Hook Points
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Hook Points

Hook Points

Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Ryan Chris
October 06, 2025

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Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Still fishing well for all varieties of fish. Starting to see and hear about a few more trout being caught relatively shallow on the usual suspects - Flicker Shads and Shad Raps. One customer swears by Wiggle Warts - maybe mix it up and give that a try! As the weather and water cools, more opportunities for the bank angler looking for trout are available. Crappie and perch are being caught in the narrows and in the Bruneau arm on nightcrawlers on drop shot rigs, shad raps, blade baits and just about any soft plastic. I have become a huge fan of the Northland baits as they are made of a TPE plastic and can take a beating before you have to change baits! Don’t forget about the larger bait categories for these bigger crappie. A 3.5” Mooch Minnow is definitely NOT too big for a 12” and bigger crappie. Probably sneak a few bass this way as well. Bass fishing has been good just about everywhere. I’d have a Strike King 3XD Crankbait, a drop shot, IRR Tungsten Finesse Jig and a topwater of some kind - tough to beat a walking bait or a buzzbait. Don’t be surprised if you find fish in 3’ and in 20’ That’s definitely not uncommon in the fall. Fish will be on the move looking for bait and moving closer to their winter haunts. I generally tend to fish faster this time of the year, meaning - if I don’t hook up pretty quick in a spot, I move on to another. Maybe a-rig time???

Boise River: This is when the Boise shines. Not as much competition recreationally and pretty stable flows creates some pretty predictable fishing. A tackle box for the Boise really only needs a couple of things in my opinion…1) A Lucky Craft Pointer 65. 2) Dynamic Lures HD Trout. 3) Small minnow style plastics and drop shot weights. 4) Crappie Jigs!! They get bit…5) Couple of crankbaits in oranges and browns and 6) some small jig heads, floats and a few cooked shrimp. You can do some damage with that…

Brownlee: Water levels are at 2051.4 - UP 2’ish from last week. Algae warning is still in affect and you can launch from the Spring Rec site using the old ramp. Fishing has been excellent. Like CJ, we have reports of fish in 3’ and out into 20-25’. For me personally, I tend to find consistent success in 10-15’ this time of the year. I’d have an IRR Tungsten Finesse Jig with a Zoom UV Speed Craw trailer, a Ned rig like a Crush City Ned BLT or Z Man Finesse TRD, a drop shot with a Roboworm or if you want to throw something sneaky, try a Ned BLT Wacky Rigged on that drop shot…that 3” is the perfect size to imitate some of the bait fish these bass are eating. Cranking is working for some at different times of the day. I’m a huge fan of the Spro RK Crawlers and the Strike King 3XD’s and I’m going to be playing around with those 10-12’ divers. Lipless cranks are not a bad idea and I personally have had success here with a jerkbait and topwater walking bait. For the crappie, look around some of the steeper bluffs. The schools that are HUGE do not seem to have the big ones in them. Pick your favorite soft plastic! From the reports I am getting, they’re not being picky - just got to be on them. If you’re fishing slowly and vertically, throw a crappie nibble or two on the bait. LOT’s of Flatheads being caught!! Mostly by bass guys throwing jigs so if you are targeting them, I think you’d have a really great chance to catch them.

Snake River: Fishing well. Grass is bad in some areas but that’s the river for ya. The IRR Tungsten Finesse jigs are crushing on the river. Keitechs on a Cipher Ball Head would be bait number 2 that I have rigged up followed by a topwater and a jerkbait. Can be tough to throw it but worth it! I haven’t been hearing much about the catfish bite so if you have any intel, we’d love to hear from you. Of course we won’t give up your spots or secret stuff!

Wilson Springs: No report.

Lake Lowell: Closed to motorized boats now. See below. BUT!! Bank anglers are catching them and have access to plenty of spots without competition! If it were me, I’d have tow rods rigged up. One with a chatterbait and one with a wacky rigged senko…sinful shad Dinger. If you know, you know 🤣

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Cascade Reservoir: Heard that the perch were still biting. And then they weren’t. But now they are again. Oh wait, they stopped…MIXED reports is what I am getting at!! My recommendation when it gets like this is bust out the Perch and Crawdad colored Shad Raps and start covering water! Bank anglers - you can cover water as well!! Try this; make sure you have your 2-pole permit…one rod, rig up with a slip float and two jigs. Tip them with nightcrawlers, your favorite plastic, etc. Set your depth to just above the bottom, cast and wait. With your other rod, make this your cast a retrieve rod. Small 2.8 Keitechs are my favorite for Perch. Make 4-5 casts to the left of your float, 4-5 casts to the right of your float, reel them all in and move! Repeat! An old timer taught me this years ago at Brownlee Reservoir for catching crappie. Its worked more times than not! Sounds like the bass fishing has been a little Jekyll and Hyde - good in the morning and then when they’re done feeding, they’re done! Topwater had caught a few fish that I know of with one customer telling me to tell everyone to throw a lipless around the sandy points and around the rock points. I don’t fish in the fall without a jerkbait and a blade bait…

Horsethief Reservoir: No report.

Owyhee Reservoir: Still getting inconsistent reports for the bass - not so much for the crappie. They are everywhere! One customer did share that they caught a few trout trolling a purple flicker shad in 20’ of water down by the dam. The crappie aren’t huge but they are plentiful. Lots of them in the coves, mouth of coves and around any deep rock structure. Really reliable for bank anglers right now - you can fish around the docks and camp sites. For the bass, tough to beat a jig when its gets tricky. I like a 3/4oz with a Clean Up Craw as a trailer. I’d also have a buzzbait, a Shaky head with a Sensei worm, a drop shot with a wacky rigged senko, a 3.3 Keitech or a 4” easy Shiner in a light minnow color. Something Like Rainbow Shad, Electric Shad, Tennessee Shad, etc. Though I have somehow been fairly unsuccessful cranking this year at the Owyhee, I’d have one with me - at least a lipless.

Owyhee River: Very few reports this week. You will notice a decline in activity as we approach the end of October to let the Brown trout spawn.

Duck valley: CAN BUY PERMITS ONLINE!!! FINALLY!!!

No Report

Lucky Peak Reservoir: No Report

Arrowrock Reservoir: Lots of little bass…that’s all I have heard!!

Anderson Ranch Reservoir: One report from a couple of guys that did go hunt for some kokes - caught quite a few and said the food quality was awful. I haven’t heard from any of the bass anglers but my guess is this wouldn’t be a bad time to throw a jig or a Keitech around.

Payette Lake: No report.

Local Ponds: Check the stocking report to see which ponds have been stocked but with the cooler temps come more trout!

Upcoming Class, Link and Imperium Rod Inventory, 9-2-Tao!, Steelhead

_{Jordan Rodriguez with Tightlines 208 will be teaching a How to Fish the Boise River class on October 16, from 6-8pm at the Idaho Rod and Reel Learning Center! Cost is $60 and includes tons of Boise River specific tackle and prize giveaways! Sign up at www.tightlines208.com.}
We are moving through the Link Medium Spinning Rods and the Medium Heavy Casting Rods quicker than I was prepared for. We will sell out before I can replace them.
^{The IRR Exclusive 9-2 Tao Tubes from Dry Creek are not only selling very quickly, but are responsible for quite a few fish catches already!}
^{We are fully stocked up for Steelhead fishing right now! We have Mag Lips in custom colors, G Loomis Rods, Shimano Rods and Reels, Daiwa Reels, Okuma Guide Select rods and more!}
^{ONE STEP CLOSER!!!!! WE ARE WORKING ON A VERY UNIQUE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY!! CAN’T WAIT TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT!!}
^{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

This guy is amazing!!

Technically Speaking...

Drop Shot Knot

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

Stop!

Successful or not, hunters and anglers must stop at check stations

Whether or not you harvested an animal, hunters and anglers must stop at all Fish and Game check stations. The goal is not to inconvenience you, but to get information and learn what's happening in the field and also answer questions, collect samples for chronic wasting disease, and then quickly get folks back on their way.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/successful-or-not-hunters-and-anglers-must-stop-check-stations

Salmon Harvest NOW

Steelhead/Salmon UPDATE!

FALL CHINOOK SALMON UPDATE: harvest of unclipped Chinook resumes Oct. 4

Starting on October 4, 2025, the harvest of both adipose-intact and adipose-clipped fall Chinook Salmon will be allowed in Idaho.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/fall-chinook-salmon-update-harvest-unclipped-chinook-resumes-oct-4

Lower Granite Dam counts say one thing, but catching says another: Fall Chinook report

As of the end of trapping on Sept. 9, a total of 2,532 adult fall Chinook have been collected for broodstock at Lower Granite Dam, and 2,129 adults and jacks were returned to the river. The broodstock goal is approximately 4,000 adult fish that are at least 28 inches in length.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/lower-granite-dam-counts-say-one-thing-catching-says-another-fall-chinook-report

Upper Salmon River Steelhead Fishing Update (09-26-2025)

idfg.idaho.gov/article/upper-salmon-river-steelhead-fishing-update-09-26-2025

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

I’m listening…