Still Water

Still Waters 4/23/2011

Ice is off Chesterfield Reservoir and fishing is slow.  No word yet on ice  off/on Twenty-Four Mile.  Fishing at Daniels  Reservoir is fair with water still quite cold.  Springfield Reservoir has turned over: best fishing is in shallows. Use  midge pupa under strike indicator, or troll BLMs VERY slowly.   Hawkins may be best fishing of these reservoirs.  Big fish being caught in front of dam  for those fishing damselfly nymph and small leech patterns.

As soon as we warm up, look for fishing to pick up on all these. When improvements come and best patterns to use come to light, we will announce such here.

Still Water

Springfield Reservoir has been ice free all winter. Right now, if wind doesn’t blow it away, fishing is a bit slow.  Best times are early AMs and evenings. Look for fish midging in shallower water. In deeper water try small leech patterns on intermediate lines.  Hawkins Reservoir is ice free. Try small leech patterns in deeper water.   Ice will begin leaving higher elevation reservoirs, including Daniels, Chesterfield and Twenty-Four Mile soon.  Fishing shorelines free of ice can be productive with leech patterns.  Problem will be access, especially for Twenty-Four Mile.

Springfield Reservoir 12-11-10

Our still waters are pretty much iced over now.  Springfield Reservoir is the exception.  Springs at the west end keep this part of it ice free though winter.  The east end ices over.  On nice weekend days the open water becomes quite crowded with anglers trying to remedy cabin fever.  During nice week days the open water is not so crowded.  Pontoon or hard sided boating are the most comfortable ways of fishing here as waters are typically in the high & mid forties in degrees F.   True, most ‘bows present are 16-20″ individuals from recent IDF&G plants, but some very large hold-overs are present.  These are worthy opponents, and the easy access at Springfield makes a great alternative for a trophy during winter time.  These big guys forage on the abundant chub minnows in the reservoir.  Presenting midge pupa and small leech patterns also offer a chance to encounter these fish.

Still Water 11-05-10

Some great fishing is to be had on Chesterfield, Daniels and Hawkins reservoirs.  Big fish have moved into shallows in each, so intermediate lines and leech patterns in fall colors are the way to fish.  Best fishing on Daniels seems late and early in the day. Fish in front of the dam at Hawkins. Any time seems to work on Chesterfield.  Springfield had been planted three times by mid October, but hold-overs are running to the mid-twenty inch range. All you have to do to encounter one is get past the planters.  Sand Creek ponds remain fishable, but action seems a bit slow with fall color leech patterns. Midge pupa patterns under a strike indicator will work on all these when you find the taking depth.

Still Waters 10-27-10

Good fishing is going on at Chesterfield, Daniels, Springfield reservoirs and Sand Creek Ponds.  Try small leech patterns in fall colors and damselfly nymph patterns. Midge pupa patterns under an indicator is the productive alternative.

Still Waters 10-24-10

Chesterfield Reservoir is the star of the show here. You can catch fish in both deep & shallow water with success.   Midging (pupa under an indicator  at taking depth) and small leech or damselfly nymph patterns all seem to work.  More good news is that Springfield Reservoir was stocked about three weeks ago,  those fish have equilibrated, and they are hitting small (black) leech patterns and bead head peacock leeches presented on intermediate lines.   A midge pupa under an indicator is sure to work. The fish run 16-19 inches, but holdovers are running over twenty inches.  Double digit catch days are common.  Sand Creek Pond #4 is still producing for those using damselfly nymph patterns.  Daniels Reservoir is good fishing, even though water is low enough such that upper end trees are out of water.   Damselfly nymph patterns and leeches in fall colors work. Twenty-Four Mile Reservoir remains very low enough such that approaching the water can be tough going through mud.

Still Water 10-15-10

Water is low just about everywhere.  Chesterfield Reservoir is producing big fish for those fishing deep.  Top end of Daniels Reservoir is out of the water, but presenting midge pupa under an indicator is effective.  Twenty-Four Mile Reservoir is very low making launching  boats a bit of a challenge.   Springfield Reservoir remains on the slow side, but look for improvements as we get cooler temps.

Still Water 10-9-10

Best action at southeastern Idaho reservoirs is at Daniels Reservoir, but larger fish are being caught at Chesterfield Reservoir.   Both have low water levels, but cooler weather keeps water temps at good levels for fish activity.  Try midge pupa under indicators and look for depth where fish are taking. Small leech and damselfly nymph patterns presented on full sink lines will work deep.  Springfield Reservoir is slow fishing, but sure to pick up as newly released fish adjust and water cools.  Water levels in Twenty-Four Mile reservoir are very low. Water needs to be impounded for fishing to improve.  Fishing at Sand Creek Ponds is picking up thanks to cooler weather.  Try midge pupa patterns under an indicator or small leech patterns.

Still Waters 9-28-10

A good cold snap is what we need to bring good fishing around to most of these.  Some success is had a Chesterfield Reservoir  for those fishing leech patterns deep, and some folks are finding success at the upper end of Daniels Reservoir when using damselfly nymph patterns and midge pupa under indicators.

Still Waters 9-21-10

Chesterfield Reservoir has some good deep water fishing.  Tail your leech pattern with a zebra midge, and use a full sink line. In the upper end of  Daniels Reservoir damselfly nymphs bring action with responses to midge pupa under an indicator beginning to work.   Not much seems to be going on at Springfield Reservoir where weeds make for tougher wet fly fishing.  Action on Sand Creek Ponds continues to be good with midge pupa patterns under an indicator working  best.   Afternoons to evenings are best times to be there.   Action on all of these will pick up after we get several days of cooler weather.