Still Waters
STILL WATERS
ReportSEP 9 — 16, 2026
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Flow
—CFS
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Water Temp
—
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Weather
36–73°F
Sunny
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Reported By
Bruce Staples
On the water
Ririe Reservoir has an active blue-green algae bloom on the surface and a Kokanee run underway. Expect sunny skies and highs near 70–73°F through Thursday with cool overnight lows in the mid-to-upper 30s.
From the ShopBruce Staples · September 9, 2026
Blue-green algae are growing on the Ririe Reservoir surface. Keep children and pets away from the water and wash all items that have contacted the water.
Kokanee are running in Ririe Reservoir. Use full sink or sink tip lines with brightly colored (fluorescent orange or pink) streamer and woolly bugger patterns to attract them.
Fish salvage regulations are being applied to a few southern Idaho irrigation reservoirs that have been drained down to the extreme.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kokanee Salmon (run) | N/A | Active — fish are running | All day; sink lines essential |
| Chironomid / Midge | #18–22 | Moderate — typical September still water activity | Morning and evening |
| Damselfly Nymph | #12–14 | Tapering — late-season remnant | Midday near weed edges |
Best Time Window
- ALL DAY: Target Kokanee at Ririe Reservoir with full-sink or sink-tip lines and fluorescent orange or pink streamers/woolly buggers
- MORNING & EVENING: Work the water column methodically — cooler low-light periods can concentrate fish and trigger more aggressive strikes
- CHECK LOCAL REGULATIONS: If fishing southern Idaho irrigation reservoirs under fish salvage rules, confirm current access and limits before heading out
Guide's Tip
From the benchThe field report specifically calls for fluorescent orange or pink woolly buggers and streamers — if you have standard chartreuse or hot-pink woolly buggers in your box, bring them. Run a full-sink or sink-tip line and keep your retrieve slow and steady to stay in the Kokanee's strike zone. Do not let children or pets contact the water at Ririe until the blue-green algae bloom clears, and rinse all gear thoroughly after each outing.
Main Species
Rainbow Trout
Brook Trout
Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout
