Two-Week Closure Puts Idaho's Best Stocked Trout Waters Off Limits to Anglers

Highway development at one among Idaho’s premier trout fishing locations will considerably impression angler entry for the following two weeks. Beginning Monday, September 22, at 7 a.m., a portion of Horsethief Highway might be closed as crews start paving work on the west aspect of Horsethief Reservoir in Valley County.

The closure begins on the cattle guard close to the intersection of Horsethief Highway and Nationwide Forest Growth Highway 433, extending south to the YMCA camp. Idaho Fish and Game anticipates the work will take slightly below two weeks, with west aspect entry reopening to the general public on October 1.

Whereas the primary entry highway might be closed, Nationwide Forest Growth Highway 433 will stay open, offering a path to the east aspect of the reservoir. Nevertheless, this different successfully limits entry to walk-in solely. With camp hosts having departed for the season, the gate to the boat ramp at Trout Touchdown on the east aspect is already closed, eliminating boat launching alternatives through the development interval.

The highlighted part of Horsethief Highway might be closed from the cattle guard to the YMCA camp, blocking entry to Idaho’s premier trout fishing waters till October 1. Photograph: Idaho Fish and Recreation

This timing coincides with the top of the tenting season, as Horsethief Reservoir Campground closed on September 14, two weeks earlier than the highway work started.

Horsethief Reservoir spans 260 acres and ranks amongst Idaho’s best trout fisheries. The Idaho Division of Fish and Recreation commonly shares the reservoir with rainbow trout, brown trout, and kokanee salmon. Present bag limits enable six trout, six kokanee, and 25 brook trout.

The reservoir operates beneath a 5 mph pace restrict and maintains no-wake standing year-round. Even when full entry returns, boaters ought to bear in mind these restrictions apply to all watercraft.

Horsethief Reservoir’s 260 acres of prime trout habitat, surrounded by pine forests and granite peaks, could have restricted entry through the two-week highway closure. Photograph: Idaho Fish and Recreation

Positioned roughly 75 miles north of Boise and 9 miles east of Cascade, Horsethief Reservoir usually provides glorious late-season fishing alternatives. Whereas the highway closure briefly complicates entry, walk-in fishing from the east aspect stays doable for devoted anglers prepared to make the additional effort.

The timing of this development mission, occurring after the tenting season ends however earlier than winter closure, minimizes impression on peak fishing durations. As soon as work completes on October 1, full entry will resume simply as fall fishing usually picks up momentum.

For present circumstances and entry updates, test with Idaho Fish and Game earlier than making the journey to this fashionable mountain reservoir.

Keith Lusher

Keith Lusher is an award-winning outside journalist who resides in Covington, Louisiana. He owns and operates NorthshoreFishingReport.com and writes a weekly outside column for the Slidell Impartial Newspaper. He additionally writes for the St.Tammany Parish Tourism Fee’s VisitTheNorthshore.com. He’s the previous host of The Northshore Fishing Report Radio Present and is on the board of the Louisiana Outside Writers Affiliation. Keith contributes to quite a few publications each on-line and in print and prides himself on selling South Louisiana’s distinctive fishery. To contact Keith electronic mail: keithlusherjr@gmail.com