Spring forward with lots of fishing options

By Roger Phillips, Idaho Fish and Game public information specialist Many Idaho waters are open to fishing year round, so anglers can make the most of the year by focusing on times when fishing is at its best for certain waters. For those who aren't shy about braving unpredictable weather in late winter and early spring, there are many places to catch fish, and a surprising variety of them. With daylight savings time starting March 13, there's also enough time for after-work or after-school fishing trips to a local fishing spot. Idaho Fish and Game stocks trout year round, but expands its operations as more waters open in March and become suitable for trout. Typically, ponds are the first places, followed by small lakes and reservoirs, then larger reservoirs and streams, but it depends on many factors. This year, Idaho Fish and Game is stocking 1.6 million catchable rainbow trout between 10 and 12 inches, which are stocked strictly for anglers to catch. They are typically stocked where they are easily accessible to anglers and there's high probability they will get caught. There are also lots of steelhead available in the spring, and Chinook salmon start arriving in Idaho in April. At some lower elevations, warmwater fishing gets started in March and typically improves as we get further into spring. Tips for early season fishing Watch the weather: Fishing is typically better when temperatures are warming and the barometer is stable. A temperature drop or a storm typically slows fishing. Take it slow: Fish can be sluggish in cold water. Air temperature warms much faster than water, so even on a warm, spring day, the water is probably chilly. Bait is a good option, and if you're using lures or flies, a slow retrieve usually works better. Don't overlook warmwater fish: They become active sooner than you might think, but expect subtle strikes, and the fish to be in different places than where you found them last summer. Bass fishing can be good. Catch rates tend to be low, but the biggest fish are often the first to become active. Smaller, shallower waters typically warm faster than larger bodies of water. Ponds and small reservoirs are good options. Same goes for shallow coves, bays and flats in larger lakes and reservoirs. Get the latest information: Check Fish and Game stocking reports at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/fish/stocking/ for good places to catch rainbow trout and other fish. Watch for hatches: Fly anglers can find good early season bug hatches, which are typically chironomids (midges) or baetis (blue-wing olives). There are usually trout feeding on them. Fish locally: Especially if the weather forecast looks iffy. You don't want to drive several hours and then find unfavorable weather and water conditions. Spring is a good time of year to explore local ponds and reservoirs that you may have overlooked in the past. Where to go Idaho Fish and Game's regional fish managers suggested spots to try for your early spring fishing: Panhandle Hayden Lake: Early spring is a great time for anglers to start trolling for kokanee in Hayden Lake. These kokanee grow faster than in other local waters, and anglers can expect to catch fish up to 14 inches or more. Standard kokanee trolling techniques work well. Access to the lake is available on the west end from the Honeysuckle boat ramp and from the northeast end at the Sportsman's Park boat ramp. Coeur d'Alene Lake and Chain Lakes: March and April are great months to target northern pike. Early in the season is a popular time for shore anglers to target pre-spawn northern pike. Fishing with bait under a bobber is the most common technique. Catch rates aren't high during this time of year, but it is when some of the biggest fish are caught. After mid-April, northern pike actively chase lures and are frequently targeted by boat anglers. Shallow bays are good places to look for them. Fernan Lake: Diverse fishing opportunity can be found at Fernan Lake in the spring. The lake is stocked with catchable rainbow trout monthly starting in March. As water temperatures begin to warm, fishing will start to improve for the assorted warmwater fish in the lake. These include perch, crappie, bass and catfish. Access to the lake can be found at the southern end, which includes docks and a boat ramp. There is also abundant shoreline access for bank anglers along the road that follows the northern shoreline. Clearwater South Fork Clearwater River: The South Fork is known for its world-class, B-run steelhead, and March is often the best time to fish for them. The South Fork of the Clearwater parallels Idaho 13 and 14 highways, which provide easy access to both fly and spin cast anglers. Early in March anglers, tend to focus their efforts in the lower 10 to 15 miles of the river, then they follow steelhead as the fish continue their migration upriver. Dworshak Reservoir: Kokanee salmon and smallmouth bass fishing starts to turn on as the water warms in the spring. Kokanee fishing typically gets good in March. This year, anglers can expect to see 8 to 9-inch kokanee by March, and they will get bigger later. The shallow bays and creek mouths of Dworshak tend to be where bass fishing first picks up. Catch rates can be slow in March, but it is often a good time to catch larger fish. Bank access is limited, but the boat fishing can be productive. Lower North Fork of the Clearwater River: The lower North Fork below Dworshak Dam is a popular place to catch large B-run steelhead, and March and April are often the months when the best catch rates occur. For this reason, competition between anglers can be high. Jig and bobber is the most common technique used by steelhead anglers in this stretch. Mann Lake: This reservoir near Lewiston is stocked in March with 12-inch "magnum" rainbow trout. Mann Lake tends to be the region's warmest lake due to its low elevation, so it's often among the first places where anglers can find good fishing for warmwater fish, such as largemouth bass and crappie. Fishing can be at its prime toward the end of March. Bank fishing is limited to about half the reservoir, but anglers should be able to find good places to fish. This spring, anglers should be able to fish from the large dock at the boat ramp, or in many locations around the shoreline. Southwest C.J. Strike Reservoir: This is a popular fishery because of its mild climate and variety of fish. C.J. Strike is most famous for its bass and panfish, including perch, crappie and bluegill, and perch fishing has been exceptional this year. Strike also has abundant trout that are targeted by trollers and bank anglers. Boaters with fish finders can often find and target schools of fish in the early season, but shore anglers can also catch fish if they concentrate on areas of the reservoir that warm early. Shore anglers can find trout by fishing where streams empty into the reservoir, or near the dam. South Fork of the Boise River: This is a popular fishery in early spring thanks to consistent flows out bottom of Anderson Ranch Reservoir that keeps the water temperatures stable and warmer than other rivers in the area. When that water starts warming a little bit, trout become more active and so do the insects upon which they feed. Fishing season closes between Anderson Ranch Dam and Neal Bridge April 1 and reopens May 28, but fishing below Neal Bridge is open year round. Snake River: There's a sweet spot in early spring when the water warms enough to get fish active, but before the big spring run off hits. Thanks to its low elevation, warm spring weather usually comes early, but can also be windy, which makes fishing tough. There's plenty of bank access, but if you want to cover lots of water a river-worthy boat is your best option. Bass will typically take anything that resembles a crawdad. Channel catfish are plentiful and will take worms, chicken livers, or commercial catfish baits. Arrowrock Reservoir: Fish and Game stocked this reservoir with 13,000 trout in October, and many of those trout cruise the shorelines in early spring. Bank anglers using bait can catch limits of fish in the 16-inch range. Magic Valley Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir: Like many other southern Idaho reservoirs, this one offers a variety of warmwater fishing and trout. Rainbow trout fishing is heating up, especially for shore anglers. The fishing also gets good for boat anglers as we get further into spring. The reservoir has some of Idaho's best walleye fishing, as well as perch, crappie and other panfish that can provide lots of action and great eating. Snake River: Sturgeon fishing is going well from Pillar Falls to Hagerman. Sturgeon are a unique trophy fish that give anglers a chance to catch something measured feet rather than inches. Anglers are limited to catch-and-release for sturgeon, but they're among Idaho's most exciting game fish, and they're plentiful in the Snake River. Oakley Reservoir: Oakley received 26,000 rainbow trout last year, and it has a reputation for fast-growing fish. Last year's hold overs and this year's stocking of 12-inch rainbows should provide good fishing for shore anglers and trollers and a nice mix of sizes. The reservoir also has walleye fishing that typically gets going in later in spring. Southeast Upper Portneuf: March and April can be great months to fish the upper Portneuf River between Lava Hot Springs and Chesterfield Reservoir. There is a growing population of native Yellowstone cutthroat trout and some quality hatchery rainbow trout. Prior to Memorial Day weekend, the anglers are restricted to catch-and-release fishing and no bait. It's a good place for early flyfishing. Bear Lake: Early spring at Bear Lake can be the best time of year to catch a trophy native cutthroat trout. These amazing trout can grow up to 15 pounds. Many of the mature cutthroat trout are over 4 pounds. During April and May, the mature trout cruise the west side of the lake before ascending to their spawning tributaries. Trolling is the most successful method. Silver-colored spoons or Rapalas are popular. Recent habitat projects have resulted in more wild cutthroat trout, and catch rates continue to rise. Wild cutthroat trout caught in Bear Lake must be released, but over 200,000 hatchery cutthroat trout are stocked annually for those interested keeping some to eat. Hatchery fish can be identified by a clipped adipose fin. Bannock Reservoir and Edson Fichter Pond: These community fishing waters in Pocatello provide easily accessible places for people to catch rainbow trout in the spring. Both are ice-free and fishing has been good. Upper Snake Henry's Fork River: This famed flyfishing river gets an early start on its rainbow trout fishing. Catch rates typically improve in March, especially on sunny days that get insects hatching and fish rising to the surface to feed. A new fishing opportunity opened this year from the Vernon Bridge upstream to Ashton Dam. That stretch was closed in the past, but it is limited to catch-and-release fishing until May 28. The section from Ashton downstream to St. Anthony is popular among anglers. Gem Lake and Becker Pond: These community fishing waters near Idaho Falls get stocked with rainbow trout in early March and will continue to be stocked throughout spring. Becker Pond, located in Ryder Park, has ADA access for people in wheelchairs or others with limited mobility. Gem Lake has a fishing dock for anglers. South Fork of the Snake River: The river is typically low and accessible for wading in early spring, and fishing can be good for trout and whitefish. Anglers can catch and keep a rainbow trout and be rewarded not just with fish for dinner, but with cash if they catch a marked fish. Take the head of a rainbow trout to the Fish and Game office in Idaho Falls, and a Fish and Game employee will scan it. If the fish is embedded with a tiny wire tag, it is worth from $50 to $1,000. The program is to encourage anglers to harvest rainbow trout and reduce competition with the river's native Yellowstone cutthroat trout. Salmon Kids Creek Pond: This pond near Salmon will be stocked with catchable rainbow trout in mid-March. It provides a convenient place for people to do some early season fishing, and can also provide some big surprises. During March and April, Fish and Game staff at the Pahsimeroi Hatchery also stock steelhead in the pond if they have surplus fish. Upper Salmon River: When the Deadwater ice dam breaks up in late winter or early spring, it sends a wave of steelhead upstream. The dam has already broken up this year, and anglers had a flurry of activity steelhead fishing. There will be steelhead available in the river system up to Stanley into mid-April. It's a popular place for anglers, and there's about 115 miles of river between Salmon and Stanley that is accessible off Idaho 75 and U.S. 93, and another 68 miles of road access downstream from Salmon. Hayden Creek Pond: This pond is about 24 miles south of Salmon on Hayden Creek Road. It gets stocked with trout in February and monthly through spring and summer for nearly year-round fishing thanks to spring water that keeps it from freezing. That spring water also makes great trout habitat, and fish that don't get caught right away continue to grow, which gives anglers an opportunity to catch some larger trout. The pond also has a picnic facility and bathrooms.