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Hook Points

Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Ryan Chris
June 24, 2025

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Consistent fishing for all species. Not as hot and heavy as it was a few weeks ago but still worth targeting. As things really warm up and we get closer to settling into legit summer fishing patterns, you’re going to find that the fish are much more spread out and on the move. You’ll find fish in 3’ of water, and in 30! To be successful - you need to be prepared to fish all over the place. For crappie, there are a lot of fish in 15-20’. Look around steeper bluff walls for shallower fish - these fish might be in 5-10’ of water but suspended over 30’ or more. I recommend a good selection of soft plastics and 1/16 and 1/8oz heads to fish different depths. We are absolutely loving the Northland Tackle baits! Tons of successful stories! For bass, you’re going to be able to find some shallow fish using topwater baits like an Evergreen SB-125/105 or a Lobina Lures Rico popper. You could also look shallow with crankbaits, jerkbaits or a wacky rig. In areas with largemouth, a buzz bait or Zoom Speed Craw flipped with a quarter ounce tungsten weight will do the trick. As we move deeper, we can throw a Neko rigged Senko with a 3/32 Cipher Nail Weight, a wacky rig with an IRR Tungsten Wacky Jig, a Roboworm or Keeper worm on a drop shot, a Ned rig and if you want something sneaky…throw an X-Zone MB Fat Finesse Worm on a Cipher Ball Head…the Mid Stroll head has a turned eye - just like a jig hook. There is NO WAY, I’d be fishing right now without an IRR Tungsten Finesse jig. This is when it really starts to shine!

Boise River: Plenty of nice rainbows and whitefish being caught on the Boise right now. We just received a HUGE shipment of Dynamic Lures HD Trout lures and they absolutely crush on the Boise. Another excellent option is the Lucky Craft Pointer 65’s.

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: Reservoir is full. As with CJ, you need to be prepared to fish both deep and shallow for consistent, all day success. This is the time of year at Brownlee that I target shallow to deep water transitions in the form of bluffs to chunk rock to sand and gravel. Not uncommon to find Brownlee bass up shallow early and then when the sun pops out - see ya!! They go out deeper. For the shallow ones, shop manager Brian recommends a weightless fluke and a walking bait like a spook or Evergreen Shower Blow. I don’t think these fish will be in their very deepest spots just yet so look in 10-20’ with a drop shot, IRR Finesse Jig, ned rig or Neko rig and its time to have a Carolina rig with ya - try it with a 5” fluke or a Zoom UV Speed Craw! Crappie have been a little tougher to find but they are bigger here than most of our other reservoirs. I love the bluff walls with deep water this time of year for crappie and I like shallow areas nearby. To catch these guys, I love the Northland Tackle soft plastics and Keitech Fat Swing 2.8 swimbaits! Catfishing has been EXCELLENT!! Put your bait in 25’ or less and you are probably gonna get bit.

Snake River: Fishing well. I’d have a topwater like a Whopper Plopper or popper, drop shot with a Texas rigged Roboworm or Keeper worm, IRR Finesse Jig FOR SURE and I’d have a Senko on an IRR Wacky jig.

Wilson Springs: No report.

Lake Lowell: Fishing well. I highly recommended flipping with the Big Bite Baits FAFO last week and happy to report that we sold 1 bag 🤣 …however, that bag went to a good friend of the shop that said he “caught all of the fish” in Lake Lowell! Just had an awesome day and I LOVE HEARING that!! Going to recommend the same thing as well as suggest a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver and a Zoom Brush Hog. I’d have something to fish topwater as well - a frog or a buzz bait!

Cascade Reservoir: Perch fishing has slowed a bit for some but there are still good reports coming in. Drop shotting with multiple hooks and nightcrawlers is a great option! Trolling small soft plastic minnow baits will work as well! I like something in the 2-3” size. Bass have been a bit trickier! There are shallow smallmouth to be caught and I’d be throwing weightless flukes or a topwater walking bait like a spook. As the sun gets higher and we start looking deeper, I’m going to move out to 15-ish feet and start working with a 3.3 Keitech, a drop shot and a Neko rigged senko - with gold flakes in it. Look for long sandy points and see if the fish have set up on those yet. To find a largemouth, I’m going to be around the docks on the northern part of the reservoir.

Horsethief Reservoir: Couple really good reports this week! One was from a float tuber that caught several trolling a Thomas Buoyant spoon in about 10-15’ of water. Another report was from a couple of bank anglers that did very well on powerbait fished just off the bottom. Mornings were best!!

Owyhee Reservoir: Still fishing really well for both bass and crappie. Lots of smaller crappie can be found in less than 10’ of water and caught on anything that they can get in their mouths. Bigger crappie are in deeper water and traveling in smaller schools. Target those with Keitech Easy Shiners on drop shot rigs. Bass are spread out and can be found shallow and out in 15-20’. For shallow fish, I am going to target them with a wacky rig and a topwater walking bait or Whopper Plopper. For the deeper fish, I might have a crankbait that dives to 15ish feet, an IRR Tungsten Finesse jig, a Neko rig or wacky rig on an IRR Wacky Jig and a drop shot. Time to have a Carolina rig with ya as well - I like to keep it simple and drag a fluke around!

Owyhee River: Fishing well - 3 baits needed!!! Lucky Craft Pointer 65, Dynamic Lures HD Trout and shrimp on a jig head under a float! Morning and evening has been the best times.

Duck valley: LOTS OF WEEDS!! From the Reservation Website:

May 23, 2025 – All reservoirs have been recently stocked May 14, and May 16 of 2025. Water temperatures for the week right around 55° C. Anglers have been dropping floaters, and boats at all reservoirs looking for some rod and reel action with reports of moderate to high fishing activity, where black and green leeches are pulling a lot of trout activity from the waters of Sheep Creek this week. Bait casters continuing to get good responses from a variety of swimbait lures, and shore casters landing fish with PowerBait, and night crawlers, and marshmallows.

Lucky Peak Reservoir: Decent reports for Kokanee in 20-40’ depending on the time of day. Shallower earlier. Great reports on pink and black! You’re going to catch a few trout as well and if you are targeting them, Kokabow dodgers and bugs will definitely work. As will old school wedding rings.

Arrowrock Reservoir: Trout. Trout. And more trout…Troll just about anything and you are going to catch a trout! There are plenty of bass being caught and what they lack in size, they make up for in bad attitude. You still have opportunity to catch some decent ones but for the most part, a bunch between 1-2 pounds…more on the 1 pound side of that. Drop shots, topwater poppers, ned rigs and crankbaits!

Anderson Ranch Reservoir: Just a fun fishery right now - especially if you are a kokanee angler. Lots of fish in the 15-30’ foot range and they’re happy to eat pretty much whatever you’re willing to throw at them. Bass fishing is excellent though you might find it a bit tricky to find some of the bigger fish. They are there! Might find them with a topwater or jerkbait out chasing kokanee. Other baits I’d have with me include ned rigs, drop shots, a Carolina rig and without question an IRR Tungsten Finesse Jig.

Payette Lake: Fishing for kokes is good! Look for them in 15-30’ and try to get on them before the lake gets busy! Great reports on pink and green dodgers as well as with black and orange.

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: Decent pond bass being caught with topwaters. If the good ol’ frog isn’t doing it for you, give a Z Man Goat Toadz a try.

Huge Shipment from a Hard to Find Major Brand!, Sun Shirts Have Shipped, Link and Imperium Rod Update, Big News Coming, Cast for Kids, Idaho High School State Championship, Congrats Brian

Something big is coming soon…can’t wait!
The Idaho Bass Nation State High School and Junior State Championship is this weekend at Lake Cascade!! It is NOT too late to sign up!! Contact me ASAP!
Help us as we try to raise money to send Eli and Grady to High Schools Nationals to represent Idaho!! Idaho Rod and Reel has donated a Link Casting Rod and a Daiwa Tatula SV to help the boys raise money! Tickets to win the rod and reel are $5ea and ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE BOYS!! This is an expensive trip! They’re amazing young men!! Please help if you can.
We have a huge shipment of hard to find baits on the way!! Watch our social media for announcements as they show up!! Excited about this one…had to work hard to get this deal locked up!
VERY FEW Idaho Rod and Reel Link and Imperium rods left! We are hoping to see new stock in the next month but this is a difficult project and takes a ton of time!!
The New Idaho Rod and Reel Sun Hoodies are on their way!! Cannot wait for you to see them!
C.A.S.T. 4 KIDS is coming up!! We need boaters! This is an absolutely amazing event!! See the flyer below for more info. Please consider helping and being part of this amazing program. Help us give these amazing kids a day they will remember for a long time.
The NEW HATS HAVE ARRIVED and they are selling quickly! There are 3 models - camo with a leather patch, gray with a blue logo and back by popular demand, the all black hat with leather round logo.
Can’t wait for you to see the new Cipher Fishing product that will be out soon!! Available at Tackle Warehouse and Idaho Rod and Reel first!
Congratulations to shop Manager Brian as he qualified for the Bass Nation Finals!!
New and In-Stock this week: X Zone, Rod Glove Neoprene Rod Sleeves, Crappie Jigs, Dynamic Lures HD Trout, Lucky Craft Pointer 65, Daiwa Rods and Reels, Zoom Soft Plastics, Dirty Jigs, Cipher Fishing
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

Insanely Cool

Technically Speaking...

Not just for bass fishing!!

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

Spear Fishing?

New spearfishing rules take effect July 1 in select waters for some game fish

Historically, spearfishing was as only a legal method of take for harvesting unprotected nongame species. However, as of July 1, spearfishing is authorized by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission for harvesting some game fish that are inconsistent with current fisheries management plans in some waters.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/new-spearfishing-rules-take-effect-july-1-select-waters-some-game-fish

Salmon Update!

Spring Chinook Salmon Fishery Update: Rapid River Run, Hells Canyon, and Clearwater River Return Fisheries - 06/17/2025

Get the latest spring Chinook fishery update for the Rapid River Run, Hells Canyon, and Clearwater River fisheries.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/spring-chinook-salmon-fishery-update-rapid-river-run-hells-canyon-and-clearwater-river

Little Salmon / South Fork Salmon Update - June 17, 2025

idfg.idaho.gov/article/little-salmon-south-fork-salmon-update-june-17-2025

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

CAST for Kids!!