South Fork, May 16th, 2023
Flow our of Palisades Reservoir has leveled off at around 7800 cfs ( about 11,000 cfs at Heise). Cold, discolored water runs in the river and slows fishing.
Fishing Reports
Henry’s Lake, May 16th, 2023
Ice is off the lake, but very cold water has slowed fishing success during this catch and release season. Lots of folks fishing from boats or wading where the lake is accessible near the hatchery, county boat dock, cliffs, state park and other points. Best to try shallow water which is first to warm and encourage aquatic food forms to become active.
Henry’s Fork, May 16th, 2023
Forget about fishing the Warm River to Ashton section for a while. Robinson Creek and even Warm River (right now a run-off stream thanks to Island Park snow pack) are putting in cold, discolored water. Nevertheless, big stonefly nymphs are moving, and as we close in on the end of the month will be out and hatching along the lower river. Mother’s Day caddis remain along the lower river and best to encounter fish feeding on them is below Ashton Dam. Avoid using the Ora Bridge boat launch to minimize road damage until water level in the gravel pit drops.
Headlines from Dr. Rob Van Kirk’s Water Supply Report filed yesterday for the Henry’s Fork Drainage.
- Temperatures and snowmelt were well above average yesterday; 71% of this year’s peak snowpack remains, compared with 66% on average.
- Natural streamflow is 140% of average.
- At an average outflow of 1195 cfs, Island Park Reservoir gained 2000 ac-ft yesterday and is 94% full, compared with 96% full on average.
- Although 95% full physically, the three reservoirs in the Henry’s Fork watershed are 57% full on paper, as the American Falls 1921 right is still being filled.
Henry’s Fork, May 13th, 2023
Flow is up with colder water throughout the river ( especially below Fall River and Warm River-Robinson Creek confluences) making for slower top water fishing even though BWO and Midge activity is good. Mother’s Day caddis are active in places. Streamer fishing can be productive when concentrated during low light periods and at out-of-direct-sunlight areas. Pattern choice is less important than understanding these conditions.
Stonefly nymphs are beginning to migrate and therefore becoming more available as a food form for trout. That’s another reason for slower top water fishing. Fish use less energy to feed along the river bed than rising to the surface. So as we move later in May, stonefly nymph patterns become more important in your fly box until adults appear.
Small Streams, May 13th, 2023
Run-off from our much higher than normal snowfall last winter is beginning. Here is an example in almost the extreme. Snow pack in the Willow Creek-Blackfoot and Portneuf Rivers drainages was about 300% of normal. Today run-off measured by the USGS’s Willow Creek gage stationed just above Ririe Reservoir measured a flow of 1880 cfs and climbing. That is compared to a normal flow this time of around 250 cfs! All of our small streams will see unusually high run-off flows. These may delay good fishing on each, but will replenish depleted ground water levels which will keep good flows going, benefit resident trout and extend good fishing through the season.
South Fork, May 13th, 2023
Flow out of Palisades Dam was upped to about 8900 cfs ( now 11240 cfs at Heise, 6250 cfs at Lorenzo) yesterday. Tributaries such as Palisades, Fall, Rainey, Pine and Burns below the dam are closed to fishing during June but now are putting cold, discolored water into the river helping to reduced fishing success to presenting nymph or streamer patterns. The lower flow at Lorenzo is because canals are opened to provide irrigation water.
Still Waters, May 13th, 2023
No word yet on 24-mile Reservoir fishing. Road going in likely needs to improve. Chesterfield Reservoir is ice-fee with slow fishing. Look for improvement around end of the month after it turns over. Roads are open to Treasureton Reservoir which is high and discolored. Daniels and Hawkins Reservoirs have improving fishing with midge pupa providing action until fish become gorged on such. Give streamers and woolly bugger types a try.
Still Waters, May 9th, 2023
The latest stocking information for IDF&G’s Upper Snake and Southeast Regions follows. We post this here because it applies mostly to still waters. Many of these are great locations for family fishing. Some of these still waters host hold-over trout from previous stocking which can grow to trophy sizes. Some not yet stocked cannot be reached until roads open.
Ashton Reservoir – 38,751 rainbow trout
A scenic 400-acre reservoir on the Henry’s Fork, this waterbody is known for rainbow trout and is also home to the state-record brown trout.
Birch Creek – 4,750 rainbow trout
A productive spring creek in a high-desert basin, this small stream is ideal for kids and less experienced anglers. Rainbow trout are stocked heavily around access areas, and wild brook trout are fairly common.
Blue Creek Reservoir – 2,000 rainbow trout
This reservoir is located approximately 15 miles north of St. Anthony and is part of the Sand Creek Wildlife Management Area. Fish will be stocked when access/road conditions allow. There are additional ponds in close proximity that will also be stocked and provide additional fishing opportunities. These include:
- Sand Creek MWA Pond #1 – 3,500 rainbow trout
- Sand Creek WMA Pond #4 – 2,700 rainbow trout
Henrys Fork – 10,000 rainbow trout
World-famous for trout fishing! The river is suitable for wade fishing, bank fishing and fishing from a boat.
Mackay Reservoir – 4,200 rainbow trout
In the high desert of the Big Lost River Valley, fishing is popular from a boat and from shore on this 1,100-plus-acre reservoir.
Ririe Reservoir – 18,000 rainbow trout and 3,600 tiger trout
This waterbody provides an exceptional and diverse fishery. Springtime is ideal to troll for kokanee and rainbow trout.
Teton River – 1,000 rainbow trout
This river drains the west slope of the Teton Range and provides excellent fly fishing opportunities for all skill levels. Fish will be stocked in the Rexburg area. Check out this video showing the magic of fly fishing!
Trail Creek Pond – 450 rainbow trout
Also known as Victor Kids Pond, this small, scenic pond is located in the lush Teton Basin. One of the most consistent kids fisheries in the area, it is easily fished from the bank, with trails and picnic tables around the perimeter.
Bannock Reservoir – 1,000 rainbow trout
Located within the Portneuf Wellness Complex near the County Fairgrounds in Pocatello, this community park offers good trout fishing. Multiple docks provide fishing access around the 5-acre pond.
Bear River below Oneida Dam – 3,000 rainbow trout
These fish will be stocked in the very scenic Oneida Narrows reach of the river below the dam. This popular section of the river offers the longest continuous public access along the entire Bear River.
Dike Lake – 1,500 rainbow trout
Located adjacent to the Blackfoot Reservoir Campground, this waterbody gets stocked once a year. This yields high catch rates for a limited time, so catch ‘em before they’re gone!
Dingle Gravel Pond – 1,000 rainbow trout
This pond is located adjacent to the Bear River east of Dingle in Bear Lake County.
Kelly Park Pond – 500 rainbow trout
Located in Soda Springs, accessing this pond requires a short walk, but it offers a great kids fishing opportunity. Lace up the boots, grab the fishing poles and take the kids on a nature walk!
McTucker Pond – 1,500 rainbow trout
Located near Springfield, there are many places for kids to fish from docks or the bank.
Montpelier Rearing Pond – 500 rainbow trout
This little fishing spot is tucked into a scenic high desert canyon in the hills east of Montpelier. It’s a great spot to take kids fishing.
Henry’s Fork, May 9th, 2023
Headlines from Dr. Rob Van Kirk’s SWE Report Filed Yesterday for the Henry’s Fork Drainage
- Temperatures and snow melt were lower yesterday than earlier in the week but still above average.
- Natural stream flow increased yesterday to average but is likely to level off today, depending on location and amount of rainfall.
- At an average outflow of 695 cfs, Island Park Reservoir gained 421 ac-ft yesterday and is 86% full, compared with 93% full on average.
Water quality
Turbidity continues to increase across the watershed in response to snow melt and increasing stream flow. Turbidity is particularly high right now in Fall River and other tributaries such as Robinson Creek. Water temperatures dropped back to average yesterday at all locations except Island Park Dam, where ice cover has kept temperature at 39 degrees F. Our water quality data show no signs of open water on the reservoir yet. Ice melted last year on May 6, the latest date of ice-off we have observed since installing our water quality instruments in 2014. This year’s ice-off date is likely to be 4-6 days later than that
.
Rob Van Kirk, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
P.O. Box 550
Ashton, ID 83420
208-881-3407 CELL
Big Lost River, May 6th, 2023
Flow out of Mackay Dam has dropped from around 450 cfs to 200 cfs making for easier wading in the river below. Midge and BWO activity provides action. Use life cycle patterns for these.
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