Idaho's Warmwater Game Fish
by Sharon Watson
The following is a list of Idaho's warmwater game fish. Each species is linked to a section covering information about that particular fish, including:
- How to Fish for Them
- Area to Fish
- Best Baits/Lures
- Water Temperature for Prime Fishing
- Best Time of Day for Fishing
- Where Are They?
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
Walleye
Brown Bullhead
Channel Catfish
Northern Pike
Tiger Muskie
Largemouth Bass
How to Fish for Them:
First, make sure your hooks are sharp. When using a lure, set the hook fast and hard when they hit it. When fishing with bait, let the fish begin moving away before setting the hook. Use light-colored lures on bright days, and dark-colored lures on cloudy days. Cast around underwater structure, move lure slowly, bumping it along the bottom. When using topwater lures, part of your presentation should be a pause, letting the lure sit motionless for several seconds.
Area to Fish:
Around underwater structure, or structure also coming up out of the water: rocks, brush, moss, algae, floating debris. Fish along shorelines. Fish deeper in the day, more shallow at night.
Best Baits/Lures:
Deep runners, pork rinds, eels, rubber/plastic worms, jigs, marabou jigs, bass bugs, flies, spoons, topwaters, crankbaits, spinners, buzzbaits.
Water Temperature for Prime Fishing:
62-75 degrees F.
Best Time of Day for Fishing:
Warm months: dawn and dusk
Cold months: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Where are They?
Here are just a few places to look:
Panhandle Region: Anderson Lake, Black Lake, Blue Lake, Chatcolet Lake, Clark Fork River, Coeur d'Alene Lake, Fernan Lake, Gamble Lake, Granite Lake, Kelso Lake, Lake Pend Oreille Slough, Medicine Lake, Pend Oreille River, Robinson Lake, Smith Lake
Clearwater Region: Campbell's Pond, Elk Creek Reservoir, Mann Lake
Southwest Region, North Half: Black Canyon Reservoir and the river below, Brownlee Reservoir, C. Ben Ross Reservoir, Crane Creek Reservoir, Hells Canyon Reservoir, Mann Creek Reservoir, Paddock Reservoir, Sawyers Pond
Southwest Region, South Half: Beach's Pond, Cove Arm Reservoir, Lake Lowell, Swan Falls Reservoir, Boise River - Lucky Peak to Middleton, Snake River
Magic Valley Region: Bliss Reservoir, Dog Creek Reservoir, Milner Reservoir, Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir - Lower, Snake River - C. J. Strike to Lake Walcott, Lake Walcott
Southeast Region: Condie Reservoir, Deep Creek Reservoir, Foster Reservoir, Glendale Reservoir, Johnson Reservoir, LaMont Reservoir, McTucker Ponds, Winder Reservoir
Upper Snake Region: Mud Lake
Salmon Region: Hayden Ponds
Best Books on Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth Bass
Largemouth Bass - In-Fisherman
Big Bass Secrets
The Art of Tying the Bass Fly
Advanced Bass Fishing
The Field & Stream Bass Fishing Handbook
Wild Fish and Game Cookbook
Smallmouth Bass
How to Fish for Them:
Smallmouth like cooler, deeper water in general than largemouth bass. Although at times smallmouth will hit surface. In rivers, you'll find them in flowing waters, and just above and just below rapids. In summer, they'll head for deep pools until dusk. In lakes and reservoirs, they'll seek the clear, cooler waters, usually around rocks. It's especially important to bump baits slowly along the bottom, with longer pauses now and then.
Area to Fish:
Riffles, above and below rapids, clear waters, in deep water during the day. Along shorelines, on shelves above the deeper pools.
Best Baits/Lures:
Crawfish imitations, jigs, pork rinds, spinners, minnows, surface plugs, worms.
Water Temperature for Prime Fishing:
55-70 degrees F.
Best Time of Day for Fishing:
Winter and Spring months: in the day time.
Summer and Fall: dawn and dusk, try shorelines and flowing water during the day on cooler days.
Where are They?
Here are just a few places to look:
Panhandle Region: Benewah Lake, Chatcolet Lake, Coeur d'Alene Lake, Hayden Lake, Pend Oreille Lake, Round Lake (in Benewah County), Pend Oreille River
Clearwater Region: Dworshak Reservoir, Elk Creek Reservoir, Lewiston Levee Ponds, Waha Lake, Clearwater River - Mainstem and Middle Fork, Potlatch River, Snake River
Southwest Region, North Half: Black Canyon Reservoir and the river below, Brownlee Reservoir, Cascade Reservoir, Hells Canyon Reservoir, Oxbow Reservoir, Little Payette Lake, Payette River - Lake Fork, Little Salmon River to South Fork, Weiser River
Southwest Region, South Half: Arrowrock Reservoir, C. J. Strike Reservoir, Cove Arm Reservoir, Lake Lowell, Lucky Peak Reservoir, Swan Falls Reservoir, Boise River - Lucky Peak to Middleton, Snake River - Brownlee Reservoir to C. J. Strike Reservoir
Magic Valley Region: Anderson Ranch Reservoir, Little Camas Reservoir, Murtaugh Reservoir, Lake Walcott (Minidoka Reservoir), Malad River, Salmon Falls Creek
Southeast Region: None
Upper Snake Region: Ririe Reservoir
Salmon Region: Salmon River - Corn Creek - North Fork
Best Books on Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth Bass - In-Fisherman.
Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth Strategies for the Fly Rod
Bluegill
How to Fish for Them:
The little ones always get your lures, because the bigger panfish stay deeper. Get your lure down near the bottom, not right on the bottom. Test for the depth where they are currently hanging out, then keep fishing for the rest in their group. Fly fishing for panfish is always fun. They like undisturbed waters.
Area to Fish:
Quiet waters around weeds, brush, rocks.
Best Baits/Lures:
Small poppers, flies, worms, grubs, grasshoppers, crickets, small jigs, small spinners.
Water Temperature for Prime Fishing:
60-80 degrees F.
Best Time of Day for Fishing:
All day, but in the summer, fish deep, or wait until dawn and dusk.
Where are They?
Here are just a few places to look:
Panhandle Region: Brush Lake, Dawson Lake, Granite Lake, Kelso Lake, Robinson Lake, Rose Lake, Little Round Lake, Shepherd Lake, Smith Lake (These all also have pumkinseeds)
Clearwater Region: Elk Creek Reservoir, Mann Lake, Moose Creek Reservoir, Spring Valley Reservoir
Southwest Region, North Half: Black Canyon Reservoir and in the river below, Brownlee Reservoir, C. Ben Ross Reservoir, Oxbow Reservoir, Sawyers Pond (All but C. Ben Ross also have pumkinseeds.)
Southwest Region, South Half: Beach's Pond, C. J. Strike Reservoir, Duff Lane Pond, Shoofly Reservoir, Bybee Reservoir, Boise River - Lucky Peak to Middleton
Magic Valley Region: Carey Lake, Morrow Reservoir, Sand Dunes Lake, Malad River
Southeast Region: Condie Reservoir, Johnson Reservoir, Rose Pond, Winder Reservoir
Upper Snake Region: None
Salmon Region: Hayden Ponds
Best Books on Bluegill:
Bluegill Fly Fishing and Flies
Catch of the Day
Black Crappie
How to Fish for Them:
They prefer undisturbed waters, so in windy conditions, you'll have to go deeper. During the spawn, they school up, so find the depth they are hanging at, then stay there until you quite catching fish. Try to re-depth them. They prefer brush and rocks, but sometimes you don't know it's down there, so you have to troll around very slowly until you find them. Often, they will bite so lightly, it's difficult to feel. Pay close attention and hit short and sharp, but not too hard. Short-jerk your lure frequently while trolling.
Area to Fish:
Almost anywhere. Steep banks, around brush and rocks and submerged structure. Sometimes you'll find a school out in the middle of the lake, or some hefty singles while trolling.
Best Baits/Lures:
Use light lines, ultra-light tackle if you want to cast far. It also helps to feel the bite if you use light lines, 4lb-test is my favorite. Use tiny lures with perhaps a teeny piece of worm on the hook. Or, bobber-fish, but watch it closely. Use a small jig straight under you and jig up and down in sharp, little jerks. Don't make boat noises. Minnows, worms work great, also: fly spinner combinations.
Water Temperature for Prime Fishing:
55-75 degrees F.
Best Time of Day for Fishing:
Spring: dawn, early morning, late afternoon and dusk
Summer: dawn, dusk and at night
Fall: late afternoon and dusk
Winter: During the day
Where are They?
Here are just a few places to look:
Panhandle Region: Black Lake, Bonner Lake, Cocolalla Lake, Coeur d'Alene Lake, Freeman Lake, Hauser Lake, Killarney Lake, Pend Oreille Lake, Round Lake (Bonner County), Thompson Lake, Twin Lake - Upper and Lower (All these also have pumpkinseeds), Kootenai River - Below Bonners Ferry, Pend Oreille River,
Clearwater Region: Moose Creek Reservoir (also has pumkinseeds), Soldiers Meadow Reservoir, Winchester Lake, Snake River to Salmon River
Southwest Region, North Half: Black Canyon Reservoir, Brownlee Reservoir, C. Ben Ross Reservoir, Cascade Reservoir, Mann Creek Reservoir, Oxbow Reservoir, Paddock Valley Reservoir, Sawyers Pond, Snake River - below Black Canyon Reservoir
Southwest Region, South Half: Caldwell Ponds, C. J. Strike Reservoir, Cove Arm Reservoir, Indian Creek Reservoir, Boise River - Lucky Peak to Middleton, Snake River
Magic Valley Region: Bray Lake, Milner Reservoir, Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir
Southeast Region: None
Upper Snake Region: None
Salmon Region: None
Best Books on Crappie:
Crappie Wisdom
Crappie Tactics
Yellow Perch
How to Fish for Them:
Bait fishing, or jigs tipped with worms, very slowly along bottom.
Area to Fish:
Near shore and offshore, depending on depth. They lie from 3 to 15 feet deep. During their spawn you'll more often find them near brush and sometimes over a sand or gravel bottom.
Best Baits/Lures:
Jigs tipped with worms, worms, grubs, maggots, minnows, crickets, or small jigs and spoons fished slowly.
Water Temperature for Prime Fishing:
35-75 degrees F.
Best Time of Day for Fishing:
All day, not at night, year-around.
Where are They?
Here are just a few places to look:
Panhandle Region: Anderson Lake, Blue Lake (Bonner County), Blue Lake (Kootenai County), Chase Lake, Chatcolet Lake, Cocolalla Lake, Coeur d'Alene Lake, Dawson Lake, Gamble Lake, Kelso Lake, Kilarney Lake, McArthur Reservoir, Pend Oreille Lake, Priest Lake, Spirit Lake, Kootenai River - Below Bonners Ferry, Pend Oreille River,
Clearwater Region: Waha Lake, Winchester Lake
Southwest Region, North Half: Black Canyon Reservoir and in the river below, Brownlee Reservoir, Hells Canyon Reservoir, Oxbow Reservoir, Big Payette Lake
Southwest Region, South Half: Arrowrock Reservoir, Crane Falls Lake, Lake Lowell, Swan Falls Reservoir, Snake River - Brownlee Reservoir to C. J. Strike Reservoir
Magic Valley Region: Dog Creek Reservoir, Lake Walcott, Magic Reservoir, Murtaugh Reservoir, Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir, Salmon Falls Reservoir - Upper and Lower, Wilson Reservoir, Stone Reservoir, Snake River - C. J. Strike to Lake Walcott
Southeast Region: Alexander Reservoir, American Falls Reservoir, Condie Reservoir, Foster Reservoir, Johnson Reservoir, LaMont Reservoir, Oneida Reservoir, Oxford Reservoir, St. John's Reservoir, Weston Reservoir, Winder Reservoir
Upper Snake Region: Mud Lake, Ririe Reservoir
Salmon Region: None
Best Books on Perch Fishing:
Fishing with Live Bait
Hooked on Ice Fishing II
Panfish
Walleye
How to Fish for Them:
They are difficult to locate, but once you have, keep fishing there. Use a sinker to stay on the bottom and strike immediately. When using bait, however, wait until they are moving off before striking. They like cloudy waters, but move around mostly at night. Locate by trolling deep. Don't grab their mouth, they have sharp teeth. A net would be advisable.
Area to Fish:
Fish the lee shores. Fish deep holes, rocky points, channels, underwater structure.
Best Baits/Lures:
Use hook size 2-2/0. Deep runners, jigs with light sinkers, spinners, minnows, worms.
Water Temperature for Prime Fishing:
55-75 degrees F.
Best Time of Day for Fishing:
Fall and Winter: During the day
The rest of the year: dawn, dusk, and at night.
Where are They?
Here are just a few places to look:
Panhandle Region: None
Clearwater Region: None
Southwest Region, North Half: None
Southwest Region, South Half: None
Magic Valley Region: Goose Creek Reservoir, Oakley Reservoir, Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir
Southeast Region: Oneida Reservoir, Bear River
Upper Snake Region: None
Salmon Region: None
Best Books on Walleye:
Walleye Wisdom
Successful Walleye Fishing
Ice Fishing Secrets
Brown Bullhead
American Fisheries Society - Idaho Chapter - Fishes of Idaho
How to Fish for Them:
Still-fishing, bait fishing. Use bobber, if you like. Don't touch spines and fins.
Area to Fish:
Not too far from shore.
Best Baits/Lures:
Worms, cut-baits.
Water Temperature for Prime Fishing:
50 degrees F. and up.
Best Time of Day for Fishing:
Anytime, but it's better at night.
Where are They?
Here are just a few places to look:
Panhandle Region: Bull Run Lake, Cave Lake, Freeman Lake, Gamble Lake, Kelso Lake, Rose Lake, Round Lake (all), Shepherd Lake, Spirt Lake, Stoneridge Reservoir, Thompson Lake, Kootenai River - Below Bonners Ferry, Pend Oreille River
Clearwater Region: Moose Creek Reservoir, Robinson Pond, Winchester Lake
Southwest Region, North Half: Black Canyon Reservoir and the river below, Brownlee Reservoir, Cascade Reservoir, Crane Creek Reservoir, Paddock Valley Reservoir
Southwest Region, South Half: Caldwell Ponds, C. J. Strike Reservoir, Cove Arm Reservoir, Indian Creek Reservoir, Lake Lowell, Boise River - South Fork to Anderson Ranch Reservoir, Snake River - Brownlee Reservoir to C. J. Strike Reservoir
Magic Valley Region: Hagerman Wildlife Management Area, Salmon Falls Reservoir - Upper and Lower, Wilson Reservoir, Snake River - C. J. Strike to Lake Walcott
Southeast Region: American Falls Reservoir
Upper Snake Region: Mud Lake
Salmon Region: None
Best Books on Bullhead Fishing:
The Art of Freshwater Fishing
Fishing for Catfish
The New Cleaning & Cooking Fish
Catfish Ponds & Lily Pads
Channel Catfish
How to Fish for Them:
Still fishing, bait fishing, but they will also take moving lures, and even surface plugs! They can be persnickity and prefer a specific bait. Don't use too large a sinker, nor is it necessary to use a huge glob of bait. They will quit feeding if water conditions change. Where there is one catfish, there is usually more.
Area to Fish:
Flat areas above deeper channels, muddy bottom, deep holes, river shallows.
Best Baits/Lures:
Bloody baits, cut-baits, worms, stink baits, cheese, grasshoppers, liver, crawfish, shrimp, clams. Hook size: 2-6/0.
Water Temperature for Prime Fishing:
60-75 degrees F.
Best Time of Day for Fishing:
Spring and fall: dawn and dusk
Summer and Winter: at night
And often during the day at any time of year.
Where are They?
Here are just a few places to look:
Panhandle Region: Blue Lake (Bonner County), Cocollala Lake, Dawson Lake, Fernan Lake, Hauser Lake, Smith Lake, St. Maries River - Below Santa
Clearwater Region: Mann Lake, Snake River - to Salmon River
Southwest Region, North Half: Brownlee Reservoir, Cascade Reservoir, Hells Canyon Reservoir, Oxbow Reservoir, Black Canyon Reservoir and below to the Snake River
Southwest Region, South Half: Caldwell Ponds, C. J. Strike Reservoir, Cove Arm Reservoir, Duff Lane Pond, Lake Lowell, Swan Falls Reservoir, Boise River
Magic Valley Region: Dog Creek Reservoir, Milner Reservoir, Salmon Falls Reservoir - Upper, Snake River - C. J. Strike to Lake Walcott
Southeast Region: Alexander Reservoir, McTucker Ponds
Upper Snake Region: None
Salmon Region: None
Best Books on Catfish:
Fishing for Catfish
Complete Book of Fishing
Vic Dunaway's Complete Book of Baits, Rigs and Tackle
Northern Pike
How to Fish for Them:
Cast your lures close to brush or any kind of cover in the water. Topwater fishing is good. After hooking one pike, another larger pike may try to take it. Bait casting or spin casting from shore or boats, drift-fishing, or trolling slowly works well. Pike are vicious, voracious, excitable, and like to ambush their prey. They'll smash-hit frogs, baby ducks, and other birds landing in the water. They may be lying in extremely shallow water.They'll hit hard and give you a good fight. Watch out for their teeth! Don't dabble your fingers in the water. Nets and long-nosed pliers are a must.
Area to Fish:
Around structure in the water. They'll lie beneath flotsam, logs, brush, docks, sticks and near drop-offs.
Best Baits/Lures:
Lively minnows or small fish about 3-5 inches long. Read the above link to Yahoo's page for more detailed description of bait rigs. Heavy monofilament line is necessary, from 15 lb test and up. Use mono shock tippet between line and leader. Use 6-12-inch steel leaders. Topwater lures work great and make for a lot of excitement. Subsurface lures, frozen fishes, large streamer flies.
Water Temperature for Prime Fishing:
35-65 degrees F.
Best Time of Day for Fishing:
Early to mid-morning, and late-afternoon to dark.
Where are They?
Here are just a few places to look:
Panhandle Region: Anderson Lake, Benewah Lake, Black Lake, Blue Lake (both), Bull Run Lake, Cave Lake, Coeur d'Alene Lake, Freeman Lake, Hayden Lake, Medicine Lake, Spirit Lake, Thompson Lake, Twin Lake - Upper and Lower, Pend Oreille River
Clearwater Region: None
Southwest Region, North Half: None
Southwest Region, South Half: None
Magic Valley Region: None
Southeast Region: None
Upper Snake Region: None
Salmon Region: None
Best Books on Pike:
Pike on the Fly
Pike - In-Fisherman
Northern Pike and Muskie
The L. L. Bean Game and Fish Cookbook
Northern Pike and Walleye Fishing (Video)
Tiger Muskie
American Fisheries Society - Idaho Chapter - Tiger Muskie
Fishing News - Mud Lake
Angler's News - Record Tiger Muskies
How to Fish for Them:
The Tiger Muskie is a cross between a northern pike and a muskellunge. The Tiger Muskie is sterile. Fishing techniques are the same as for the pike. Tiger Muskies eat mostly other fish and other live tidbits living in, falling into or landing on the water. Cast near surface structure and let it float down to the bottom. Jig and bounce upwards. Keep casting, sinking and jigging. They will often short-strike, and their toothy-bony mouth makes them difficult to hook. When the take bait, let them run off with it. Once they seem to stop again, strike hard!
Area to Fish:
Cast to surface structure, then let it sink to the bottom. Near the shore along weedlines. Fish from 6 inches deep to 15 feet deep.
Best Baits/Lures:
Bucktail jigs, surface plugs, frog-like lures, rigs with a stinger hook. Frozen smelt, small suckers, perch, ciscoes, shiners. Surface and subsurface plugs, poppers, large streamer flies.
Water Temperature for Prime Fishing:
35-65 degrees F.
Best Time of Day for Fishing:
Early to mid-morning, and late-afternoon to dark.
Where are They?
Here are just a few places to look:
Panhandle Region: Blue Lake (Bonner County), Dawson Lake, Freeman Lake, Hauser Lake
Clearwater Region: None
Southwest Region, North Half: None
Southwest Region, South Half: None
Magic Valley Region: None
Southeast Region: None
Upper Snake Region: Mud Lake
Salmon Region: None
Best Books on Tiger Muskie Fishing:
Northern Pike and Muskie
Eat Like a Wild Man
Email us if you have corrections or additional information we should add to this Summary of Warmwater Fish in Idaho.
skwatson@micron.net OR askus@idfishnhunt.com
Copyright 2001 by Spring Creek Communications