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Hook Points

Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Ryan Chris
August 12, 2025

A Quick Note from Ryan!!

From time to time, you will notice ads in the newsletter. As the subscribership to Hook Points has grown considerably, the costs to produce it and host it have now become significant. We have no plans to stop producing the letter as so many of you have told us that you find it useful! I’m happy about that!! In order to help offset the costs, we are working with a company that will help us find advertisers that pay well for ad placement. We get paid per click! You do not need to sign up for anything! Please help us offset the costs of Hook Points by clicking on the links. Please do not feel obligated to do so but the help would be welcomed!!

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Good fishing being reported for the most part - but a little inconsistent and most complaints are about the size of both crappie and bass being caught. From my experience this late in the summer, the bigger crappie are in much smaller groups or by themselves. Often near larger schools of smaller crappie but not always. Trolling reports have been good with the usual suspects - Flicker Shads and Shad Raps. Might catch a few perch this way as well. Some decent perch schools being seen in the narrows at around 25’. My suggestion for those not trolling (boat or bank), is to cover water - use your electronics if you can to find humps, drop offs or just random schools. From the bank, start around docks, boulders, gravel piles, buoys and vegetation close to deeper water. Most small plastics will work but one of my favorites are Keitechs - I catch them on baits up to roughly 3.5”. For the bass, play around with different depths. If you are catching smalls in 5-10’ - seems obvious but sometimes isn’t - LEAVE! Try 20’, then 25 then 30 and on out to 40’. I find that the fish in the main bowl will summer deeper than those in the river and Bruneau sections. I’d have a drop shot, Ned rig, IRR Finesse jig, Carolina rig, tube jig and a Neko or wacky rig for some shallow to shallow-ish fishing .

Boise River: Busy river but lots of nice trout being caught. The Lucky Craft Pointer 65 is the deal! Lots of great water along the Boise greenbelt to explore!

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 2055 right now - down 3’ from last week. We are on the old ramp if you launch at Spring which means no dock. Crappie fishing has improved as the water levels have dropped. If you are struggling to find them, come talk to me and I can help you locate some. In the summer, I have found crappie on the deeper bluff walls in 5-20’ and at the mouths of the coves - especially if they have a prominent point. Whatever your favorites baits are will get bit - for me that is the Big Bite Baits Swimons and Keitechs. I love a good crappie jig but I catch my biggest fish on 3” baits. For the bass, look for the coolest water you can find and current is a good thing. Brownlee has current…when the dam is open and wind! Long points, deep bluff walls, off shore humps are my favorite things to target at Brownlee in the late summer. A 5” dark colored fluke (ever seen the purple pumpkin fluke??!!) on a Carolina rig with a ¾ or 1oz weight is an excellent option for searching. Crankbaits can be effective! Try 5 and 6XD’s. Drop shots like the Dream Shot and Roboworm Straight Tail worms are great options. Neds, jigs and Neko’s will also get bit! Catfishing in the summer evenings on a camping trip is an EXCELLENT idea!! Do it…

Snake River: I fished here personally this week and had a great time catching small to medium sized bass with my son. Drop shots, IRR Tungsten Finesse Jigs, Senkos and a popper were the deal. Current was important. We found considerably more active fish around areas with decent current. Grass matts are all over the place! Keep your popper ready and keep your EARS open as the smallies will hang out around these matts eating dragon and damselflies that get stuck in them or use them as floating islands to dry their wings. You hear the splash, popper away!

Wilson Springs: One customer reporting serious frustration that the grass and weeds here are terrible. Only thing I have heard about Wilson Springs in WEEKS! Not a great summer fishery because of that. As things start to cool and F&G starts stocking more regularly, Wilson will pick up.

Lake Lowell: Very consistent performer right now. Fish are being caught outside weed edges with spinnerbaits and chatterbaits, around the weed edges with frogs and 3-4’ inside the weed edges with flipping baits. I’m going Chartreuse and white with my wire baits, with the Berkley Swamp Lord for my frog and the Big Bite Baits FAFO, Reaction Innovations Kinky Beaver and Crush City Cleanup Craw doing my flipping. 1/2-3/4oz for the weight - yes, pegged.

Cascade Reservoir: Busy reservoir with quite a few non-anglers is what I am hearing. Perch are being caught in 15-25’ of water on drop shot rigs with 3-4 hooks and nightcrawlers. Bass have been elusive at times. I would start in 20-25’ with a Carolina rigged fluke or an IRR Tungsten Jig. Cranking the long sandy points and long stretches of rocky banks can be effective and I’d have a drop shot or Texas rigged Rage Craw or Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver for dragging. Trout are being caught regularly by trollers and the occasional bank angler soaking a nightcrawler. Get the boat out in 20-25’ and get that Flicker Shad or Salmo Hornet 80’ behind the boat. Troll at 1.5 and see what happens. If you are marking deeper fish, add an ounce of weight to the line and see if your luck changes.

Horsethief Reservoir: No report.

Owyhee Reservoir: Fishing really well for crappie and decent for bass. The crappie are literally everywhere. I fished here Saturday and caught them at will. We saw them in 5-30’. ANTYHING that looked fishy, held crappie. Points, rocks, coves, mouths of coves - anything. I was throwing a 3.3 Keitech on a 1/4oz Cipher Tungsten Jig Head looking for bass but any crappie threw it at - ate it! For the bass, get deeper than you think. Start in 20-25’ and see what you see. I’d have a drop shot, IRR Finesse Jig, deep diving crankbait, Neko rigged Senko with the 3/32oz Cipher Nail to fish deeper and a 3.3 or 3.8 Keitech. Cleaner water the better in my opinion.

Owyhee River: Good fishing is the report from most of the fly anglers. Lots of evening caddis hatching as well as some BWO throughout the day. Hoppers and terrestrials are abundant. For conventional tackle, shrimp on a jig head under a float and a Lucky Craft Pointer 65 are all you need.

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. Customer was catching quite a few fish at 25’ but had to go deeper as the lake became busier. Pinks, Black and Silver and Black and White were his go to colors.

Arrowrock Reservoir: No report. See water levels:

Anderson Ranch Reservoir: Its hot - but fishing has not slowed down. Reports of fish deeper than 40’ while others sitting at 25’. ANY dodger will work…fish are everyewhere! Plenty are changing colors but lots of small silver fish still being caught. Only reports on bass have been about plenty of smaller fish.

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: 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.

RYAN IS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT SOMETHING!, Kayak Fishing Class with Bassmaster Kayak Pro!, Trout class coming up!!, TIK TOK, Tatula Elite Spinning Reel for $5??, Tariffs HIT THIS WEEK!,

PLEASE READ!!! I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS!!!
EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE “REEL LIFE REWARDS”!! A BRAND NEW PROGRAM FROM IDAHO ROD AND REEL DESIGNED TO HELP MOTIVATE STUDENTS TO DO THEIR BEST AND GET GOOD GRADES! Participants will receive weekly motivational thoughts, quotes, study strategies and other great life helps! They will also have access to Participant Only events and will earn prizes from Idaho Rod and Reel for their good report cards!! More information will be available on our website - including sign up links - VERY SOON!! Watch our socials for the announcements! “It is the mission of Idaho Rod and Reel to share our love of fishing and serve in the community that supports our shop.” I like to remind people that Idaho Rod and Reel is A SERVICE business - we want to contribute positively to the community! Selling tackle is good - but helping others is gooderer 😄
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 on Idahorodandreel.com under the “Classes” tab.
SAVE THE DATE!!! Join us on August 20th as we host Jordan Rodriguez with Tightlines 208 for a free class on trout fishing!! Trout of this World will be held in the Idaho Rod and Reel Learning Center. MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW!!!
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 $5?1 Yes please…
If you are on Tik Tok - check out Tin Rig Fishing - that’s ME!!! Follow us and watch for some really cool How To’s, Reviews, Tips and Entertainment!
For many companies that we all commonly fish, new Tariff pricing goes into effect on the 15th! If you are in the market for rods and reels, I strongly suggest getting them before the 15th!
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…
New and In-Stock this week: Rapala Crush City, Berkley Flicker Shads, Zoom Baits, Spro Skip Jack Shakey Heads, Dirty Jigs Shakey Heads, Tons of Terminal Tackle, Evergreen, Daiwa, Lucky Craft Pointer 65’s
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

Your Instructor for the Kayak Bass Fishing Class!!

Technically Speaking...

SC Knot

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

Yes!

Summer steelhead returns way above average, surprising both anglers and biologists

Fish and wildlife populations are always surprising us — sometimes in bad ways and sometimes in good ways. This year’s steelhead return is guilty of the latter, and the recent spike in returns is worth celebrating. This year’s return has already exceeded the preseason forecast, and as of Aug. 6 there have been 76,000 A-run steelhead counted while passing Bonneville Dam.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/summer-steelhead-returns-way-above-average-surprising-both-anglers-and-biologists

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!!

A little bass fishing drama

Crappie and Bass…DEFINITELY works!

As they start to move back up into the shallows…

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

Keitechs and Crappie…guess I’m not the only one that likes ‘em!!

Big baits in the heat!

YIKES!!!

Cody Meyer and Brandon Palaniuk!

Trout trolling when its hot outside!!

New in the Shop

Zoom Swamp Crawler!

Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury Shakey Head

Lucky Craft Pointer 65 with a few new patterns!

Catch Spotlight

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

Not only does Jon have the longest Hook Points Catch Spotlight streak, I don’t think anyone has come close to sharing the number of species he has either!!