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The shocker of the week came out of C.J. Strike Reservoir, where people were catching catfish.
Why would catfish be biting in temperatures that are better suited for ice fishing? Got me, but I guess they start staging for spawning in February and March and can still be caught in cold temperatures. If you have a hankering for catfish filets and hush puppies, it's worth a look.
The weather forecast is for temperatures in the 50s on Friday and rain by the weekend in Southwest Idaho. The March Big Chill is supposed to break statewide. Common sense says fishing will improve, but how much? When we go from temperatures in the high 60s last week to single digits this week and back to the 50s again, I don't think that fish take real positively to the fluctuation. Not to say you can't catch fish. They have to eat, but how active they will be is another matter.
Weather fluctuations don't seem to be hurting the steelhead fishing on the upper Clearwater and the South Fork. There's still good fishing there for every type of angler, and almost every type of angler is there doing it. Expect crowds.
Finally, Magic Reservoir refroze and has good ice conditions. Fishing has improved for perch and trout. Use red jigs and wax worms. It's not a bad idea because ice fishing probably won't be an option in a couple of weeks, but almost everything else will be available.
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