Kokanee at Ririe Reservoir

During the last week of the Christmas break, I was able to fish Ririe Reservoir several times for Kokanee salmon, trout and perch. When the kokes came through, the fishing was hot and then we would have to wait awhile for another school to come through. The kokanee would range in size from eight to fourteen inches. They were usually found between 10 to 20 feet under the ice. We caught the perch and trout right on the bottom at 50 feet.

I fished most days right next to a bunch of old retired men who fishes Ririe almost every day during the winter. We had a great time between the kokanee runs. Here one of them lands two kokanee at the same time by fishing with two hooks. I tried that, but spent too much time untangling my line.
Here my son-in-law lands a trout that he caught on Ririe. Right now it is very good fishing and the ice is about six inches deep. As you can see, it was snowing very heavy as we were fishing.

My Kokanee set-up is to have a flasher about eight inches above a jig tipped with bait. One man was doing very well catching perch by putting the jig tipped with bait within three inches of the flasher.

Ririe is iced over and fishing well

Today I fished Ririe Reservoir with about four to five inches of ice. I didn't get there until the afternoon, but at 3 the kokanee came through and I limited out quickly. One kokanee was 15 inches, but most are around 10 to 12 inches. The kokanee came through between 10 to 20 feet under the ice.

I also saw perch, trout and suckers caught near the rock pile.


Yesterday I traveled to Carey and fished Fish Creek Reservoir for two hours. I caught 11 brook trout between 10 and 14 inches and two rainbows about 17 inches.

But with Ririe Reservoir now frozen over, I will fish it about twice each week.

Ice fishing Island Park Res.

Yesterday I fished Island Park Reservoir through the ice.  I caught two 12 inch planters, but that is all in three hours of fishing.  I visited with eight other fishermen and they didn't catch any fish at all.  I got my two right at daylight and everyone came later.

Several fishermen said they had good luck last week at the West End, but the snow has made the road impassable.  Fishermen with fish finders reported fish swimming by, but not biting.  I had trouble keeping bait on my jigs because the minnows would strip it off.

Not good at all.

Just a lot of standing around in freezing rain.  But the ice is over 2 feet thick.  Better luck next time.