Keith Lusher 09.24.25
Street building at one in all Idaho’s premier trout fishing locations will considerably influence angler entry for the following two weeks. Beginning Monday, September 22, at 7 a.m., a portion of Horsethief Street can be closed as crews start paving work on the west facet of Horsethief Reservoir in Valley County.
The closure begins on the cattle guard close to the intersection of Horsethief Street and Nationwide Forest Improvement Street 433, extending south to the YMCA camp. Idaho Fish and Sport anticipates the work will take just below two weeks, with west facet entry reopening to the general public on October 1.
Whereas the primary entry highway can be closed, Nationwide Forest Improvement Street 433 will stay open, offering a path to the east facet of the reservoir. Nonetheless, this different successfully limits entry to walk-in solely. With camp hosts having departed for the season, the gate to the boat ramp at Trout Touchdown on the east facet is already closed, eliminating boat launching alternatives in the course of the building interval.
This timing coincides with the tip of the tenting season, as Horsethief Reservoir Campground closed on September 14, two weeks earlier than the highway work started.
Horsethief Reservoir spans 260 acres and ranks amongst Idaho’s best trout fisheries. The Idaho Division of Fish and Sport usually shares the reservoir with rainbow trout, brown trout, and kokanee salmon. Present bag limits permit six trout, six kokanee, and 25 brook trout.
The reservoir operates beneath a 5 mph velocity restrict and maintains no-wake standing year-round. Even when full entry returns, boaters ought to keep in mind these restrictions apply to all watercraft.
Positioned roughly 75 miles north of Boise and 9 miles east of Cascade, Horsethief Reservoir sometimes provides wonderful late-season fishing alternatives. Whereas the highway closure quickly complicates entry, walk-in fishing from the east facet stays attainable for devoted anglers keen to make the additional effort.
The timing of this building challenge, occurring after the tenting season ends however earlier than winter closure, minimizes influence on peak fishing durations. As soon as work completes on October 1, full entry will resume simply as fall fishing sometimes picks up momentum.
For present circumstances and entry updates, examine with Idaho Fish and Sport earlier than making the journey to this common mountain reservoir.
