Still Water

Still Waters 5-29-18

Here is some road information for getting into two popular family fishing still waters. As of today, snow blocks the Horseshoe Lake Road just as the lake is approached.  The Fish Creek Road currently remains snow covered preventing access to Fish Creek Pond ( Teardrop Lake).  Further information on these and other back country roads in Caribou-Targhee National Forest can be obtained through such as the Ashton District (208-652-7442) and Palisades District (208-523-1412) offices.

Still Waters 5-5-18

With most of our approachable streams running high with runoff, folks are looking at still waters for an outing.  Most reports we have indicate slow fishing on most still waters. At  Springfield Reservoir presenting a midge pupa pattern under an indicator at depth is the best bet.  Chesterfield Reservoir action is as slow as molasses in January, and Twenty-Four Mile Reservoir seems to feature only small fish. We have no reports of action on Hawkins and Treasureton Reservoirs.  Roads to Horseshoe and Teardrop Lakes remain snow covered.

You will have to go the long way around (through Malad City) to fish Daniels Reservoir.  The short cut of Dairy Creek Road above Hawkins Reservoir is currently impassable but will soon be worked on.

If/when we hear of action picking up anywhere, we will post such here

Still Waters 10-14-17

Daniels and Hawkins Reservoirs currently offer some of the best still water fishing in the area. Midge pupa patterns presented at the taking depth and under an indicator and small leech patterns seem to be the best choices for action. With our current windy conditions fishing the edge of mud lines formed by wave action at Daniels will be productive when woolly bugger types are offered.  Next week IDF&G has scheduled Springfield Reservoir to be stocked with 1000  16″ rainbow trout.  Give these fish a number of days to get accustomed, and they will provide fast fishing but make it a bit tougher to encounter larger hold-over rainbows.

Still Waters 9-30-17

Looks like the fall season is finally bringing on good still water fishing. Daniels Reservoir is fishing as good as it has all year. The upper end and outside edge of shoreline mud plumes when wind is blowing seem best locations.  Seems like almost any technique from using  a midge pupa under a strike indicator (must find taking depth), fly rod jigs, damsel fly nymph, and leech patterns attract fish.  The same applies to Hawkins Reservoir where the fish may run a bit smaller but are just as eager especially for speckled dun life cycle patterns. Have not heard reports for Sand Creek Ponds  to date, but fishing success has surely improved there.

Still Waters 9-23-17

The cooler weather with great recent rainfall is just what is needed to improve still water fishing in our region. With cooling shallows and shorter days we should soon receive reports of improved fishing. As soon as these accumulate and appear credible, we will begin placing information on this report. For now Daniels Reservoir appears to offer some of the best fishing with midge pupa suspended at taking depth and leech patterns interesting trout.

Still Waters 9-16-17

We have not received much information on which of the popular area still waters are producing consistently. But the current change in weather should reduce water temperatures in the shallow ponds and lakes where fishing action will improve.  On getting such information, we will be able to make meaningful recommendations.

Still Waters 8-28-17

Seems like “slow” best describes overall action on regional still waters this summer, and that makes the reason for so few reports from us. Few visits we have heard of to Chesterfield, Hawkins, Treasureton and Twenty-Four Mile have been very productive (try leech patterns at depth). Likewise, best action at Sand Creek Ponds seems to be during early AM hours (try soft hackle patterns just below the surface). That’s not surprising when reports of mid day water temperatures being as high as in the low 70s degrees F. are frequent here.  Springfield Reservoir has been slow except for those who know where springs enter or are submerged.  Cooler water here acts as a comfort haven, especially for larger fish so dependent on dissolved oxygen content. Daniels Reservoir produces depending on who offers a report. Seems like presenting midge pupa patterns under an indicator works after the taking depth is found.

Consider trying still waters at higher elevations where cooler air predominates.  Aldous Lake is a good candidate if you do not mind walking a mile and a quarter mostly uphill while carrying a flotation device with waders and fins.  Cutts in this small lake responding to speckled dun and damsel fly activity or taking small leech patterns could make it worth the effort. Lower Palisades Lake is a four mile walk  from the trail head with best fishing (try leech patterns) where the inlet enters at the northeast corner. Don’t want to walk that far, you say? Horseshoe Lake is at about 6000 feet elevation and can be reached off the Cave Falls Road by a gravel road good enough with care for passage by a sedan.  The reward is the only roadside grayling population in this part of Idaho. As soon as speckled duns begin emerging, these fish, along with resident rainbows, become active and respond not only to soft hackle patterns just below the surface, but to any dry pattern resembling one of these insects. True, a bragging fish here is about a foot long, but their beauty makes up for size. So use that light weight tackle to best enjoy them.

In any case, cooler weather will arrive as September advances, and the resulting effects on most still waters will bring back the action we have been waiting for.

Still Waters 8-12-17

The “Fish deep, Fish early, etc”  saying still applies just about everywhere.   The only exception might be for presenting dry speckled dun and damselfly patterns in the event rising fish are spotted.   On most of our reservoirs the top several inches of water are warmer than below and therefore of less comfort when fish move into this level. This suggests that only a dense emergence of these insects will bring fish to the top and that in other situations they are more likely to feed at lower depths on such as nymph, leech, and pupa forms simply because of higher dissolved oxygen concentrations.  Thus be sure to include  these “deeper water” patterns in that fly box even though you may spot fish rising.

Still Waters 8-8-17

“Fish early, fish late, fish slow, fish deep!” So recommends our own Tom Banyas. Try leech patterns when doing so.  be aware that the notice for blue-green algae on Henry’s Lake may eventually apply to some other still waters.  Likely the best and most consistent still water fishing in the area remains on Hebgen Lake bays where gulpers are still active during wind-free AM hours.

Still Waters 7-28-17

For sure most of our shallow reservoirs are warming to the point that released fish are tough to revive. For example, best success at Springfield Reservoir is now found around springs where fish move to cooler water.  There are a number of springs around the reservoir, and reviving then releasing fish near these or other cool water sources such as one of the culverts where water is moving really increases their chances for surviving after being played in warmer water.