Not much change in these since our May 12th report. Daniels Reservoir remains the star of the show. Try indicator fishing with midge pupa in shallow waters such as the upper end for best results. Don’t overlook using an intermediate line in shallow water for trying anything looking like a damselfy nymph.
Chesterfield Reservoir continues to be great for indicator fishing in shallow waters around willowy shorelines. Don’t overlook offering anything that looks like a damselfly nymph. Everything just said also applies to the upper end of Daniels Reservoir. Small fish with a rare lunker are quite active in Hawkins Reservoir. Nothing yet on Treasureton Reservoir ; so it must be very slow or very good.
Here’s news lots’a folks have been waiting for. Chesterfield Reservoir is rounding into shape. Best fishing seems to be in shallows around shorelines holding willows and by the dam. Use midge pupa patterns under an indicator for best results. Find the taking depth. A black bead zebra midge (#12-#14) might be a good choice. Indicator fishing with midge pupa patterns has been good in shallow waters at Daniels Reservoir, too. No information on Treasureton Reservoir yet.
Fishing is picking up on most of these. Midge pupa suspended at taking depth gives best results just about everywhere. Just find the taking depth. This includes Chesterfield, Daniels, Hawkins, and Springfield reservoirs. Do not overlook that dragonfly nymphs move in good numbers this time of year. That’s one of the best reasons why woolly bugger types seem to work so well when fish slowly in shallow water now.
Daniels Reservoir now offers some good fishing if you go deep. Water remains cold, so not much happening other than midge activity. Fish your pupa patterns deep under an indicator. Try leech and bead head nymph patterns, also presented deep. Two and three weight sinking lines should get down to where you find action. Chesterfield Reservoir is turning over, so action is slow. Give it a week or so for improvement. Twenty-Four Mile Reservoir remains iced over, but any day now should open up. Hawkins was stocked recently, so small fish will be hitting. Don’t let that stop you from going there. We have a report of 27.5-inch holdover being taken there on midge pupa pattern under an indicator! Springfield Reservoir has been fair fishing. Midge pupa under an indicator and small leech patterns trolled very slowly bring some action. Carp are moving into shallows around American Falls Reservoir.
Springfield Reservoir still offers the best fishing. See our recent fishing reports on it for strategy suggestions. Hawkins Reservoir is also producing some fish. Try along shore lines with your favorite dragonfly and damselfly nymph imitations. Troll the dragonfly nymph patterns VERY slowly. Present the dragonfly nymph patterns with a slow jerky retrieve. Ice is off Chesterfield, Daniels, Deep Creek, and Treasureton reservoirs, but not much information is out on how they are fishing. Twenty-Four Mile Reservoir still has ice.
Springfield Reservoir offers the best still water fishing right now. Follow the strategy we suggest in previous reports on Springfield. The only other ice-free water we know of at this time are American Falls and Hawkins reservoirs. We have no reports on fly-fishing activity at Hawkins to date.
Fly-fishing from the banks at Springfield Reservoir is effective lately. Locations are limited, and water has not warmed much. But try the unoccupied docks near the culvert under Highway 39 and at the east end park. There is some room to move around on the south shoreline behind Homer’s resort, but be careful of the deep mud in places. You do not want that cold water inside your waders! Try small wooly bugger types or small prince nymphs on an intermediate line and a slow troll. Midge activity should soon be on the increase as water warms, so have your floating line, indicators and midge pupa patterns available.
We fished Springfield Reservoir last Friday. Beautiful almost wind-free day, but to our surprise water temp was about 44 Deg. F. No wonder our feet below the pontoon boats began to ache after an hour or so. Very few rises and very scarce midge population on the surface. Best method to catch action was a SLOW troll of a small (#10) bead head peacock leech. All fish were ‘bows in the 17-21 inch range with one small brown. Stories have it of some large browns now present here.
Springfield Reservoir remains the star in the show here. Almost all other waters remain iced over. Fishing success at Springfield has been best for those presenting midge pupa patterns under an indicator. Experiment to find the taking depth. Small prince nymphs, small fly rod jigs, and leech patterns on intermediate lines also produce. With warming weather look for action to be more consistent.