Idaho Muskie?

[Aspen Country]

I happened to find this site while doing an internet search. I currently reside in Arizona and hate it. That is another story. We are looking to relocate to Idaho and of my cheif concerns is the fishing. I used to fish a lot of tournaments and I guided for many years on Lake of the Woods in Ontario. In any case, I know about the Trout and Steelhead fishing in Idaho and I understand that there is some fairly good Bass fishing in the state as well. What is the status of the Muskie fishing?

I am not interested in specifics, however, I am curious as to the availability of the Muskie fishing and the quality of it. 99% of my fishing now is done with a fly rod and I fish Lake of the Woods with the fly for Muskie and I hope to do so in Idaho as well. If you folks could provide any info. with regards to general bodies of water or just a yes or no that there are fishable numbers, that would be great! I really do appreciate any insight that you all may provide.

Wishing you and yours the very best this holiday season.

Regards,

[Mike Carey]

I checked the Idaho Fish and Game siteand I don't see muskies listed, just pike. I know lake Pend OReille has big pike in it. You could e-mail them for a list if they do have muskie lakes, or to let you know if they can say which are pike lakes.

good luck

[cudaman]

Hauser lake has muskies and i beleive there,s a few others .Washington has some great lakes and the Pend Oreille river for pike

[Marc Martyn]

Actually Idaho has stocked many lakes and reservoirs with Tiger Muskies. What part of Idaho will you be moving to? Here is a link to the stocking information for all of Idaho.

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/stocking/

Fly fishing for Muskies huh?:-k Just the man I want to talk with. I have been trying to catch a Tiger on a fly rod for a couple of years now. Spotted several cruising along in the shallow, but can't get them excited about my fly offerings. Not sure if they don't like the color, shape, presentation or size of the fly. Then again, they just may not be hungry. I'd be interested to know what patterns you use and how and when you have your best luck.

[Aspen Country]

I appreciate all of the responses and I am very excited to to a bit more research. I also thank those of you who have provided links and information with regards to my questions! Besides the fishing opportunities, I will also be excited to live in a state where I can actually enjoy Christmas and see snow out my window!

Cheers!

[Mike Carey]

Actually Idaho has stocked many lakes and reservoirs with Tiger Muskies. What part of Idaho will you be moving to? Here is a link to the stocking information for all of Idaho.

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/stocking/

Fly fishing for Muskies huh?:-k Just the man I want to talk with. I have been trying to catch a Tiger on a fly rod for a couple of years now. Spotted several cruising along in the shallow, but can't get them excited about my fly offerings. Not sure if they don't like the color, shape, presentation or size of the fly. Then again, they just may not be hungry. I'd be interested to know what patterns you use and how and when you have your best luck.

nice Marc, you dug deeper than I did. I looked at the fish species page they have set up for fish in Idaho. It didn't show tigers at all, just pike. Seems like they would promote the tigers more than having them buried in the planting drop-down list.

[YJ Guide Service]

Spokane has a New Muskies Inc Chapter 60 if your interested in getting to know some of the dedicated Muskie fisherman in the spokane/Couer area. We meet in Spokane the 4th Tue of every month at the ROUNDTABLE PIZZA on 1908 w Francis. Our website is www.mountainmuskie.com.

[Fish_Bait111397]

Im in Arizona now, I love the fishing here!!

[dougw]

There is some fantastic tiger muskie fishing here in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. Keep checking back on our website as it is a work in progress. There are some good guides for the lakes on there.

www.Mountainmuskies.com

If you move here, be sure and look us up. Our club would be more than happy to have another member passionate about muskies. If you are fishing them w/ a fly rod, you have that passion!

Doug

[sparky1doug]

Aspen Country, I fish out here in Washington for Tiger Muskie and Northern Idaho for Pike with the fly about 50% of the time. I've yet to get a Tiger to take one but they sure follow it and are curious. The Pike just love the fly especially the Perch patterns, have done well with catching them. I've only been at the Esox fishing for less than a year and have alot of learning to do. Have fly fished for the trout and salmon for most of my life. I would be very interested on any tips you can pass on for those Muskies on the fly. If you get to North Idaho get ahold of our chapter in Spokane, great bunch of folks!

[Aspen Country]

Aspen Country, I fish out here in Washington for Tiger Muskie and Northern Idaho for Pike with the fly about 50% of the time. I've yet to get a Tiger to take one but they sure follow it and are curious. The Pike just love the fly especially the Perch patterns, have done well with catching them. I've only been at the Esox fishing for less than a year and have alot of learning to do. Have fly fished for the trout and salmon for most of my life. I would be very interested on any tips you can pass on for those Muskies on the fly. If you get to North Idaho get ahold of our chapter in Spokane, great bunch of folks!

Wow is all I can say, with regards to this forum overall. I have been on numerous forums and the folks here are some of the kindest, most respectful people I have come across!

Sparky............

Those Pike sure do eat the fly well! We have a high country lake here that produces many fish in the mid to upper 30" range with quite a few 40" plus fish! If you though Steelheading was addicting, ha, now you know what it is like to have a mid 40" plus fish follow and then just disappear.........It's tough, but fun.

If I make it to the area, I WILL look up the Muskie chapter and if most folks are like those on this forum, I am sure it is a great group! We may even end up in Washington state as another individual has thrown out some convincing attributes of the state (Steelhead, saltwater Kings and Silvers, Trout, Bass, Muskie, Upland Birds, Archery, etc.). Not to mention, the job prospects might be a bit better. Although, I would really like to remain in the fly fishing industry, work for a shop and possibly get back into guiding!

[dougw]

One great thing about the folks here, everyone cares about the resource, and learning to use it wisely. Many of us here are part of Muskies, inc., either with Chapter 57, or Chapter 60..... Look forward to meeting you some day!

[Fish-N-Fool]

Hauser lake has muskies and i beleive there,s a few others .Washington has some great lakes and the Pend Oreille river for pike

There are actually some 40+ lakes and the St. Joe River in every region in the state have all been stocked with Tiger Muskies. The most fished lake in the state for them is Hauser where the state record comes from, But Shepard and Freeman up near where I live put out some nice fish also. I have seen some of these monsters up here but so far haven't gotten one myself, but I have put very little time into really tring either. I hope to change that this year. I want to get my first 40+" pike and any tiger lol. It would also be nice to get a new P.B. Bass as that is now 20 some years old, but 9 lb bass in Idaho are few and far between.