Smallmouth Bass

From Brownlee to Swan Falls, Snake River smallmouth are abundant, mobile and healthy

If you want to experience the Snake River’s smallmouth fishery, late spring, summer and even the fall provides some fun and exciting fishing — and don’t worry, there are big fish out there, and plenty of them.  

Dworshak Reservoir Fishing Report

Dworshak Reservoir Fishing Report

by Sean Wilson, IDFG fisheries research biologist

New Sportsman Access area opens near Letha on the Payette River

Sheep Camp Landing, a new Lower Payette River access site near Letha, is open to the public and two familiar Lower Payette River sites have undergone site improvements during fall and winter. 

Bass and catfish anglers, and waterfowl hunters will be some of the beneficiaries of these access improvements.

Visitors to Sheep Camp Landing will find a small boat ramp, parking area and a temporary restroom. Its location just east of Letha is five river miles below Sevenmile Slough access area, making it a great takeout point for river users.

Transplant gives smallmouth bass a jumpstart in the Lower Payette River

As of October 3, Fish and Game crews transferred 850 smallmouths to the lower Payette River. The goal is to transfer 1,000 smallmouths with the hope that many of these fish will spawn next spring and contribute to rebuilding this important and popular fishery. 

Lake Pend Oreille Walleye Update

There is a toothy new predator in northern Idaho’s largest lake. Walleye, which were essentially non-existent in the lake ten years ago, have become increasingly abundant, to the point where they are now a significant player in the fishery. Lake Pend Oreille has long been known for its trophy rainbow trout and bull trout, having produced world records for both species. The trophy fishery, and to a very large extent, the sport fishery in general, is built on a foundation of kokanee.

Pend Oreille River produces new catch-and-release state record smallmouth bass

While anglers can catch Smallmouth Bass throughout the summer and fall, May through June is typically the best time to target bigger bass. Bass feed aggressively in the weeks before spawning and can be found in shallower water, before they retreat to deeper water as the summer heats up.

Clark Fork and Pack River Angler Survey Underway

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game, in cooperation with Avista, began conducting a 10-month angler creel survey on the Clark Fork River from Lake Pend Oreille to Cabinet Gorge Dam on February 1. Additionally, we began surveying anglers fishing the Pack River, Grouse Creek, and Lightning Creek on March 1. We plan to continue these surveys through approximately December 1, 2018.

New Catch-and-Release Record Smallmouth

Uncovering the secrets of the Snake River's smallmouths

Bass fishing in the river sections between Swan Falls and Brownlee Reservoir is inconsistent, Fish and Game’s Southwest Region Fish Manager Joe Kozfkay said. It's good in some sections poor in others, and same for tributaries. Biologists want to find out why. 

Lake Pend Oreille "State of the Lake" Public Meeting

The Lake Pend Oreille "State of the Lake" public meeting is held annually.  This year the meeting is set for Thursday, March 30th.  Idaho Fish and Game staff will give a presentation summarizing fisheries information and activities related to the Lake Pend Oreille fishery from the past year. Time will be provided afterwards for question and answer.  Anyone interested in the Lake Pend Oreille fishery is encouraged to attend.  We hope to see you there.

Meeting details are as follows:

WHEN: Thursday, March 30th, 2017 from 6-8pm