Both Chesterfield and Daniels are offering improving fishing. It is too early for significant speckled dun and damselfly activity on most still waters, but dragonfly nymphs are an early season food form that trout key on. Big and relatively numerous, they offer a great reward for the capture effort. Any big leech or rubber leg pattern presented during the early season in still waters will be effective in imitating these nymphs.
The Blackfoot River Road from just east of Bone to the Blackfoot River Reservoir is graded and open. Ice is still on the reservoir but likely to go fast. It looks like Hebgen Lake will be free of ice by the end of this weekend. Hawkins Reservoir seems to attract many anglers of all terminal gear persuasions. Midge life cycle and leech patterns produce here. Daniels Reservoir has yet to offer good fishing, but warming weather will bring it on. Same applies to Springfield Reservoir.
Henry’s Lake is iced over, and Sand Creek Ponds are iced over. More still waters will be doing the same soon ( especially this coming weekend). So break out your ice fishing gear!
IDF&G stocking records indicate 42000 to 60000 rainbow releases in American Falls and Blackfoot River Reservoir respectively. Crystal Springs and McTucker pond have been stocked with hundreds of the same with supporting stockings coming up very soon. Ice fishing season is coming up. It’s already here on Henry’s Lake.
Most reservoirs established to store irrigation water are at low capacity. This includes American Falls, Chesterfield, Daniels, Island Park, Treasureton, Twenty Four Mile. Because of windy days limiting visits, we do not have a lot of fishing information for these. Fish deep or in front of inlets in any of these. Springfield Reservoir is an exception, even with low water level. Weeds are breaking up and midge fishing is good if the taking depth can be found. Slowly trolled leech and damselfly nymph and pitching small fly rod jigs also bring responses.
Water is quite low at Daniels, but fishing is good with fish responding to midge pupa under an indicator and slowly trolled leech patterns. The cooler weather predicted for the next week is just what is needed to improve fishing at such as Chesterfield and Treasureton Reservoirs and at Sand Creek Ponds.
Daniels Reservoir, even though water is low, remains a good bet for fishing. Slowly retrieved leech and streamer patterns on an intermediate line work well but, but midge patterns under an indicator seem best. Fishing on Springfield Reservoir is picking up a bit ( midge pupa also traditional nymph patterns under an indicator), but weeds remain in enough quantity to limit wet fly fishing in shallower water. Twenty-Four Mile Reservoir is filling, so give it several days for fishing to pick up using same techniques as on Daniels Reservoir. Chesterfield Reservoir also needs some cooler weather to bring water temps down to spread fish out. Want to catch a grayling? Horseshoe Lake off the Cave Falls Road is the place to do it. They are small (up to 12-13″), pretty, and not as numerous as the rainbow trout present. You will need a non-motorized boat or flotation device to get out in front of the lily pads to present soft hackle, midge and speckled dun life cycle patterns.
Daniels Reservoir currently provides the most consistent fishing. Midge pupa under an indicator and at the taking depth scores best almost anywhere. Small leech patterns presented on intermediate lines around weed beds and drop-offs get results. Paul Reservoir, weedy around it edges, offers small cutthroats responding to leech patterns where you can get past the weeds. Springfield Reservoir is quite weedy making wet fly fishing confined to channels between weed beds. Action at Sand Creek Ponds has been slow because of high water temps, but these soon will be cooling. In fact cooling water temps will result in improved fishing on all still waters.
Anywhere you go for trout in these waters, fish deep with a slow retrieve. As weather cools, look for action to pick up.
Anywhere you try, fish deep especially during mid-day. During these summer dog days that’s where the biggest fish go because cooler water means more dissolved oxygen.