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Hook Points

Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Ryan Chris
December 15, 2025

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A 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

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CJ Strike: Looking like a good day//ok day/bad day kind of thing…I had multiple reports from the same guys that caught em on Monday, not on Tuesday, decent day Wednesday and no good on Friday - not the exact days they fished but you get the idea 🤣! Crappie and trout fishing seems to be decent. Reports of crappie schools being deep - like 40-50’. Best report for crappie was from a customer that found a really good school spanning 30’ to 10’ - he wacked them on a small soft plastic and jig head and a jigging rap, all tipped with either nightcrawler or crappie nibbles. Trout have been higher in the water column and trolling on top with Kokabow dodgers and lures will catch them! Perch are biting - get in 30’ was the suggestion from two customers that found them on Friday - get the bait on the bottom, reel up off the bottom about a foot and just hold it there! Small soft plastics and drop shot rigs with nightcrawlers are what they suggested. Bass fishing has been somewhat consistent in the main bowl and into the narrows with blade baits, drop shots, Cipher Ball Heads and Mooch Minnows or Scented Jerk Shadz - out in 25-35’. I haven’t heard of any bites on jerkbaits - but I’d have one with me just in case.

Boise River: Guys are still catching steelies and I have seen some nice rainbows as well! Jig heads and shrimp for both!! A good friend and customer has been having more success than most in regard to steelhead and he is having success with small jigs.

Fish were dropped at the following locations:

Glenwood Bridge
Americana Bridge
Below the Broadway Avenue Bridge, behind Boise State University
West Parkcenter Bridge
Barber Park

Brownlee: Current water level is 2070.6, 7’ from full. New ramp at the Spring Rec site is in the water and easily accessible - no dock. In a lot of ways, a similar report to CJ. My good buddy did really well on Friday for bass and then when I went on Saturday - we had to work pretty hard for them! But I did have other reports throughout the week that were pretty decent. On Saturday, we saw crappie schools in 60+ feet but I had reports earlier in the week that they were in 20’. Seems like these fish are in feeding one day, then out deep doing nothing the next. We also found some good perch fishing on offshore humps in 20-25’. For the bass - we had success with mooch minnows, Keitechs and blade baits. Jerkbaits didn’t get bit for us but I know others had success throughout the week. Going to need to dive deeper than 10’ - downsize your line and add a touch of weight to that jerkbait!

Snake River: Good reports on the jig, Keitechs and drop shots - going to be dodging grass.

Wilson Springs: No Report.

Lake Lowell: No Report.

Cascade Reservoir: Heard from Jeff at Freedom Outdoors and it sounds like there is a little bit of ice up north but that we are not fishing until end of next week if we are lucky.

Horsethief Reservoir: Reports of an inch or 2 of ice, but not fishable yet.

Owyhee Reservoir: Some crappies caught last week in 40’ but that is the only report that I received!

Owyhee River: I encourage folks to wait a minute to fish here as there are lots of spawning Brown trout and we don’t want to disturb their redds. I spoke to Chris with Boise River Guides and he confirmed that their are tons of Browns spawning. I don’t get on a soap box very often but I have seen first hand and did quite a bit of research on habitat damage to spawning browns. Let’s leave them alone for a few weeks so we have a shot at good ones for years to come!!

Duck valley: CAN BUY PERMITS ONLINE!!!

No Report.

Lucky Peak Reservoir: Decent reports for Kokanee and rainbows this week. Best reports are coming from areas by the dam. Kokabow dodgers in pinks and whites have been effective. Fish are a little more active and have been caught on top. Decent kayak opportunities.

Arrowrock Reservoir: Only reports this week were from anglers that were targeting kokes but only found rainbows - said they were happy with the size though! Again, kokabow dodgers in pink and white were the ticket.

Anderson Ranch Reservoir: No Report

Local Ponds: No Reports from any ponds this week.

One Crazy Christmas Raffle - JUST GOT BETTER!!, Our Mission - Serve the Community, 2026

The One Crazy Christmas Raffle JUST GOT BETTER! We have added ANOTHER ROD PACKAGE! One lucky winner will win Idaho Rod and Reels newest custom rods - a Forge Spinning AND a Forge Casting Rod! That means, each purchase you make from now until Christmas could win you a 6-Rod Package, 1 of 5 VIP Coupons for 15% off your purchases at IRR all YEAR in 2026 and NOW a Forge Rod Package! 1 Ticket per purchase, per day, per person!
The mission of Idaho Rod and Reel is to share our love of fishing and serve the community that supports our shop. We are looking for a few families that might find themselves in a tough spot this year. We set aside part of our profits from our Christmas sales to provide a few presents to help as many as we can. We also have many donations from amazing members of this community and the IRR family for dinners and other items. PLEASE reach out if you need a hand or if you know someone that does.
The shop theme for 2026 will be all about PB’s!! Gonna be fun…
INTRODUCING 2 NEW IRR CUSTOM RODS - The very affordable FORGE series of rods are designed with a custom blank designed by and only available at Idaho Rod and Reel. This is a 34 ton blank, beautifully built and designed to handle multiple fishing techniques! Models include a 7’ M Fast Spinning and a 7’3” MH Fast Casting Rod. Rods are priced at $89.99. Pair the casting rod with a Daiwa AIRD Casting Reel and a Daiwa Exceler Spinning Reel and you have 2 combos for less than $200 each that I’d be more than happy to tournament fish with!!
Cold weather is finally here…get that boat winterized and be ready to go next spring! Mention this newsletter and get $30 off on your winterization at J and H Sales and Marine!
CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS!! We have a bunch…
- Chrismas Tackle Bags: This is our #1 Seller this time of year. Great for those shopping for an angler in their life - but don’t fish themselves!! Tell us what they like to fish for and we will handle the rest! We have a $50, $100 and $150 option but can always just do whatever you want. Each bag includes a free $5 gift card and a raffle ticket for a rod that we will give away right after Christmas! All items are packed in a Daiwa bag! Very cool presents!
- NEW IRR FORGE Spinning and/or Casting Rods!! $89.99!!!
- Bajio Sunglasses will remain 30% off!
- The Pre-Ordered Link and Imperium Rods should be here very soon! Great gift idea! And wait until you see the 2 NEW MODELS!!
- Gift Cards are always a great option!
- We still have some baits that I tied myself - spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, jigs and more. Really cool stocking stuffer ideas for items you can’t get anywhere else.
We are an Allonas Angels drop off location! This is a great program that helps put together Christmas presents for Seniors in care facilities that often spend Christmas alone. Check out this link and participate!!
Allonas Angels Link: https://allonasangels.org/
Just a reminder that we will continue to run our food drive up until Christmas! Thank you so much to everyone that has donated!! The need has been much higher this year - grateful to the IRR community for helping with a cause that is near and dear to me personally. THANK YOU!
^{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

INSANE VIDEO!

Technically Speaking...

Breaking down fluoro

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

I used to fish here a lot!!

Idaho Fish and Game completes fish survey in the Snake River below American Falls Dam in southeast Idaho

Last month, Idaho Fish and Game completed a fish survey in the Snake River below American Falls Dam and tagged 200 trout. Surveys like this one reveal important information about fish populations which helps inform management decisions moving forward.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/idaho-fish-and-game-completes-fish-survey-snake-river-below-american-falls-dam-southeast

Steelhead/Salmon UPDATE!

Upper Salmon River Steelhead Fishing Report (12-02-2025)

idfg.idaho.gov/article/upper-salmon-river-steelhead-fishing-report-12-02-2025

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

For Winter Finesse Bass