Dust off the fishing rod and plan your next family fishing outing this spring

Community Fisheries

Sometimes you don't have to travel too far to get into some good fishing! Here are some fun community fisheries that offer convenient escapes close to home.

This 3-acre pond is located just minutes from downtown Pocatello. Nestled within the 40-acre Edson Fichter Nature Area, this pond features several docks and a paved trail for access around the pond. Your dog is welcome to be your fishing buddy-if leashed while at the pond and on the trails. However, if they need to cool off or would like to practice their retrieving skills, there is a "puppy pond" and an off-leash area built just for them on the same property.

Located within the Portneuf Wellness Complex Park near the county fairgrounds in Pocatello, this community park offers trout fishing with many recreational amenities nearby. The 6-acre fishery is surrounded by playgrounds, soccer fields, basketball courts, running and biking trails, and an amphitheater for community events. Multiple docks provide fishing access around the reservoir.

Tucked away on the northern edge of Malad City, this 23-acre reservoir provides a nice local fishing spot for the lone angler or the whole family. Rainbows are stocked in this fishery, but anglers have caught bluegill and largemouth bass, too.

Located on land managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, this pond was once a series of eight smaller water bodies but is now one connected water body occupying more than 8 acres.

Anglers can reel in rainbow trout, bluegill, sunfish, largemouth bass, bullhead, and channel catfish. Though the site is dominated by willows and cottonwood trees, there are plenty of openings along the banks to plant a camp chair and cast a line. This is a great fishery for the kids, too!

There is a nearby camping area and vault restrooms available. Visitors have been treated to sights of moose, deer, pheasants, beaver, and a variety of waterfowl species.

Whether you are after bass, rainbows, cutties, or browns, this fishery has something for everyone. Who knows, you might even reel in some crappie or perch! Looking for a place to catch a sturgeon? You can do that along this stretch of river, too.

If waters are running high or you don't have a boat, don't worry-there are places to fish from the shore and from docks. But, keep in mind this section of river has some special rules.

• From the downstream side of the Gifford Springs boat fishing zone (western boundary) upstream to Eagle Rock, the bass limit is 2, any size.
• Trout limit is 6; only two may be cutthroat trout.
• From Eagle Rock upstream to American Falls Dam, trout limit is 0 this time of year (catch-and release only).
• From the Saturday before Memorial Day, the trout limit is 2 until Oct. 15.

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