Idaho Fish Report

Fishing is fair to good. Some anglers have been catching kokanee in shallow water (the first 15 feet or so), and others are looking for schools. The shallow fish are not showing up well on the fish finders, and they are rather picky about flashers and lure colors. Just keep mixing it up until you find the right combination. If the schools are deep, try jigging with a small jigging spoon.


Rainbow trout: Most anglers report good fishing. Spoons, jigs and crankbaits work well from the shore and boats. We've received reports of small schools cruising the shoreline. Fishing is good off rocky points and inlets, and in the backs of some of the bays.


Lake trout: Fishing is fair to good. Schools, small groups and singles can be found anywhere. If you mark a group, try holding position and then drop a vertical presentation, like a jigging spoon (chartreuse) or three-inch tube jig (white). Tip your lure with a small chunk of sucker meat and vary jigging activity until you learn the fish's behavior. You could also try trolling through -- or just above -- the school and along the shorelines as the fish cruise for food. Try different crankbaits or brightly colored spoons. Please keep your limit of small, tasty lake trout. It reduces competition among species and helps both the lake trout and kokanee fisheries.


Smallmouth bass: Anglers are catching a few bass, but the bite isn't strong. Most of the bass are still deep.


Burbot: Start fishing at sunset along the rocky points, cliffs and the old channels. Burbot will hit during the day, generally in the deeper waters; however, they become more active during the twilight hours when they move into the shallows to forage. If you're fishing from the shore or from a boat, fish the bottom, or just slightly above it, in depths from 10 to 50 feet. Use just about anything that glows (spoons, tube jigs, curly-tailed jigs, minnow, jigging spoons) and tip our lure with some type of bait. (Cut bait, like sucker meat, is recommended.) Place your lure within inches of the bottom and recharge the glow frequently. It is common to catch a fish immediately after recharging and dropping a lure. You'll help the Flaming Gorge fishery (including kokanee) by harvesting as many burbot as possible.