Idaho Fish Report

Fishing forecast (December through March): Anglers should use extreme caution and be aware of best practices for ice safety. 

Splake: Splake will be shallower this time of year. Try using dead Utah chub as bait to catch fish during this timeframe. Cut off a 1-by-1-inch piece of chub meat and thread it on a 1/8-ounce or 1/4-ounce jig head. Cast the bait out and let it sit on the bottom. Casting tube jigs and swimbaits tipped with chub meat will also work from shore. Keep your jig close to the bottom as you retrieve/reel, because most fish will hug the bottom. Other good lures to try will be silver/white or black/white spoons. 

Rainbow trout: Use standard trout fishing tactics through the ice like worm and marshmallow/salmon egg, PowerBait and ice flies. 

Tiger muskie: Ice fishing for tiger muskie can be very difficult. Anglers occasionally catch one while targeting trout. 

Cutthroat trout: Cutthroat trout in the reservoir are self-sustaining and use the tributaries to spawn. Target cutthroat with similar tactics as splake. Use tube jigs tipped with chub.