Idaho Fish Report

Flaming Gorge Reservoir elevation is currently 6,030 feet. Surface water temperatures are now in the upper 60s to low 70s. 

Lake trout: Recent fishing reports indicate lake trout fishing success has been good. The best reports have come from around Buckboard, Pipeline and Sheep Creek along the Red Cliffs. Small lake trout are being caught while trolling and vertically jigging. Look for fish along the main channel in depths of 50-100 feet. Lake trout are commonly observed on the bottom, but will also be suspended in the water column. Suspended fish are typically the most aggressive, too. Good lures to jig include jigging spoons, rap baits (like Jigging Raps or Tikka Minnows) and jigs in 1/4- to 1/2-ounce weight or 3-4 inches in size. Tip the lures with a small amount of bait, like sucker or chub meat. Trolling can be effective as well using small spoons, dodger/squids and crankbaits. Good colors to try include white, glow and chartreuse. If you're not marking fish, move. If you're not catching marked fish, change your presentation. If fishing from shore, try areas around the launch ramps where fish have been recently stocked. This is a great time to target lake trout, specifically small ones that are overabundant and consume kokanee salmon. Please help the resource by harvesting some of the overabundant lake trout under 25 inches (limits apply). This size class of fish makes exceptional table fare. 

Kokanee salmon: Reports have been good from Buckboard, Pipeline and through the canyon reach of the reservoir. Troll with dodgers, squids and small spoons in pink, orange and purple. Try tipping lures with a Gulp Maggot or two. Most of the fish are being caught at a depth of 30-50 feet. 

Rainbow and cutthroat trout: Fishing has been good for boat and shore anglers casting jigs and fly fishing patterns. Good lures for spin anglers include marabou or tube jigs tipped with a small amount of bait like Gulp or worms. Fly anglers should try woolly buggers or even egg patterns. Natural colors have been working well for jigs, such as olive or brown. 

Smallmouth bass: Smallmouth bass fishing is as hot as the weather. Jerkbaits and swim baits in minnow or trout colors work great as a search tool. However, smallmouth bass can also be caught on jigs like ned rigs, tubes or curly tails and drop shots with 4-inch flukes or worms in earth tones. 

Burbot: There are few reports this time of year, but burbot can also be caught from a boat. Target burbot at night along rocky points and shorelines in 30-40 feet of water using glow-in-the-dark lures like Yamamoto Grubs, Radical Glow Tubes, Ned's Bait Box plastics and Northland Buckshot spoons. Tip the lure with a small piece of sucker or chub meat, recharge the glow frequently and jig or deadstick the presentation a couple of inches from the bottom. Please remember that all burbot must be killed.