Idaho Fish Report

Largemouth bass have fully transitioned to their late fall/winter patterns as the aquatic vegetation begins to die back for the year. Fishing will continue to slow as the water temperatures continue to cool to winter minimums. Few if any fish are likely to be taken by topwater fishing. Fishing below surface is recommended. During the middle of the day bass can be caught on crankbaits, jigs, and finesse lures like drop shots. Look to find bass along submerged logs and deeper weed line edges. Most of the largemouth bass being caught are ½ pound to 2 pounds with an occasional bigger fish.

Anglers may still catch a few yellow perch along the edge of the weed lines. Yellow perch can be caught using a worm fishing near the bottom or using a small jig/jigging spoon tipped with a worm fished near the bottom.

The Tenmile Lakes wild coho season officially opened on October 1 but it will take a lot more rain to get the coho from the ocean into the lakes. Coho fishing is expected to be steady in the upcoming weeks fishing Big, Shutters, Benson, and Blacks Creek arms. Casting spinners to fish rolling at times is effective.

A few winter steelhead will be in Tenmile Creek downstream of Hwy 101 by early December with numbers picking up after that time.

Trout anglers can now use bait in rivers and streams above tidewater. Trout fishing in rivers and streams closed October 31. Trout fishing in the lakes is open year-round. Trout anglers are having success trolling in deeper water using wedding rings tipped with a nightcrawler.