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Hook Points

Hook Points

Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Ryan Chris
April 14, 2025

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Great fishing for everything right now. Trollers are still catching trout though they have pushed deeper now and have been tougher to catch for bank anglers. Better luck for bank anglers below the dam. Tough to beat a Flicker Chad or Shad Rap. Several reports from the Crappie tournament of trout in 20’. Crappie fishing is excellent for both bank and boat anglers. Quite a few fish close to the bank in 5-15’ of water. Boat anglers still trolling for them but when they get like this, I like to cast and retrieve! I want to feel the bite! A simple split shot rig is a great way to fish right now. Single BB size splitshot, 8-12” away from a small drop shot hook and a crappie tube rigged through the nose is a great way to slowly let a bait fall to the school! Bass fishing has been wide open - we’ve heard of someone having success with darn near everything. I’d have a shallow diving crank, a tube jig or Ned rig, a weedless wacky senko, chatterbait and maybe even a topwater. For the crank - try the Damiki D200’s - amazing paint jobs and great fish catchers. I love a tube this time of year - even for shallow bass - just throw it on a 1/8oz Bite Me tube jig head…Sturgeon fishing has stayed awesome!

Boise River: Still not a spot I’m targeting.

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 is down roughly 2’ from last week, currently sitting at 2045. At that level, the Spring Rec ramp is usable. Fishing is excellent for bass and worth a look for crappie. Saw a pic or two of a flathead as well 😉. For the bass, lots of shallow fish - 2-15’. I’d be targeting them with jerkbaits (Idaho Rod and Reel Perch!!), crankbaits (Spro Rk 50 in reds or Damiki D300 in Bluegill), lipless cranks (LV500), tubes or Neds (Ned = Crush City BLT) and a nail weighted Senko (green pumpkin with a chartreuse tail or cinnamon brown with a pink tail). The crappie I am seeing at Brownlee are big - little tricky to find but worth it. Spend time on main lake points that are protected from wind and current. Look in 5-15’ of water and cover lots of water with baits like Beetle Spins, Mini Chatterbaits and swimming style soft plastics like the Big Bite Baits Kamikaze Swim On. Crappie nibbles - add em! The flat heads that I know of have been SHALLOW! Caught by bass fisherman on cranks.

Snake River: Fishing well for both bank and boat anglers. If you’re looking at catching smallies from the bank - this is a good option. Try a 3.3 Keitech on an underspin, a ned rig, and a 1/4oz IRR Tungsten Finesse Jig. Throw the jig in the back eddies and slow current areas. If you’re snagging up jigs and Neds a lot - you may need a faster rod or to downsize your weight. From the boat, the same baits will be effective though I’d add a crank or a jerkbait.

Wilson Springs: No report this week.

Lake Lowell: Opens on the 15th for boats! The BBB tournament will be held this weekend with an expectation of over 60 boats. Please remember, if you have fished the lake in the past 30 days from the bank or otherwise, you are not allowed to fish in this tournament. I’d have a Jackhammer Chatterbait, a chartreuse and white spinnerbait, a wacky senko and a flipping bait like a black and red Reaction Innovations Beaver on a light worm weight, 1/8 or 3/16oz.

Cascade Reservoir: Sounds like ice on the south end is about gone. Not hearing much at the moment but I expect to as the weather warms. Those ice out perch are usually VERY willing! Try a drop shot with multiple jig heads and soft plastics and tip them with nightcrawler. Try a 2” Keitech Easy Shiner as well!

Horsethief Reservoir: No report this week.

Owyhee Reservoir: I was here this weekend for a bass tournament but made sure to keep my eyes on the electronics for the crappie anglers. Lots of 56-58degree water. Most of the crappie schools that I saw were in 4-12’ and on the main lake stuff or on the way back into a cove - but not in the back of the cove. We saw several that were suspended over 15-20’ in the middle of nowhere and found quite a few really close to steeper rocky areas - again - main lake stuff. Small Keitech Easy Shiners, trolling flicker shads and whatever your favorite plastic should be enough. Bass fishing has been good with a few lulls in there as cold fronts came and went. I’d have a good selection of Chatterbaits and Spinnerbaits (take a look at the new Damiki TOT spinnerbaits that just arrived), a crankbait - probably chartreuse and blue or black and a flipping bait - old school Beaver Style baits and a Zoom UV Speed Craw are good options. Something in Green Pumpkin or darker.

Owyhee River: Saw it on Saturday and guys were out fishing with the flows were at 250cfs. Spoke to 2 fly anglers that hadn’t been bit all day. Looks like flows are bumping back up to 1500 today…still just not a spot I am personally targeting.

Duck valley: No new reports this week from the Reservation Website but did have a customer that took the advice to troll some leeches on a fly line and they had a great day. Trolling Flicker Shads and Shad Raps are great options if you’re not a fly angler. From the bank, powerbait or small flies under floats!

Lucky Peak Reservoir: Not a lot of reports from LP but there have been a few. Fishing so far has just been ok with not a lot of Kokanee being caught - mostly trout.

Arrowrock Reservoir: More reports of Kokanee being caught but still a majority of the fish being caught are trout - some good ones too! From the bank, if you have a two pole permit, have a passive rig with a nightcrawler or powerbait while you actively search with a spinner or spoon. They are close enough to the banks to be caught. Good reports using pink/white dodgers and quite a few different colors of baits have been working. You should still be able to catch fish trolling on top.

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.

March Madness Winner, Lake Lowell BBB “Guess the Winning Weight”, Tariffs and the Fishing Industry, LADIES ONLY BASS TOURNEY!!

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 user CAIT CRAWFORD! You have won a $50 gift card to Idaho Rod and Reel for winning our March Madness Bracket! See the top 10 below!
Let’s have some fun shall we?? We are going to have a “Guess the winning weight at the BBB Open on Lake Lowell” CONTEST!! 1 Guess per customer - NO PURCHASE REQUIRED! Winner will receive a $25 gift card and $50 worth of hand tied, custom chatterbaits and jigs tied by the dork that owns Idaho Rod and Reel! THIS STARTS ON TUESDAY!
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.
Stock on the Idaho Rod and Reel Link and Imperium rods is dwindling. I’m both excited about that and a little freaked out 🤣 ! I am working on getting out of stock and low stock models back in the shop but it really is a huge undertaking for a small shop. Good inventory of Heavy Casting - but that will change significantly in a month or so when we start flipping, frogging, dragging jigs and Carolina rigs. Inventory on the Jerkbait and Medium Casting (moving bait rod) is VERY LOW. Medium light spinning and light spinning is low. Keitech Rod inventory is low. The ultra light panfish rod is low.
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: Booyah Covert Spinnerbaits, Damiki Crankbaits, Damiki TOT Spinnerbaits, Z Man Plastics, Seaguar Tatsu, Rod Glove Pro Series Rod Sleeves, Yamamoto Zakos,
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

We live in a beautiful place!!

Technically Speaking...

My absolute favorite fish…surprise ya?!

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

Another way to fish?

Spearfishing opportunities could expand, F&G taking comment on proposals until April 28

Fish and Game fisheries managers are proposing spearfishing seasons for specific species in specific waters and where spearfishing would align with current management objectives outlined in the state fish management plan. People can review proposals and comment by Monday, April 28 at noon MDT.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/spearfishing-opportunities-could-expand-fg-taking-comment-proposals-until-april-28

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