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Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Ryan Chris
April 22, 2025

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Another really solid week of reports coming from CJ and I don’t expect there to be much let down over the next few weeks. Bass fishing has been steady and a good mix of largemouth and smallmouth being reported. For the largemouth, good reports for anglers flipping weeds with slender soft plastic baits as well as drop shots. For the smallies, lots of good fish on crankbaits, neko rigs, tubes and the IRR Tungsten jig is still one you have to have in the bag for smallmouth. Multiple reports of some fish on beds. Crappie anglers have been successful from both boat and bank. From the bank, you need something that you can cast around relatively quickly to see where the schools are and stay on ‘em. Try a micro chatterbait, 2-3” Keitech Easy Shiner or an old school Beetle Spin. Small crankbaits will work as well. From the boat, trolling is still effective and a small selection of Flicker Shads and Shad Raps will do. Probably going to catch a few trout this way as well though if you are targeting trout - likely need to be a bit deeper - in the 12-20’ range. A good set up for crappie for both boat and bank anglers is a simple drop shot rig. Throw a Z Man Tiny Ticklerz on the bottom to act as your drop shot weight and I bet you pick up a few bass and perch! Sturgeon fishing remains great up the Snake River arm and in the river below the dam. Couple reports of anglers having success on Squid, trout and Sturgeon Candy.

Boise River: Still running high but starting to settle a bit. There are areas that can be fished. If you’re fly fishing, probably just need a box of streamers. If you have your spinning rod with you, tie on a Lucky Craft Pointer 65 and don’t be afraid of looking shallow - like really shallow. Soaking a work can be effective as well in areas where the current is moving too quickly.

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: Water has been sitting right around 2045 for a bit and while it is still pretty off color, the fishing has been good. For bass, start targeting flats with cranks, jerkbaits, tubes, 3.3 Keitechs and IRR Tungsten Finesse Jigs. Try a pack of Dry Creek Stubbies - a finesse tube that gets bit REALLY well and not thrown much. Crappie fishing is good and there are some nice sized fish to be caught. I know of a few guys that have caught them trolling but your best bet will be cruising around main lake points and looking for them with your electronics. I love the 2.8 Keitechs and even 3.3’s for the bigger crappie. Simple crappie tubes work excellent once you have found the schools. From the bank, anglers on the Oregon side seem to be having quite a bit of success out of Huntington. On the Idaho side, try the coves and fingers around Woodhead. From the bank - I’m rigging up two rods…one with a slip float system using a jig and crappie nibbles to cast and watch while I’m throwing a small 3” Keitech Easy Shiner around actively searching for schools. I am aware that not manning the bobber rod means you might miss a few strikes BUT!! These are schooling fish and if the bobber is getting bobbed…you have crappie nearby. Get your Keitech next to the float and catch up a few!

Snake River: Fishing well. If you are a bank angler looking to get bit, the river would be top of my list. Try a shallow diving squarebill crankbait (look at the River2Sea we have in the shop…), a 3.3” Keitech on a ball head, Neko rig and the IRR Tungsten Finesse Jig still remains king on the river this week! If you are snagging up too much - look at the 3/8oz or even 1/4oz jigs! From a boat, I would add a deeper diving crankbait to the arsenal. I have been hearing very little about the catfishing.

Wilson Springs: Good fishing this week! Nightcrawlers and salmon eggs were the ticket for one customer who reminded me to tell you that there are fish in the creek as well!

Lake Lowell: Opened last week and while it fished relatively tough, still produced a ton of largies! Chatterbaits, spinnerbaits and flipping baits are going to get bet. If it were me, I’d add a Keitech 3/8oz swim jig to the mix and tip it with a River2Sea D Walker swimbait. From the bank, chatterbaits and wacky rigged senkos are tough to beat!

Cascade Reservoir: Rumor has it the Lake is mostly clear (south end should be 100%) and that the ice out jumbo perch bite is great! Keitech Easy Shiners in 2” caught fish that I know of as did Nightcrawlers on a multi hook rig. Bass will be a bit sluggish for a bit.

Horsethief Reservoir: No report this week.

Owyhee Reservoir: Fishing has been steady and there have been some healthy bass caught by those willing to put in the time. For bass, water temps are low to mid 50’s in most areas but there are a few places with warmer water than that. Try flipping isolated trees in 4-7’ of water and fishing small points and coves looking in 6-12’. I’d have a crankbait - we have a ton of 3XD’s and Spro rk Crawlers that will get the job done. I’d also have a flipping bait like a Reaction Innovations 420 Beaver or Man Bear Pig (back in stock). I personally threw a Keitech Easy Flapper here on Saturday and was rewarded with some stingy but nice sized largies. I’d also have a small swimbait or chatterbait (white) for covering water and exploring. I saw a TON of crappie in 8-15’. They were in most cases, 20-40’ off the banks and most main lake points had a school nearby. Most years, it seems like the early crappie bite starts around Leslie Gulch and this year is no different. That being said, we saw multiple schools of crappie within casting reach of the boat ramps.

Owyhee River: I looked at this on Saturday and hardly an anger on it. Water was moving quickly and definitely darker than normal. Flows will be up today and then dropping tomorrow - still not a spot I’m really hitting hard for a bit.

Duck valley: No report this week from the tribal site. Anglers are fishing it and it is fishing well! Powerbait from the banks - try around the dam at Mountain View as well as the banks on the northeast side. Fly anglers are doing really well trolling leeches which means a Flicker Shad or Salmo Hornet will get bit as well. Pay attention to your trolling depths as you want to be relatively close to the bank and just outside the weed edge that grows on these lakes. Check wind before you go!

Lucky Peak Reservoir: Kokanee reports are trickling in now. Not smashing out there but they are being caught. In regard to colors - it’s been a mix. I love pink and white early in the year for a dodger with orange and pinks for my baits. The kokanee are on top! Remember, you won’t see shallow fish on your electronics in most cases…don’t let the ones you can see at 30’ trick ya!!

Arrowrock Reservoir: Same report as Lucky Peak - a few Kokanee reports trickling in. Still smashing on trout though! There is bank access and this can be a good spot for trout early in the year. Get your two pole permit and set up one with powerbait or a nightcrawler and use your second rod to cast and retrieve a small spoon or crankbait.

Anderson Ranch Reservoir: Good reports for 10-14” Kokanee coming from Anderson. Try the Monarch Kokabow Dodger and anything white, black or pink. Fish are on top!

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: So many trout in the ponds right now! Check the stocking report and head out! Look shallow at the bass ponds around you…I am seeing bed fish in some of them…try a texas rigged white creature bait or a drop shot on a really small leader for these fish.

Congrats Bill Fittje, NEW PRODUCT WEEK!!, How-To’s Coming!

Idaho Rod and Reel is excited to introduce you to Richelle Miller with Venturely! What an awesome woman this is and she has put together an AMAZING WOMENS ONLY BASS TOURNAMENT at a local private pond! This will be held on June 21st and is going to be such a cool event! Idaho Rod and Reel is donating prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place - rods, reels and some awesome tackle!! Contact Richelle at [email protected]. Cost is ONLY $60!!!!
Congratulations to BILL FITTJE for guessing 14.62 pounds would win the BBB Open at Lake Lowell…winning weight was 14.63!!
NEW PORDUCT will be arriving ALL WEEK! Going to be a little nuts on the front counter for a while…come in and annoy Brian by taking stuff off the counter before he has time to put it in the computer 🤣
Lots of HOW TO Videos COMING!! Can’t wait to share these with you!
The tariffs WILL HURT pricing - we are going to do everything we can to keep prices low but the fishing industry will be impacted. We are already seeing new pricing sheets from several high profile vendors like Shimano and Daiwa.
WE ARE OUT OF STOCK ON MULTIPLE LINK AND IMPERIUM RODS!! THE FOLLWOING ARE IN STOCK:
- Imperium Spinning, L Fast - Green Blank
- Link ML Spinning, 7’1” Extra Fast
- Imperium Ultra-light panfish rod - NOT MANY LEFT!!
- 7’5” Heavy Fast Casting
- 7’6” Link Tech Casting Rod, ML Fast
- 6’7” Link Jerkbait, M Fast - NOT MANY LEFT!!
I am EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE a new 1/4 oz size in the Idaho Rod and Reel Tungsten Finesse Series of jigs! If you are looking for an ultra finesse presentation and/or are fishing with a spinning rod - I think you are going to love this new bait! This jig was the #1 Selling Bait in the SHOP last year - and for good reason!
The TVB Bass Fishing Club is holding a raffle to raise money for their club. They are raffling off a Browning X-Bolt 6.5 PRC 26” Barrel with Tri-Pod. Tickets are $20/piece or 6 for $20 and only 200 tickets will be sold! Can be seen in the shop!!
Idaho Bass Masters Club is raffling of a Springfield Armory 1911 Garrison and 300 rounds of ammo with all of the proceeds going to fund their youth tournament prizes. Last year this tourney had over 60 kiddos!! Tickets are $20 a piece and 6 for $100.
New and In-Stock this week: River2Sea Spinnerbaits, Bully Wa Frogs, Whopper Ploppers and more, Reaction Innovations Soft Plastics, Flicker Shads, Thomas Bouyant Spoons, Rapala Crush City Soft Plastics, Z man Jackhammers, Coolbaits Underspins, Tons of Terminal Tackle, Spro Frogs (oh ya, we’re ready)
NEW HATS ON THE WAY!! 3 New Designs!
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

Great video in Idaho!

Technically Speaking...

Pre-Spawn Bass Fishing

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

Quagga Saga…

Idaho Fish and Game Commission rescinds Snake River hunting, fishing, and trapping closure due to quagga mussels

At their April 15, 2025 meeting, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission rescinded their Snake River closure to hunting, fishing and trapping below the high-water mark near Twin Falls that had been in place since September 29, 2023.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/idaho-fish-and-game-commission-rescinds-snake-river-hunting-fishing-and-trapping-closure-2

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

SPRING CHINOOK DETAILS!

Spring Chinook Fishing Seasons and Rules

idfg.idaho.gov/fish/chinook/rules/spring-run