Fishing report: Bass bite picks up, panfish on fire in Boise-area lakes and reservoirs
How about this awesome spring weather? I hope everyone is getting a chance to get out and enjoy it with some social fishtancing. Fishing has been really good for a variety of species — here’s a quick rundown of what you might catch in southwest Idaho waters.
Bass are biting on Snake River, local ponds
May is an awesome month for bass fishing in Idaho. Whether you prefer catching smallmouth in the Snake River system or largemouth in local ponds and reservoirs, the bite has really been picking up.
For largemouth, try tossing spinnerbaits and crankbaits along the edges of weed beds or rocky cover, or pitch jigs and soft plastics around flooded trees and other heavy vegetation. You might even find topwater action — on a recent evening trip, the frog bite was hopping as my partner and I boated more than 50 feisty largemouth. Similar tactics will work for catching smallmouth, but I always lean toward something crayfish-looking, like a red crankbait or greenish-brown tube jig.
Keep in mind that bass are getting ready to spawn, so it’s a good idea to practice catch-and-release (and many lakes, including Lake Lowell, require it through the end of June).
Panfish like perch and crappie are abundant
If bass fishing is heating up, panfish action is absolutely on fire! Perch, bluegill and especially crappie are showing up in huge numbers throughout the local reservoir systems. If you can find a school and get a good color dialed in on your panfish jigs, you should be able to catch dinner in short order.
A boat with a fish finder definitely helps, but some schools are close enough to shore for bank anglers to get in on the action. If fish are present but fishing is slow, try changing up colors and tipping your jig with a chunk of worm, a grub or a crappie nibble.
Many local ponds also carry bluegill and crappie. Because panfish travel in schools and are so plentiful, anglers usually don’t mind fishing in relatively close proximity when the bite is on. Be sure to keep some distance to stay safe and avoid line tangles.
Try catching trout in stocked ponds, reservoirs
Trout are also on the bite, including some big ones! Stocked reservoirs and ponds are the best bet for now — the Boise River is still fishable, but water levels will likely start rising soon in many river systems, and the South Fork Boise is closed through Memorial Day weekend.
For boat anglers, trolling with pop gear or Rapalas is an effective way to cover water and entice trout in lakes and reservoirs. If you fish from shore, try tossing spinners or crankbaits off rocky points, or fish with bait on a slip sinker or slip bobber setup. Worms, Power Bait and shrimp are good bait choices.
Update on boat ramp closures, Oregon non-resident fishing
A quick update on access closures from last week’s column: Idaho Power has begun reopening many of its parks and boat ramps, including popular spots at C.J. Strike and Brownlee. Oregon is also reopening fishing to non-residents, effective May 5. Crowding remains an issue at many fisheries, so please continue to exercise patience with your fellow anglers. Tight lines!
Jordan Rodriguez has been fishing Idaho waters since he was a teen. Share your fish stories, adventures, tips and tricks with him at tightlinesboise@gmail.com or visit www.tightlines208.com.