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Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Ryan Chris
July 21, 2025

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Overall vibe from CJ right now is that its fishing tough. Better for crappie than for bass but a bit tough. For crappie, get on the troll with Flicker Shads and Salmos - gonna catch a few trout this way as well. Get those baits 80’ behind the boat and cruise around at 1.3MPH and up to 2MPH. If you’re more into casting and retrieving, there are schools deep and shallow so will need to cover water. When you do find them, the Northland Panfish baits have been excellent! Don’t forget a crappie nibble or 50…from the bank - gotta cover water. There are smaller panfish around the docks and ramps but to stay on good ones all day - need to be able to move and cast around. Underspins!! For the bass fishing, expect to find quite a few little ones before you figure out a larger fish pattern. Be prepared to fish in 4’ of water out to 25’! For fishing shallow, take a look at a Wacky Rigged Senko, a 2.8 Keitech on a 1/8oz Cipher Fishing Ball head and a popper. For deeper fishing, take a look at a Zoom Trick Worm on a Shakey Head, a Fluke on a Carolina rig, a KVD Dream Shot or Roboworm on a drop shot (purple!!) and an IRR Tungsten Finesse Jig with a Strike King Rage Ned Bug as a trailer - I love the DIRT color!

Boise River: Flows are down a bit and the river is fishing really well. I love the Boise when it’s crazy hot outside - minus the human hatch 😆 ! Great time of the year for tumbling a piece of shrimp on a jig head under a float as well as for throwing small cranks and jerkbaits. Shad Raps in browns are really good on the river, as are spinners with copper in them.

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: Sitting at 2069 right now - roughly 7’ from full. Brownlee is fishing well. The Blue Green Algae is REALLY THICK! I fished here last week for a few hours and had no problem finding lots of smallies with drop shots, Neko rigs and Keitechs. Caught multiple crappie on the 3.3 Keitechs that were intended for bass. I threw the KVD Dream Shot in Dirt color and Roboworm in Electric Shad. I also caught several on a Green Pumpkin Senko on a Neko rig with a Cipher Fishing 3/32 Tungsten Nail Weight - watch your line for bites! For the Keitech, I had a lot of success on the Ayu color. I had better success with decent sized fish on steeper, rockier banks that had a mix of both large and small rocks but close to some sand. The crappie were in 15-25 feet and all over the place - and in most cases not stuck to anything - just hanging out over 30+ feet of open water! I saw plenty of them shallow and caught a few - all small.

Snake River: Fishing well but mostly for small fish. Try a topwater early - like a Lunker City Salad Spoon. The IRR Tungsten jig has been crushing in the rocky or sandy areas. Lots of grass though so gotta be careful where ya throw it! I personally fished the river from the bank on Saturday and SMASHED a bunch of fish on a White Crush City Mooch Minnow and a Cipher Fishing Elite Scoper head. I casted up into the current and tried to work the bait naturally at the speed of the current until it got bit! Catfishing has been excellent - but frustrating. Lots of grass!! Back eddies are the deal and they do not have to be deep.

Wilson Springs: No report.

Lake Lowell: Overall, fishing well. A bait that has been doing really well is the Berkley Swamp Lord. We just restocked and had so much success with the walking frog that we loaded up on the popping version as well. Great colors to choose from!! I would also have a flipping bait! Try a Bandit Incredibug or a Missile Baits Chunky D. Topwater soft plastic style buzz baits can be effective - look at the Z Man Goat Toadz. Bluegill fishing and catfishing have also been pretty good! Lots of Bluegills around the docks…

Cascade Reservoir: Still fishing tough for most. Trolling has been the best for the perch - look between 10 and 25’. Start at 10 and start working your way out until you find them - Salmos, Flicker Shads and Shad Raps and just grind it out! For the bass, you’re going to be on the move and looking at several spots. Look for sandy points, fish some of the rocky breaks and dams as well as look at areas where creeks come in. Drop shots, IRR Finesse Jigs and one customer caught a few on deeper diving 6XD’s. Largemouth can be around the docks and in the back of coves with senkos and Reaction Innovations Smallie Beavers.

Horsethief Reservoir: No report.

Owyhee Reservoir: Steady - but maybe getting a bit tougher. Worth the effort as the fish size has been decent! Lots of 2-3 pound bass with a good chance at something closer to 4 and 5. Look at bluff walls and steeper areas for both smallies and largemouth. Longer points with quick access to deep water can hold some of the shallower fish. Stay in the clearest water you can find. I’d have a football jig, Carolina rig, Keeper worm on a drop shot and a Neko rig. Try a Daiwa/Yamamoto Neko worm with a 3/32oz Cipher Fishing Nail Weight!! There have been a few reports of fish being caught on deeper diving cranks on 20-25’ deep flats. I like Chartreuse colored cranks at this depth and would not over look red/brown.

Owyhee River: I love fishing the “O” in the heat - the crowds are usually a bit smaller and the cold freaking water feels amazing on 100 degree days! I’d have a selection of Hoppers and streamers for the fly rod and I’d have a Lucky Craft Pointer 65 or a 2.8” Keitech…they’ll DESTROY a Keitech…

Duck valley: CAN BUY PERMITS ONLINE!!! FINALLY!!! No Reports.

Lucky Peak Reservoir: Fishing ok for Kokanee. Definitely been a tougher year for them but there have been some good ones caught. I was hearing about depths around 30-45’ depending on the time of day right now. Colors have been all over the place - which means no pattern other than to get out there and experiment!

Arrowrock Reservoir: Lots of trout being caught on Kokabow Dodgers and Bugs. Trolling a Flicker Shad is also going to het you bit! TROUT! No kokes…they vanished into thin air. LOTS of little smallies to catch! A Ned rig or a Keitech is all you need!

Anderson Ranch Reservoir: If you want to catch kokes right now, this is the place to do it. Not a bunch of giants but a bunch of 10-12 inchers and plenty of activity. Rods are going to stay busy! Need to get down around 25’ at least - with several guys fishing at 50’. All colors have been working! Bass fishing is excellent for smaller fish with Ned rigs, Mooch Minnows and drop shots.

Payette Lake: Sounds like last week started hot then got tough. Spend some time up around the north end of the lake in 30-45’ with oranges and blacks. It’s been a busy lake - so be prepared for company!

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: Dealing with lots of moss…it kind of sucks!!

Lots of New Baits this Week - Over 100 items, Link and Imperium Rod Updates, Tungsten Updates, Eli and Grady Raffle!

Over 100 NEW ITEMS ARRIVING THIS WEEK! Look for new items from Daiwa, Berkley, Z Man, Culprit, Netbaits, Bucca, Zoom, Yum, Cipher Fishing, Shimano, Pfleuger, X Braid, Missile Baits and soooo many more.
Check out the new Cipher Fishing Elite Scoper Head!! This is a 98% Tungsten head with a custom Kotae hook designed specifically for use with Elaztech style baits and more slender minnow baits. Currently ONLY AVAILABLE on TackleWarehouse.com and at Idaho Rod and Reel!!
MANY have been asking about when we will have Link and Imperium rods back in stock…we are currently waiting on our Fuji components from Japan. We are hoping to start receiving shipments in about 3 weeks. Fingers crossed!
We have been waiting for out shipment of IRR Tungsten and hoping to see that in the next two weeks!! New products in this shipment!
Congratulations to Spencer Thompson for winning the Eli and Grady Going to Nationals raffle!!
I want to personally thank each of you that helped these two boys get to Nationals. They are great young men and I just love ‘em! We were able to raise over a thousand dollars!!
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.
Something big is coming for Idaho Rod and Reel…hints are out there…
New and In-Stock this week: Freaking every brand 🤣
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

Great watch from a Cipher Fishing Pro!

Technically Speaking...

Fish Finder Fixes

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

Get out of the heat!

Idaho's mountain lakes are summer destinations and great fishing adventures

Idaho has thousands of lakes, probably more than you could explore in a lifetime of summers, and Idaho Fish and Game has kept those lakes stocked with fish for decades by a variety of methods, including aircraft, horseback and backpack.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/idahos-mountain-lakes-are-summer-destinations-and-great-fishing-adventures

Trout Adventures? Yes please…

Want a summer adventure? Try the Trout Challenge!

The Western Native Trout Challenge is a multi-state trout slam hosted by our friends at the Western Native Trout Initiative (WNTI). WNTI is part of the bigger National Fish Habitat Partnership program, working across 12 Western states to conserve native trout. They work hard to fund conservation efforts such as habitat restoration, removing migration barriers, fish population surveys and trout education/outreach.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/want-summer-adventure-try-trout-challenge

Salmon Update!

Upper Salmon River Chinook Fishery update: 7/15/25

idfg.idaho.gov/article/upper-salmon-river-chinook-fishery-update-71525

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

CAST for Kids!!