09-04-2010, 03:59 PM
First, October is getting a little iffy for any camping/fishing in mountain lakes/rivers near Boise. Snow can fly a little early and it can get well below freezing at night.
One of the best little bait fishing lakes close to Boise is Horsethief. I've taken beginner fisherman there with great success using marshmallow and worm setups catching both rainbow and browns off the bank at the south end of the lake.
It has been a few years since I have been into Boulder, but fly fishing off the rocks on the west end produced some nice cutthroats at the time. It is a pleasant hike on a cool day and has decent rustic camp sites - just check the regs on bait fishing and check for snow levels in October might be kind of cool- you risk being snowed upon. A little earlier in the season - September at the latest, you can take a great 2 day loop hike, the Louie - Boulder Lake loop.
I have always float tubed/pontoon boated Sage Hen and its a great place for that, don't know about bank fishing with bait. Camping is great earlier in the year. By October, however, they are usually drawing down the reservoir and muddy banks can be a real problem, which almost precludes fishing off the bank at the lake, and by October, camp sites may be closed - I think they are only open through the end of September.
I would look real close look at Horsethief - might want to take a trip and look over the camping possibilities there before you go, I've not camped it, but I think it presents your greatest chance of bank/bait fishing success for the boys.
Other options: North Fork of the Boise river, Bruneau lake, Brownlee Reservoir - fish for cats or trout off the shore, depending upon temperatures, there are probably several other options. These are just one's off the top of my head. Just remember - in October, check the weather and check the regs on bait fishing.
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One of the best little bait fishing lakes close to Boise is Horsethief. I've taken beginner fisherman there with great success using marshmallow and worm setups catching both rainbow and browns off the bank at the south end of the lake.
It has been a few years since I have been into Boulder, but fly fishing off the rocks on the west end produced some nice cutthroats at the time. It is a pleasant hike on a cool day and has decent rustic camp sites - just check the regs on bait fishing and check for snow levels in October might be kind of cool- you risk being snowed upon. A little earlier in the season - September at the latest, you can take a great 2 day loop hike, the Louie - Boulder Lake loop.
I have always float tubed/pontoon boated Sage Hen and its a great place for that, don't know about bank fishing with bait. Camping is great earlier in the year. By October, however, they are usually drawing down the reservoir and muddy banks can be a real problem, which almost precludes fishing off the bank at the lake, and by October, camp sites may be closed - I think they are only open through the end of September.
I would look real close look at Horsethief - might want to take a trip and look over the camping possibilities there before you go, I've not camped it, but I think it presents your greatest chance of bank/bait fishing success for the boys.
Other options: North Fork of the Boise river, Bruneau lake, Brownlee Reservoir - fish for cats or trout off the shore, depending upon temperatures, there are probably several other options. These are just one's off the top of my head. Just remember - in October, check the weather and check the regs on bait fishing.
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