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Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Ryan Chris
March 25, 2025

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Safe to say that CJ is fishing well for just about everything that swims in it right now. There are plenty of Crappie being caught in 15-20’ and they are starting to move closer to the banks. Trolling is not necessarily the best way to catch em right now - still very effective! But casting soft plastics tipped with nightcrawler or crappie nibbles are doing just fine! One of my personal faves for right now is going to be a 2 or 3” Keitech Easy Shiner in Chartreuse. Bass fishing has been improving and many anglers are finding success up the Snake River arm running shallow to mid depth diving crankbaits and jerkbaits. A Spro Rk Crawler is a tough one to beat - try reds and brown/dark greens with chartreuse or orange hot spots on them. If you are a jerkbaiting kind of guy (like me!), you need to look at the new Nishine Lures Eerie series of jerkbaits we just brought in. The colors are amazing, the adjustable weight system is really clever and the the bait moves like a jerkbait should. I would have a lipless and a dark tube ready to roll as well. Sturgeon fishing has been excellent! I have heard good things about crappie, eel and sturgeon candy as baits. Trout fishing from the bank has been really good. Try over by the Air Force ramp as well as the banks all around Black Sands. Keep it simple - nightcrawlers and powerbait rigs are always reliable passive set ups and if you want to hunt a bit, try throwing Hook Up Baits - you’ll probably have a multi-species day with these!

Boise River: Flows are high! Probably let this one cook for a bit.

Brownlee: Water has dropped about 5 feet and currently sitting at just over 2042. That’s enough to keep me from using the Spring ramp. Fishing has been picking up! But it sure isn’t on fire. Most guys seem to be picking up 10-15 bass per day with an ok number of folks doing much better than that. Water has been in the 46 degree range but hoping the bit of warm weather on the horizon puts this place in high gear. Cranking has been the #1 fish catcher that I am aware of with a close second going to the ol’ lipless! I’d have a jerkbait, dark tube and a IRR Tungsten Finesse jig as well. Plenty of fish in 12-18’ but the ones I’m throwing at are up on the bank.

Snake River: Steady performer for bass and starting to hear a bit about some decent catfishing success. For the bass, throw cranks, jerkbaits and Tungsten Finesse jigs. I love a red Spro Rk Crawler and am DYING to try the new Nishine cranks we just got in. See pics of those below. My gut says these are going to be an absolute player this spring on any body of water. Catfishing has picked up! get behind the shallower bridge pilings, back eddies and areas with some moving water dumping in.

Wilson Springs: Lots of littles being caught on powerbait. Recently stocked and spring is the best time to fish it before the moss kicks in!

Lake Lowell: Decent reports from bank anglers at Lowell! If it were me, I’d have an underspin, a dark chatterbait and a shallow square bill crank!

Motorized and Non-motorized boating are allowed April 15 to September 30. Human-powered boats are allowed 200 yards in front of the Upper and Lower Dams between October 1 and April 14. The rest of the lake is set aside for migrating and wintering wildlife.

Cascade Reservoir: Ice is starting to recede but have heard from a few folks that a ladder can get you to decent ice once away from the edges. Fishing shallow has been effective and fish seem to be pretty willing to bite lures on the move, ie. jigged as opposed to the bait and wait game. Some really nice perch being caught and in a full days fishing, you’re probably going to hook into a few trout!

Horsethief Reservoir: No report this week.

Owyhee Reservoir: Reservoir is full and with lots of cold water draining in to the res, it fished tough last week. I am really curious to see what this warm weather does though. I’d have a mix of cranks, spinnerbaits/chatterbaits, an underspin and a dark colored jig or tube. I’ve always liked the Dry Creek tubes here in black and blue and have caught several fish on Chartreuse and Black and Chartreuse and Blue cranks here.

Owyhee River: Water levels have dropped but I have not heard anything about water clarity or fishing conditions.

Duck valley: New Report from the Tribal Website!! Just a personal anecdote - I have had SOME MAJOR SUCCESS here right after ice out. Especially with the fly rod and leech patterns. My gut says trolling a Flicker Shad or Salmo would be absolute fire right now. Keep an eye on weather reports and wind! From the Tribal Website:

March 19, 2025 – All reservoirs remain clear of ice. Anglers have been dropping floaters, and boats on the open water at both the Mountain View and Sheep Creek Reservoirs looking for some rod and reel action with reports of moderate fishing activity. Currently closed, the Billy Shaw Reservoir will open April 1, 2025.

Lucky Peak Reservoir: Hearing about a few kokes being caught around the dam but mostly trout. Warmer, sunnier days might change that.

Arrowrock Reservoir: Still catching a ton of trout! And having a great time doing it! Some decent reports of really consistent action and some 16-18” fish! That’s a good time! Customer had a great day with orange and pink Kokabow Spinners and Bugs behind a purple and silver Kokabow dodger.

Anderson Ranch Reservoir: Not yet…

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 decent pond fishing to be had right now. Wacky rigs, swim jigs and Chatterbaits are what I’d have for bass. Tons of the ponds are getting stocked with trout and for those I’d just have simple powerbait and nightcrawler rigs as well as a few Ultralight Heavyweights jigs.

Ladies Only Class This Week, Cipher Fishing Give Away, Brownlee Open Anglers!! - Lucky Craft Limited Release Jerkbaits Arriving TUESDAY!!

Ladies ONLY!! Class is filling up! If you would like to join us and learn about all the different types of rigging, head over to idahorodandreel.com and click on the Classes tab. Class is this Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30pm - snacks, drinks, fishing and friendship in a very dude-free atmosphere 🤣
Head over to the Cipher Fishing instagram and locate the post with Cody Meyer announcing that Cipher is giving away an Autographed Daiwa Tatula Elite Rod fished by Cody Meyer on tour and some of his favorite tackle - like and tag 3 friends on that post to be entered to win! Better give it a follow while you’re there!
We have sold out of a few models of Link and Imperium rods are about out of a couple more models. The Link medium spinning and medium heavy casting are SOLD OUT. We are down to just a few of the following: Link Jerkbait and Imperium Blue spinning. If you are throwing small minnow baits on Livescope - the blue Imperium is an absolute small bait rocket launcher…and it throws small crankbaits like a Zip Midget like a dream.
We have some Limited Run Staysee 90’s arriving Tuesday! Just in time for spring smallies…Keep an eye on our social media for their release.
The TVB Bass Fishing Club is holding a raffle to raise money for their club. They are raffling off a Browning X-Bolt 6.5 PRC 26” Barrel with Tri-Pod. Tickets are $20/piece or 6 for $20 and only 200 tickets will be sold! Can be seen in the shop!!
Idaho Bass Masters Club is raffling of a Springfield Armory 1911 Garrison and 300 rounds of ammo with all of the proceeds going to fund their youth tournament prizes. Last year this tourney had over 60 kiddos!! Tickets are $20 a piece and 6 for $100.
New and In-Stock this week: Lucky Craft Pointer 112MR, Staysee 90’s, Gunfish and more, Berkley Dredger crankbaits, Z Man Chatterbaits, Sunline Cranking FC, Daiwa Rods, Shimano Vanford, BnR Soft Beads, Gamakatsu Egg Beads, Aerofloats, Jackall Drift Fry, Evergreen CR-13’s
NEW HATS ON THE WAY!! 3 New Designs!
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

Sturgeon Jumping!!

Technically Speaking...

Make those Cranks even better!

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

Spring Fishing Plans!

Dust off the fishing rod and plan your next family fishing outing this spring

Spring fishing is an exceptional opportunity for anglers looking to spend a day or weekend outdoors with their friends or families. Not sure where to even begin? Check out these easily accessible and regularly stocked lakes and ponds all across the state.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/dust-fishing-rod-and-plan-your-next-family-fishing-outing-spring-1

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

Steelhead Reports

Upper Salmon River Steelhead Fishing Report (03-18-2025)

idfg.idaho.gov/article/upper-salmon-river-steelhead-fishing-report-03-18-2025