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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: Great reports this week from CJ on some medium sized bass and some GIANT crappies! In regard to the crappie, fishing overall has been decent for most but some of you have got it dialed!! I appreciate those of you who share info to help us help others - we will never share spots but having the techniques and baits that are working is more than enough so THANK YOU! Some of the big fish that I know of are coming on larger baits - technically baits designed for bas…Keitech Fat Swing Impacts in the 2.8 and 3.3 sizes paired with Cipher heads account for a couple of big ones! These bigger crappie are in smaller schools and seem a little less interested in the really small “crappie stuff” - according to one shop customer. Drop shot is a great way to search and catch crappies that somewhat bottom oriented - which a lot of these bigger fish are. I’ll attach a “How To” video in the video section below. Start in 20’ - there are fish shallower and deeper but seems like the best reports are around tat 20’ mark. For the bass - junk fishing is still the deal. Lots of different things are working - here are a couple of the top baits I’d be throwing. I’d have a 4.5” Roboworm or a Fluke Jr. on a drop shot, I’d have a walking bait like a River2Sea Rover or a Rico Popper, a Crush City BLT or Z Man TRD on a Ned rig (maybe the big TRD?? 😉), a Spro Lil Guy and a TUBE!! Try the Idaho Rod and Reel exclusive 92 Tao - been getting bit EVERYWHERE! Reports on the sturgeon have been pretty incredible. Trout, crappie and squid are what I am being told and the Snake River arm is full of them.

Boise River: Water is settling, clear and fishable. Still running pretty full but fish are being caught. As I have mentioned before, when its full - cranking is a great way to fish it. Shad Raps in the SR5 and SR7 and the smaller Flicker Shads are great options. The Daiwa DR Minnows and SR cranks are FIRE here! Try me!!

Brownlee: Current water level is 2075.8 - 1.5’ from full. Fishing well for most everything. Big crappies! They are spread out - and not all of them are deep. One of my bass angler buddies is catching them mixed in with the bass - noting the big schools of crappie are all small fish. Just like CJ, I’d be throwing bigger soft plastics on ball heads or drop shotting. Take a look at some of the Zoom products we have in stock - the Fluke Jr or The Fluke are great drop shot baits for crappie (and bass). Trolling will catch a few for you as well. The usual suspects - Flicker Shads and Shad Raps. Junk fishing for bass here - a lot like CJ. The only thing that I might change up is add the Carolina rig. Not saying that won’t get bit at CJ (oh because it will!) but Brownlee has some amazing C-Rig spots. Throw on a Fluke, Lizard or Reaction Innovations Man Bear Pig and see what happens out in 20-30’. Lots of catfish being caught and you DO NOT need to be deep. As all the bass fry start moving around in the shallows, the catfish key in on that. I’ve caught them a foot of the bank with a jerkbait! Usually its the channel cats that I catch doing this but there are plenty of Flattys that are shallower than 20’ right now as well. They LOVE hunting…troll a big crank.

Snake River: Lots of grass! Can be annoying but the fishing is solid. Take an IRR Tungsten jig, a ned rig, senko on a Neko rig and a topwater! The buzzbait gets bit here…

Wilson Springs: No Report

Lake Lowell: Really good reports overall. Fish are spread out - so I would run my usual Lowell pattern, weed edge, weed channels and then trees. I’d have a chatterbait, spinnerbait or 3.8 Keitech on a belly weighted EWG hook for the edges - frog/buzzbait, and flipping bait as I work my way back into the weeds and then a flipping bait for back in the trees. For flipping, I would be looking at a Crush City Clean Up Craw, a Reaction Innovations Man Bear Pig or a Zoom UV Speed Craw. Some big bluegills being caught!! If you can find areas with short grass - think lake version of the stuff on your lawn - you can find some bluegills.

Cascade Reservoir: Fishing well for just about everything. Look for the perch around the 10-20’ range - hearing reports that jumbos are deeper but that good quantity will be in that 10-20’. Drop shots, blades, jigging raps, Ned rigs will all get bit. Tip with nightcrawlers! There are some crappie being caught around the North end of the lake. Check out the Boulder Creek area for those. Trout are still being caught - just a little bit deeper. Try trolling jerkbait style lures, Kokabow Dodgers and bugs in 20’. Bass have been fairly shallow - less than 18’ from the reports I am gathering. Lots of different baits working. I’d have a Keitech or similar swimbait on a Cipher head, a drop shot with a smaller bait - something in the 2.5 - 3.5” length, a topwater walking bait or popper and a Neko rigged Senko or Sensei worm on a Shakey head. Might be some spinnerbait fish available.

Horsethief Reservoir: No Report.

Owyhee Reservoir: Good reports for bass, insane reports for crappie! The crappie are everywhere and shouldn’t be hard to find. They’ll eat darn near anything as long as they are around!! If you don’t get bit pretty quick - move! For the bass, plenty of shallow fish that are interested in topwater early. Later in the day, I’d have a drop shot, Keitech, JIG!!, spinnerbait in the wind, Neko rig and a Shakey head. Fish are 20’ and shallower.

Owyhee River: No Report.

Duck valley: CAN BUY PERMITS ONLINE!!!

No Report.

Lucky Peak Reservoir: Good reports from anglers fishing in the morning. Little slower as the day moves on. Lots of fish in 20-30’. Kokabow dodgers with darker colors mixed in with pinks, chartreuse and orange are working - don’t forget the corn! More recreational boaters out now - fish early! Kokanee are decent sized - 12”-16” fish being caught. Couple anglers mentioned that the fish cut a little pale but still tasted pretty good.

Arrowrock Reservoir: Good quality kokanee being reported but not hearing from many that are catching limits. Trout keep it fun in between bites though! A few reports of a couple of fish caught long lining early in the morning on black and pink dodgers but most reporting that fish are 30’ deep.

Anderson Ranch Reservoir: On fire for Kokanee! Easy for small bass. Kokanee are everywhere and eating everything. Start on top early and troll slowly. Move deeper as the day progresses - lots of fish above the 25’ mark. Chris with Idaho Hook and Hunt reminds us to use corn - he has spoke to a few anglers struggling and found that the only difference is that they weren’t fishing with corn! Salmon have a remarkable sense of smell. For the bass, grab a popper and a Ned rig and go do some damage! There are some really good smallies in Anderson! Can be a little tricky to find em. Try a fluke on a Carolina rig or catch them chasing Kokanee schools on Livescope.

Payette Lake: Same REPORT as Last Week! The fish that I am hearing about are big - finding a bunch of them has been the trick. One report has them deeper than I would have thought - almost 30’. Down deeper makes me want to throw some of the darker blues and purples but that water is about as clear as it gets - so play around.

SALMON AND STEELHEAD BY CODY ARD!:

I jumped the gun last week and predicted some closures and 2 hours later they did just that.   

As of today, Monday June 8th, the ONLY open salmon fishing in Idaho is on the Lochsa River.    

Last week after my update, they announced statewide closures on chinook salmon.    The Little Salmon was switching to Saturday and Sunday only, and it only went one weekend, and its done, sport share quota was met.   

The only Salmon fishing left is going to be the summer seasons on the Upper Salmon and the Southfork Salmon starting on June 18th.    I hope you guys got out there and I hope you got some fish.    I'll keep updating the summer seasons and hope we see some monsters because those 2 river systems always hold the biggest fish.   If anyone reading this has pictures from this summers short Salmon season, please send them into Ryan or Brian at Idaho Rod and Reel and I'll make sure they get posted in the next Newsletter.    

During the off seasons of Salmon and Steelhead Im going to continue my weekly report with some of the issues that our Salmon and steelhead face here in Idaho and hope it spreads awareness and knowledge of what exactly it takes to be able to have the ability and privilege to fish for these amazing fish.

Local Ponds: Get em while you can!! As the weather warms, the ponds can get really yucky to fish - get out there now and have some fun! Looking for bass? Try a frog early and late!

LADIES ONLY!, Kids Class!!, Help the Pros!

• SAVE THE DATE and JOIN US June 16 for a LADIES ONLY class on catching panfish. This will include Perch, Crappie, Bluegill and more. FOOD! Fishing and Friends! No dudes…not even I am allowed to be there! 🤣 More details to follow. REGISTRATION AVAILABLE NOW!! Check out Idahorodandreel.com and click on the classes link!

• Bring the KIDDOS! Join Jordan Rodriguez on June 17th at the Idaho Rod and Reel Learning Center from 5:30pm to 7:30pm and learn about making fishing fun for kids! THIS CLASS FILLS UP FAST!! Cost is $50 for a parent and child and includes tackle and prizes!! Check out tightlines208.com and sign up!!

• The BAM Super 60 Trail have an event being held at Brownlee Reservoir on June 26-28. We have several local anglers fishing it AND YOU CAN BE A PART OF IT! They are looking for “Observers”. All you need is a phone and be willing to take videos, pictures and check in from time to time!

• Most know by now that there is are major changes in the tackle industry as it pertains to Tungsten. Raw Tungsten prices have increased 10 fold and several of the largest brands are bowing out. Take a look at the prices of a few 1/2oz Flipping Weights on Tackle Warehouse…incredible!! Idaho Rod and Reel is in a decent position as we still have some inventory. Will not last forever and once we are out, that’s it for a long while from what I can tell.

• Can’t stand still for too long…sometimes you gotta shake things up! Can’t wait for you to see what we have planned over the next few months!

• Buy a reel from Idaho Rod and Reel and it will now come with a Neoprene cover for it! Free of charge!! Check them out below!

• Shop is STOCKED! Some very cool products and brands arriving almost daily! 

• ^{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 Watch!

Technically Speaking...

How to rig a drop shot - not just for bass fishing!!

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

Free Fishing Day Info!

WALLEYES!

Summer Chinook Info

Steelhead/Salmon UPDATE!

Local Fish Stocking Reports

Steelhead Dam Counts

Urchin Bait Hack? IDK…

I wanna go…

Something for the BOAT

Summer Crappies!!

For the NEDDERS out there!!

Great Trout Video!

YUM!!!

Kokes at Anderson!

New in the Shop

Ryugi!! Back in Stock!!

The MARINA - Boats available at J and H Sales and Marine

New Mercury Motors in Stock! 5 year warranty and as the Mercury Platinum Dealer - no one can beat our price!!

VEXUS!! Beautiful Boat!!

Astro 20’ Fish and Ski!! Great for the family!

Check out this LOWE!! Versatile boat!

Catch Spotlight

Submit your own entry to be featured in Hook Points to: [email protected], Subject: Catch Spotlight

Another great catch Jon!

Scott and Rich found a couple of PB’s last week! Congrats boys!

Brian - on em! As per usual…

Fishing dates are the best dates! Nice job Chloe and Austin!

Great catch Julie!

Dan found a good one on his way to a win at the TBF Qualifier on Walcott!

Colby found some salty bass!! Nice job brother!

Sun Valley Sue!! Great catch!!

Great catch Zach!!

Stu has been on ‘em! Nice job man!

Apparently ALL Ard’s can catch fish!!