Fish and Game stocking rainbow trout for fall fishing
Idaho Fish and Game are stocking 21,000 rainbow trout at various locations across Southeast Idaho during the month of September.
The catchable-sized fish were grown in hatcheries. Fish and Game hopes to encourage people to fish in the fall. Click here for 14 reasons why fall fishing rocks.
The popular Pocatello fishing hole, Edson Fichter, was stocked with 1,000 rainbow trout on Monday.
“We still owe about 2,000 rainbow trout to this pond,” said Dan Dillon, of the American Falls fish hatchery.
Last week, they stocked 16 inch magnum rainbow trout in the Edson Fichter pond, but there’s more all around the state.
“We go from Trail Creek, which is just by the Wyoming border on this side of Teton Pass, all the way to Niagara Springs, which is south of Wendell over the Magic Valley,” Dillon said.
Local angler and owner of Snake River Fly Co. in Old Town Pocatello, Larry Larsen, said now is a great time for beginners to catch trout.
“Typically, it’s a pretty productive time for fishing in Southeastern Idaho. Rivers and lakes are cooling down and a lot of vegetation is dying back, so the fish are really looking to put on some weight for winter,” Larsen said.
The best time to fish is in the evening when it starts to cool off, according to Larsen.
“Any of the cloudy days typically with low pressure tend to be a little bit more productive on our lakes and streams,” Larsen said.
He said fish will be focused on subsurface aquatic insects because their summer food has died off for the year.
“Those rainbows that they’re stocking in a lot of our ponds are going to be pretty eager, and it might not be a bad idea to remember what their food source has been in some of the hatcheries,” Larsen said.
“Smaller items that represent the pellets that they feed them in the hatcheries actually work pretty well, small flies that look like that.”
Some notable stocking highlights include:
Bear River (Oneida Narrows reach below the dam) – 2,250 rainbow trout. This is a very scenic stretch of river just north of Preston. Crowthers Reservoir – 1,100 rainbow trout. Tucked away on the northern edge of Malad City, this reservoir is a nice local fishing spot whether you are fishing alone or taking your favorite little anglers. Devil Creek Reservoir – 5,150 rainbow trout. This reservoir provides some of the best trout fishing in the region! Edson Fichter Pond – 1,000 rainbow trout. During the September stocking events, 250 of these fish will be huge 16″ rainbows! Just minutes from downtown Pocatello, this site offers local anglers a convenient escape close to home.
Location Week to be Stocked Number of Trout
Alexander Reservoir Sep 9-13 3,000
Bannock Reservoir Sep 9-13 500
Bannock Reservoir Sep 23-27 500
Bear River Sep 16-20 250
(Below Alexander Dam)
Bear River Sept 9-13 750
(Oneida Narrows
at Red Point and
1st Bridge Below
Oneida Dam)
Bear River Sep 23-27 1,500
(Oneida Narrows
at Red Point and
1st Bridge Below
Oneida Dam)
Crowthers Reservoir Sep 16-20 1,100
Crystal Springs Pond Sep 2-6 375
Crystal Springs Pond Sep 23-27 375
Deep Creek Reservoir Sep 23-27 1,000
Devil Creek Reservoir Sep 23-27 5,150
Edson Fichter Pond Sep 30-Oct 4 750
Edson Fichter Pond Sep 16-20 250
Johnson Reservoir Sep 23-27 750
Montpelier Rearing Pond Sep 9-13 250
Montpelier Rearing Pond Sep 23-27 250
Montpelier Reservoir Sep 23-27 900
Portneuf River Sep 23-27 1,250
(Below Pebble/
Above Lava)
Portneuf River Sep 9-13 330
(Crane Creek Access,
below Center Street
Bridge in Lava)
Portneuf River Sep 23-27 330
(Crane Creek Access,
below Center Street
Bridge in Lava)
Snake River Sep 16-20 2,000
(Tilden, Twin Bridges,
Rose, Firth, and Shelley)
The number of trout actually released may be altered by weather, water conditions, equipment problems or schedule changes. If delays occur, trout will be stocked when conditions become favorable.
