Fourth of July means fun, family and fireworks, and for many Idaho anglers, a favorite time to fish. We know folks have busy holiday plans, but there’s no reason to not add fishing to the mix.
The folks at Fish and Game have compiled a list of places that are prime for fishing for the holiday weekend.
These aren’t exactly secret spots, but they are places where you stand to good-to-excellent chance of landing a fish or two (or possibly more), between hot dogs, watermelons and fireworks.
To learn more about these fishing spots and many more, check Fish and Game’s Fish Planner at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/fishingplanner/.
Here are some places to consider fishing during the Independence Day weekend.
Panhandle
Fernan Lake sits just east of downtown Coeur d’Alene and within walking or biking distance for lots of folks. Fernan is highly productive and holds just about every species of fish found in northern Idaho. Kootenai County Parks and Waterways has developed nice facilities at both ends of the lake. On the West end, there is a fairly large parking area, a well-designed boat launch, large fishing docks, and restrooms. Anglers can fish from the docks or take a path toward the west where there is a beautiful bay to spread out and fish from shore. Some adventurous folks follow the path around and access the southwest shoreline of the lake.
Clearwater
Deer Creek Reservoir is located about 11 miles north of Pierce and may not be the most convenient location, but it’s worth the trip for its high catch rates and unique fishing opportunities. This reservoir is stocked with lots of rainbow trout willing to bite a bait, lure or fly, but what separates it from other reservoirs is its sterile brook trout and “tiger” trout, which are a cross between brook trout and brown trout. The reservoir has a boat ramp, bathroom and dock, and it is surrounded by a beautiful, evergreen forest.
Alternate: It’s primetime for cutthroat fishing in mountain streams. The Clearwater sports some of the finest cutthroat fishing in the state in the Lochsa River, Selway River, North Fork of the Clearwater River, Kelly Creek, and others.
Southwest
Despite Brownlee Reservoir’s often blazing heat during summer, it is a great place to catch smallmouth bass and a variety of other warmwater fish. Tie on any lure that resembles a crawdad and you're likely to catch a smallmouth, or dozens of them.
Smallmouths inhabit nearly every portion of the reservoir, and there's lots of easy bank access, well-developed launches for all sizes of boats and campgrounds, including some with electrical hookups. Crank up the AC in your RV and laugh at the heat.
Alternate: Horsethief Reservoir is located east of Cascade and is owned and managed by Fish and Game. It’s well stocked with catchable rainbow trout and brown trout. It’s also located at about 5,000-feet elevation, so it’s cooler than lower elevations during summer.
Magic Valley
Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir is a classic high desert lake. It’s remote, hot (there are a few shade trees in the campground), and it can get very windy at times. But,the fishing is great with the walleye fishing hitting its prime, and anglers have a great chance of catching big trout (in the 2 to 5-pound range), perch, crappie and occasional bass.
The lake is long and narrow with miles of shoreline to escape crowds on a busy weekend. Fishing can be great from the bank, but a four-wheel drive is recommended to reach some of the shoreline. Trolling one of the several bays can be very productive. The campground at Lud Drexler, has restrooms, a boat ramp and dock. Big Sandy and Grays Landing are two of the other popular places to camp and fish
Southeast
Bear Lake, known for its turquoise blue water, has been one of the best fishing spots of the year so far in the southeast corner of the state. You will need a boat and a tackle box of silver spoons or Rapalas to get the job done. Troll between 35-55 feet for lake trout and cutthroats. Trout limit is 2; only those cutthroat trout with a clipped adipose fin, as evidenced by a healed scar, may be kept. If it is possible to get tired of fishing, Bear Lake’s beaches are perfect for building sandcastles, wading, swimming, paddle boarding, and so much more. Or, leave some time to explore the beautiful Bear Lake National Refuge.
Alternate: Upper Kelly Park Pond in Soda Springs is a wonderful fishery for kids. Operated by the City of Soda Springs, this pond is stocked with rainbow trout and fishes well throughout summer. Only youth 13 and under are allowed to fish, and those 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult. It is a fairly easy quarter-mile hike to the upper pond from the parking lot at Kelly Park. Worms, lures, and marshmallows are almost always a hit with the rainbows. For fly rods, try beadheads, leeches, and wooly buggers; grasshoppers and other dry flies for when the trout are feeding at the surface.
Upper Snake
With so many world-class fisheries to choose from picking one in this area isn’t easy, but check out the South Fork of the Snake River and its amazing cutthroat fishing and rainbow trout fishing. The South Fork is typically fished by boats during summer when the river is running high to provide irrigation, but there’s also bank fishing and wading opportunities, especially in side channels.
Alternate: Small streams and tributary rivers in the South Fork and Henry’s Fork area often get overshadowed by the big names, but they also offer excellent fishing, especially for those who don’t have a boat and are willing to hike and explore.
Salmon
Why not fish the Upper Salmon River over the Fourth? Fish and Game has stocked 4,000 trout between Torrey Hole and Decker Flat in the Stanley area. Those fish will supplement the wild rainbows and cutthroats in the river, and as a bonus, there’s a chance to catch a Chinook salmon. The Salmon River is running lower than normal for this time of year, which will make it friendlier for waders, but tougher for floaters. And you can’t beat the scenery when you’re fishing for trout or salmon with the Sawtooth Mountains as a backdrop.