Lucky Peak Reservoir
Lucky Peak Fishing Reports
Lucky Peak is a reservoir created for flood control, power generation, and irrigation,
on the Boise River about 10 miles upstream from Boise, Idaho. The Dam was
completed by the US Army Corps of Engineers in 1961. The dam is a rolled
earth fill type that is 340 feet high, and was built just after the
upstream Arrowrock dam was completed.
The reservoir is about 12 miles long and 1/2 mile wide, with 42 miles of shoreline.
It is a canyon type of water with fairly steep sides and steep shoreline. The water
fluctuates due to water flows and needs. There is not a lot of structure to
the bottom topography, but in some places there are basalt cliffs and rocky
points. Access is limited to areas with roads nearby, such as the dam area and
the upper portion near Spring Shores marina and Macks Creek. You could hike to
any area but the hills are steep. A boat is a good bet for exploring the lake.
There are two boat ramps near the dam and 2 ramps at Spring Shores marina. Reach
Spring Shores by turning at the High Bridge. Macks Creek also has a boat ramp.
Spring Shores has a store and boat gas.
Camping spots are located all around the lake, primarily for boaters, that have
fire rings, tables, sun roofs, and docks. These are used heavily by the recreational
boating crowd on weekends. Water skiers and jet skis can be annoying to the
fisherman, especially on the weekends, but early in the morning it is usually
pretty quiet.
In drought years the water usually falls from full pool beginning about mid July,
and can be 100 feet down by October. Most years the ramps are in the water
year round.
|
This lake sponsored by Fishguy.
Matt Wall, Boise Idaho.
Visit Fishguy's page.
The fishing is open year round.
Check Lucky Peak Lake water level courtesy Bureau of Reclamation.
The Fish
Rainbow Trout
Lucky Peak is regularly planted with catchable and fingerling
trout all year. There are lots of 1 and 2 pound Rainbows in the lake,
running 15 to 17 inches. Trout fishing can be excellent at times. There is not
a lot of competition for the fish, you won't find a lot of other fishermen
crowding your favorite spot.
People may think all the
recreational craft zooming about interfere with the fishing.
Those fish are still there however, and they still
have to eat!
Many nice fish are landed from the bank. It is best to find a little
structure, some rocks, change of shoreline, something to give the fish a
reference. Something for them to hang around. Worms and marshmallow work
great for bankers. Try suspending the worm at different heights from
the bottom. The fishing picks up about mid-March.
Trolling. Troll flatfish, small spoons, surface plugs resembling dark fish, and
pop gear or lake trolls. Put a spinner with a worm on the tail end of a lake troll,
12 to 18 inches back. Try to troll out of the normal path of the speed boats.
Kokanee
The is a good Kokanee fishery at Lucky Peak, but it is not spectacular.
Folks who know how to go after Kokes with a boat can have good action.
The Kokanee hang out in the center of the water, in the deep areas.
The usual trolling methods work here. Pop gear, wedding ring (green),
white corn or worms.
Smallmouth
Bass can be caught in the bays and at the points, usually casting to the
shore from boats.
Pike Minnows
From most of the smooth shorelines at mid-lake there are a ton of
Pike Minnows that can be caught from the bank. Use worms and marshmallows
and be prepared to catch a Pike Minnow every cast! They don't look too pretty
but some say they are good smoked. No limit on Pike Minnows.
Whitefish, Dolly Varden(Bull Trout), Coho, Suckers, and Chinook Salmon are found
at Lucky Peak.
Fishing Reports for Lucky Peak Reservoir
Click Here to Send in a Fishing Report.
|
June 14
|
2008 |
Fishguy
Water temp was 56
Trolled for about 3 1/2 hours. Maybe one bite. Fishfinder did not show many
fish in the open water. Most were 45 feet and 75 feet deep. Many were right on
the bottom near shore.
Several other boating fisherpeople were also there and we did not see a single
fish pulled in. My guess is, since the reservoir just filled up and the water is
still pretty cold, the fish are just put off a little. Warmer weather and warmer
water should pick things right up.
|
|
June 8
|
2008 |
Name: boycbronco
Water Temp: 52'
Fishing was poor this day. Trolled pop gear,
spinners, plugs at all different depths, including use of a downrigger.
We fished 6 hours and got two bites. Only saw
one other fish caught from a boat all day. Still better than any day at work!
|
|
May 17
|
2008 |
Name: kokehunter
Fishing Report: Trolled longline for trout and kokanee from 9am until
noon without any hits. Bass fishing around rocky points from noon until 1 and
caught 12 bass ranging from 10 to 14 inches. Decided to try for kokanee. Fished
from 1pm until 3pm and caught 11 kokes between 12 and 14 inches.
The kokanee were very healthy and should be a good year.
|
|
May 24
|
2008 |
Name: kokehunter
Water Temp: 52
Bass fishing was fair, fished from 9am till 11am and caught 9,
largest at 2 lbs.
Trolled for Kokanee from 11am till 1pm. Caught 8 running 11-14 inches.
|
|
May 31
|
2008 |
Name: bassraider8e
Fished N of Mores Creek bridge towards Mores Creek.
Found few pockets of perch average 8". I was killin it on the small mouth
bass using grubs....(smoke color with purple and gold flake) Some nice 2-3
pounders on rocky points about 15 off shore. They are spawning
right now so make sure to throw em back..........all fishing done from a boat.
|
|
May 12
|
2008 |
Name: boycbronco
Water Temp: 48
Caught 8 kokanee.
Trolling cow bells and a wedding ring spinner. Real windy day.
|
|
April 12
|
2008 |
Name: Bob
Water Temp: 43
Fished from 9:00 till 2:00. Hooked 3 Kokanee and got
them to the boat before they decided not
to get in. Nice sunny day 66 deg. Trolled w/ red beaded wedding ring w/ brass spoon.
|
|
April 13
|
2008 |
Name: rubberduck
Water Temp: 41-42 degrees
Fished from 10am to about 4pm near dam and
turner gulch. Trolled needle fish tipped with a worm and scented spinners
caught 1 14inch koke and one small bow within first hour and the rest
of the day just enjoyed the
sunshine fishing got slow just missing one bite. Bit windy out 10-20mph. Cool site!
|
|
April 3
|
2008 |
Name: Big Mike Pape
Water Temp: 38
Went out to get the boat running for 2008, and while
running the trolling motor, decided to put out a couple needlefish at two
colors to occupy my two young daughters. It was 2 PM, and right in front
of Turner Gulch Ramp, we picked up 5 kokanee, 4 good sized-1 released, in
about an hour. No corn,
no wedding rings and flashers, great action until my ship mates got tired.
|
|
Feb 17
|
2008 |
Name: Steve
Fishing Report: Trolled for 3 hrs no bites. Used small pop gear and
tried going 15ft deep to 50ft deep with no luck. There were two of us fishing.
|
|
May 21
|
2007 |
Trout fishing is fair to slow at Lucky for bank anglers.
Some nice fish are being caught though!
Not many Kokanee yet. Fishing should pick up with warmer weather.
Fishguy
|
|
May 5
|
2007 |
Name: John
Fishing Report:
Fished at the base of the Arrowrock dam on the lucky
peak side and had a little luck. Fished between 330 and 5pm. Caught 3 nice
size rainbows (10 to 12 inches) on Blue Fox spinners. Pink and chrome seemed
to work the best. The current is crazy at the base of the dam. We would cast
out and let the current take the spinner aways before resetting the bale and
reeling. Reeled really slow and had a bunch of hits. Not a bad day!!!
|
|
April 20
|
2007 |
Name: Bill
Water Temp: 49 surface
Fishing Report: Well starting off another year , things are a
bit spotty because of the weather (cold , hot, cold ) I think the fish are
totally confused , spent the day trolling wedding rings w/ spinners
tipped with a worm . Caught 3 nice Trout
but that was the whole day , many hours of nothing.
I think I'm about three weeks early. More to report later
B
|
Click Here to Send in a Fishing Report.
2006 Fishing Reports
|
January 7
|
2006 |
Name: TROUTMAN
Lake: Lucky Peak Reservoir
Water Clarity and Color: Cloudy - brown
Fishing Report:
WINDY AND RAINY, CAUGHT 1 NICE KOKE 15" NEAR THE DAM HAD
1 OTHER TAKEDOWN. TROLLED SILVER SPOONS WITH 1/2OZ INLINE WEIGHT.
LETS GET ALOT OF POSTS THIS YEAR FOR LUCKY PEAK.
GOOD LUCK AND GOOD FISHIN!
|
|
January 21
|
2006 |
Name: TROUTMAN
Air Temp: 40
Water Clarity and Color: Cloudy - brown
Fishing Report:
Trolled near the dam for 2 hrs. No bites. Bank
anglers were catching some near turner gulch.
|
|
February 4
|
2006 |
Name: TROUTMAN
Air Temp: 42
Water Clarity and Color: Cloudy - brown
Fishing Report: FISHED FROM 1-5:30 FROM TURNER GULCH TO SPRING SHORES.
CAUGHT 14 RAINBOWS AND 2 KOKES USING WORM & MARSHMALLOW, AND TROLLING VERY
SLOW WITH LIGHT WEIGHT GEAR. ALL FISH WERE BETWEEN 14-17" .
|
|
February 5
|
2006 |
Name: TROUTMAN
Air Temp: 40
Water Clarity and Color: Cloudy - brown
Fishing Report: FISHED FOR 2 1/2 HRS BEFORE THE SUPERBOWL CAUGHT
5 BOWS NEAR THE DAM.
|
|
February 26
|
2006 |
Name: TROUTMAN
Fishing Report:
FISHED FOR 3HRS NEAR THE DAM, CAUGHT 5 RAINBOWS
ON POWERBAIT. VERY WINDY CONDITIONS AND HARD TO FISH.
|
|
March 12
|
2006 |
Name: Andrew C
Water Temp: not sure
Fishing Report:
I ARRIVED THERE AT LUCKY PEAK AT 7:00AM AND
FISHED 7:00AM TO 9:OOAM AND CAUGHT 3 NICE RAINBOWS AND LOST 1.
2 WERE 15 INCHES AND THE OTHER WAS 13 INCHES. I USED WORMS,
MARSHMALLOWS AND A SPINNER AND I FISHED BY THE DAM ON A BOAT.
|
|
March 14
|
2006 |
Name: Aluma165
Water Temp: 45
Fishing Report:
Flatlined Rapalas mid-day, 1 - 4 p.m
(not ideal times of course but pretty cold before noon) off Spring Shores
ramp up toward Mack's Creek and also up Robie to the Hwy 21 bridge. Marked
numerous fish primarily along the rock cliffs. No hits, bumps, or hook-ups.
Didn't see anyone along the shore catching fish.
Two previous days I drove
up and both boat and shore fishing was good at LP and Arrowrock. Guys I
spoke with flatlining Rapalas had 6 on and landed two at LP on the 12th
and a couple I spoke with on the 11th at Arrowrock had 4 bows and one koke
after flatlining for 4 hours.
Plenty of ramp at Spring Shores and at Arrowrock.
Arrowrock Dam has ice back to the first bend and then clear water up past
the arm of SF/MF.
|
|
March 12
|
2006 |
Name: TROUTMAN
Fishing Report:
FISHED LUCKYPEAK FROM 8-2. SOMEWHAT WINDY, WATER CLARITY POOR.
CAUGHT 7 TROUT AND 5 KOKES. 2 KOKES WERE 14 AND 15". TROLLED VERY
SLOW LONGLINING LURES AND ALSO HAD SUCCESS USING POWERBAIT AND CASTING
TO SHORE IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS.
|
|
March 31
|
2006 |
Name: TROUTMAN
Water Temp: 40
Fishing Report:
ARRIVED AT 2 FISHED TILL 6 CAUGHT 5 TROUT NEAR
THE DAM USING RED AND YELLOW SPINNERS TIPPED WITH WORM.
|
|
April 7
|
2006 |
Name: Aluma165
Water Temp: 45-46
Fishing Report: Trolled narrows from 9-11:30 am. Seven Kokanee.
14-16". Lost a big rainbow (20+"?)and a couple more Kokes at or near the boat.
Two rods out; flashers, one w/wedding ring & one w/needlefish and both with white
shoepeg corn & Mike's shrimp scent.
|
|
April 8
|
2006 |
Name: TROUTMAN
Water Temp: 40
Fishing Report:
FISHED FROM 8 TILL 2. CAUGHT LIMIT OF BOWS USING
SPINNERS AND OTHER LURES. TRY GOLD COLORED LURES. BEST ACTION SEEMS TO
BE AFTER 10 BUT THAT WILL CHANGE SOON WITH MORE BOATERS OUT THERE AND
WARMER WEATHER.
|
|
April 14
|
2006 |
Fisherman: ropefish
Water Temp: 45?
Boat in water at 7:00 a.m. weather windy, cold and overcast skies.
Water murky and dirty, trolled various set-ups, proven trout and kokanee
rigs, trolled around dam, turner gulch and over by spring shores.
Fish at all depths but no hits, strikes or bites, off water at 11:30 a.m.
|
|
April 21
|
2006 |
From: Aluma165
Water Temp: 45
Trolled mid-afternoon vicinity Spring Shores. Tried Kokanee/Trout set-ups w/flashers,
corn & scent for over an hour. No strikes; nothing. Switched to diving lures
in orange/green and caught two (pikeminnows?) and one small bow. Forecasted
wind 13 mph w/30 mph gusts never materialized. Great weather at least.
Still much debris and the tubes below the dam are at full blow-out!
Water a bit clearer than last week. Should improve shortly. Ski
boats are appearing now so watch out...they won't.
|
|
April 22
|
2006 |
From: Fishguy
Fished on the bank from about 1 to 3pm. Throwing worms and marshmallows
near the Turner Gulch boat ramp. Did not catch a fish. Water is rising
and a brown color. A few other fishermen out but only saw one
eight year old young lady pull in a nice rainbow.
|
|
May 6
|
2006 |
Name: M.Holt
Fishing Report:
Alot of debris in the water, saw alot of fish on the
fish finder but nothing biting.
|
|
May 12
|
2006 |
From: Aluma165
Water Temp: 46
Focusing on Kokanee right now and got a limit both days in about 2-3 hours.
Morning, evening, mid-day all times producing fish. Losing many when
fishing solo in the boat. Gets too busy with double hookups, wind drift,
boat traffic, etc.. Wound up losing both hookups on some occasions.
(note: I have an IDFG two rod permit) Toplining self-tied pink or green
hoochie setups behind 4/0 Dodger about 100 feet behind the boat.
Very SLOW troll. (.9 - 1.2) Catching them in the narrows, across from
Spring Shores and near the dam. Mostly along the rocky shorelines
trolling around 50-100 feet from shore. They are running 14-16 inches;
probably about a pound each. Hooking a few rainbows when the wind comes up.
Saw numerous shore fisherman nailing the larger rainbows just about
over the entire lake...
|
|
May 29
|
2006 |
From: Believer
Water Temp: 55 degrees
Fished from about 9:00 to 1:30. Got a late start on
Memorial Day. Wasn't sure I even wanted to go on the Holiday. Boat traffic
wasn't bad at all.
Lake has about 30 ft to be full. Launched at Spring Shores.
Didn't get a single bite. Saw 2 other small fish caught couldn't tell if
they were trout or kokes. I spoke with the ranger, he expected the lake
to be full in about 2 weeks, that should improve the bite.
God Bless.
|
|
October 21
|
2006 |
Name: willedebeast
Fishing Report:
Started at about 9 am near macks creek park. Fished the
bottom with marshmallows and nightcrawlers. Had good luck catching 3-4 bass
between 10-12 inches within the first hour then the bass seemed to move away.
The Pike-minnows began to bite pretty well after that and i spent the rest
of the morning pulling in one after another. Caught several in the 2-3 pound
range and kept a few to try smoking them. I got out the float tube and lures
about 1:00 to try and find some trout or kokanee toward the middle of the reservoir
no luck using spoons, spinners, or wedding ring. Left water about 4:00 pm. Those
pike minnows will live forever out of the water, the ones I caught were placed in
a cooler with no water, just a little ice and an hour later they were still
flopping around and breathing.
|
|
Nov 26
|
2006 |
|
Fishing for trout is fair. Water is slowly rising. Turner Gulch ramp is
available. Try worms and marshmallows from the bank.
|
2005 Fishing Reports
|
2/26/05
Water temp 2 feet down is 44 deg. Last year in March temp was 39.
Clarity is 15 feet, emerald green. Very pretty.
Air temp about 55 deg. and sunny weather.
Bank fishing using worm, colored marshmallows, 18 and 30 inches off the bottom.
Caught 2 very nice fish about a pound each, 13 and 14.5 inches.
The second fish had white on fin bottoms and orange on fin tops, red on gill sides.
See pic at right. I figure it is a cutt/bow. He was full of milt.
Both fish were spawning,
or ready to. I fished for 3.5 hrs and caught the 2 trout.
All the action was on the bait 18 inches off bottom and with Anise scent.
Other pole 30 inches and shrimp scent - no bites.
In general fishing was a bit slow as about 15 other fishermen were observed and only
one fisherman was seen catching 2 fish.
Fishguy
|
|
3/6/05
Water temp today is 44 degs. Same as last week.
Caught 2 trout from the bank. One 12 inches, one 14 inches.
Using my usual worms, marshmallow, and salmon egg. 30 inches off bottom.
Fished 4 hours. Not much else happening. Two other gentlemen caught three
trout at the 10 am bite. Did not see anyone else catch a fish.
Fish seemed to bite when the wind died down.
Lake has not risen since last week. Will it ever get any water?
Fishguy
|
|
3/11/05
Water temperature is 44 degrees still. The water level has not changed much
since last week. Quite low, but the Turner Gulch ramp is in the water.
Some folks were seen launching from the Spring Shores ramp. No dock however.
Caught one nice rainbow, about 14 inches. Beautiful coloring.
Swallowed a nightcrawler and marshmallow.
Water level is 78 feet from full.
Fishguy
|
|
4/16/05
Air temp 55 nice and sunny,
Water temp 52
Fishing is good! Too bad more people don't pay attention to Lucky.
The fish are spawning, or are about to, they are full of eggs. And big.
They may be planters but they are last year planters and are a good 14 to 16 inches.
I caught 4 fish from the bank using worms and marshmallows. I tried the deep water
but saw the guys across the bay catching fish after fish on a gentle bank, so I
casted over to the shallow part of my area and had good action for a couple of
hours. Caught 4, but missed 4 too. The water was rising as I fished. The level
increased about 2 inches during the 4 hours I was there!
Fishguy
|
|
5/18/05
Fishermen have been catching trout. It is a good time to fish The Lucky.
The weather and wind may be uncomfortable, but what the heck.
Bankers and Boaters are doing well. Not many water skiers.
Fishguy
|
|
5/30/05
Air Temp: 75
Water Temp: 64
Water: Clear blue
The lake is full up to the top.
Fishing was a little slow.
Fished on the bank for three hours near the dam.
I put two lines in the water and was using worms and marshmallows.
Only had one bite, and I lost him.
It may be time to switch to trolling!
Fishguy
|
|
June 7, 2005
Fish and Game says the fishing is good, with good numbers of
16 inch Trout and Kokanee. The up and down weather
and the rising water has slowed the bite. If the weather clears and
warms up the fishing should be better.
Fishguy.
|
|
June 16, 2005
From: new guy
Air Temp: warm
Water Temp: ???
Water Clarity and Color: Clear
Fishing Report:
I caught about 18 trout, a few kokanee. Trout are ranging
in at about 10-16 inches as are the kokanee.
I used worms-n-marshmallows to catch the trout. Caught kokanee with red powerbait.
Others are catching good numbers of kokanee on "vibrax" spinners right by the dam.
Started fishing at 5:30 until
11:00. Caught fish the whole
time! So Go Fishin!!!
|
|
August 14, 2005
Lucky Peak Reservoir Fishing Report
Air Temp: 75-80
Water Temp:?
Water: Clear blue
Trolled near the dam from 10 am to 12:30pm. Caught six nice Rainbows
in the 2 1/2 hours, using cowbell style pop gear (half brass, half silver), and a
wedding ring type lure, tipped with a full worm. Just flatlined the gear back about
70 feet, maybe a hundred. There usually is a good
bite around 10 am. We trolled quite slowly using an electric motor. We were catching fish
when the fish finder was beeping, even though the fish it was finding were at 120 feet depth.
Fishguy
|
|
August 18, 2005
Name: Fishin Chris
Date: Aug 13
Air Temp: 60
Water Temp: ?
Water Clarity and Color: Somewhat clear - blue
Fishing Report: Two friends and I Fished from a boat by
Arrowrock Dam Just after light. There was a lot of surface activity,
and I got alot of bites. We caught one koke on a plain worm and several
nice rainbows on a brown rooster tail (small) and on a wedding ring tipped
with corn. Cruised around all the way to the other Dam and caught a few. All
I could get after the temp went up was a few nice small mouth off the bank
line with a silver-Blue Fox- spinner-----go home when the sun hits the water!!
|
|
September 1, 2005
Name: Danno
Lake: Lucky Peak Reservoir
Air Temp: hot
Water Clarity and Color Somewhat clear - green(algae)
Fishing Report:
Got on the lake at about 8am got up to far end
(arrow rock end) fished as close to the barrier as you can get. By 10:30 had
four nice rainbows in the boat. All were in the 13 to 18 inch range. Used red
and green wedding rings tipped with potskies eggs, plus two small weights about 50
yards behind the boat. Not many kokanee spawners left. Once the sun gets up
you might as well switch gear and go for bass. From 11am to 3pm had only two
weak bites on trout gear.
|
Click Here to Send in a Fishing Report.
|
