Not much change here. Irrigation requirements have drawn many down to the amount that makes fishing not only tough, but dangerous to their survival. Mackay Reservoir has been fishing well around the upper end where creeks enter. Sand Creek Ponds, Aldous Lake, Paul Reservoir, and Springfield Reservoir fish well early and late in the day. Look for gulpers early in the day on these. Sometimes they return in the evening.
Mackay Reservoir has been one of the better producers lately. Try fishing the upper end in front of river channels. Gulpers may be active in the morning, so speckled dun life cycle patterns can work. Otherwise small leech, midge pupa patterns under an indicator, and small bead head nymphs patterns work.
If you are a still water enthusiast and not happy that many of our reservoirs are at unpleasant temperatures for trout, maybe it’s time to think about visiting our high mountain lakes. There are only a few, such as upper Palisades Lake in this part of the state. But to the west, Copper Basin is loaded with lakes. Even closer, there are some lakes at the head of Antelope Creek just above Moore, Idaho. A few lakes are in the Lost River and lower Lemhi mountain ranges. Come in and get information because we have visited some of these.
As Bruce stated in our last fishing report, irrigation demands have left a lot of lakes down south with very little water. Surface temps on all these lakes are over 70 degrees and have been for a long time. I personally would not recommend fishing any of the lakes down south right now, unless you plan on keeping what you catch. With the water being so warm for so long, even a fish you revive is probably not going to make it. The Sand Creek Ponds surface temps are hovering right around 70 degrees and the fishing seems to have slowed down there as well. This will surely change once things start to cool down in the area, but for now it may be best to hit the river or head north for your stillwater fix. We are just starting to hear of some gulper activity up on Hebgen, so heading up there may be a good bet. Another good bet this time of year is chasing some bass. The heat doesn’t bother bass like it does trout. If you have never fly fished for bass before you should try it out, it can be addicting! We have a lot of good bass water in the area. There are a few guys in the shop who get after bass and would be glad to show you some things to get you going.
There is a possibility that both Chesterfield and Treasureton reservoirs could be drawn down to levels that will support very few fish. So even though these are at low levels now and have warmed up, consider an early morning or evening visit to either that may not have a good number of carry overs for next year.
Fish deep and early or late in the day on all irrigation reservoirs. Some of better still water fishing is on the west end of Island Park Reservoir around Grizzly Springs and Trude Bay. Try bloodworm patterns under an indicator. You will have to find the taking depth.
Draw down is warming water in our irrigation reservoirs. With temperatures near the surface as high as the low seventies in degrees F. one must fish deep for any action. Be ready to put those small midge pupa patterns deep below your indicator.
Draw down is impacting fishing on all irrigation reservoirs to the south. We have reports of good fishing on the west end of Island Park Reservoir where blood worm patterns under and indicator are working in many locations. Find the taking depth, and it looks like you will get your chances.
Irrigation demands in this hot dry summer are beginning to take a toll on our reservoirs. On all of these fish deep and concentrate your efforts early and late in the day. Sand Creek Ponds open for fishing from a boat Monday (thanks, Barry!). You can bet a lot of folks will be there crack of dawn hoping for some of the big resident rainbows and rarer brookies. Crowds there will thin later. Want to beat still water crowds, but will settle for moderately sized fish? Try Paul Reservoir and it cutthroat population ranging to the mid teens in inches. Get there by going northwest off the Interstate -15 Humphrey Exit just this side of Monida Pass.
Irrigation demands in this hot, dry summer are beginning to impact reservoir fishing all around the area. Water levels are dropping and remaining water is warming up, some places into the 70s in degrees F. This applies to Chesterfield, Daniels, Hawkins, Mackay, Springfield, Treasureton, Twenty-Four Mile, Twin Lakes, and others. Here’s a blanket statement: get out to these soon and concentrate on fishing deeper waters early and late in the day. Damselfly nymph and small leech patterns and fly rod jigs should work well. This Monday, July 16th, Sand Creek Ponds open to fishing from a boat. Water levels there appear to be good. The same is the case with Paul Reservoir in the Beaver Creek drainage.