Refuge waters include Lake Walcott, the reservoir behind Minidoka Dam (11,000 acres, of which 4,000 acres are open to boat fishing at certain times); Snake River, in the spillway area below Minidoka Dam (60 acres); and in Smith Spring and Gifford Spring boat-fishing lanes (80 and 200 acres, respectively). Boat fishing on Lake Walcott is permitted April 1-October 31 within the area designated by buoys. Fishing from float tubes is permitted throughout Lake Walcott year-round. Bank fishing is also permitted year-round. Available species include rainbow trout and smallmouth bass. In parts of the refuge, stay on designated access roads to protect fragile sagebrush sagebrush
The western United States’ sagebrush country encompasses over 175 million acres of public and private lands. The sagebrush landscape provides many benefits to our rural economies and communities, and it serves as crucial habitat for a diversity of wildlife, including the iconic greater sage-grouse and over 350 other species.
Learn more about sagebrush -grassland habitat.