01-12-2013, 02:51 PM
This is a little older information, but may still be helpful. It is from the 2011 Upper Snake River Region Newsletter.
Upper Snake Region 2011 Newsletter
IDFG implanted 41 illegally introduced walleye with radio transmitters in Ririe Reservoir in 2009 and 2010 to learn about their movements over the course of the seasons. Our intent is to educate anglers about where walleye can be caught in the hopes harvest can keep the population to a low level. Some general movement patterns emerged
Shortly after ice off (around April), walleye moved into the Willow Creek arm of the reservoir and the lower end of Wil-low Creek, presuma-bly to spawn. Tagged wall-eye remained in Willow Creek until mid-May, and then returned to the reser-voir. After spawning, tagged fish spread through-out the reservoir, but gen-erally used the upper (south) half of the reservoir. As summer turned to fall, tagged walleye moved to-
wards the dam, congregat-ing near where the power lines cross the reservoir. This general movement pattern was consistent be-tween both years we tracked walleye. We were unable to track during the winter, so are unsure what additional movements they might make, but we have yet to hear any reports of ice anglers catching wall-eye.
There is no bag limit on walleye in Ririe Reservoir and their poten-tial impacts to the existing fishery are a concern.
Therefore, anglers are encour-aged to harvest all walleye they catch. For anglers targeting wall-eye, we suggest trying the Willow Creek arm of the reservoir as soon as ice out occurs. Concen-trate on the submerged Willow Creek channel, as it appears mi-grating walleye are using the channel as opposed to the shoreline. Walleye appear to be spawning in riffles just upstream from the mouth, before these areas are inun-dated as the reservoir fills. Recent changes to the fish-ing regulations have opened Willow Creek year-round to fishing (see current regula-tions for complete details). Although there is no limit on walleye during this new sea-son, trout fishing is strictly catch and release until Memorial Day Weekend.
Through late spring and summer, walleye may be tougher to find. Focus on the southern half of the reservoir. Tagged walleye generally occupied depths between 20 and 40 feet during summer and anglers should look for submerged rock points and shelves within this
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Upper Snake Region 2011 Newsletter
IDFG implanted 41 illegally introduced walleye with radio transmitters in Ririe Reservoir in 2009 and 2010 to learn about their movements over the course of the seasons. Our intent is to educate anglers about where walleye can be caught in the hopes harvest can keep the population to a low level. Some general movement patterns emerged
Shortly after ice off (around April), walleye moved into the Willow Creek arm of the reservoir and the lower end of Wil-low Creek, presuma-bly to spawn. Tagged wall-eye remained in Willow Creek until mid-May, and then returned to the reser-voir. After spawning, tagged fish spread through-out the reservoir, but gen-erally used the upper (south) half of the reservoir. As summer turned to fall, tagged walleye moved to-
wards the dam, congregat-ing near where the power lines cross the reservoir. This general movement pattern was consistent be-tween both years we tracked walleye. We were unable to track during the winter, so are unsure what additional movements they might make, but we have yet to hear any reports of ice anglers catching wall-eye.
There is no bag limit on walleye in Ririe Reservoir and their poten-tial impacts to the existing fishery are a concern.
Therefore, anglers are encour-aged to harvest all walleye they catch. For anglers targeting wall-eye, we suggest trying the Willow Creek arm of the reservoir as soon as ice out occurs. Concen-trate on the submerged Willow Creek channel, as it appears mi-grating walleye are using the channel as opposed to the shoreline. Walleye appear to be spawning in riffles just upstream from the mouth, before these areas are inun-dated as the reservoir fills. Recent changes to the fish-ing regulations have opened Willow Creek year-round to fishing (see current regula-tions for complete details). Although there is no limit on walleye during this new sea-son, trout fishing is strictly catch and release until Memorial Day Weekend.
Through late spring and summer, walleye may be tougher to find. Focus on the southern half of the reservoir. Tagged walleye generally occupied depths between 20 and 40 feet during summer and anglers should look for submerged rock points and shelves within this
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