Big Fishing April; Memorial Weekend

**schindlerpiste** · 01-24-2008, 08:44 AM

I'm looking into fishing trips the 2d week of April and Memorial weekend. Well, they will be fishing trips for me, and family trips for my wife and kids. Right now, I'm thinking either Cabo or San Diego in April, and Montana or Idaho over Memorial weekend. This is NOT set in stone. I'm kinda new to the west, and don't really know anything about where the epic fishing is. I'm not really interested in Alaska, Costa Rica, Hawaii, etc.
I need suggestions from experienced maggots.

**mnflyfish** · 01-24-2008, 08:58 AM

2nd weekend in April would be solid in the Keys if you don't mind the flight. Don't know much about the left coast with the exception of Costa Rica.

Jay

**schindlerpiste** · 01-24-2008, 09:53 AM

Hummm...bonefish; tarpon; wahoo and king...not a bad idea.

I have spent many a night in a drunken stupor at The Pier House, and back in college, I used to dive Pennekamp twice/month.

Still, I'd kinda like to avoid flying, and go someplace where I can take my dog.

**schwerty** · 01-24-2008, 09:56 AM

Depending on where you go in MT/ID, you might run into runoff conditions.... There is always good fishin' to be found though!

As long as the rest of your family doesn't mind you could base yourself out if West Jellystone on Mem. wknd. Some Park fishing opens then. Tailwater stretch of the Maddy can be good. Lake fishing = decent to good usually. There are a bunch of other fishing options in that region that should be fishing then...if you come this way, I'll be happy to point them out.

**Lumpy** · 01-26-2008, 06:05 PM

Inshore stuff around Cabo is kicking then (www.bajaanglers.com). Roosters would be a nice target.

If staying local the Green, below Flaming Gorge, would be fine then and you'd be in good temp conditions for Strawberry cutts, and great chironomid time for the Uinta Basin lakes.

Schwerty could chime in on how Henry's Lake (football shaped fishes) could shape up around that time. Daniel's reservoir is a good choice for the not to far from SLC and on your way up to the Teton area. Clark Canyon reservoir was always one of my favorite spring fisheries in SW Montucky with a bunch of good rivers nearby.

**schwerty** · 01-27-2008, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by Lumpy

Inshore stuff around Cabo is kicking then (www.bajaanglers.com). Roosters would be a nice target.

If staying local the Green, below Flaming Gorge, would be fine then and you'd be in good temp conditions for Strawberry cutts, and great chironomid time for the Uinta Basin lakes.

Schwerty could chime in on how Henry's Lake (football shaped fishes) could shape up around that time. Daniel's reservoir is a good choice for the not to far from SLC and on your way up to the Teton area. Clark Canyon reservoir was always one of my favorite spring fisheries in SW Montucky with a bunch of good rivers nearby.

Baja Anglers is a top notch guide service!

-----

Henry's Lake opens on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. The fishing is usually good but every jackass with a boat from I.F., Pocyourfello, and neighboring communities will be there. Fishing on that lake is location dependent any time of the year. You gotta find the springs or you are just practicing your cast! Despite the influx of idiots pulling fish out of Henry's Lake that weekend you can definitely get into some solid fishin'!
The advice I give people heading up there is to stop in a shop in Island Park, by a map and ask someone to help you mark a few of the natural springs. An intermediate sinking line will do the trick. Slowly stripped or twitched basic spring streamer patterns will do well. Could be some scuds around...???

There are some sections of the Henry's Fork open then also....

**Yeti** · 01-28-2008, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by mnflyfish

2nd weekend in April would be solid in the Keys if you don't mind the flight. Don't know much about the left coast with the exception of Costa Rica.

Jay

I was in the Keys the third week of April last year, solid indeed.

And to hijack the thread a bit, what do you know about Costa Rica at the same time of year?

**Lumpy** · 01-28-2008, 10:10 AM

We auta get a fall Henry's Lake maggot trip going. I've driven past it a dozen times (usually plowed off of cheap beer and riding shotgun) to some other destination. The older I get the more I like slowly bobbing round in lakes, drinking beer and waiting for the slam. Be a good halfway between Jellystone and SLC area mags. From what I understand, Henry's is a better fall fishery.

Originally Posted by schwerty

Baja Anglers is a top notch guide service!

-----

Henry's Lake opens on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. The fishing is usually good but every jackass with a boat from I.F., Pocyourfello, and neighboring communities will be there. Fishing on that lake is location dependent any time of the year. You gotta find the springs or you are just practicing your cast! Despite the influx of idiots pulling fish out of Henry's Lake that weekend you can definitely get into some solid fishin'!
The advice I give people heading up there is to stop in a shop in Island Park, by a map and ask someone to help you mark a few of the natural springs. An intermediate sinking line will do the trick. Slowly stripped or twitched basic spring streamer patterns will do well. Could be some scuds around...???

There are some sections of the Henry's Fork open then also....

**schwerty** · 01-28-2008, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Lumpy

We auta get a fall Henry's Lake maggot trip going. I've driven past it a dozen times (usually plowed off of cheap beer and riding shotgun) to some other destination. The older I get the more I like slowly bobbing round in lakes, drinking beer and waiting for the slam. Be a good halfway between Jellystone and SLC area mags. From what I understand, Henry's is a better fall fishery.

I've got a power boat!

**schindlerpiste** · 01-30-2008, 08:19 PM

Sounds like fun. Maybe, we can also enlist skifishbum.

**72Twenty** · 01-30-2008, 09:16 PM

I might be willing to join the fun up there as well, if I happen to be in the neighborhood.

**Lumpy** · 02-02-2008, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by schwerty

I've got a power boat!

Me too, as long as electric counts!

**Lexi-Bell** · 02-02-2008, 04:59 PM

What those guys said^^^.

Originally Posted by schindlerpiste

I'm looking into fishing trips the 2d week of April and Memorial weekend.

FWIW, there will be a big difference in those 6 weeks if you come to MT.

Earlier the weather will obviously be significantly cooler, and you'll have a greater chance of avoiding runoff. Crowds will be limited, as will your fishing options due to the general season opener being the third Sat in May. However, the Mo below Holter and all of the Jelly and Gally outside the park plus a good section of the Madison are open year-round. Also, Big Sky is scheduled to close April 13 so you could ski some corn and rip some lips. Mid-April to me means Baetis, Streamers, and quiet rivers while Memorial Day means tail-end of Caddis and a lot more bodies. Outdoor non-fishing options for the family will prolly be more limited earlier due to the weather.

Here's some good basic info:
http://fwp.mt.gov/fishing/default.html
And a shop I like:
http://www.troutfitters.com/

If you decide to come up around the Bozeman area pm me and we can hook up for a float.

This past fall I fished with Fez, a bunch of Maineacs, and Lobstahmeatwad on the Mo, good time. I'm in for a fall Maggot fishing drink-a-thon fo sho!

**schwerty** · 02-02-2008, 08:59 PM

Maybe we outta get some dates in the books. ???

**Pow4Brains** · 02-03-2008, 08:52 AM

I should have some time by then for a fish on' mini.

**The Suit** · 02-03-2008, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by Yeti

I was in the Keys the third week of April last year, solid indeed.

And to hijack the thread a bit, what do you know about Costa Rica at the same time of year?

Offshore on the Pacific side can be spectacular then. I fished out of Los Suenos (Herradura/Jaco area) at the end of April, 2002, and we averaged about 30 sailfish/day for a week.

Disclaimer - I haven't really kept up with conditions there since I sold my boat, but I've heard the bite is not as good these days as it used to was.