Idaho Fish Report

Spring at Starvation Reservoir traditionally is very windy. Utilize the weather forecasts to plan your trips around the spring cold fronts that will bring very windy conditions to this area. Typical ice-off conditions occur in March, and some years the reservoir does not freeze and it stays ice-free all season long. Walleye: In March, walleye are staging for spawning, with the peak spawn occurring between late March and the third week of April. Postspawn walleye fishing is traditionally the best time to target them in the spring months. May and June are prime time fishing for this species. Anglers are encouraged to harvest a limit of small walleye (12-to-14 inches) in size as abundance of this size class is still high. Trout: Rainbow trout fishing picks up in April and May with ample shoreline and boat fishing opportunities. Each fall, DWR hatcheries stock between 40,000 and 60,000 10-inch rainbow trout into Starvation Reservoir. In 2026, rainbow trout stockings will vary widely on timing with some batches stocked in the spring and others in the fall. This is due to Jones Hole National Fish Hatchery going offline in 2025 and major stocking cuts/adjustments had to happen. These fish have great growth as the zooplankton community at this fishery is very productive. Rainbows in this system can live up to 5 years and grow to over 27 inches in length. In the spring, brown trout cruise the shallow back bays and are looking for small baitfish. We do not stock brown trout into Starvation, but they do come down from both the Duchesne and Strawberry rivers. Panfish: Forage species in this fishery are on the rebound and populations of yellow perch have increased in abundance over the past year. Black crappie are still present but they are in very low numbers. Bluegill have been stocked over the past few years to increase forage abundance and provide additional angling opportunities. Smallmouth bass: Smallmouth bass fishing picks up in the spring as the water temperatures warm. Smallmouth bass spawn in late May or into June depending on the year's weather patterns. Smallmouth in Starvation mostly feed on crayfish, but do opportunistically feed on perch and insects such as dragonflies. Please report tagged fish: As a reminder, if you catch a walleye with a red tag in it, please report it at the website on the tag or call the Vernal DWR office at 435-781-9453. Please visit Starvation State Park website for the most up-to-date reservoir conditions