Idaho Fish Report

Starvation Reservoir is at 86% capacity and falling as the Central Utah Water Conservancy District is releasing water. Outflows are now around 150 cfs. The reservoir is still 98% ice capped with some open water at the Knight Hollow inlet and the Strawberry River inlet. Ice thickness at the main lake on March 29 was 18–20 inches of solid clear ice with 1–2 inches of snow/slush on top. Edges are OK, but a plank is needed in most locations.

Fishing has been great for rainbow trout this week. Target depths of 20 feet of less and watch from from just under the ice sheet down to the bottom. Small tungsten jigs and small spoons tipped with bait have been working well. Walleye are moving into spawning areas; they are very finicky, but some are still eating. UV glow jigs and spoons are working right now, and the prime time for catching walleye at Starvation is early morning or late evening. Reminder, the panfish limit at Starvation is now a combined total of 10 fish. See the 2023 Utah Fishing Guidebook for details.

Overall, Starvation still has an overabundance of small walleye (13 to 14 inches). Currently, 48.5% of the species composition is made up of walleye. We will continue to encourage harvest of these smaller walleye, while trying to enhance forage and habitat in this fishery. We did see an increase in catch-per-unit effort for yellow perch in 2022 forage-sampling events and documented young-of-year black crappie in the system. Please visit the Starvation State Park website for the most up-to-date reservoir conditions.