Idaho Fish Report

Flaming Gorge Reservoir elevation is currently 6,029 feet. Surface water temperatures are now in the 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, Hideout and Jarvies along the eastern shore and near the campground. 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. Visit the Flaming Gorge management site to learn more about targeting lake trout and burbot. 

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 40-50 feet. Many of the fish being caught in the canyon reach are smaller, but do not hesitate to keep these fish as part of your creel limit. Even though they are smaller, they still make great table fare. Releasing kokanee this time of year when air and water temperatures are high will result in higher mortality.

 Rainbow and cutthroat trout: Fishing has been good for boat and shore anglers in the backs of coves and bays in 30-50 feet of water. Both species will hit the kokanee tackle mentioned above, but also try small jigging spoons tipped with bait. 

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.