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Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Ryan Chris
February 17, 2025

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: The cold week resulted in very few reports from CJ. For those that did brave the cold, crappie, perch and trout fishing was ok for most with everyone commenting that between 1pm and 3pm seemed to be when the fishing picked up. A couple mentioned that they had decent success on really sunny mornings. Trolling remains the most common technique that is being utilized. The usual suspects seem to be the stars - that’s Flicker Shads, Shad Raps and Salmo Hornets. For anglers finding decent sized schools to vertically fish, drop shotting small plastics or just bare hooks with nightcrawlers will do the trick. Couple ok reports for a few smallmouth being caught but not many. If you were to smallmouth fish, I would stay in the main bowl and fish around areas of deep water (25-30’) that have access to shallower mud flats that are in the sun all day. Should be some fish out staging and getting ready to start feeding more aggressively as the water warms. Carolina rigs, Keitechs, Tungsten Finesse Jigs and Drop Shots should get it done. I’m fishing slow. Looks like Black Sands is open with no ice at the moment. Warm days ahead.

Boise River: Water levels are back down after a temporary rise and fish are being caught! most reporting that the number have gone down but that the big ones have showed up. Hook Up baits, shrimp on jig heads or small split shot rigs, natural colored Ultralight Heavyweights jigs on split shot rigs and Dynamic Lures HD trout will get you bit.

Brownlee: Water levels are at 2040 - that is the lowest that I have seen it in a while! That also means the Spring Ramp is not usable. Looking pretty much at Woodhead if you want to fish here. There is ice around the spring ramp in certain sections. No reports from anglers.

Snake River: Not a ton of reports from the river but it is still a decent option for a quick trip with a decent chance of catching at least a fish or two. I’d have a curly tail grub, 3.3 Keitech or a Tungsten Finesse jig - keep it simple. Fish ‘em slow.

Wilson Springs: Lots of little trout being caught here. Powerbait, nightcrawlers.

Lake Lowell: No report.

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: Hope everyone was safe and had a great Cascade Cup! Congrats to the winners! Report from a good friend and competitor in the Cascade Cup: Fresh snow on the ice and not a lot of slush. 10+ inches of ice. Lots of trout being caught on the southside on just nightcrawlers. Eurotackle Z Vibers caught quite a few perch as did perch jigs tipped with wax worms. Good fishing!

Horsethief Reservoir: Lots of smaller rainbows being caught. Sounds like a good place to go to right now for a decent bite. Nightcrawlers, powerbait and small spoons.

Owyhee Reservoir: No report this week.

Owyhee River: No report.

Duck valley: From the Tribal Website:

February 14, 2025 –

Currently, the reservoirs do have ice in the shallow areas.

Sheep Creek ice thickness is measuring anywhere from 4 to 6 inches up to 50 feet from the shoreline in shallow areas. Deeper water is open, with thin ice growth over some open water areas.

Mountain View ice has a 1-inch layer of water atop 3-4 inches of ice up to 30 feet from the shoreline, where ice thickness drops significantly.

Trout activity is high around mid-morning at Mountain View, and Sheep Creek has been doing well in the mid-afternoon.

Lucky Peak Reservoir: No report this week.

Arrowrock Reservoir: Sounds like launching can be tricky but the trout are biting. No word on kokes just yet…

Anderson Ranch Reservoir: No report this week.

Local Ponds: Stocker trout are available in most of the ponds right now. Take a look at the stocking report below. Try the Eurotackle Mummified Meal Worms under a float!

Shop News - Idaho Sportsman Show, Spring Inventory, Bunker Baits!, NEW IRR TUNGSTEN FINESSE JIGS COMING!

SEE YOU AGAIN AT THE IDAHO SPORTSMAN SHOW! Come say hi and see what we have going on in the booth this year! Feb 27, Mar 1-2 at EXPO IDAHO!
HUGE HOOK UP BAITS RESTOCK! If you haven’t heard of these baits or fished them - you are missing out!! Video below…
Spring stock is starting to arrive! Warmer weather couldn’t come soon enough!
Come and check out the all new Bunker Baits wall! Excited to feature this local company with a great mission!
The 7’1” Medium Casting Idaho Rod and Reel Link Rod is a Spring time must have!! Great for several spring techniques like cranking, throwing a Chatterbait and lipless cranks!
We are about to sell out of the 7’3” MH Link Casting Rod! At the time of this publishing, there is 1 left!
KIDS YOUTH DAY COMING SOON! Let’s get those kids out of the house and having some fun learning some new techniques, making their own lures and might even be raffling of something cool 😎
New Idaho Rod and Reel Tungsten Finesse jigs are coming soon! We expect to have full stock on the #1 Selling Bait in the shop in 2024. We are adding 3 New Patterns as well as 2 new 1/4oz patterns for that ULTRA finesse presentation or for those throwing a spinning rod!
The new Cipher Fishing Company started right here in Nampa Idaho is producing the highest quality Tungsten products on the market. Designed and fished by the best - it is STILL!! the top seller last week by a MILE! Thank you for helping us start this company off with a bang!
New and In-Stock this week: Hook Up Baits, Strike King Crankbaits, Booyah Spinnerbaits, Flicker Shads, Tons of Terminal Tackle, Z Man Trout and Crappie Baits, Senkos - like a lot of senkos, Lucky Craft LV500, Lucky Craft Staysee 90’s, Daiwa Tatula Elite and Kage Rods
BEANIES ARE ALMOST SOLD OUT!
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

We have a HUGE RESTOCK of Hook Up Baits! Most around here have never heard of these baits - those that have? They’re always catching…ALL SPECIES BAITS!

Technically Speaking...

Lots of questions about Barometric Pressure and Fishing…

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

A Feature on CODY MEYER!

New Elite: Cody Meyer - Bassmaster

For two decades prior to fishing the 2024 Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifiers, Idaho’s Cody Meyer enjoyed a well-established career competing on the FLW and MLF bass tours. He could have...

www.bassmaster.com/elite/news/new-elite-cody-meyer

E Tags for Steelhead and Salmon - HOW TO USE THE SYSTEM CORRECTLY!

Attention steelhead and salmon anglers: E-tagging is available; here's how to buy and use it

Idaho Fish and Game’s electronic salmon and steelhead permits (e-tags) are available at all vendors, or through the Go Outdoors Idaho mobile app. Remember, if you buy a paper tag, you're ineligible for e-tagging so ask for it when you buy from a license vendor.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/attention-steelhead-and-salmon-anglers-e-tagging-available-heres-how-buy-and-use-it

DID YOU KNOW? Fish and Game has a local podcast…

Idaho Fish and Game's homegrown 'Hook and Bulletin' podcast hits 50 episodes

The Hook and Bulletin just fired off its 50th episode, and we’re excited to take this podcast even further down the line, including future interviews with the folks that make Idaho Fish and Game tick and the fish and wildlife they devote their lives to protecting, preserving, perpetuating, and managing.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/idaho-fish-and-games-homegrown-hook-and-bulletin-podcast-hits-50-episodes

Current Trout Stocking

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