Idaho Falls Snake River Fishing

[mbowman]

This is possibly a silly idea, but I think I'm going to head to the park just south of Broadway in IF one night this week and put in just below the recreated Taylor's bridge between it and the railroad bridge. Water seems pretty deep there, and doesn't seem to move too incredibly fast, though I'm sure that's deceiving. It's less than a mile from mi casa, so it won't be a waste in any case.

I'll let you know how it goes.
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[IdahoPHANTOM]

Where did they plant those sturgeon? Above or below the falls?
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[MMDon]

Both.
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[mbowman]

[url "http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/releases/view.cfm?NewsID=4108"]http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/...view.cfm?NewsID=4108[/url]

This article was pretty vague, but if I had to guess I'd say below because of this sentence:

The stretch of river near the falls in downtown Idaho Falls was chosen because of its relatively slow flows, cooler water and bottom depths upwards of 70 feet.

The water below the falls moves slower for sure. I can't say I had heard anything about sturgeon being put in there before, kind of surprised to hear that.

And from this doc: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/fish/progra...urgeon.pdf

SNAKE RIVER AT IDAHO FALLS
Management Category: Sportfish Population
In 2007, to diversify sport fishing opportunity, the IDFG stocked 74 juvenile white sturgeon in the Snake River near Idaho Falls, Idaho. Fish were planted near the Johns Hole Bridge, between the upper and lower power plant dams, where access is good for both bank and boat anglers. Because the nearest wild population is over 250 river kilometers downstream, it is our opinion there are no
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important genetic considerations when developing stocking plans for hatchery fish in this area. This introduction is considered experimental pending evaluations of fish survival and angler success.
Management Objectives
White sturgeon in the Idaho Falls reach will be managed as a sportfish population under catch-and-release regulations.
1. Continue periodic supplementation with hatchery-reared Snake River
white sturgeon.
a. Evaluate angler effort, catch, and satisfaction.
b. Develop a long-term stocking plan (frequency, number, size) based
on observations of fish growth and condition, and angler success.
c. All hatchery fish will be externally marked and PIT tagged externally marked to identify year class and detect emigration from this reach.
2. Maintain or increase fishing opportunity for white sturgeon.
a. Promote sturgeon angling and proper fish handling techniques.

So it does look like both.
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[Bmarsh]

It depends on which plants you are calling upper and lower plants. There are 4 plants on the river that the city owns. The upper as I have always understood it is the one north of town just off of the west river road. Then there is the one at broadway, one at sunnyside, and then the 4th is the plant at gem lake.

From what I was told they were released above the falls that form the diversion for the broadway plant. Which would make sense with the depths that they are talking about.
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[MMDon]

Bmarsh, I've seen sturgeon landed in several sections of the river that are separated by the falls.
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[prontotp]

agreed. I have seen small sturgeon caught above the falls right by the boat ramp
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[lucabrasi]

How did you do?
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[mbowman]

Didn't end up going - soccer practice that I forgot about and the wife really wanted company. I'll probably hit it next week.

About to post a report on the SF / Heise area though, went there this afternoon and caught a couple.
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[mbowman]

So a few weeks later I finally did it. Water is pretty terrible, straight up brown. Ended up at South Tourist Park. Fished for about an hour, hooked one but he jumped off in a jiffy. Not sure what it was but with my luck it was a sucker.

It can be fished, but the fish are pretty stressed for sure I think.
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[mbowman]

And I've been fishing a spot here close to town for about three days now and catching some fish. Water is dropping and seeming to clear up quite a bit. If you can find an eddy, you can be sure there are fish in it willing to bite...not all trout, but suckers are just as fun to catch.

Here is one of the seven fish I caught tonight.
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Happy fishin'!
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[mbowman]

And again. The cutt is from the SF - went on a decent drive with the family, and would have stayed there longer if not for the mosquitos. Caught the cutt on my second cast, but a boat stirred up the water right afterwards and mosquitos by the thousands started swarming us. Tried to tough it, but no fishing was going to happen and we cut and run.

The one with the wife and I was the first double hookup we managed this year. Suckers, but it sure was fun!

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[FishingPal]

Nice report! It's always fun when you all get into a fish at the same time!

[mbowman]

Got a bow early yesterday afternoon. Had to keep him - I managed to hook him in the throat.

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I'm just excited I can stick close to home and catch a bunch of fish now. There's a definite high sucker ratio, but where I've been putting my line in I hardly ever go more than 15 minutes without a good bite.
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