Spring Fishing Heats Up

The warm spring days are bringing out fishermen anxious to wet a line in area waters according to Rick Cooper, Sr. Conservation Officer for Idaho Fish & Game. Trout anglers are focusing on the region's lowland lakes, which are regularly stocked with catchable rainbow trout. Winchester, Soldier's Meadow, Spring Valley, Moose Creek, and Elk Creek reservoirs are all providing good fishing at the tail end of the ice-fishing season. Ice conditions are day to day this time of year. Anglers should use extreme caution before venturing onto the ice. Fishing will remain good after ice-out, and spring planting of catchable rainbows begins during the month of April. Dworshak Reservoir, although drawn down in anticipation of spring runoff, is also providing some good trout and kokanee fishing. Fish are shallow now, from the surface down to about 10 feet. Anglers trolling wedding rings and maggots behind pop gear and other traditional gear are doing the best, with some limits of 10-12" kokanee reported. Most of the effort has been below Dent Bridge. Black crappie up to 10"are extremely abundant in Mann and Winchester Lakes, and fishing for them will pick up quickly with a couple of warm days. Small curly tail grubs fished below a bobber are the ticket for early season action. A few smallmouth bass fishermen have been out on the Snake River recently and have reported limited success. Bass fishing on the Snake will only get better in the coming days as we move into spring. Curly tailed grubs fished in quiet backwaters and eddies are always a good bet for smallmouths. Please check the regulations and be sure to have your new license before going fishing ,and contact the Clearwater Region at (208) 799-5010 or by e-mail at clearwtr@idfg.state.id.us on the Internet if you have specific questions.