Ririe Reservoir and Mud Lake
By
Dave Langston



Here is the low down on Mud Lake reservoir north west of Idaho Falls. I have had a lot of requests on the condition of this sprawling reservoir and the outlook is bleak at best…unless you are a perch angler.

The reservoir was lost two years in a row during the 2006 – 2008 winter seasons. Bass and tiger musky both were lost during this period. But, perch are thriving in this shallow flat reservoir. “We have been landing perch close to 13 inches but your going to have to weed through a ton of small dinks to get them,” says the fishing department at Sportsman Warehouse in Idaho Falls (208) 542-1900.

This is a perch fishery only; don’t expect any other species to tug at you line. Worms, jigs and power bait will do the job putting perch on ice.

According to Sportsmen’s Warehouse Ririe reservoir is on fire. “Kokanee, small mouth and perch are doing real well, “ says the fishing department.

Reports of 3rd year kokanee coming to the net have been good. “Your looking at fish up to 16 inches, and those are good sized fish,” adds S.W. staff. Panther martins, and most spinning baits are top bets but anglers trolling rapalas are also fairing well. Anglers fishing from boats are doing very well.

Small mouth bass have been in here for years but don’t expect to land a trophy. “We see a lot of fish from 8 – 12 inches and only a hand full up to 15 inches or better,” says S.W. staff. Plastics fished on Texas or Carolina rigs are doing well but anglers throwing crank baits in a perch or crawfish pattern are also taking fish just off points and mud flats.

Perch up to eleven inches are tugging at angler’s lines using worms or small micro jigs. According to S.W. staff, fishing the bays in ten feet of water is a top bet to put these small spinney rays on ice.