Idaho Fish Report

Surface temperatures are in the low 70s. The reservoir dropped 2 feet to the current elevation of 6,016 feet. All boat launches are open but the cut-through in Sheep Creek is impassable.

Lake trout: Recent fishing reports indicate that lake trout fishing success has been good on the north end near Buckboard and throughout the canyon region in Utah. Lake trout have been deeper with anglers catching fish in the 45–80 foot range. Good lures to try are jigging spoons (such as Northland Buckshots or Crippled Herrings), jigging raps, blade baits like Berkley Vibratos and 3.5-inch tube jigs in 1/4- to 3/8-ounce weight and tipped with sucker or chub meat. White and chartreuse are good colors to start with. Trolling can also be good using spoons, crankbaits or even dodger/squid combos commonly used for kokanee salmon. If trolling, watch for concentrations of fish on your fish-finder, and when located, try vertically jigging for them. Please help the resource by harvesting some of the overabundant lake trout under 25 inches. This size class of fish makes exceptional table fare.

Kokanee salmon: Fishing has been spotty due to low kokanee abundance, but when anglers find them, success has been fair. Recent reports indicate fish are being caught at 45 to 60 feet, trolling with downriggers rigged with small spoons or dodgers rigged with either spinner or squids. Good general locations to try are the Pipeline in Wyoming, and Sheep Creek Bay, Hideout and Jarvies in Utah. Pink, purple and orange colors have been best.

Rainbow and cutthroat trout: Fishing has been good in 20 to 35 feet of water, using lures like spinners, spoons, and jigs. Tip the lures with Gulp maggots or a small amount of bait for more enticement. Some fish may also be caught closer to the surface early in the morning and late in the day. 

Smallmouth bass: Recent reports indicate good success using soft plastics like Gulp minnows, Ned rigs, drop shot worms and curly tailed jigs in earth tones. Topwater baits have also been productive early in the day. Remember: The limit in Utah is three fish and catch-and-release only in Wyoming. In Utah, please minimize harvest of the larger bass as they're older, slow-growing fish.

Burbot: There haven't been many angling reports, but those that are catching burbot are vertically jigging in water up to 65 feet in depth. The best time period to target burbot is at night. Anglers should fish rocky points and shorelines using glow-in-the-dark lures like Yamamoto grubs, Radical Glow tubes and Northland Buckshot spoons. Tip the lure with sucker or chub meat, recharge glow frequently and jig or deadstick the presentation a couple of inches from the bottom. Good locations to try include the reach of the reservoir between Brinegar Ferry Crossing down to the Pipeline. Please remember all burbot must be killed.