(Idaho Fish & Game Press Release, April 11, 2023)
Old man winter is finally hitting the bricks, and as the temperatures creep up, fish get a little more active and Idaho Fish and Game stocking trucks start delivering more fish across the state.
Maybe ol’ Saint Nick delivered a new fishing pole to a kid during Christmas, or your trusty old fishing rod has been stuck in the rafters since last year, but either way, the time is here to get out on the water and try to catch some fish.
Spring fishing is an exceptional opportunity for new or seasoned anglers wanting to get back on the water with their friends or families.
Trout are a favorite quarry in early spring because they remain active year-round, but they perk up as water starts to warm after the cold winter. Fish and Game stocks tens of thousands of trout for anglers every month, and spring and early summer are the busiest time of year for hatchery crews. But trout aren’t the only type of fishing available.
Warmwater fishing can bounce back remarkably fast with a streak of warm, sunny weather, and many other species, such as perch, crappie and bluegill, become very active during spring.
A good rule of thumb is fish like warming or stable weather during spring, but fishing tends to fall off when there’s a cold spell. With so many fishing opportunities near Idaho’s cities and towns, spring is a good chance to check out your local waters.
Not sure where to go fishing? Check out these easily accessible and regularly stocked lakes and ponds around the state.
PANHANDLE
Lowland Lakes & Ponds:
- Post Falls Park Pond (Kootenai County)
- Spicer Pond (Benewah County)
- Shepherd Lake (Bonner County)
- Brush Lake (Boundary County)
- Kelso Lake (Bonner County)
- Round Lake (Bonner County)
- Hauser Lake (Kootenai County)
- Dawson Lake (Boundary County)
To find maps to these lakes and more, use Fish and Game’s Fishing Planner.
CLEARWATER
Middle Fork Clearwater and Lochsa Rivers
SOUTHWEST
Treasure Valley Ponds: Here is a list of waters that were stocked in late March and early April. To learn more about Treasure Valley Ponds, see this 2021 article highlighting many of the favorites.
MAGIC VALLEY
SOUTHEAST
This 5-acre family-friendly pond is located near Springfield. Last fall, the pond was mostly drained to reduce the presence of dense nuisance vegetation, which made fishing difficult. Most of the fish survived in the nearby outlet until the pond was refilled, and recently 500 rainbow trout were stocked. There are docks for fishing and a paved pathway around the pond.
Located on land managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, this pond was once a series of eight smaller water bodies but is now one connected water body occupying more than 8 acres.
Anglers can reel in rainbow trout, bluegill, sunfish, largemouth bass, bullhead and channel catfish. Though the site is dominated by willows and cottonwood trees, there are plenty of openings along the banks to plant a camp chair and cast a line. This is a great fishery for the kids, too!
There is a nearby camping area and vault restrooms available. Visitors have been treated to sights of moose, deer, pheasants, beaver and a variety of waterfowl species.
Snake River below American Falls Dam
Whether you are after bass, rainbows, cutties or browns, this fishery has something for everyone! Who knows, you might even reel in some crappie or perch. Looking for a place to catch a sturgeon? You can do that along this stretch of river, too.
If you don’t have a boat, don’t worry — there are places to fish from the shore. But, keep in mind this section of river has some special rules. From the downstream side of the Gifford Springs boat fishing zone (western boundary) upstream to Eagle Rock, the bass limit is 2, any size. Trout limit is 6; only two may be cutthroat trout. From Eagle Rock upstream to American Falls Dam, trout limit is 0 this time of year (catch-and release only). From the Saturday before Memorial Day, the trout limit is 2 until Oct. 15.
UPPER SNAKE
Ryder Park Ponds: Becker & Riverside
Managed by the Idaho Falls Parks and Recreation Department, Ryder Park has two ponds for double the fishing fun. Becker and Riverside ponds are within 50 yards of each other, and both are stocked with rainbows.
Becker Pond is well manicured and surrounded by a walking path that leads to several picnic shelters and an ADA-accessible dock. Riverside Pond offers a more primitive setting, giving anglers some elbow room. Small spinners are a good option when temperatures are cool, but sinking a worm or other bait close to the bottom seems to work well in both ponds.
Camping options are numerous on this stretch of river and offer a great place for family gatherings. Heavy stocking from Fish and Game hatcheries increases the likelihood of young anglers seeing fish on the end of their line.
Anglers seeking rainbow trout will have more luck fishing downstream while those seeking brook trout will find them more abundant upstream. Birch Creek falls under the general fishing regulations with a 6 trout limit.
South of Idaho Falls, Gem Lake Recreation Area is a slow-moving body of water between the Upper and Lower Gem State Dams. About 12,000 rainbow trout are stocked in Gem Lake every year beginning in March. Long stretches of shoreline are open to anglers from both the Gem Lake north boat launch and the Gem Lake Recreation Area on Township Road.
Relative to some other water, rainbow and brown trout can grow a little larger here, but will need a slow presentation to tempt a bite in the early spring. Try a slow retrieve jig or good-sized worm to produce results.
SALMON
Remember to keep it simple when fishing with kids. Using simple setups like worm and marshmallow combinations or Power Bait near the bottom or below a bobber will usually do the trick.
