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Hook Points

Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Ryan Chris
June 03, 2025

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Another good week at CJ but you can tell that things are slowing just a bit. Still plenty of fish to be caught and CJ is definitely on my list of hot spots. Crappie have moved out a bit deeper - maybe spend some time in 12-20’ if you’re struggling to find decent sized fish on the banks. Trolling with Flicker Shads with trolling weights or on downriggers are working. Try a Salmo Hornet if you want to get a little deeper without the help of weights or riggers. As you start to find fish in 20ish feet - I love the Rapala Jigging Raps. For bass, we’re talking mostly post spawn patterns which means there’s a chance you are looking everywhere for them! For shallow hunting, I’m going with Teckel Kicknockers or Lucky Craft Sammy’s. Deeper diving crankbaits like Strike King 3 and 5XD’s can come in to play and can help you search the mid-depth hanging bass, 10-18’. A Carolina Rig is a good option for searching deeper - love just a simple Green Pumpkin 5” Zoom Super Fluke. Drop shots, Neds and Jigs would also be good choices that allow for versatility in fishing the different depths. Really good reports for Sturgeon up the Snake River Arm.

Boise River: The human hatch is about to show up…so be prepared as you are fishing the Boise. Fishing has been decent but take that with a grain of salt as I only received a couple of reports. If it were me, I’d be searching with Shad Raps or Lucky Craft Pointer 65’s, bottom bouncing with shrimp or crappie jigs under a float and I’d be casting small swimbaits like 2-3” Keitech Easy Shiners - white!

Boise River at Glenwood Bridge NR Boise ID

Monitoring location 13206000 is associated with a Stream in Ada County, Idaho. Current conditions of Discharge and Gage height are available. Water data back to 1938 are available online.

waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/13206000/#dataTypeId=continuous-00065-0&period=P7D&showMedian=false

Brownlee: Water levels are up 3’ this week to 2067 - that’s 10’ from full. Bank fishing has been excellent for both crappie and bass because of it. For the crappie, fish coves with banks that allow you to cover water - meaning, if its crazy steep and you can only fish in one spot, skip that cove and get to one that you can move around in. Hunt them! Don’t wait for them to maybe come to you…Try baits like the Northland mimic Minnows and try small underspins. Don’t discount the drop shot for crappie!! For bass, I’m going to re-read the CJ post! I love the Roboworm 4” worms on a drop shot - especially the Hologram Shad flavor! I’d have a IRR Tungsten Finesse jig in the Vader color and love a Ned Rig and 3.3 keitech on an underspin. A really good friend of the shop was still catching crappie and bass pretty close to the banks. Hopefully the cooler weather keeps them there for a minute but be prepared to fish deeper as the week rolls on. Catfishing has been excellent. Cut baits for the win!

Snake River: Still a good spot to fish but many reported tougher days and smaller fish. If it were me, I’d be looking at two baits…Tungsten Finesse Jigs and topwater. My favorite jig pattern is Smallie Bug with a green pumpkin/red Zoom UV Speed Craw and for topwater, look at the Yoda Whopper Plopper 90 or a buzzbait. Reports for catfish have been a little spotty. The common denominator for those catching is that they were on wider stretches of the river like the Marsing bridge.

Wilson Springs: No report.

Lake Lowell: Reports have stayed mixed. Seems like a a good day/bad day kind of thing. When it fishes like this, I like to hit as many targets as I can and try to see if there’s a pattern. To do that, I’m throwing a frog or Zoom Horny Toad on top and I’m flipping either a Dry Creek tube or the new Big Bite Baits FAFO. Hit as many targets as you can! You’re doing everything you can to figure out if they are on wood, pencil seeds, new grass, rocks, etc. With the water remaining high, try a ½ or ¾ oz flipping weight to get the bait to fall more straight down as opposed to swinging away from the cover.

Cascade Reservoir: Perch fishing has been good. Good mixes of fish in both deep and shallow water with schools on the move. I love 2.8 keitechs on 1/8oz heads for shallower fish and trolling Flicker Shads and Shad Raps for deeper fish. I also LOVE a drop shot for perch and if you haven’t fished on for panfish, you are definitely missing out. You can tie on multiple jigs or just hooks with small minnow baits or nightcrawlers on them - great way to get bit! Cast, drag - stay in contact with the bottom! Use a heavier weight if you are struggling to feel things. For the trout, trolling seems to be the best option. Fish have been deeper and off the banks a bit. Flicker Shads and Salmo Hornets are still my selections. I love anything that looks like a perch but also a huge fan of purple. For the bass, you can spend time throwing a senko around docks for largemouth and for the smallies, you’re going to find most are post spawn. Carolina rigged flukes in black or green pumpkin, topwater walking baits early and drop shots, Neko rigs and Ned rigs around main lake points and on offshore structure.

Horsethief Reservoir: OK reports from the bank for Horsethief this week. Smaller rainbows were caught with powerbaits and casting spoons.

Owyhee Reservoir: Fishing well for both crappie and bass - starting to slow just a bit but still a good option. Catching crappie is not a problem…catching GOOD ones is a bit trickier! Some of the better crappie that I have found personally and have heard about, area a bit deeper and outside of the main schools. On livescope and traditional 2D, they look like individual fish - and have been out in 10-20’. I like larger baits for these fish and have had a lot of success with 3.3 Keitechs. The Northland baits are crushing crappie and I’d have a selection of those with me as well - especially the Gumball Jigs and the Underspins. For the bass, I’d still have a topwater bait like a Teckel Kicknocker or a War Eagle buzbait. I’d have a drop shot, jig and a mid to deep running crankbait like a Strike King 5XD. We’re starting to see some deeper post spawn patterns so a senko on an IRR Tungsten Wacky Jig is not a bad option either!

Owyhee River: Fishing really well right now. For the fly guys, I’d be throwing mostly streamers and nymphing - hoping for a BWO hatch and waiting for the evening caddis hatch. NOT too early for hoppers…just downsize ‘em!

Duck valley: RECENTLY STOCKED! From the Reservation Website:

May 23, 2025 – All reservoirs have been recently stocked May 14, and May 16 of 2025. Water temperatures for the week right around 55° C. Anglers have been dropping floaters, and boats at all reservoirs looking for some rod and reel action with reports of moderate to high fishing activity, where black and green leeches are pulling a lot of trout activity from the waters of Sheep Creek this week. Bait casters continuing to get good responses from a variety of swimbait lures, and shore casters landing fish with PowerBait, and night crawlers, and marshmallows.

Lucky Peak Reservoir: Most of the reports for LP have been a pretty solid mix of both kokanee and trout. It’s that time of the year where the recreational boaters become something you have to watch out for - get out early, catch em and get off is the plan of most! Pinks and oranges have still been the tickets - deeper now, 15-25’ from what I am hearing.

Arrowrock Reservoir: Just doesn’t seem to be a Kokanee fishery at the moment - fingers crossed that changes but as of right now, its and excellent trout, smallmouth and pike minnow fishery!

Anderson Ranch Reservoir: Kokanee bite is still hot on pinks and oranges - couple new reports just trickled in for black and blue as we have started to fish deeper. Long lining on top is still an option in the early hours of the morning but it does sound like the better bites are coming deeper than 15’. Bass are absolutely on fire - but for most, they’re pretty small. GREAT place to take a kiddo right now with a Keitech swimbait, curly tail grub, Ned rig or a drop shot.

Payette Lake: For good sized Kokanee, this is the place to be right now. Fish can be caught on top early but as with Anderson, you’ll be looking deeper as the sun comes up - 15-25’. Pink, oranges and greens have been the ticket with Tuna Blood and Shrimp Krill corn. Keep that trolling speed between 1.3 and 1.5 and go have some fun! Wake boats are going to be an issue as the weather has warmed and schools are out…

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: Quite a bit of weed growth in most of the ponds so have rigs that can fish around it or through it. Texas rigged baits, topwater frogs and swimbaits on weighted EWG hooks are good options for bass. For trout, bobber rigs can help you keep your offerings above the junk - I prefer the slip style because they allow me to give the bait a little action without a ton of disturbance on the water.

Post Spawn Bass Got Ya Down?!, Welcome Braxton, New Hats!

Join us for a FREE “How to Fish the Post Spawn” class taught by Cody Murray on June 12th from 6:30 to 8pm at the Idaho Rod and Reel Learning Center. Registration will be open sometime Tuesday.
We want to welcome Braxton to the Idaho Rod and Reel team! He is an accomplished young angler and an all around good young man! We are excited to have him for a few months until he returns to high school! We have a couple more new hires coming soon!
Stock on Link and Imperium Rods is VERY LOW!
The NEW HATS HAVE ARRIVED and they are selling quickly! There are 3 models - camo with a leather patch, gray with a blue logo and back by popular demand, the all black hat with leather round logo.
New and In-Stock this week: Bass Mafia Daingerous Swimbaits, Strike King Half Shell Drop Shot Baits, HUGE Keitech order on WEDNESDAY, Z Man Storage, Daiwa Reels, Hog Famer Stroll Shads, More Northland Panfish Baits on the Way!
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

Intense!

Technically Speaking...

How to Drive a Boat in Chine Walk…

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

Free Fishing Day!

Free Fishing Day events scheduled in the Upper Snake

Saturday, June 14, is Idaho’s Free Fishing Day and the Upper Snake Region is celebrating by loaning poles and bait at Jim Moore Pond, near Roberts, and Trail Creek Pond, near Victor. The equipment check-out is free and will run from 9 am -1 pm. Come and get some tips from the experts and experience how fun and easy fishing can be.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/free-fishing-day-events-scheduled-upper-snake

Salmon Update!

Upper Salmon River Chinook Update - 5/29/2025

idfg.idaho.gov/article/upper-salmon-river-chinook-update-5292025

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

SPRING CHINOOK DETAILS!

Spring Chinook Salmon Fishing Update 5/27/2025: Rapid River Run, Hells Canyon, and Clearwater River Fisheries

idfg.idaho.gov/article/spring-chinook-salmon-fishing-update-5272025-rapid-river-run-hells-canyon-and-clearwater

Steelhead Dam Counts

Steelhead Dam Counts

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

Steelhead Reports

Checking the pulse of Idaho's salmon and steelhead runs

When it comes to Idaho’s migrating salmon and steelhead, we can get a quick idea of the health of the populations by counting the number of fish passing dams on their migration. Like a pulse, it doesn’t tell us everything, but it is a good first cut at how healthy our fish populations are.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/checking-pulse-idahos-salmon-and-steelhead-runs