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A Quick Note from Ryan!!

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Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Lots of fish being caught out at CJ but we still have some “fishing was really tough” reports coming in as well. For crappie, gotta get on the move and need to use your electronics. Trolling a Flicker Shad or Shad Rap while you spend some time with your eyes on the sonar is a really good way to fish productively. I like trolling to find them but my favorite way to catch them is to cast and jig through them with Big Bite Baits Kamikaze Swim Ons, Jigging Raps (I owe my relatively new love for this bait to my buddy Josh!) and with Z-man or Northland Tackle plastics. Northland is QUICKLY becoming a favorite - they have been incredibly effective this season. There are a BUNCH of schools of crappie that DON’T live in the narrows…there are schools in the Bruneau, the main bowl and within the first mile as you head up the Snake River arm. The hunt should be half the fun! Look in 15-25’ and spend some time on your maps looking for offshore humps, look at the mouths of coves and creeks and look for drop off areas that go from 4-8’ and then dump into 15-25’. You’ll find em. Bass fishing has been good for smaller fish. The bigger ones have been a little hit or miss but they are being caught regularly. Deeper diving crankbaits like Strike King 5 and 6XD’s can be good options for covering water. The IRR Tungsten Finesse jigs are getting bit like crazy with fish I know of being caught in 10-20’ around any small offshore rock/gravel pile. Drop shots (Keeper or Roboworm), shakey heads (Trick Worm or 6” Roboworm) and Neko rigs (Senko or Crush City Pig Sticks!) are all great finesse options and when in doubt - NED RIG (old school TRD baby!)! Don’t forget the shallows!! Whopper ploppers, walking baits and poppers are all great options!! As is a Keitech on a 1/8oz Cipher Tungsten Ball Head.

Boise River: Reports are that the river is busy but that plenty of fish are being caught. Spend some time on a map and you can find some amazing areas on the Boise to fish! Its a long river with a lot of forks…go exploring! Ultralight Heavyweights jigs caught several fish this last week for a customer who threw them for the first time and was pretty shocked that the trout will readily eat “those crappie jigs” 🤣! They definitely will. The HD Trout jerkbaits have been catching and its tough to beat a piece of shrimp on a jig head under a float…

Brownlee: Sitting at 2058 right now - down 4’ from last week. Sounds like the camp host at the Spring ramp is telling everyone to use the old ramp. Blue green algae is bad although I haven’t seen an official announcement about hazardous levels from Idaho Power. You’re gonna spend a few extra minutes wiping that boat down for sure. Fishing is decent for crappie, bass and catfish. From the bank, catfishing is excellent. One customer suggests fishing rocky areas that are next to sandy flats. I’d listen to that advice!! For crappie, when the algae is bad, I will find schools closer to the surface than you might think. I think while ugly…it offers some shade. Look along bluff walls, cove and creek mouths and humps!! I love throwing 2.8 Keitechs for these crappie as the smallies will readily eat them as well - fun little surprise when a 14-15” smallie jumps on your crappie rod!! For the bass, cranking early has been working with 3 and 5XD Strike King Crankbaits. I’d have a fluke on a Carolina Rig, a drop shot with a Keeper/Roboworm or X Zone Hot Shot Minnow, and IRR Tungsten Finesse Jig and a dark colored 3.8” Keitech on a 1/4oz Cipher head. Don’t ignore the shallows just because it’s summer! There are resident shallow fish that just prefer to live shallow and big ones spend a fair amount of time hunting bait up shallow - especially early/late or if there is shade. Whopper ploppers are great for covering water and smallies love poppers - take a look at the Evergreen OB Poppers - love those!

Snake River: Water was a little less “weedy” was the report we were receiving and it sounds like both catfish and bass were biting. Catfish have been shallow and will play around in the mud and grass. Try a Santee rig to keep the bait just off the bottom. Bass are eating the IRR jig like crazy! I’d have a green pumpkin fluke, Evergreen SB105 topwater walking bait and a Texas rigged bait like the Lunker City Karate Craw or a Reaction Innovations Smallie Beaver.

Wilson Springs: No report.

Lake Lowell:  Fishing well! I spent quite a bit of time here this weekend with a 2-day youth tournament and also talking to several anglers that fished a tourney here with the Idaho Bassmasters this weekend. The frog bite is a little bit hit or miss - I’d have one and maybe even a buzzbait as the topwater bite is getting good sized fish. I’d also have a creature bait with purple in it and I’d be flipping it a yard or two back into the thick weeds with a ½ to 3/4oz weight. I’d also be running a chatterbait or spinnerbait - I like a gold blade on mine. Plenty of catfish being caught as well. Fish along the dams and in open water next to big weed expanses. A couple of anglers flipped catfish out of the weeds on bass baits this weekend! They do like being around the weeds and they do like to hunt.

Cascade Reservoir: Water levels are still dropping a bit but it does sound like there was some decent fishing this past week. For smallies, the game seems to be offshore around humps and rock piles with drop shots, Ned rigs and some deeper diving crankbaits. I’d have an IRR Tungsten finesse jig with me - brown! A bit of a sneaky bait choice would be a Bass Mafia Daingerous 5” swimbait! Perch fishing has been a bit hit or miss and from a couple anglers I spoke to that had really good success, the schools are offshore and moving around quite a bit. Trolling jointed Flicker Shads and Shad Raps in brown/crayfish colors is what worked for them. I know of a few perch that were caught by the dam from the bank on nightcrawlers and a couple more caught by the city ramp with a kiddo throwing a Keitech intended for a bass! Keep an eye on your weather reports here as some of the hot evening storms can make things a bit crazy! Swing by Freedom Outdoors on your way into town and find out what’s been working and grab some snacks!

Horsethief Reservoir: Flies trolled behind a float tube will get you bit! Try leach style flies like Seal Leaches or Olive/Brown wooly buggers. Nightcrawlers and powerbait are always good options here as are spinners from the bank!

Owyhee Reservoir: Really consistent fishery so far this summer. For crappie, the bluff walls are full of them - the more straight up and down and deep the wall, the more crappie. The bait is relatively unimportant - just get one down to them. Lots of crappie at the openings to the coves and some schools of smaller fish in the backs of the creeks. Bass fishing has been a good mix of smallies and largemouth. I’d have an IRR Tungsten Finesse Jig, a Carolina Rig with a craw or fluke, a drop shot with either a 6” worm like a Keepers Custom on a Owner Cover Shot hook or a 5” Senko wacky rigged, and a 3.8 Keitech on a 1/4oz Cipher Fishing Ball Head. The deep crank bite hasn’t been consistently amazing but it has been consistent - so I’d have a 6-8XD on as well. You should see some shallow fish in 10’ early and then most likely playing the 20-25’ game as the day moves on.

Owyhee River: No Report.

Duck valley: CAN BUY PERMITS ONLINE!!! FINALLY!!!

From the Reservation Website:

July 28, 2025 – Billy Shaw Reservoir remains in good condition with healthy water levels and clear visibility near the shoreline. Aquatic vegetation like moss is present along the bottom, supporting fish and insect life. Wildlife activity is high, with large numbers of ducks, pelicans, and dragonflies observed throughout the day. 

Fishing conditions appear calm but active, with anglers seen kayaking and casting along the shore. Visitors are continuing to enjoy the lake with light recreation, including music and fishing. While it's a long drive, Billy Shaw continues to be a peaceful and worthwhile place to visit, offering a healthy environment for both people and wildlife.

Lucky Peak Reservoir: Still catching Kokes and Trout at LP. Trolling 80-100’ behind the boat, 1.3-1.6MPH with darker dodgers and orange or pink baits seems to be the deal. Not as many Kokanee reported this week. Did see a few red ones.

Arrowrock Reservoir: Trout and bass. Both easy to catch…troll just about anything for the trout…Flicker Shads, wedding rings and worm harnesses, 2oz ball on a clip, set back at 60-80’ and moving the boat pretty quick, 1.6-2MPH is the report from a good friend of the shop. Bass - Ned rigs! It does get hot here in the middle of the day and there aren’t a lot of places to get out of the sun.

Anderson Ranch Reservoir: Lots of Kokes still showing up. Alan with Kokabow and I spoke last week and he is wondering as I am, if we will have many fish spawning or will we be able to continue to fish here without much spawn impact. He thinks that there is a good chance that Anderson doesn’t really get that spawn lull in fishing we usually see in August thru October…

Payette Lake: Still catching them here but definitely some red ones! Probably winding down…

QUICK THANK YOU TO ALAN WITH KOKABOW TACKLE FOR THE KOKANEE REPORTS TODAY!! THIS GUY JUST CONTINUES TO WORK SO HARD TO HELP THE COMMUNITY CATCH THESE FISH!

If you would like to book a trip with Alan, he is guiding through Fish and Fur Outfitters. Cost is $250 per seat - 2 person minimum and I can tell from first hand experience - if you want to learn how to get in the game - its worth every penny! He guides on Anderson and Payette Lake!

Local Ponds: Some good bass being caught in the Boise City ponds. If you say pond, I’ll say Fluke! Trout stocking should resume in September as the weather and water cools.

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JOIN US FRIDAY! and win a Jeep, Tatula Elite $5 Raffle!!, Some Cool Classes Coming Up!, We Need Your Help with the C.A.S.T. for Kids Event this SATURDAY, Tariffs are Fun!

• Join us for LUNCH on FRIDAY 8/8 from 11am to 2pm as the Treasure Valley Bass club will be providing Hot Dogs, Chips and Drinks for $5!! They are also raffling off a 1255cc Mini Jeep to raise money for the club Grand Championship! Great club, great people and a great deal for a quick lunch!

• Lets have some fun this week!! We will be selling 75, $5 tickets for a chance to win a Daiwa Tatula Elite Spinning Reel Valued at $375!! We will allow 2 per customer!! $375 reel for $10?1 Yes please…

• KAYAK BASS FISHING CLASS!!! Join us Thursday evening, August 14th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm as the 10th place angler in AOY points and Bassmaster Kayak Series Pro Caymen Rasmussen teaches us all about Bass fishing from a Kayak!! You can follow him on Instagram @caymen_rasmussen_fishing and check out his Youtube Channel @caymenrasmussen. He is a phenomenal angler and great guy - this will be a very beneficial night! Kayak angler or not, you won’t want to miss it! Sign up will be live on Tuesday, 8/5/2025.

• C.A.S.T. 4 KIDS is coming up!! We need boaters! This is an absolutely amazing event!! See the flyer below for more info. Please consider helping and being part of this amazing program. Help us give these amazing kids a day they will remember for a long time.

• Link and Imperium Rod Update! I know several of you are waiting for the restock so I will keep updating as they become available. We were waiting for all of the Fuji components from Japan. It sounds like all that has arrived and installation has begun! Hopefully we start seeing shipment notifications soon! We are going to do everything we can to keep the price down on these! The tariffs are hitting the fishing industry hard…

• The tackle industry is a tough one. Over 65 independent tackle shops closed last year…I have done everything I can to create a unique tackle shop experience for the community I care so much about. From custom rods, tungsten products, baits, reports, newsletters, events and classes - we have done everything we can think of to help everyone that supports our small shop - catch fish. We just want to share how much we love fishing with you and share the joy we feel when we catch fish! We have to keep evolving…WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE WHATS NEXT!!

• In an effort to keep our prices low, we have placed some very large orders for product that will be hit hard by tariffs. This includes rods and reels! We are fully stocked right now with the best products from Daiwa and Shimano. We received over 8 boxes of baits on Monday and more expected! We will be ready for fall fishing and for a little bit, we have tried to protect our customers from the tariffs!!

• New and In-Stock this week: Zoom Baits, Berkley Flicker Shads, Rapala Crush City, Whopper Plopper, Spro Skip Gap Shakey Heads, Net Baits T Mac Worms, Reaction Innovations, Yamamoto Senkos, Daiwa Prorex Reels, MORE!

• Bait and equipment reviews coming…along with some How To’s….

• Is there something you’d like to see in the shop? Email me at [email protected]…one random suggestion just might end up winning you a prize.

Worth Watching

Idaho’s Own, Cody Meyer!

Technically Speaking...

Daiwa Prorex MQ LT and X LT Reels! HUGE HIT! Steelheaders and those that fish when it’s cold - CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO!

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

Good Read

Salmon Update!

Local Fish Stocking Reports

Steelhead Dam Counts

CAST for Kids!!

How to fish a Shakey Head

Shakey Tube??!!

Trolling with Snap Weights - I like the look of this!!

CHECK OUT IDAHO ROD AND REEL’S NEW WEBSITE - idahotacklebox.com!!

How to catch summer crappie!

Crappie in August

Flipping grass

August Baits!

Chatterbait Tips

New in the Shop

Daiwa Prorex MQ LT

Daiwa AIRD Casting Reels!! 8 Bearings, LESS THAN $100!!!

Catch Spotlight

Submit your own entry to be featured in Hook Points to: [email protected], Subject: Catch Spotlight

Of course Jon caught one this week!! And a couple with his buddy Jordan!

Lisa has this Lowell flipping game figured out!!

That’s an awesome smallie Paul!

15# Flathead for Krystle!!

Check out this little man!! Nice job buddy!!

Great catch Lillian!!

JP Has a way with the big ones!

Check out Jessica O with her PB!!! Great catch!!

THROW THE JIG!! Check out the following pics of fish caught on the IRR Tungsten Finesse Jig!! A ton of my research in college was on crayfish as a food source for gamefish!!! This is the right size and colors to get bit and to get bit a lot!!

Great catch Todd!! On the IRR Finesse jig on the Link 7’3” MH Casting!! So happy for you Todd - that’s a good one for sure!

The Loescher family found a few!! (Not all caught on the jig but the big one was 😉 )

Haiden Miller doing Haiden Miller things…with Brian!!

Braison!! On the jig!!

Check out Brians beautiful smallie on the jig! He sells it because he fishes it!

For Kokanee Guide Services - check out my good friends!! You will love your trips with them!!