We do not have much information to pass on for area still water fishing. Fishing has picked up on Daniels Reservoir where water is low and the shallows mossy. Folks suspending midge pupa and other small patterns under an indicator once the taking depth is found, and for those folks using intermediate lines to strip leech patterns. FSpringfield Resevoir offer
Now that many of our irrigation reservoirs have experienced the usual spring turn-over, fishing orn each will improve. This seems to be the case for Daniels, Hawkins, Mackay, and Springfield Reservoirs where fishing success has picked up recently. We have little information on fishing success on Chesterfield and Twenty-Four Mile Reservoirs.
Wind has been the biggest restriction to fishing success on larger waters such as Daniels and Chesterfield. On smaller waters, Hawkins rainbows and a few cutts have been producing well to leech patterns (black, olive or purple seem best colors) along with midge pupa under an indicator at taking depth. Springfield currently offers slow fishing.
Springfield Reservoir is producing some fishing success even though water remains cold ( mid 40’s in degrees Fahrenheit). Leech and small nymphs patterns and fly rod jigs presented on intermediate lines work. Try suspending small nymph and midge pupa patterns under an indicator on a floating line to find the taking depth.
Although they have been drawn down, several irrigation reservoirs in the southeast area remain ice free. American Falls,Chesterfield, Daniels and Springfield are among these. Try patterns such as leeches, nymphs, halloween and other woolly bugger types under indicators after finding the taking depth, or strip streamer and woolly bugger patterns of choice.
Even though they have been drawn down, many southeast Idaho irrigation reservoirs are offering good fishing. Boat launch facilities on Chesterfield, Twenty-Four Mile and Mackay Reservoirs are above water, but accessible to flotation devices. Some, including Daniels Reservoir can be fished from all kinds of boats and also from shore.
Daniels Reservoir offers good fishing even to those angler walking the shore line. Try midge pupa patterns under an indicator or slowly stripped or trolled leech and streamer patterns. Weeds are beginning to break up, so the shallower areas will become more attractive for stripping or slow trolling such patterns, Weeds will be breaking up in many of our still waters notorious for hosting them. Such as Springfield Reservoir, Sand Creek Ponds, and 24-Mile Reservoir are some of these.
With a protected minimum pool, Daniels Reservoir does not suffer the dewatering fate of many of our irrigation reservoirs. Currently Daniels offers some of the best still water fishing in the area. Indicator fishing to present midge pupa, small leech, and scud patterns after finding the taking depth around the many weed beds is most productive, Slow trolling or stripping streamer or leech patterns through deeper water brings some action.
Algae blooms are increasing on many of our irrigation reservoirs. Island Park Reservoir in particular has an extensive bloom.
Horseshoe Lake
IDF&G has placed a salvage regulation on Condie and Winder Reservoirs. Let’s hope that more such regulations are not upcoming. Some of the fastest still water fishing can be had at Horseshoe Lake, Sand Creek Ponds and Paul’s Reservoir. Horseshoe features rainbow and some grayling, Sand Creek features rainbows and Paul’s features cutthroat. In general the fish are not large, but they provide action. Try speckled dun life cycle, small leech and damselfly nymph patterns.