Little has changed, and the fishing is excellent in the Southeast Region. But in many areas fishing is best in the cooler parts of the day, early and late.

The Upper Blackfoot River opened for catch-and-release fishing for cutthroat trout on July 1. The cutthroat spawning run out of the reservoir was about 540 cutthroat trout – that’s the biggest run since 2003 and should provide for some exciting fishing this year. The river is running high and cloudy.

The best access is on Idaho Fish and Game’s Blackfoot River Wildlife Management Area about 30 miles above the reservoir.

American Falls Reservoir is slow but the place to go to catch a rainbow trout over 10 pounds. Anglers also are catching smallmouth bass and trout in the Snake River below the American Falls Dam.

Other hotspots for bass are at Gifford Springs and in the rip-rap at Sportsman’s Park near Aberdeen.

Chesterfield Reservoir is hot. Catch rates have picked up with lots of 13- to 14-inch fish are being caught with the occasional fish over 18 inches being caught. Anglers are using dark leeches and streamers in the upper bay.

Most of the smaller lakes are good for bluegill and crappie, and the rivers and streams good for trout. Twin Lakes still is the place for bluegill and crappie.

To catch the big bass in Weston Creek Reservoir anglers have to get down below the little ones. This is a no-motors reservoir.

Fishing is good in Twenty-four Mile Reservoir with damsel flies and red midges. In Springfield Reservoir damsel and midges are working well.

Anglers report good results in Daniels Reservoir by the dead trees and the far side bay. Hawkins Reservoir also is fishing well. The cutthroat trout stocked a few years ago are husky and fun to catch, with reports of fish bigger than should be there in the willows and weeds.

In both these reservoirs, damsel patterns, and Green Apple and Halloweens are working well.

The upper Portneuf River is high and clear, producing a few nice trout. Some anglers are report good results with CDC caddis, pale morning duns, Shop-Vac nymphs, especially during the cooler parts of the day.

The lower Blackfoot River is running cloudy.

And on the Fort Hall Reservation pale morning duns are hatching about 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The summer temperatures have turned the fishing on near Challis. The trout fishing at Mosquito Flats Reservoir and Bayhorse Lake has slowed a little bit because the fish are going deeper with the warmer weather; however worms and bobbers are working well. Fly fishing is really coming on and as the water drops, it keeps getting better. Mackay Reservoir is good for trolling deep.

The Salmon River is near normal flows now and the trout fishing is excellent. Anglers are catching lots of fish at the kid's ponds and lakes on the valley floor. And the high mountain lakes are open and also fishing well.

The lake fishing is good at recently stocked Wallace and Meadow Lakes. The public sections of the Lemhi River are extremely good with anglers reporting excellent results with both fly and spinning rods. Williams Lake is fishing well with top water flies, eggs and worms. Hayden Ponds near Lemhi report good fishing but the water is very mossy and will probably remain that way until cool fall weather.