Idaho Fish Report

The reservoir dropped 10 feet through the summer and fall to the current elevation of 6,008 feet. The only open boat launches are Mustang Ridge and Cedar Springs, but they may have snow/ice covering them. Ice has recently formed down to the Utah state line, Linwood Bay and Sheep Creek Bay but it is thin and there is still some open water. Ice has formed down to the Brinegar Ferry Crossing where it's 6 to 7 inches, and thicker as you move uplake.

Lake trout: Recent fishing reports indicate that lake trout fishing success has been variable through the ice from Buckboard up to the Confluence. This is a great time of year to target lake trout, specifically small ones that are overabundant. Good lures to vertically jig through the ice, or even open water, are jigging spoons such as 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. If fishing from a boat, trolling with crankbaits has been good near the surface at about 1.6-1.8 mph. If you see deeper fish on your sonar, try dropping and trolling spoons in silver, rainbow trout and chartreuse colors. 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: Opened to harvest on Dec. 1, but no recent reports.

 Rainbow and cutthroat trout: Fishing has been very good in the open water using lures like spinners, spoons, jigs and/or bait presentations. Tip the lures with Gulp maggots or a small amount of bait for more enticement. It's also been good through the ice in Wyoming. Fish in 10-12 feet of water using small jigs and spoons tipped with bait. 

Smallmouth bass: No recent reports. Remember the limit in Utah is three fish and catch-and-release only in Wyoming. In Utah, please minimize harvest of the larger bass, being they're older, slow-growing fish. 

Burbot: Burbot fishing has been good on the north end through the ice. Target burbot at night along 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/chub meat, recharge glow frequently and jig or deadstick the presentation a couple inches from the bottom. Please remember all burbot must be killed