Fishing Report Jan. 29, 2011

Idaho has changed stream seasons and regulations. Check them out at http://idahofishandgame.org. The changes are wonderful and many of the streams that have previously been closed are open under catch and release regulations.

I have recently fished "chalkstream" and have picked up good numbers of fish on the surface and fishing nymphs and streamers. The water is a little off color but there are good numbers of fish finding midges in the foam lines, and the fish seem to be active subsurface. Micro leeches, wooly buggers in purple and olive and the green bomb have all picked up good numbers of fish. Fish seemed to be more active closer to town.

Fishing Report 6-22-10

There are a few reports coming from the Portneuf of good hatches of PMD's and some good fish being found. Water levels are slowly declining and clarity on the upper river is improving. Most of the area creeks are finishing their runoff stages and are fishing well. I have fished Toponce, Eight-mile and Georgetown creek in the last week or so with good success in each of them. The fish don't seem to care much what you throw at them as long as it is small and dry. Water temperatures are still cold right now, this might be the best it gets on some of the creeks as water temperatures will surely increase.

Fishing Report 6-8-2010

I have really enjoyed trying to find new water to fish when the streams are turbulent. I have found some success in the very top end of some of my favorite creeks. I also recently discovered a new stream near Pocatello with some monster browns in it, it was extremely brushy but fished very well in the deep holes drifting a San Juan. The Portneuf is off-color and high with very little bug activity. I would have to rate it at a double ghaaagh, right now. The very top of Toponce fished very well. Monday, I fished Paul's reservoir near the Montana line with Tobee and had a great time even though the catching was slow. Tobee taught me a new leech pattern that apparently is prettier than it is useful, but should be a very productive pattern.

Memorial Day Weekend 2010

After a very long 2 years of working on a Master's degree it is finally finished. It is mostly with disgust that I even look at the computer after being attached to it at the wrists for such a period of time, but I am now ready to continue in the blogosphere. This is the weekend that we all wait for; the weekend when creeks, rivers and streams open in Idaho yet are mostly too high and cloudy to fish. There are a few secret places however that seem to clear up and remain fish-able in the early season. These out of the way places are held dear to my heart because they are so few and far between.

Since August 2009 I have fished a grand total of 5 times and at no time did I feel like any of those trips were noteworthy. Now I enter the game again with nearly three months until school starts again and life gets turned on its head. Memorial day weekend is a time when we can reflect and honor those that have served. It also happens to be the weekend I get to call myself a fisherman again. I hope I can keep my priorities straight.

Bear River 1/30/2010

I am back in the game. It seems like forever since I have fished, because it has been. One of the saddest events of my life happened on Halloween, 2009. While on a family outing to the creek, I fished a little and played with the kids we all had a great time. About a week later I got done with school and was going to head to the river for one last hurrah, and realized that I must have left my chest pack up at the creek that fateful Halloween day. Long story short it has taken some time to replace even a portion of what I used to carry in that bag, and I now have just enough to get back in the game.

I have fished Black Canyon twice this winter both times with encouraging success. For the most part the fish were taking midges both times that I have been in the canyon. This has been good for me because my midge fishing was something that really needed some work. Today was beautiful, the temperature was cold but the fish were very active. In an attempt to see what the fish really wanted to eat I fished nymphs, streamers and midges. The winner of the day by a long shot was a #16-20 Griffiths gnat.

Portneuf River Report 9/7/2009

Water Color: Very Good

Water Quality: Excellent

Water Temp: Cooler than last week 55 degrees

Weather: 75 degrees, windy, partly cloudy

Time: 4:30-6:30

Bugs: Hoppers, Hoppers and Hoppers

Flies: Daves Hopper, Parachute Hopper, Pheasant Tail droppers

The Portneuf fished well today with good numbers of large fish eating hoppers and droppers. I hooked up more on the dropper than the hopper, but the action will only get better from here. I really think that as the forecast is supposed to be cooler at nights that the fish will get very active. The larger fish are really starting to move. This may be the best that it gets until the river closes.

Portneuf River Report 8/29/2009

Water Carity: fair

Water Temp: unknown, but warm still

Weather: Mostly cloudy 65 degrees.

Time: 9:00-11:00

Bugs: Caddis, small mayflies (not many), grasshoppers.

Not many fish moving this morning on the River but it is beginning to show signs of life. I hooked into one really nice fish and saw a handful of others working. The water quality is getting much better. The banks of the river were swarming with hoppers by 11:00 but fish are still not keying on them. We need some colder nights in order to really start the fish on the hunt. My guess is that due to the nice weather and warm nights that the fish are active at night. I would be interested to fish the Portneuf at night and find out if the big boys more active in the warm months. I expect the quality of the fishing on the river to change dramatically in the next few weeks.