Idaho Fish Report

The lake appears to have leveled off at about 65-70% of capacity. The island off of the state park boat ramp and prop rock in the canyon by the dam are both under water, but close enough to the surface to damage boats and props. Fishing has been slow to fair. The lake was stocked with approximately 80,000 fish this year as part of the process of rebuilding the fishery here. Half of the stocked fish were fry and half were catchable eight to ten inch fish. Fishing is starting to improve with the stockings, but just like after the 2007 die-off, it will take two to three years before anglers are catching trophy sized fish. There are some carryover trout in the lake from stocking a few years ago that are averaging around 23 inches and last fall’s stocked fish are averaging around 15 inches. Most anglers report catching eight to ten inch stocked trout using worms or PowerBait. Fly fishermen are having the best luck with black or olive wooly buggers, leeches, damsel fly nymphs and hares ears. Expect wiper and perch fishing to be slow. A few nice catfish have been caught in the Penrod Arm. Smallmouth fishing should start picking up with the warmer weather. No black bass may be kept until July 1.