Weekly Fishing Report

This report highlights a few of the best places to fish, what anglers are using and what they are catching. The information is compiled from regional Fish and Game fishery managers, local tackle shops and anglers.

The water is still fairly chilly but flows on the Boise are finally stable. Lots of folks are fishing on stocked rainbow and the occasional natural trout.

South Fork of the Boise River Anderson Ranch Dam downstream to Neal Bridge: Flows on the South Fork of the Boise below Andersen Ranch dam should make for good wade fishing. Float anglers should be cautious until flows increase.

Yellow Perch - Fishing for yellow perch is fair. Use small pieces of cut bait and fish from the dam near the turbine inlets. The perch have been running about 11 inches.

Smallmouth bass – Fishing is good along rocky shoreline areas or gradual sloping banks with small gravel. Use plastic baits (tubes, grubs, etc.) or crankbaits in dark colors. Topwater plugs are causing some excitement.

Rainbows – Without a doubt, some of the best trout fishing for a long time. The hotspots seem to be below the dam near the turbine outlets and from the dam on the lake side near the turbine inlets - just upstream from the cable barrier. Most folks can catch a limit in less than an hour. Most fish measured recently were between 13 and17 inches. Worms fished on the bottom seem to be the ticket. A few anglers using only spinners have caught their limit easily.

Bluegill – No recent reports.

Crappie – Running on the small side (9 to10 inches) but are providing fast action all over the reservoir. Jig color and fishing depth seem to make little difference.

Catfish - The Bruneau Arm is good on the eastern end. Fish the flats in 4-5 feet of water using cut bait or something stinky.

Please remember: a two-pole validation is $43.25 cheaper than a citation.

Channel catfish – Biggies have been biting recently. Cut bait and worms are both catching fish. Expect a lot of weeds in the river; Indian Cove is essentially not fishable because of weeds. Fish downstream from Loveridge Bridge.

Smallmouth bass – Some nice bass are being caught below CJ. Use the same lures and techniques as mentioned above.

Sturgeon – Running a close second to the rainbow fishing.

Bruneau Sand Dunes: Bluegill fishing is good.

Brownlee Reservoir: Smallmouth bass finally picked up after a spotty spring.

Lake Lowell: Lake Lowell has been fishing well for largemouth, fish near the edges of cover.

Lucky Peak Reservoir: Lucky Peak across from spring shores has been good for kokanee.

Local ponds have been stocked and should fish well for trout this spring. Bluegill should be in the shallows and easily accessible for anglers with jigs and a worm or worm and bobber. Try fishing small curly tail jigs (1/4 to 1/32 oz) or small pieces of bait on size 10-12 hooks suspended under a bobber. Ponds will be stocked monthly through June with rainbow trout.

Indian Creek in downtown Caldwell was added to the rainbow trout stocking rotation in April. Fish are stocked in the newly daylighted section.

Veterans Park Pond - Good early mornings for trout on marshmallows and worms.

Eagle Island State Park Pond - Good for trout.

Riverside Pond - Fair for trout on powerbait.

Horseshoe Bend Pond - fair for trout, slow for bass.