Alcova Lake Fishing Report

Current Fishing Report: Very Good To Excellent

The use of new technology is helping anglers catch more rainbow trout. Forward-facing, and side scanning, sonar is currently the best way to locate trout, especially when they school in deep water. Rainbows are caught trolling, casting or jigging, once located on these sophisticated fish finders. Fly fishing is not covered in this website, but rainbow trout are being caught on plenty of other lures and bait.

SPRING. As water begins to warm in early Spring, rainbow trout move from their late winter holding spots, to feeding areas in 15 to 30 feet of water. A good number of rainbows are being caught from mid morning to late afternoon, during the warmest water of the day. Inlets and creek mouths, as well as rocky shorelines and rip rap tend to warm quickly and attract feeding and pre-spawn fish. Shallow flats and rocky structure are also quick to warm in the afternoon sun. Inflowing creek mouths, points, shallow coves, and flats adjacent to deep water are popular spots. Late Spring finds them feeding in 20 to 30 feet of water, after they spawn. A wide variety of small spinners, spoons and bait are catching most of the fish.

SUMMER. Once Summer is here to stay, the warmer water drives rainbow deeper, 15 to 35 feet deep, occasionally deeper. Trolling the main basin with spoons, spinners and crankbaits, using downriggers or leaded line, and drift fishing with bait, are currently the most productive methods. In summer trout commonly suspend above the thermocline, over humps, deep channel edges and mid-lake structure. Following drop-offs into deeper water, along structure or creek channels, is a major key to getting bites. Early and late in the day they feed in 5 to 15 feet of water. Anglers fishing from the bank are using nightcrawlers or Berkley PowerBait. Some are using fairly heavy weights, on a Carolina rig, to get baits into deeper water.

FALL. Cooling water temperatures in the shallows, draw rainbow trout out of deeper Summer depths. Anglers catch them 10 to 25 feet deep on rocky banks, wind-blown points, and flats in the upper regions of the lake. Rainbows also feed on deeper rocky structure, humps, and ledges, anywhere baitfish gather. Now that these trout have had a full summer to grow, there are some nice size rainbow to be caught. Small spinners, spoons, jigs, miniature crankbaits and swimbaits are good choices, as are salmon eggs and prepared baits. Later in Autumn, they move into 5 to 15 feet of water.

WINTER. Once Winter has set in, Ice fishing can be very productive. Jigging spoons, and jigs tipped with bait, typically catch nice rainbows out of 10 to 30 feet of water. These baits work well around the old river channel in the main basin, along rip rap around the dam, and along the edges of channel troughs. Vertical jigging with spoons, jigs and bait, have been the best approach during the early, cold-water season. Ice fishing for rainbows was decent last Winter, and is expected to be good again this year. Slowly worked offerings are more likely to attract bites in this cold water.

Current Fishing Report: Good

Brown trout can be very aggressive, and put up a good battle. These browns are more aggressive than rainbows, and will attack larger lures - especially jerkbaits.

SPRING. After ice out, trolling, drift fishing and jigging spoons all work well. As water begins to warm in early Spring, brown trout move from their deep winter holding areas to shallower, warmer water. They are being found early in the season around 15 to 35 feet deep. After ice-out, weekend anglers are catching brown trout on spinners, small jerkbaits, nightcrawlers and a variety of other prepared offerings. They congregate around inlets, shallow flats and rip rap. Some of the most productive fishing happens from mid morning to late afternoon, on mid-depth humps. Later in Spring, browns prefer water 10 to 25 feet deep.

SUMMER. Once Summer is here to stay, the warmer water drives brown trout deeper, 25 to 60 feet deep, and deeper. Early in the morning and at dusk, they are being caught shallower during these low-light conditions, usually on windy points in 10 to 20 feet of water. Trolling around river channel ledges and structure, using downriggers or leaded line, or drift fishing with bait, are typically the most productive methods. Anglers fishing from the bank are using fairly heavy weights, on a Carolina rig to get baits into deeper water.

FALL. Cooling water temperatures again draw browns shallower. They tend to spawn shallow in October or November, in tributaries flowing into the lake. Fremont Canyon inflow area is a popular spawning grounds. Some of the best catches of the year are reported during this time frame. Jerkbaits, miniature crankbaits, swimbaits and spinners are all popular. Before and after the spawn, successful anglers catch them early in 10 to 25 feet deep on points, rocky structure, humps, and mouths of bays where baitfish are gathering. Early in the morning and at dusk, they are being caught even shallower. Once they have had a full summer to grow, it's a good time to catch a trophy. When they move out to structure in deep water, spoons, jigs and bait are catching browns.

WINTER. Once Winter sets in, anglers have been catching a few browns prior to the lake freezing over. Ice fishing for browns is not as good as it is for other species. Jigging spoons and jigs tipped with bait typically catches a few browns, in 5 to 15 feet of water while ice fishing. Popular areas include channel edges around long points, and on shelves around drop offs. Slower presentations improve catch rates as these trout have a low metabolism in the colder months.

Current Fishing Report: Very Good To Excellent

A lot of walleye are being caught using new technologies, cutting down the time it takes to locate them. Forward-facing, and side scanning, sonar is assisting anglers, fishing from a boat, to locate fish. Fishing is better as anglers can focus on areas with good numbers of fish. This is true for either trolling or casting. Anglers fishing from the bank still have to search the old fashion way, via test casting, until a school is located.

SPRING. Early Spring is warming water in the shallows, and drawing walleye here to feed, especially rocky areas and inlet channels. They are being caught 15 to 30 feet deep on points, drop offs, submerged structure, rock ledges, and wind-blown flats adjacent to deeper water. The upriver end of the lake, or on in-lake gravel bars and rip rap, is where many walleye spawn, starting in late February. Here, in 2 to 10 feet deep, they will spawn once the water warms to the mid to high 40's. When they are shallow, bright colored jigs, tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers typically catch them. Spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and crankbaits are also working when walleye are up shallow. Afterwards, they move to 10 to 20 feet deep around points, flats, shoals and ledges, nearby shore, often staying in close proximity to their spawning locations. Main lake drop offs tend to produce some nice fish.

SUMMER. Water temperatures rise notably in Summer, and walleye fishing is good if you can get your bait deep enough. Early in Summer, walleye tend to concentrate in 10 to 20 feet of water. As Summer develops they descend in deeper water, around 15 to 30 feet deep. Throughout Summer, early in the morning, and from dusk to long after dark are good times to catch walleye a little shallower. At those times they move slightly shallower to feed in low-light conditions. Night fishing is often good in Summer, as well. When the bite is slow, grubs and nightcrawlers, fished just off the bottom typically catch walleye.

FALL. Fall brings cooler temperatures to shallow water, drawing walleye and baitfish into coves and bays. Walleye continue to be a major draw for anglers, even as the weather cools. This is a prime time to catch some of the bigger fish, and the fishing is good this time of year. Locals report catching nice walleye on long points, flats along the river and creek channels, and structure off shore. Annually, anglers report good results fishing deep weed edges and points in 10 to 20 feet of water. Jigs, swimbaits, spoons, crankbaits, jerkbaits, and spinnerbaits are all historically good for catching walleye this time of year. Late Fall they hold 8 to 15 feet deep. Dragging jigs, bottom bouncers, or worm harnesses with nightcrawlers or leeches, around ledge drop-offs catches walleye fairly consistently. Watch for the bigger walleye to be slightly deeper than the majority of the school.

WINTER. This Winter, fishing for walleye has been pretty good, as it has been for the last few years. Before, during and after the ice, anglers report catching them in the main basin area, in 15 to 35 feet of water, along deep creek channel edges, rocky humps and ledges. Popular areas include weed edges, next to rock piles, along northern and central basin drop-offs. Steep drops in the area toward the dam are also producing during these cold months. These same areas in 10 to 20 feet of water are classic spots during the ice fishing season. Tip-ups with minnows work well when ice fishing is safe. Walleye primarily feed on small fish, staying close to the bottom. After ice-out blade baits, jigs, swimbaits, spoons, deep-diving crankbaits, and worm harness spinners, all work while deep trolling or drifting.