The Lake
Horsethief was created by the Idaho Fish and Game Department
to provide a fishing resource, and it really has worked well.
This lake is very popular for the fishing, scenic beauty, and
camping opportunities.
The lake is surrounded by a Ponderosa and
Douglas Fir forest and there are many camping spots for remote and
RV campers. Most are not provided with amenities such as electricity,
tables, or fire rings.
The Fish and Game stocks this water regularly
with catchable trout. Fishermen use boats, float tubes, and chairs from
the bank. Ice fishing is reported to be good also. Although access by snowmobile
or foot is necessary as the road is not plowed in winter.
The 300 acre lake sits at about 4500 feet. To get there travel to Cascade,
Idaho and take the Warm Lake road that is a half mile North of town. It is about
8 miles to the Reservoir.
The Fish
Rainbow trout are regularly stocked in Horsethief. Catches are between
10 and 18 inches.
There are Brown trout here but do not keep them, as they are protected.
Fishing Reports for Horsethief Reservoir
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2/25/05
Ice fishing thru the ice is fair.
The road is plowed this year! IDFG
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4/25/05
The ice has melted away at Horsethief. Reportedly, the fishing is great for trout.
Fishguy
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5/06/05
Fishing has slowed down due to cooler weather.
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5/18/05
Fishing is warming up! That's what I have heard anyway.
Fishguy.
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June 18, 2005
Fished for three hours with my partner (my lovely wife) from the bank.
Not a bite! Watched six other folks fishing from the bank and none
were having any luck.
Only people catching fish were trolling. Saw one guy in a boat catch fish.
Bill W.
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June 30, 2005
From: DW
Water Clarity and Color: Somewhat clear - brown(dirty)
Fishing Report:
Went up there for a few days this week. Rained most of the time
we were up there. I took the advice from Sportsman's Warehouse
and used wooly buggers and leeches. All I caught was a small perch.
The people next to our campsite caught 20 rainbows, using worms and marshmallows.
DW
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August 20, 2005
Name: Bill
Lake: Horsethief Reservoir
Air Temp: 80
Water Clarity and Color Somewhat clear - green(algae)
Fishing Report:
Horsethief is the closest thing we have to Henry's Lake
on the western side of Idaho and it looks like someone(s) has ruined the trout
fishing by reintroducing PERCH! I have not been there since the spring and
today we (3 of us) caught 30-40 perch, 2 Browns, and 7 Rainbows. I am very
sad to see this great fishery destroyed by the reintroduction of perch. NOT GOOD!
We used Damsel nymphs and Stayner Ducktails.
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May 26
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2006 |
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Fishing for trout is hot and cold. Lets call it fair. Bank fishermen
doing a little better than boaters.
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June 4
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2006 |
Name: Boy C. Bronco
Fishing Report:
Rainbows were biting like crazy. Anything worked.
We hooked three just while the pop gear was dangling off the side of the boat.
Bank fishermen appeared to be doing well to, before it got real windy and
chased us all off the lake.
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June 17
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2006 |
Name: Bob Courval
Fished for about one hour before dark from float
tube using Panther Martin spinners. Caught 6 perch, 6 - 8 inches.
No trout. Didn't see anyone from boats, bank or dock catching anything.
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July 22
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2006 |
Name: Tom
Fishing Report:
The Perch have taken over! There are some real
good fish in the lake, both Browns and Rainbows, but all I seem to
catch anymore are the Perch. Caught 4 trout and 25 Perch using Wolly
buggers and small Nymphs. I think it is time to start over with this lake.
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October 31
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2006 |
Name: Tom
The lake has now been completly drained to remove the
Perch and will be replanted next spring with Browns and Rainbows. Hopefully
it will get back to what it was within a couple of years.
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Nov 26
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2006 |
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There will likely be no ice fishing this year.
Let's look for a good spring at this nice lake. Fishguy.
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Feb 10
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2008 |
Name: duanyriverguide
Water Temp: cold!!!
The road is not plowed, it was a LONG walk to the lake
to say the least. Upon arrival I dropped a spoon tipped with waxworms into
the hole and caught a 14" fish within 5 minutes. Hooked about 12 fish all day,
most lost at the hole. Heavy snow turned the bite off. Fished for 2 hours.
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May 25
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2008 |
Name: fishin freak
Fished from bank for 3 hrs caught 5 planter rainbows with worms.
Fished later
in the day from a float tube and caught one small brown 8-12 in. No perch!!!!
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June 6
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2008 |
Name: Joe Moffa
I fished Horsethief Reservoir this past week and it was
great fishing. I used powerbait exclusively from shore. I caught over 30 Rainbow
Trout.(Catch & Release)Most of the fish caught were in the 13" to 15" range. The
weather was a litle windy and there was a cold front coming through but it made no
difference. I helped another group of young kids fishing and they caught more than
36 Rainbows in about 2 hours. There were 5 kids and 2 adults. They stocked the lake
2 days prior. Everyone I saw was catching fish. The prior week I caught 2 real nice
Brown Trout which were stocked last year. Horsethief is a wonderful place for familys
to fish. The camping sites are free, but have no hook-ups. The road to the lake is
paved and 1 mile of gravel road. Very easy to get in and out. I stongly suggest you
try this reservoir. I fished pretty much most of the day and I got quit around 4pm
because my arm was tired of catching fish. The kids I helped caught their fish from
4pm to 6pm. The fish really got hot around that time.
Beautiful area to camp and catch fish. The eagles and hawks are also nice to view.
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