One thing we can count on every spring is some pretty darned good reservoir fishing! It is also our most overlooked and under appreciated fisheries. We are blessed with multiple reservoirs that would be considered blue-ribbon fisheries in any state.
Little Wood Reservoir, Anderson Ranch Reservoir and Magic Reservoir are the big three, which we can count on over and over again. There are other places to explore, as well, including Fish Creek Reservoir (although no longer used to hold a lot of water, the impoundment still holds fish), Mormon Reservoir (recently improved and open to fishing), and many small desert impoundments best fished after the roads dry. These are places like Thorn Creek Reservoir, where a little research and good timing can lead to great fishing in the right year.
All these stillwater areas can be fished from shore, from float tubes or from a boat. Almost all the fish that live in these reservoirs swim and feed actively in the top 12 feet of the water column, so no need to be intimidated by area created by depth. Anglers need to concentrate on shallow water bays, seasonal creeks that run into side canyons and channels, as well as open water pelagic areas near the centers of these waters.
Fly selection should include Streamers, Leeches, Midge patterns (both wet and dry) Callibaetis (also both wet and dry) and standard Nymphs like Prince Nymphs or Pheasant Tails. Lines can be floating, fished with long leaders to achieve depth, or anglers can use an intermediate sinking line to get a few feet under. Leaders can be as stiff as 1X when Streamer fishing, or as light as 5X when fishing the Midges.
The closer we get to summer, the more dry-fly opportunity you will have on the reservoirs. Most of this action happens on warm spring evenings. Fishing from a boat or float tube near Hot Springs Landing on Magic Reservoir in the evenings can be phenomenal.
The best part of reservoir fishing is the great unknown. Fishing local rivers, anglers can pretty much start the day with an idea of what they may catch and how big the fish may be. In the reservoirs, there is no limit to how big a fish you may catch. Browns and rainbows can get immense in high-desert reservoirs as they feed on freshwater shrimp, perch and other baitfish.
Now is the time to get out and enjoy these amazing Idaho fisheries!
Happy fishing, everyone!