Warmer snake river water heading down stream

[idahoron]

I was out on Friday testing out my new motor and the water in Hagerman is now 53 degrees. It takes about 13 days for this water to get to Homedale area when the flow is higher so it may take a little longer than that. Plus all the cold water entering from here to there. I can't wait for some catfishing.
Ron
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[JC_Meridian]

Last year I tired to fish Steck a little early and was tooooooo early. The water was way down and we only caught one small mouth.

We hit it a couple times later in the summer and our timing still wasn't great, but it was still a good time. Looking forward to it again this year.
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[jefstod]

You're havin a lot of fun there in the hagerman area. we're coming down there in a couple of weeks on our first expedition to that part of our state. can't wait to get out of the ice banks of eastern idaho for a few days. will stay at 1000 springs and bring the cats/toons hoping to find somewhere to catch fish. sounds like you know the area well so do you have any suggestions on where to go? we're doing this trip on pure faith and anticipation.
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[idahoron]

I can help you big time. You can camp or rent huts at Miracle Hot Springs. Here is the web page http://www.mhsprings.com/ You can stay there or you can stay in Hagerman. The hot springs is not that much money just look up camping domes.

Now with rooms and playing in the hot springs out of the way it is down to work. FOr fishing you have two close options. One is to put in right at Sligars. YOu can go across the river and fish the spring water at 1000 springs. Or you could go from there and float down river. There are springs all along there and the trout are going to be starting to hit well.
If you float down river the take out is 3 miles down river. So you would have plenty of space and time to find fish. The next place is Bell Rapids boat dock. From Sligars you drive north bound on highway 30 and go 3.9 miles. You will turn left at the sign and from there just follow the signs to the boat dock.
This is where I was on Friday and the trout are jumping in this area big time. put in and head up stream. It is 1.4 miles to the first inlet called the buckeye hole. It can be seen easy on google earth. It is another mile to the dam and the trout were really jumping at the base of the dam. The deepest channel is the west bank. But I saw the most fish in the dead center of the river. If you need more help feel free to ask. Ron
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[SmartWeed]

Ron, I don't think that 53 degree water is going to get down here to the Marsing area intact. By the time it goes through all the 40 degree water between Hagerman and Swan Falls it will probably have cooled down a bit. Water temperature this morning was 40-42 down here.

According to Idaho Power it takes 8 hours for the water released from Strike to reach Swan Falls.
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[idahoron]

I Wouldn't doubt that. You guys had a rough day on Saturday. I saw Strike had BIG white caps and Lake Lowell looked like it had some dandy's on it. I came up to see my Uncle on Saturday. Ron
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[JC_Meridian]

What are the bank fishing opportunities like? The hot springs sound like a nice bonus, but gotta get something on their lines too....
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[idahoron]

They planted the dock at Bell Rapids recently. The area at sligars used to be good if you fished it with dead minnows. I haven't trout fished there in a long time. Ron
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[dtayboyz]

Bell rapids is great right now from the bank, last Saturday they were catching fish off the docks at lower salmon power plant too. The campground at Miracle Hot springs rocks and there are smallmouth, channel cat and trout in the creek right there. If you promise to take a kid or two along I'd be willing to share a Sunday morning honey hole. PM for details. Tight lines . . . Dale

PS: Ron, 1 mile straight north of your boat, 47 ft deep. just saying
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[jefstod]

Thanks for your response Ron and your helpful insight about the hagerman area. Since we are in non-motorized cats and toons, will they work on the river? Not familiar with the place called Silgar but I do know where the ponds are at Oster. Would the ponds or riley creek be productive for our catch n release expedition? My sons are coming from Boise and its about half way for me out of E. idaho snow banks. Ha, Ha. Thanks again
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[idahoron]

[quote dtayboyz]Bell rapids is great right now from the bank, last Saturday they were catching fish off the docks at lower salmon power plant too. The campground at Miracle Hot springs rocks and there are smallmouth, channel cat and trout in the creek right there. If you promise to take a kid or two along I'd be willing to share a Sunday morning honey hole. PM for details. Tight lines . . . Dale

PS: Ron, 1 mile straight north of your boat, 47 ft deep. just saying [/quote]

I will keep that in mind[]
Ron
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[idahoron]

[quote jefstod]Thanks for your response Ron and your helpful insight about the hagerman area. Since we are in non-motorized cats and toons, will they work on the river? Not familiar with the place called Silgar but I do know where the ponds are at Oster. Would the ponds or riley creek be productive for our catch n release expedition? My sons are coming from Boise and its about half way for me out of E. idaho snow banks. Ha, Ha. Thanks again[/quote]

Sligars 1000 springs resort is the swimming pool on the side of the road. You can launch a toon there and row across to the springs on the east side of the river. After fishing that then you can float and fish to the take out 3 miles down river. You will need to leave a vehicle there or one guy could hitch hike to get a truck.

I am not sue if Oster lakes is open right now or not.

The Bell rapdis are I told you about is very toon friendly. Even without a motor. I have taken an old round belly boat aka browning float tube down there. You will be fine this is where i saw all the fish jumping. This stretch of the river is very non motorized friendly. If it gets windy head in. Ron
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[JC_Meridian]

I can't remember the last time I went fishing without at least my three kids and maybe some extras, but I definitely appreciate your working to get more kids out there. Let me figure out how to IM on here and I'll shoot you a note.
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