Idaho Fish Report

BILK CREEK RESERVOIR
Bilk has received nearly four thousand trout this fall averaging ten inches. Fishing has been good with bait and fair with spinners and flies. Worms off the bottom or salmon eggs under a bobber on light leaders have both been effective.  

BLUE LAKES
Closed for the season.

CARSON RIVER
Flows are prime on the Carson currently at 200cfs near Carson City. Fishing has been good to fair near broken dam. The river has not yet been stocked after the heavy rain so fishing has been hit or miss. Small dark spinners and streamer flies have been best. Prime temperatures have fish willing to chase moving lures in protected pools and runs.

CHIMNEY RESERVOIR

EAST WALKER RIVER
Low flows are making for tough fishing recently on the East Walker. Currently flows are low, roughly 20cfs.  Fish are definitely concentrated in the larger pools. Fly fisherman using small nymphs under larger dries (dry/dropper) are picking up the occasional good trout. Fish are spooky so be sure to watch your shadows and keep your approach to the water quiet. 
 
HOBART RESERVOIR

Closed for the season.

KNOTT CREEK RESERVOIR
Closed for the season.
 
LAHONTAN RESERVOIR
The sandy shallow beaches are still producing a few white bass on bright flies and spinners but fishing has slowed with water levels rising. Fishing during late warm afternoons have been best.
 
LAKE TAHOE
A few reports of small macs with the colder temps. This is a good time of year to find larger rainbows and browns near the surface, making them accessible to shore anglers. Look for moving shadows early and late in the day around larger structure. Shore anglers are using smaller spinners for planted trout and larger spoons for larger rainbows and browns. Toplining for large rainbow and brown trout has also been productive in shallower water (less than 50 feet). 
 
MASON VALLEY WMA
Closed for the season
 
MARLETTE LAKE

Closed for the season

 
ONION VALLEY RESERVOIR
Closed for the season
 
RYE PATCH
The cold temperatures have slowed fishing at Rye Patch with a few good reports recently for smallmouth. This summer was one of the best for smallmouth in a long time. Although it has slowed significantly, some smallmouth are still being reported in deeper water off points and around structure. Chartreuse and/or white flies and spinners continue to be the most productive colors. Those willing to cover more water are finding more fish.
 
SPOONER LAKE
The main parking area remains closed at Spooner Lake for improvements

SQUAW RESERVOIR
Fall has been great so far at Squaw. Good trout numbers and size still being reported. Fishing can be productive through the winter months especially on the northwest portion of the reservoir where warm springs keep water temperatures up.  Fishing for rainbow and brown trout in the deeper portions of the reservoir in the winter can also be productive in areas free of ice. Anglers can get away with fairly large flies and lures during the prime fall months. Dark conehead woolly buggers are pretty hard to beat out of a boat near the dam through the fall and winter.

TOPAZ LAKE
Topaz has been good for trout from shore. Trout fishing should continue to get better as the cold sets in. Worms off the bottom have been productive near deep drop-offs for bait fisherman. Spin fisherman have been using heavy spoons and kastmasters to get to deeper water.  
 
TRUCKEE RIVER
Flows are back up to 200 cfs after bouncing all over the place during the heavy rains. If flows hang on fishing should be very good this winter east of town. Lockwood is an excellent place to fish the east Truckee River if you’ve never done it. Fly fisherman can look forward to some blue winged olive mayflies as the winter progresses. Small dark nymphs and worm patterns under indicators or tight lined in the deeper runs can make for an awful fun winter afternoon. Spin fishing has been productive using small plugs and spoons during the warmest part of the day. Fish will likely be concentrated, when you find one there’s likely more nearby. Bait fishing has been best at Crystal Peak, Mayberry, and Fisherman’s park for summer holdovers.   

URBAN PONDS
Many of the urban ponds in the western region have received a fall stocking. The summer vegetation covering many of the ponds is finally starting to back off making for much easier access. Marilyn’s pond and Baily pond have fished well through the summer and continue to get fish periodically as conditions allow. Kinney Pond and Mountain View pond have also received rainbow trout in the last few weeks and have fished well. Small worms off the bottom and salmon eggs on light leaders under a bobber remain the best bet for catching in most of the ponds.
 
WALKER LAKE
Walker Lake is currently near 50% of capacity and rising. An increase in the lake level is key to the fishery rebounding. 

WALL CANYON RESERVOIR
Fishing has been excellent this fall for both bass and trout. Access seems to be good for now and should stay that way unless we see some good rain or snow. The reservoir is fishing well at both the inlet and the dam with spoons and spinners. Jigs near deep drop-offs and off rocky points are still producing a few smallmouth bass. Trout will likely make up most of the catch as we continue to really cool off for the season. 

WASHOE LAKE
Low water will making fishing tough in Washoe this fall and winter.