Upper Snake Region Fishing Information
Weekly Fishing Report
Updated: July 3, 2008
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.Other general regional information is available below.
Rigby Lake -
Fish and Game just stocked Rigby Lake, which is new to the region's stocking rotation. It is located between Idaho Falls and Rexburg, just west of highway 20. 5300 trout were stocked there on Wednesday (7-2-08) most were 9-10" catchable rainbows, but 500 were 14-18" "banana" trout (a rainbow trout that lacks the melanin pigment, giving the appearance of an albino). This provides another quality fishery in the region, and helps expand local urban fishing opportunities.
Henry's Fork Snake River -
The River is fishing well, especially early in the morning and late in the evening. The stretch below Ashton seems to be the best bet. Try using a grey drake, the hatch is one of the best seen years.
South Fork Snake River -
South Fork Snake River is starting to pick up, and we are getting spotty reports of salmon flies starting to come off on the lower portions of the river below Heise.
Henry's Lake -
Henrys Lake is fishing as well as it has in many years. Fly anglers are doing well on the west shoreline area in 8-12 feet of water. Anglers are reporting excellent catch rates, especially mid morning and late evening. California leeches, renegades and damsel patterns are all working, as well as other Henry's favorites. Although brook trout angling has slowed somewhat, more hybrids are being caught with the majority of the catch being cutthroat. Trollers are still doing well and bait angling is fair. Look for fish to move to tributary mouths as the water is heating up and has hit the 70 degree surface temperature mark.
Island Park Reservoir -
The west end of the lake is still the best bet for anglers. Good catch rates have been reported for 12-20" rainbows. Limits are quite common for both trollers and bait anglers. Few fly anglers are trying their luck, but that should be good also.
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General Regional Information - Spring 2008
Spring time weather has finally hit the Upper Snake Region, and after a long, long, winter anglers can finally get outside and enjoy some nice weather and great fishing. General stream season and Henrys Lake don't open until May 24th. As of April 1, those streams with a "winter stream season" (Fall, Big Lost, Teton, Warm rivers) are closed until Memorial weekend.
There is still a lot of great fishing opportunity available in April and May. Ice-out tends to be the best time of the year to fish ponds, lakes, and reservoirs, and there's plenty of stream fishing opportunity as well. The South Fork, several sections of the Henrys Fork, and the main Snake River are open year-round and offer excellent fishing before the runoff.
The above average snowpack means that rivers and streams are going to be running high well into June, so plan those Memorial weekend outings accordingly.
South Fork of the Snake:
Even though snowpack is above average, the reservoirs had plenty of empty space going into the winter, so water managers have not had to go into flood control mode this spring. That's good news for anglers, as it means the South Fork, has been low and very fishable this spring. The trout population is more good news. Cutthroat and brown trout densities in the Conant reach are at their highest recorded number since 1999. Unfortunately, the rainbow population is also up and has increased for two successive years. The past four years demonstrate the management efforts on the South Fork can restore healthy cutthroat populations, but they also show the rainbow population is very resilient. Anglers who understand what's at stake need to continue to do their part and, more importantly, encourage other anglers to join in the effort and help harvest rainbow trout.
Please remember:
- The limit on rainbow trout has been removed, and we encourage anglers to harvest all rainbow trout they catch. No cutthroat may be harvested!
- The South Fork tributaries (Burns, Pine, Rainey, and Palisades creeks) are now all closed to cutthroat trout harvest and do not open until July 1.
Henrys Fork:
Overall, trout populations are doing very well in the Henrys Fork. Good snowpacks, cooperative flow management, and successful reproduction have resulted in fish populations being at their highest number since 2002.
The Box Canyon reach of the Henrys Fork and the reach from Ashton Dam to Vernon Bridge opens the Saturday of Memorial weekend and should be very good early in the season. The Harriman section of the Henrys Fork of the Snake opens June 15. This fly-fishing only section provides an opportunity to test your fly-fishing skills.
The lower Henrys Fork should fish very well in April and early May. When we start to get high mountain snow melt, it will run high and a bit dirty through late May. A good runoff generally brings impressive hatches, and it should be an excellent season for dry fly fishing. Please recognize that access on the lower river is dependent on willing landowners, so be courteous and respectful of private property.
Henrys Lake:
The lake opens the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Gillnetting samples in 2007 showed a record number of age-2 (12-14 inches) fish, which will mean anglers should see a lot of age-3 fish (16-20 inches) this season. The above average snowpack means Henrys Lake will be full this season, which not only improves the fishing, but keeps boat launches fully operational. The cool spring and extended period of ice cover also bode well for anglers. The ice comes off some time between April 23rd and May 15th most years. Generally, the later it happens, the better the early season fishing. Though we can't be sure what the weather will bring in the next few weeks, it seems likely that the ice will be hanging on in 2008 until well into May.
Bait, flies, and lures all can be vary productive. Large Yellowstone cutthroat, brook trout, and cutthroat/rainbow hybrids can all be taken in the lake. A two fish daily limit and two fish possession limit apply to Henrys Lake. Try leech and wooly bugger patterns or a worm and marshmallow.
Palisades Reservoir:
Palisades Reservoir can be incredible fishing in the weeks immediately following ice-out. Palisades provides a chance at a variety of fish including cutthroat trout, lake trout, and brown trout. Anglers can do well trolling or fishing from the shore. Slow trolling spoons and spinners can be effective. Focus on areas surrounding creek mouths for spring success on cutthroat trout.
Take the Kids Fishing:
We have several water bodies that are great for kids early in the spring. For fast action close to Idaho Falls, try Roberts Gravel Pond. The lake is heavily stocked with rainbow trout and fishing has been good. Trail Creek Pond, near Victor, is also stocked regularly, and is usually a sure bet. Rexburg City Ponds, adjacent to the fairgrounds, are also regularly stocked and a great place for a family outing. Ashton Reservoir is a great place to fish for rainbow trout, either from a boat or off the bank.