If you’re an angler looking for success this year in Southeast Idaho, remember this — reservoirs and lakes early, rivers and streams later.
This year is expected to be a banner year for fishing all across the state, thanks to a wet, snowy winter that has replenished Idaho’s once-suffering snowpack.
As we speak, Idaho’s water managers are dealing with an issue they haven’t dealt with in quite some time — there’s just too much water.
“There are no expected water supply shortages expected across 99 percent of the state,” Shawn Nield, Snow Survey Program manager for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Idaho, said in a news release issued earlier this spring. “The greatest concern, especially in southern Idaho, is too much snow and how to safely release the excess water.”
What does this mean for anglers? A longer fishing season, more water for anglers to play in and a more plentiful fish population.
Though this snowmelt has filled many of Southeast Idaho’s reservoirs to near-capacity levels, it has flooded the region’s rivers and streams with strong currents, making it tough to catch anything right now.
Therefore, plan on hitting the reservoirs and lakes early in the season when they are topped off. Later, when the rainfall hopefully ends and irrigators begin to use the reservoirs’ water, be prepared to hit the rivers and streams hard.
But which fisheries will provide the best fishing this year? Here’s a short list of the best summer destinations:
Blackfoot Reservoir
The massive 18,000-acre Blackfoot Reservoir in Bingham and Caribou counties is always a popular destination for local anglers. But this year, the fishing is expected to be especially plentiful.
According to David Teuscher, regional fisheries manager for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the reservoir had some good carry-over water from last fall. This means that the reservoir’s water level did not get as low this past winter as it normally does, meaning a good fish survival rate.
“Blackfoot Reservoir carried over quite a bit of water, so I think we’re in for some good fishing there,” Teuscher said.
Though the sheer size of Blackfoot Reservoir is beneficial to boaters, those who fish from the bank do pretty well, too.
As for the Upper Blackfoot River, John Taylor, fishing guide at Element Outfitters in Pocatello, said to expect high water even after the waterway opens to fishing on July 1. However, the fish in both the Upper and Lower Blackfoot River should be biting.
“It was good last year and it should be good this year,” Taylor said.
American Falls Reservoir
This year, American Falls Reservoir is primed to become a massive fish factory.
For Pocatello-area anglers, this is great news, particularly after a horrendous 2013 and 2014 season on the reservoir located northwest of Pocatello. Fishing started to improve in 2015, followed by a much better year in 2016. Now, as the 2017 summer season is getting underway, anglers are looking forward to a return to the good old days of American Falls fishing.
Like the Blackfoot Reservoir, American Falls held a larger-than-average amount of carry-over water from last fall, meaning higher survival rates and potentially fatter fish.
There should be plenty of catchable trout in the reservoir itself, even now. But smallmouth bass fishing should be pretty hot below the dam this summer.
“Once the water warms up, the smallmouth will be aggressive,” Taylor said.
Chesterfield Reservoir
So far this year, Teuscher has heard reports of some big trout in the 3- to 4-pound range being caught at Chesterfield Reservoir on the east side of the Portneuf Range. But even if you can’t land a trophy, keep in mind that a large number of the fish stocked last fall have survived the winter, meaning there should be plenty of opportunities to make some great catches.
Because both are interrelated, if Chesterfield has a good year, you can expect the Upper Portneuf River north of Lava Hot Springs to follow suit.
Franklin County’s Reservoirs
There’s plenty of top-notch fisheries in the Pocatello area where the fishing should be phenomenal this year, but don't forget to look farther south.
Taylor says it’s a good bet to take a look at one of the multiple reservoirs around Preston in Franklin County before the end of the year. These fisheries include, but are not limited to, Twin Lakes, Lamont, Condie, Foster, Glendale and Winder.
You also can’t go wrong at Treasureton Reservoir, where Taylor says to go early in the season for trout and later in the season for bass.
South Fork of the Snake River
Before opening Snake River Fly in Pocatello, Larry Larsen spent many years as a guide on the South Fork of the Snake River, which ends at Palisades Reservoir on the Idaho/Wyoming border.
Larsen said the South Fork has always been an incredibly hot location for fishing during big water years. Because this year’s winter has created a near-record-setting snowpack, he said to expect the South Fork to be one of the best places to fish in Southeast Idaho. However, you’ll have to wait a bit before heading out this summer.
“The South Fork of the Snake is probably going to be outstanding, but it won’t be until later,” he said. “Expect mid-July to the first of August.”
For 66 miles, the river flows through gorgeous mountain scenery. Among the most popular spots is the area in the Swan Valley region, where there’s lots of small islands, gravel bars and riffles to cast a line from, though this year the water will probably be pretty high well into the summer. Accessing the best fishing holes in this area will require the use of a drift boat.
