Idaho Outdoors fishing report: Wednesday, Nov. 25

Boise River (steelhead, trout)

Trout fishing continues to be excellent through town, and another 150 hatchery steelhead went into the Boise River on Thursday. Fish were stocked around Glenwood Bridge, Broadway Bridge, Park Center Bridge and Barber Park. Grab your favorite steelhead lures and head on down to join the crowds. You don’t need barbless hooks to fish for steelhead in the Boise — all the fish are hatchery fish, so no catch-and-release is required. You do need a valid license and a salmon/steelhead permit, which costs $12.50. And if steelhead fishing in a crowd isn’t your thing, the fish are still biting up on the Salmon, Snake and Clearwater Rivers. Also of note: Fall Chinook salmon fishing is closed for the season.

Getting there: Trout and steelhead are stocked between Barber Park and the Glenwood Bridge. Check the Idaho Fish and Game website for a detailed list of steelhead seasons and rules.

C.J. Strike Reservoir (mixed bag)

I’ve been seeing some good reports on C.J. Strike from boat and bank anglers. Trout anglers are having success on trolling gear, worms, flavored marshmallows and Power Bait. Panfish, especially yellow perch, stay pretty active throughout the fall and winter. Worms, small jigs and cut bait work best for perch. And savvy bass anglers can still land some smallmouth by slow-fishing soft plastics, jigs and crankbaits. Watch the weather reports, especially if you are fishing from a boat. It can be windy and unpredictable in the Bruneau area.

Getting there: Take Interstate 84 to Mountain Home and head south to C.J. Strike.

South Fork Boise River (trout)

I haven’t been up to the South Fork this fall, but the low flows typically make it a great time to get around and fish the deep holes. Anglers should have a good shot at those big, legendary South Fork rainbows. Remember the special rules for fishing the South Fork — no bait allowed, only one barbless hook per lure or fly, and the trout limit is two (none under 20 inches) through Nov. 30. Beginning Dec. 1, it’s catch-and-release only until next spring. Bring a camera. If you find hungry fish, they’re usually big.

Getting there: Fish downstream from the Anderson Ranch Reservoir dam.

Indian Creek (trout)

I’ll throw a curveball in this week and mention tiny Indian Creek. The water is low right now, and there are lots of accessible areas along the creek in Caldwell, Nampa and Kuna. Start near bridges and do some exploring to find the good holes. Idaho Fish and Game has stocked more than 2,500 rainbow trout in the creek this year, and there are populations of larger, native fish, too. General Southwest Region rules and regulations apply. Take your favorite flies, spinners, spoons and baits and give it a go.

Getting there: Fish between Kuna and Caldwell.

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 11:14 PM with the headline "Idaho Outdoors fishing report: Wednesday, Nov. 25."