Ice is off all irrigation reservoirs south and east of Pocatello. All we need now is a bunch of experiences to assemble a report. Blackfoot River Reservoir is not free of ice as of today. It is best to try Springfield Reservoir during week days to minimize crowding. Fishing success there has been “on and off.” Midge pupa patterns under an indicator at taking depth or slowly trolled patterns such as Randy Randolph’s BLM can bring interest from hold-over rainbows.
Run-off is coming into most small streams as weather warms up.Those in the valley including lower Blackfoot, Fall, Teton, and Warm Rivers can be fished during the catch and release regulation, but many higher country streams cannot be approached until roads open.
Flow out of Island Park Dam was more than doubled yesterday, and flow in the river downstream is on the upswing because of local run-off. Look for flows to continue their increase with warm weather coming on. Midges and BWOs are still attracting trout on the lower river, but March browns are emerging and also attracting trout. Large stonefly nymphs and rubberleg patterns presented deep will bring strikes almost anywhere along the lower river. Streamers presented under low light conditions will always arouse interest from lower river trout this time of year.
Looks like the flow graph for the gage below Palisades Dam will read like a step function for weeks to come. That means irrigation demands for the upcoming agricultural season will dictate increased flows out of the reservoir. Right now flow out of dam is at 2200 cfs and remains quite cold. Try zebra nymphs and rubberleg patterns as increasing flows will scour the bottom relative to the low winter flows. Also rainbows are moving to redds, so the cutts are hoping you will target those love-making ‘bows!
Ice is off Daniels Reservoir, but it is a bit soon for an accumulation of fishing experience. Presenting midge pupa patterns under an indicator might be a good strategy for now. Some of the Chesterfield Reservoir shoreline is free of ice, so it will be ice-free in a matter of days. No word on Twenty-Four Mile Reservoir yet, but being a bit higher in elevation than Chesterfield Res., ice-out progress is usually the same or a bit slower there. Fishing success on Springfield Reservoir varies day to day. Midge pupa under an indicator and small leech patterns work time to time. Week-ends can be a bit crowded there, so Mondays through Thursdays offer a better choice of water to fish.
Most of our lakes and ponds remain iced over or just beginning to lose ice. When we learn of any becoming ice free and fishing well, we will post such information here.
Big news here is that BWOs are emerging up and down the river from Last Chance to Chester. Weather forecast is for lots of unsettled weather this week, so afternoons on the river could see a lot of action for those presenting BWO life cycle patterns. But don’t rule out presenting streamer and stonefly nymph patterns especially during low light conditions.
River flow in the Shelley area is about 900 cfs below normal. That is good news for wading, but water remains cold at the high thirties in degrees Fahrenheit. Triploid rainbows are fairly active and respond to nymphing and small streamers.
Flow just below Palisades Dam is a little under 900 cfs. At Heise it is 1400 cfs and remains in the mid 30’s in degrees Fahrenheit. No wonder there is not much dry fly activity! Zebra midges, rubber legs, and San Juan worms fished around riffles are bringing responses. Expect many of those responses to be from whitefish.
Flows throughout the river are lower than average, and most of the river banks are free of ice and snow. Boat ramps are open, but walk-in wade fishing is just as convenient. Triploid rainbows in moderate sizes are responding well. There are many places available for walk-in wade fishing. Get in touch with us, or stop by so we can help choose a location for such. Currently, the best chance for action is through presenting streamer patterns under low light conditions.