Idaho Fish Report

Fishing forecast (March–June): Fishing for big Bear Lake cutthroat trout should heat up soon. By late March, cutthroat should be closer to shore as their spawning run starts. The spawning run typically lasts through late spring or early summer, providing several weeks of good fishing. During the run, you can find great success trolling, jigging and fishing from shore. Fly fishing near the mouths of tributaries (North Eden, Swan Creek, Big Spring Creek, St. Charles and Fish Haven) can be especially fun from late March to mid-April. To cast out farther in the lake, some fly anglers bring ladders with them, place them in the water and then fish from their ladder! When fly fishing for Bear Lake cutthroat trout, a 8-to-10-weight rod is ideal for these large fish. As for fly size, bigger is typically better. Think mouse/vole patterns, large jointed streamers and salmon/stoneflies. Additional spring fishing tips for cutthroat and lake trout: Good trolling spots are from First Point north to the scout camp, along the delta areas near North Eden and South Eden, parallel to the shoreline at Cisco Beach, and from the Utah State Park Marina north to Fish Haven Creek. Since the water is still very cold, troll slowly with flat lines in shallow water 10–25 feet deep. Run your lines 150 feet or more behind your boat. The fish are easily spooked by boats in the shallow water but will move back into the area after the boat passes. Trolling your lure 150 feet or more behind your boat can be a very productive method in the early season. If you’re jigging, try water depths ranging from 25–60 feet deep in the same areas as those listed for trolling. Use a 1/2-to-1-ounce jig with a tube, twister tail or swim bait tipped with a piece of cisco or other fish meat. You can also use a 1/2-ounce jigging spoon such as a Kastmaster or Swedish Pimple. Jig right on the bottom, bumping bottom and coming up about 12–18 inches. Many of the strikes happen when the lure is falling back to the bottom, so pay attention to your line. If you notice the lure/line stops sinking, set the hook and hold on! Boater access: Boat launching is available at the Utah State Park Marina, Rainbow Cove and First Point ramps. The Cisco Beach ramp is open, but four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended if you launch there. Construction continues on the Marina Expansion Project. State Park personnel are working closely with the contractor to minimize any impacts to the operations of the existing marina. Regulation reminders: Bear Lake tributaries are closed annually April 15 through the second Saturday of July to protect spawning cutthroat. At Bear Lake, the trout limit is two fish. There is no longer a fin-clip regulation for cutthroat trout, so any cutthroat trout can be kept, up to your two-fish limit. If you plan on releasing fish, try to land the fish quickly and then get it back in the water without any delays. You may consider using a descending device that allows you to decompress fish and release them into the deeper, cooler water