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Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Ryan Chris
September 16, 2025

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Another good week of fishing for CJ Strike - especially if you’re on the hunt for panfish. Pics of crappie, perch and bluegill were in my inbox and on customers phones all week - love seeing it!! Most reports are about fish that are in 15’ and less. Lots of baits should work right now…we just got in a HUGE NORTHLAND TACKLE restock to get prepared for the fall panfish bite!! For the perch, I’d recommend a drop shot rig with multiple hooks tipped with nightcrawlers. Good reports of perch in the Bruneau around Cottonwood. Bass fishing has been excellent and some really nice smallmouth are being caught up the Snake River arm and by anglers just running the banks in the narrows. IRR Tungsten Finesse Jigs have been on fire! I’d have a drop shot, walking bait and a 5” Daingerous swimbait! Tough to beat a tube and a Keitech as well - something crappie-ish. Really good reports for sturgeon up the Snake River arm! Trout and crappie seem to be the baits of choice.

Boise River: Great fishing! Grab some shallow diving cranks and jerkbaits and jig heads tipped with shrimp and it’s very likely that you’re going to have a good day! Don’t forget about baits like crappie jigs and just small soft plastic minnows on jig heads! Especially if you want to target the browns that are in the river.

Brownlee: Sitting at 2048.5. The Spring Rec Ramp is still accessible. Fishing for bass and crappie has been excellent. For the crappie, I’d recommend a 3-4” minnow to help you key in on the larger fish. Take a look at the Nortland Tackle 3.5” Paddle Shad - a brand new bait to the shop. PERFECT size for catching larger crappie as well as still being interesting enough to catch you some large smallies! These fish are in 10-20’ - shallower in a few spots - and they are actively feeding. For smallies - quite a few baits are working. These fish are pounding crayfish and silver dollar sized crappie so keep that in mind when you’re selecting your lures. The IRR Jigs are crushing it - try a Zoom UV Speed Craw as a trailer! I love the Roboworm Hologram Shad 4.5-6” worms on a drop shot when the bass get singularly focussed on crappie and I’d have a cranking rod with me with something diving down into the 10-12’ range. Fall and jerkbaits…I’d have one of those for sure!!

Snake River: Lots of grass but good fishing as well. Lots of cats being caught in shallow water on just about everything…including jigs and bass baits 😂! Bass fishing has been great and lots of baits are working. Jigs are number one, senkos would be number two and a topwater would be number 3!

Wilson Springs: No report.

Lake Lowell: Great time to fish lowell…the joy boating crowd is pretty small and great fishing on other bodies of water attracting anglers can result in you having what seems like the whole darn thing to yourself! Topwater bite has been ok with buzzbaits and the flipping bite remains excellent. Try a Reactions Innovations Sweet Beaver or a Dry Creek 3.5” tube. A weightless senko and/or fluke is not a bad idea!

Cascade Reservoir: Good reports for all species. One customer had a great day and caught just about everything that lives in Cascade on crappie jigs, Crush City Mooch Minnows and chatterbaits. Drop shotting multiple hooks with nightcrawlers will do a great job of putting some perch in the boat. The areas by the dam can be good right now as well as rocky banks. Another customer called to tell me how well he did on an IRR Tungsten Finesse Jig. Take a look at the Crawfish caught on a jig at Cascade by my buddy Scott in the Catch Spotlight below…it will explain why the 1/2oz All Brown or Brown Copper Purple jig gets bit so well here!! I’d probably have a 3.8 Fat Swing Impact Keitech on a Cipher Fishing Ball Head rigged up and ready also. Trolling Flicker Shads and the Shad Rap Elite cranks is always a good idea here. This time of the year you don’t normally need weights or downriggers to fish them as most species can be caught in 15’ or less. Water is low here…

Horsethief Reservoir: No report.

Owyhee Reservoir: Better week for bass and still on fire for crappie. Bait selection for the crappie shouldn’t be hard!! Throw your favorite…Take a look at some of the new Northland Tackle baits. Made of a TPE plastic, they not only catch fish but last all day. For the bass, fish are a bit all over the place with reports for both shallow and deep fish. I would say the trend is that fish are starting to move shallow. Topwater baits like buzz baits and whopper ploppers should work on the shallow bass. 1/2oz and heavier football jigs have been working. I like the PB&J colors here! I’d also have a Neko rig or a Shakey Head. Not a bad time of the year to throw a big bait…

Owyhee River: Great fishing right now! Small cranks and jerkbaits will work but if I had to pick one thing - go with the shrimp on a jig head. Lots of active crayfish in the water right now and that’s why I think the shrimp works so well. Just an opinion but I sent a customer here last week who left the shop a skeptic and came back a believer 😁

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: Only report from the week is from an angler that caught a few small trout trolling Kokabow gear by the dam.

Arrowrock Reservoir: Lots of small bass and some good trout being caught on the troll. Water is low so careful launching your boat! It can be an effective time of the year to catch trout from the bank with powerbait and nightcrawler rigs. Great time of the year to camp as well!!

Anderson Ranch Reservoir: Boats still launching by the dam - at least one that contacted me last Thursday. A few reports of some really good smallmouth fishing for 1-2# fish on Ned rigs, jigs and Keitechs!

Payette Lake: No report.

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: Starting to see some stocked with trout. Check out the stocking schedule and throw light Carolina rigs with powerbait. These hatchery fish are used to small dough style baits!!

Reel Life Rewards for Students!, Pre-Order Link and Imperium Rods, J and H Sales and Marine, Custom Baits,

^{The Reel Life Rewards program IS NOW LIVE!! This program is designed to try to help students use the shop as a motivator to strive for academic excellence and fulfill the mission of Idaho Rod and Reel to serve in the community. Available for students in grades 4-12, sign up is available at}^{idahorodandreel.com}^{; click on the Youth Programs tab! Students can earn free baits, win grand prize drawings for amazing prizes like a NEVER RELEASED CUSTOM IDAHO ROD AND REEL SPINNING ROD!! Students will also receive weekly motivational quotes and study helps and tools! Parents have complete visibility to the program and control over what notifications are sent!!}
^{There is a chance that the LINK and IMPERIUM rods are back in stock THIS WEEK!! Once they arrive, the Pre-Order Sale will be over. Pre-order now in store or online and reserve your favorite model for $129.99. Rods will retail for $144.99.}
^{Some of you have noticed that I have been a little bit busier than normal… YOU WERE RIGHT! I am excited to announce that Cody Murray and I have purchased J and H Sales and Marine! It is our goal to bring the same commitment to customer service and to serving in our community that we have at Idaho Rod and Reel to this new venture! More to come about this in the near future!}
^{We will be getting a shipment soon of a custom bait from a major manufacturer that will only be available at Idaho Rod and Reel! Excited about this one!! Some of you got to see it this past weekend…}
^{If you are on Tik Tok - SO ARE WE! Take a look at Tin Rig Fishing (@}^{tin.rig.fishing}^{) - can’t wait for you to see what we have planned for this!}
^{HUGE PANFISH BAITS RESTOCK from NORTHLAND TACKLE!}
^{Huge Yamamoto Restock with some colors of Senkos I have not seen before!!}
^{Over 100 NEW TERMINAL TACKLE ITEMS IN STOCK! Includes hooks, bands, jig heads and more!}
^{ONE STEP CLOSER!!!!! WE ARE WORKING ON A VERY UNIQUE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY!! CAN’T WAIT TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT!!}
^{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

Tough but fun way to catch steelies! Some beautiful Idaho scenery!

Technically Speaking...

Careful on the Kayak

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

State record cat!

Former catch-and-release state record holder gets dethroned…by his wife

Couples who fish together stay together, I like to say. But on Aug. 2, that theory got put to the test. Brandi Holt’s flathead catfish now stands as the official catch-and-release state record, dethroning her husband’s 42-inch cat.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/former-catch-and-release-state-record-holder-gets-dethronedby-his-wife

If you Fish Near Cottonwood!

Idaho Power closing Cottonwood Campground at C.J. Strike starting next week for dock upgrades

Idaho Power’s Cottonwood Campground at C.J. Strike Reservoir will be closed from Sept. 8 through Oct. 31 while the company installs new docks.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/idaho-power-closing-cottonwood-campground-cj-strike-starting-next-week-dock-upgrades

Steelhead/Salmon UPDATE!

IDAHO’S FALL CHINOOK SALMON SEASON UPDATE: 9/12/2025

idfg.idaho.gov/article/idahos-fall-chinook-salmon-season-update-9122025

Idaho's Steelhead Fishery Update, September 2, 2025

idfg.idaho.gov/article/idahos-steelhead-fishery-update-september-2-2025

Lower Granite Dam counts say one thing, but catching says another: Fall Chinook report

As of the end of trapping on Sept. 9, a total of 2,532 adult fall Chinook have been collected for broodstock at Lower Granite Dam, and 2,129 adults and jacks were returned to the river. The broodstock goal is approximately 4,000 adult fish that are at least 28 inches in length.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/lower-granite-dam-counts-say-one-thing-catching-says-another-fall-chinook-report

Local Fish Stocking Reports

Fish Stocking Forecasts

td {width: 33%; max-width: 33%; } This report highlights the monthly fish stocking schedule. Unless noted, fish listed below are all 10 to 12 inch rainbow trout. Stocking of all waters is tentative and dependent on river/lake/pond conditions; dates may change due to weather or staffing constraints. The table below shows schedules for all known forecasted stocking and up to the last month's recent stocking schedules. It may take two weeks for stocking data to appear as Historical stocking information. Your patience is appreciated.

idfg.idaho.gov/d7/fish/stocking/forecasts?rid=3

Steelhead Dam Counts

Steelhead Dam Counts

idfg.idaho.gov/fish/steelhead/dam-counts

Baits for September