All of those in southeastern Idaho, that is from Bingham County southeast are doing great. Here’s another bunch of candidates if you must get that boat out. On any of these: Chesterfield, Daniels, Hawkins, Springfield, Twenty-Four Mile, Twin Lakes; go for structure. That is bays, inlets, and coves. Also look for shoreline vegetation. Damselfly nymphs, leech patterns, scuds, and midge pupa all in your favorite patterns presented at taking depths all are proving effective.
A few damselflies are moving on nearly all these in the southeast. This includes Daniels, Chesterfield, Twenty-Four Mile, Hawkins and Springfield reservoirs. Allow a few days of warm weather and they will really begin moving on all of these. Meanwhile, stick to the transition waters, fish the coves, inlets, and weedy areas with scuds and small leech patterns. Your favorite midge pupa under a strike indicator with an almost painfully slow retrieve will produce on these. Experiment to find the taking depth. The upper end of Daniels is a great example of where to fish.
Most of these are fishing very well right now. Midge pupa under an indicator seems to work everywhere. Chesterfield produces around coves and willows as well as near the upper end (But below the reservation boundary). Daniels Res. (and Hawkins Res.) continues to produce best on the upper end and around shorelines before the wind kicks up. Twenty-Four Mile Reservoir is coming alive with midge pupa and small leeches producing. The big news is that damselfly nymphs are beginning to appear on all these with the peak and real action yet to come. Treasureton Res. is still in a recovery mode from the fish kill of a few years ago.
Not much change from the great fishing conditions we gave in our report a few days ago. Look for more blue gill activity in such as LaMont and Johnson reservoirs as we move into June. And don’t forget that damselflies emerge earlier in southeast Idaho still waters than those waters at higher elevation such as Henry’s Lake.
With Henry’s Lake slowing down it is a gift to have these places with great fishing ongoing. Chesterfield, Daniels, Hawkins and Twenty-Four Mile have been offering very good fishing for quite some time. On all these concentrate efforts around shallows, such as the upper end, around the trees, and along the east shoreline at Daniels. Try the coves and around willows and tules on Chesterfield, and the upper end bays and drop-offs at Hawkins. Use damselfly nymph patterns, small leech patterns and midge pupa under an indicator (experiment to find taking depth). Twin Lakes bluegills remain active. Use bluegill candy, foam spiders, midge pupa, and small clousers. Weston Reservoir has been producing nice trout and some perch over by the cliffs, but remember float tubes only here. Treasureton Res. is still recovering from the fish kill two winters ago. Springfield seems to be the slow one of the bunch, but early and late day midge pupa at taking depth will bring some action.
Twin Lakes bluegills are getting quite active, but if crowds of anglers and others show up, try Lamont or Johnson reservoirs. Bluegills in these are waking up, too. Trout fishing in other reservoirs is approaching best conditions. Chesterfield offers best fishing near the dam where efforts around coves, shallows and willows bring action for those presenting small, dark leech patterns and damselfly nymph imitations. Most of lower reservoir has clear water. Fish the shallows in Daniels and Hawkins with dark colored leeches and damselfly nymph patterns. Fish in springfield Res. seem to respond best to midge pupa patterns. Try red zebra midges, black pupa patterns, and experiment to find taking depth.
Big news here is that Twin Lakes bluegills are beginning to respond to flies presented around willows and in shallows. Other than that, Daniels, Hawkins and Springfield reservoirs continue to produce for those presenting leech patterns deep and midge pupa under strike indicators. Try the transition waters between shallows and drop-offs. Chesterfield remains a bit spotty with some good and slow reports coming in. Twenty-Four Mile is beginning to produce for those using small leech patterns. On all of these try placing a leech pattern 6-10 feet underneath a strike indicator and slowly drift with the wind. This seems to be a good technique for fish in deeper water.
We have received a couple of good reports from Twin Lakes. The blugills and crappie have moved into the willows. Twin Lakes should be good fishing through the entire month of June due to the good water year. Use a small beadhead fly like a blugill candy or beadhead damsel on a floating line. If we get a little cold spell and the fish move to deeper water in the mornings switch to sinking line until the water warms later in the day. For crappie try a Size 6 olive/chartruese clouse minnow. It can work good for bass too.
Most of these will be destinations for week-enders on the “unofficial opening of summer”. Daniels and Hawkins reservoirs remain the best fishing with Chesterfield Reservoir improving. Use patterns that we have recently recommended for all of these. Same for Springfield Reservoir. We have a few reports on Twenty-four Mile Reservoir now. Leech and damselfly nymph patterns are working there.
Good news here is that the ice appears to be leaving Henry’s Lake. That means it should be ready for fishing this upcoming weekend. In southeast Idaho, Daniels and Hawkins reservoirs remain the stars of the show. Water is clear in both with shallows and bays the best locations for action on leech and woolly bugger and midge pupa patterns. The few folks we have talked to about fishing Chesterfield Reservoir say fishing is good on leech patterns presented around coves and bays. Springfield is producing for those using midge patterns, especially red zebra and other midge emerger patterns. Ice is off both Devil Creek and Deep Creek reservoirs, and they are producing for those presenting small leech patterns. If you are looking for bass, try American Falls Reservoir at Sportsman’s Park.