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Hook Points

Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Ryan Chris
April 21, 2026

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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

CJ Strike: Overall great week at CJ. Crappie fishing has been excellent and we are seeing some really good sized fish coming from the narrows, Cottonwood area and Snake River arm. Folks are catching some roamers on the troll - picking up some trout and bass along the way - with Flicker Shads, Shad Raps and small underspin style baits. 80-100’ setbacks, 1.2-1.5 mph and tip everything with nibbles or nightcrawler. If it were me, I’d be casting and retrieving for them - they are shallow, spawning and aggressive. Like I mentioned last week, do not hesitate at all to throw larger baits at them! They’ll eat a 3.3” Keitech no problem! Check out the pic of a crappie I caught at Brownlee on Saturday in the Catch Spotlight section - that’s a 4.5” jerkbait in its mouth and probably only a 12-13” crappie? Double jig set ups are an excellent idea! For the bass, plenty of shallow bass being caught and its about time to start throwing some topwater. Lots of baits are working right now - hard to find something that isn’t going to get bit. For shallow smallies, I’d have a jerkbait, Ned rig, 3.3” Keitech, tungsten finesse jig and a crank/lipless. Might not be as concerned about red as I was a few weeks ago - maybe some blue and chartreuse? For the largies, I’d have a senko, drop shot and a glide bait. If you are seeing bed fish, try something white - makes it easier for YOU to see the bait in the bed. We have quite a few white baits in stock right now just for this reason.

Boise River: Rising and yucky. Hold off for a bit.

Brownlee: Current water level is 2064, up a BUNCH from last week. Both of the spring ramps are usable. BE CAREFUL OF DEBRIS IN THE WATER!! Some of it is pretty dang big!! Crappie are big and not tough to find right now. They are in 10-20’ of water, grouped up and in many cases, not far off the bank. Great for the bank guys right now! Lots of baits are working - if you can get around them, they’ll eat. We have a few colder days sneaking in this week - expect those crappie to sluff off into slightly deeper water. Bass fishing has been excellent. Just like CJ, I’m sure you can get these fish to eat several baits right now. I’d have a jerkbait, Keitech, tungsten finesse jig and if you want to throw something new at em, try the Raid Libero swimbait. Its a cool little soft plastic swimbait on an underspin. I have pointed this bait out to quite a few people that don’t end up buying it. It’s a crazy good bait!! Take a look at the fish I caught on it at Brownlee on Saturday with this bait in the Catch Spotlight section. Fish are 15’ or shallower.

If you are looking for a painter this spring/summer - I LOVE THESE GUYS! Contact Ray and mention Hook Points for 10% OFF!

Snake River: Good fishing on the Snake for both bank and boat anglers. Watch those water levels - have been some pretty shallow days mixed in the last couple weeks. Lots of baits catching bass out here right now. Neds, tungsten finesse jigs, Texas rigged tubes, Keitechs and jerkbaits are some great options. Catfishing reports have been excellent!

Wilson Springs: No Report.

Lake Lowell: Open!! Great news coming from the bass tournament that was fished here on Satuday - took 18 pounds to win! Means we have some really healthy fish to catch on this close to home body of water!! Plenty of 3+ pounders caught and some high 4’s as well!! Good reports on white/chartreuse cahtterbaits, dark spinnerbaits, 3.8 Keitechs on belly weighted EWG hooks, weightless senkos and dark flipping style baits. Check out the Big Bite Baits Fighting Frogs that we just got into stock!!

Cascade Reservoir: Perch reports have been excellent. Lots of shallow fish. For those trolling, take a look at the areas around the dam and Crowne Point. From one customer - be around rocks or just outside of weed edges. If you are casting and retrieving, lots of small plastics are working - make sure they have an active tail wag like the Northland baits do. These fish are aggressive - so give them something lively. Nightcrawlers on multi hook rigs are working also. Bass reports are coming in now as well. Ned rigs, jerkbaits, cranks and spinnerbaits are what two anglers just reported.

Horsethief Reservoir: No Report.

Owyhee Reservoir: Bass fishing slowed a little bit as the weather cooled off. I’m betting early in the week it fishes well, slumps off a bit and then picks back up early next week. For the slower days, try a shakey head, Neko rig, slow rolled spinnerbait and a tungsten finesse jig. Crappie fishing has been excellent - fish are everywhere and pretty darn easy to catch. Down side is…they’re kinda small. Plenty of 9-10” fish, some 11-12’s showing up too. But lots of smalls.

Owyhee River: No report this week.

Duck valley: CAN BUY PERMITS ONLINE!!!

One customer fished here last week and reported doing ok trolling leech patterns and scuds on an intermediate sinking line.

Lucky Peak Reservoir: Been a little tough for most with the funky weather we have been having. Seems like the warmer, sunnier days are the deal.

Arrowrock Reservoir: Spotty for Kokes! Rainbows are eating though…

Anderson Ranch Reservoir: Lots of small fish being caught - though it seems as though the cooler weather played with this reservoir a bit as well and made these fish a little tight lipped. Same report as Arrowrock - sunny days have been better!

Payette Lake: Not many reports - other than it’s not great yet…

THANK YOU Chris Zacato with IDAHO HOOK AND HUNT!! Check out his YOUTUBE channel if you are a fan of fishing! Which I know you are…

SALMON AND STEELHEAD BY CODY ARD!:

Upper salmon continues to have great catch rates at 4 hours a fish, most effort was concentrated towards the Sawtooth Hatchery. Flows are dropping and clearing up.

Little salmon is still producing fish, but water is still high and muddy.

SF Clearwater I still facing high water spikes, some fish are still being caught throughout the whole system, most effort is upriver.

All Steelhead closes April 30th.

3333 Salmon have crossed Bonneville, and 4 fish have crossed into Idaho. Drano and Wind River should be lighting up this week as Daily Bonneville counts are in the mid hundreds and will be thousands very soon.

We are still a few weeks away from having catchable salmon in Idaho

Local Ponds: Ponds are great places to be right now. LOOK SHALLOW if you are bass fishing - should be seeing beds and/or paired up fish. Smaller male and larger females likely! Senkos, Yamamoto Sensei worms, glides, spinnerbaits and weightless flukes are not bad ideas!!

Thanks for Your Support!, Link “Draggin” Pre-Order, Upcoming Tournaments

We had a lot of fun at our Customer Appreciation day and just wanted to say Thank You to everyone for being a part of our small shop!!
NEW LINK ROD!! The “Draggin” is on its way!! There are only 50 rods available and several have pre-sold already! The “Draggin” was designed to pair with the Idaho Rod and Reel Tungsten Finesse Jigs and other baits fished along the bottom - it is a Medium Heavy, X-Fast Casting Rod built on a 44 Ton custom green blank - built and designed by Idaho Rod and Reel. The rod has all Fuji guides, a fiber Sea Guide reel seat to reduce rod weight and decorated with some original art work.
Two Bass Tournaments Coming Up! The Boeger Big bass is this weekend at CJ Strike and The Enrico & Martin Memorial brought to us by the Snake River Bassmasters will be held May 2nd at Lake Lowell. SIGN UPS FOR BOTH ARE IN SHOP!!
Some very cool new Merch dropping soon!! Keep your eyes on our social media - this stuff is going to go fast.
Shop is STOCKED! Some very cool products and brands arriving almost daily!
BEGINNING BASS FISHING CLASS COMING SOON!!
^{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

Dumb amounts of money on a spinning reel?

Technically Speaking...

This IS THE KNOT I use…

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

I like big bass…

The opportunity to fish for some of the state’s biggest bass is now

While both largemouth and smallmouth bass can be targeted most of the year, the first few weeks of spring — as water temperatures begin to rise — mark the most exciting time to target trophy bass. And, no, you don’t need to be a bass tournament pro to get in on the hunt either.

Idaho Department of Fish & Game

Steelhead/Salmon UPDATE!

Upper Salmon River Steelhead Fishing Report (4-15-2026)

Idaho Department of Fish & Game

Spring Chinook fishing set to open April 25

Bag limits and days per week open to fishing are variable by river section. Spring Chinook Season and Rules brochure is posted on the Chinook Fishing rules webpage.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/spring-chinook-fishing-set-open-april-25