snows on us over Memorial Day.

As far as creeks go, they are all over and most hold fish. But, they could be blown out from runoff. Spinning gear will work fine. Salmon season doesn't open until the 21 st of June.


Not trying to scare you off with the negative info, just being honest, and want you guys to be safe. Memorial Day in the mountains of Idaho can be very unpredictable. There are great places to camp, take day hikes in the area during this time of year, but perhaps the end of June or July would be better for a backpacking adventure.
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[Biigfish33]

[quote Nick_PA]I'm quickly learning there are a lot of things to consider when planning what trails to take. It seems like a lot could be affected by fire damage, snow covered (I've generally hiked in 12" of snow just fine but I don't need to be in snow that required snowshoes). So...any local shops places between Challis - middle fork that can give me up to date knowledge of trail/fishing conditions...?[/quote]

You would certainly be in some deeper snow if you decided to hike in. Bent rod outdoors is out of challis (don't have the number but maybe do a google search on it) and they will have more up to date info, as well as more info on maybe what you could do during that time. There's a guy who works there that is always helpful, (name slips my mind) and I would assume he would be glad to point you in the right direction.

Mosquito flat res. is a place you could drive into. Spinning gear works well.
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[nijimasu]

Hi-

Saw your post about backpacking central Idaho at the end of the month-

I think most of the guys are right, the high mountain lakes are likely to be snowed in for a while. Some drainages might have received less snow pack this year, but you'd have to call the forest service to be sure. Depending on where you go it could be a bit dicey with all the fire damage we had last year, there is a possibility on mud slides and avalanche if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time, so please be careful and check that situation out with the FS wherever you decide to go.

I usually make a trip every year somewhere in the state because I love the alpine lakes and backpacking, so I know a few of the drainages. I always wait until late July or August sometime because I get nervous about fording streams when they're swollen, but then I'm old. I can give you suggestions for some of the areas I hit if you're interested, but I don't think they'll be accessible yet. I'll keep thinking about some lower elevation areas and see if I can come up with anything. An area called Coper Basin comes to mind, but even it may still have snow this year.

Here's a thread I did a couple years ago if you'd like to see a few pics to whet your appetite.
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/forum/gforu...ost=763127
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[Nick_PA]

Hey all thank you for the responses and advice. Okay, sounds like our best bet is to stop by the ranger station and get specific advise on what trails are open and we can file a trip plan with them anyways. Nijimasu that is one the dot, exactly what we want to do. Holy smokes i'm salivating here at my desk thinking about fresh trout on the fire in the middle of nowhere!!!!!! You can eat the cutthroats too right? I still have to read through the fishing regulations, but I think i'll get everything straight by stopping in at the local tackle shop. Awesome, any further advice on trails that may be open and fishing tactics would be appreciated. Also the live bait thing...you're telling me that if i catch a grub, nymph or worm I can't fish with it or are they just concern about transporting insects around and introducting invasive species?
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[Belasko]

Insects and worms you should be ok with. F&g are referring more to minnows as live bait. Grubs I'm not 100% certain but worms you're safe to use
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[Biigfish33]

Grubs will be fine as well. Generally the lakes with cutthroat can be harvested in that area. The only thing to worry about is if you find yourself in the wilderness area, or any streams that may drain into the middle fork; if so, make sure you check the regs. Generally there's no harvest of any trout in streams in the wilderness. The lakes should be fine to harvest from. Typically spinners work as well as anything.
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[Nick_PA]

Okay, ya'll are great, thanks alot for the info. If anybody ever ventures out to the mid atlantic for some freshwater or saltwater fishing drop me a message and i'll be sure to get you set up!
I looked up the seasons for steel head and chinook and steelhead are closed but it says chinook opened on April 26th...do they close it after a certain amount of time and if so where is that posted?
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[cpierce]

If you can't change your dates to later in the year, I would suggest that you look at some lower elevation areas. They still might have some snow, but you have a better chance of finding the lakes open and not still frozen solid. That is unless you want to pack in an auger. [] I have hiked into lakes in July and still found the upper ones frozen.

Maybe check out some of the area over on the west side of the state up towards McCall and Payette. Some areas over there are a couple of thousand feet lower than the middle of the state. They should ice out sooner. Also look for lakes that face the south or southwest.

The place where Nijimasu was at has two problems. One it is over 8,000 ft, and two much of that area burned not too long ago. I haven't been back up there since it burned so I don't know if it would make a difference. But I did hike into there too early one year and ran in to some of the lakes still frozen. Luckily a couple of others had half their ice off.

Hate to be so negative, but would like to see you have a successful and safe trip.
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[cpierce]

Here is a link to the Sawtooth live camera at Stanley.

http://www.sawtoothcamera.com/

You can get an idea of the snow line from it.

The foothills that have melted are at about 6500 to 7000 ft elevation.
Most lakes above that are going to be frozen.
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[Biigfish33]

The area of the state you are interested in, in the challis area doesn't open until later. If you are interested in salmon fishing, the rigging area which is northwest of challis would be open. Lots of people.
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[Nick_PA]

Nick's little brother checking in here - thanks all for the great advice!

I'm glad Nick picked the Challis area, I was up there two years ago midsummer. We found some great adventure in the high mountain lakes! Would you recommend we go to a lower part of the state? Looking at google's terrain maps, [url "https://maps.google.com/maps?q=44.882634,-115.879669&num=1&t=p&vpsrc=6&ie=UTF8&ll=44.864873,-115.86834&spn=0.209757,0.445976&z=12&ei=H1Z7U5y2HdKlsgT8wYDoCw&pw=2"]this region[/url] has good access roads at 5-6 thousand feet and lakes spread out at 6-8 thousand feet.

Could I ask you all a few questions? At the time I was in the area, there was a pizza shop in Challis run by a guy from Pittsburgh. Is that shop still in business?

And also how are the mosquitos around the end of May? Last time we found that the more skeeters there were, the better the fishing was! I could only imagine how great it would be without those little guys feasting on us.

Nick's right about throwing some good advice your way if you ever get to the east coast area. We've fished most of the major rivers in PA, and he lives for coastal fishing in Southern Delaware!

-Doug_PA
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[hooknhunter]

Last time I was up there, the pizza shoppe was still open. GREAT SANDWICHES! Pizza isn't too bad either. Mosquito's shouldn't be too bad that time of year, but you'll probably need to spray yourself down with repelant anyway. I sure wouldn't go on a trip like that without some.
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[cpierce]

Yes, either come later in the year, or do lower elevation.

An advantage of the McCall area is that even if the 7000 foot lakes are still frozen you should be able to find some in the 5000 elevation range. I haven't personally hiked into any of the area you highlighted, but it is lower and you have a better chance of finding lakes open.

Your link is in the Payette National Forest so I suggest that you call them and ask about the road and lakes you want. Is it open and what is the snow/ice level. Also check on their alerts and news page. Some roads maybe closed for construction etc. http://www.fs.usda.gov/payette/

Here is the Snotel site for Idaho. They are snow depth stations spread throughout the mountains. Pick one close to where you want to go. Look at its elevation then look at the 7 day readings. It will tell snow depth.

Fish and Game home page
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/

Here is a link for the Idaho Fish and Game stocking page. http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/fish/stocking/ Pick your area and then look at the historical stocking for the lake you want. Most high lakes are stocked every 2 or 3 years with 3 inch fingerlings. If a lake isn't stocked, then it either has natural spawning going on or it winter kills. I know that isn't very helpful.

Their Fishing planner page can also be a good source of information.
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/fishingPlanner/
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[cpierce]

The fishing planner has changed. Much better access to information.

You can search by name, but even better is the new map feature. Go to the Idaho fish map http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/fishi...r/fishmap/

After you zoom in you can click on lake, and it will give information on that lake off to the right side. It includes its stocking history etc.

Way to go F&G. Great feature!
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[cpierce]

One more thing here is a satellite image from last Thursday. If you zoom in and look at even the Payette area there is still a lot of snow on the mountains. Don't plan on going too high up. My guess is 6000 feet max.

This is from http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/imagery....=id-mt-000



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