Smalley Reservoir Fishing in Valley County, Idaho

• Overview

  Within Valley County, Idaho, you have Smalley Reservoir. Country round the bank runs to mixed forest. About 11 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. McCall lies 22 miles from the water. For a city, Boise is 68 miles off. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple. The country round the bank is quiet, with little traffic on the road in.

• Where to Fish on Smalley Reservoir

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Across Valley County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and Coho salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Anyone new to Smalley Reservoir should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 21°F in January to roughly 61°F in August. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Time your trip to Smalley Reservoir by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Jemima K Reservoir sits 0.9 miles off and takes the overflow. For Smalley Reservoir, the notice at the access point is the final word.