Hook Points
Posts
Hook Points

Hook Points

Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Ryan Chris
May 06, 2025

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Fishing really well. The crappie bite has been excellent and accessible for both boat and bank anglers. Fish are shallow and close to the banks! Baits that have blades on them are excellent right now. Check out the new Northland Tackle Mimic Minnow kits that include small Colorado blades and all the heads you need to be successful - great paint jobs on the heads and amazing plastics! The Northland baits are new to the shop - selling very well and folks are already having GREAT success with them. For the bass, you are dealing with mixed phases of the spawn for both largies and smallies. Look for smallmouth beds in 1-8’ of water - they like to have access to small gravels and sand! Ned rigs, drop shots, tube jigs, Tungsten Finesse Jigs and even some walking baits can get bit! I personally caught several on a 1/8oz Cipher Ball Head paired with a Crush City Mooch Minnow. You’ll wade through some small males but there are good fish to be caught. Some largemouth are on beds - look shallow and give a drop shot with a short leader or small white creature bait a try. Sturgeon fishing has been phenomenal - Sturgeon Candy, squid and crappie are great options. Trollers are still reporting decent catches of trout. Flicker Shads, Kokabow Dodgers and Bugs and simple old school wedding rings are getting it done.

Boise River: Some reports of fish catches coming in but does not seem as though many are fishing it right now - might be the reason TO fish it right now! Especially before the “Human Hatch” hits and the river is full of coolers and floaters in inner tubes…I’d have spinners, Shad Raps with trebles replaced by single siwash hooks, small jig heads with minnow baits and good ol’ shrimp on a jig head under a float…

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 levels are at 2050 - up 5’ from last week. Fish are CHOMPING! Bass are being caught on HARDBAITS!! Take a selection of Spro Rk Crawlers, Strike King 3XD’s and Lucky Craft 2.5’s with you as well as Lucky Craft Staysee 90’s and 110’s, Idaho Rod and Reel Perch (a 100 fish day reported last week with that bait!!), Nishine 95’s and Megabass Vision 110’s. There’s a good chance that I’d have a Lucky Craft LV500 on me as well. Ned rigs, tubes and Tungsten Finesse Jigs all caught bass that I know of. Cipher Ball Heads paired with Strike King Z-too’s or Baby Z-too’s on a spinning rod and braid will CRUSH right now. Crappie are biting and if you’re going to catch a big one, my bet is Brownlee is the place to do it. Trust me when I say it - throw larger baits! Keitech 3.3’s in Pro Blue, Perch or the new Top Shad color will get you bit by larger crappie. Look close to main lake points in 4-15’ and on the downstream side of points leading into bays. They are there!! Several reports this week! Flat heads are biting as well - if there are crappie nearby - there are flat heads.

Snake River: Steady fishing this week. Tungsten Finesse Jigs were by far and away the most talked about bait on the river. 3.3 Keitechs in Green Pumpkin and Electric Shad, jerkbaits and senkos on Idaho Rod and Reel Tungsten Wacky Jigs all caught fish this week. Lots of tiny males up shallow. I wouldn’t be nervous to try a topwater - make it a walking style bait like a Vixen or Lucky Craft Gunfish 95 (my favorite). Catfishing has been really good! Fishing around current breaks and in eddies with 4-10’ of reasonably clear water (clear of tons of grass is what I mean) is almost a guarantee that you’ll get bit.

Wilson Springs: Decent reports from a family that spends time in the shop! They caught them on a single salmon egg and Powerbait Eggs. I’d have a Berkley Floating Trout Worm rigged up as well.

Lake Lowell: Some great catches reported this week on Chatterbaits, Spinnerbaits, 3.8 Keitechs on belly weighted EWG hooks, Junebug or Black flipping baits and buzzbaits. Early morning and evening seem to be the most effective times to fish. Get around trees and in open water between trees and weed lines and you’re likely to have success.

Cascade Reservoir: Perch are biting, Rainbows are biting. 2 Great reasons to spend some time in Cascade. Trolling with Salmo Hornets, Flicker Shads and Shad Raps are all great ideas. Casting for the perch is effective right now - they are shallow and can be caught from the bank. Spoons, smaller blade baits, small underspins (we have some awesome ones from our Northland order…I know, beating that horse to death…for GOOD REASON!!) and 2.8 Keitechs are great ways to catch them. If you want to know what the hottest bait for Perch is - you’re in luck, I’m in the sharing kind of mood 😆! Hook Up Baits in 1/16oz and 1/8oz have been absolutely destroying Perch…Bass fishing has been picking up. Keitechs in Perch, Ayu and Electric Shad are great choices!

Horsethief Reservoir: No report this week.

Owyhee Reservoir: Good crappie bite going on while the bass fishing has slowed just a bit. Crappie are shallow - 4-12’ and can be caught from both bank and boat. The same suggestions for CJ are what I am recommending for the crappie at Owyhee. For the bass, spend some time looking in the trees and around the shallow parts of main lake points. Cranking, flipping, spinnerbaits and Keitechs are what I’d have rigged up - and might throw in a frog…not joking. For the cranks, try something in the Blue/Chartreuse and Black and Gold camps. For flipping, I’d throw the Keitech Crazy Flapper or Nories Front Flapper Curly and try an Electric Shad Keitech - 3.3.

Owyhee River: Anglers are back on the “O” and the bite has been ok. Cooked shrimp on a jig head under a float, Shad Raps and small minnow style baits on a drop shot are all really good options.

Duck valley: Not the best reports this week but there were some decent fish caught. Worth the trip still in my opinion. Trolling as close to the first major weed line break is my best piece of advice. Flicker Shads and Shad Raps are awesome choices. An old school trick that still works is trolling Wooly Bugger and leach style flies behind water bubbles.

Lucky Peak Reservoir: Kokanee are biting! Alan with Kokabow let me know that they are on top and pinks have been the deal. Pink dodgers, baits and corn. Only complaint I am hearing is that the meat quality is poor - still good for canning but these are late spawn kokes.

Arrowrock Reservoir: THE KOKANEE ARE GRUMPY HERE 😆…not sure what’s going on but right now, AR is a trout fishery. Which isn’t a bad thing! They are happy to bite and tons of fun. Hoping that as the reservoir fills, we start hearing good things about the kokes.

Anderson Ranch Reservoir: Lots of 9-12” Kokanee being caught with a mix of early and late spawners. Food quality of the early spawn fish is much better if you are new to the Kokanee game. Alan with Kokabow wanted me to tell you they are still on top and pink has been the color. Doesn’t mean it will be every day but that’s a great place to start. Bass fishing reports are coming in and jerkbaits, crankbaits and Keitechs are great options. Try a Strike King 3XD Elite Crankbait and a Staysee 90 in Ghost Minnow for a jerkbait. I’m going with lighter colored Keitechs at Anderson so try a Rainbow Shad or Electric Shad. Neds get bit everywhere - take one with ya!

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: Lots of ponds have been stocked with trout. They fish really well right now before the heat shows up and they become to warm and weedy to fish. Berkly floating trout worms, nightcrawlers and powerbait are great options. Some decent pond bass being caught right now also. A white swim jig, weightless green pumpkin or black senko, weightless green pumpkin or bone colored fluke and a topwater frog are good options!

Panfish Class, We’re Hiring!, Hand Tied Tuesday!

We are planning on having a FREE Panfish class next Thursday from 6:30pm to 8pm in the Idaho Rod and Reel Learning Center with one of our favorite teachers, Jordan Rodriguez from Tightlines 208! Once this date has been confirmed - I will announce it on social media! Come join us for food, drinks, instruction AND PRIZES!! We will be giving away an Idaho Rod and Reel Imperium Ultralight Panfish rod! All you have to do is show up!
I will have a few hand tied swim jigs and chatterbaits in the shop on TUESDAY! Many of you have fished these and know that they will not last long. Premium skirts, kevlar thread and Gamakatsu Nano Hooks - these are absolutely premium. FIRST COME FIRST SERVE!
WE ARE BUSY! And we need more help…Idaho Rod and Reel is HIRING for a PART TIME position! We are looking for someone that is interested in a flexible schedule, LOVES fishing and has a huge passion for helping people create memories and catch more fish! This position is likely to be seasonal as there are natural ebbs and flows throughout the year. If you are interested, please email resume to [email protected].
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!!!!
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, Cork Grip Only!
- Imperium Ultra-light panfish rod - NOT MANY LEFT!!
- 7’5” Heavy Fast Casting - with Lowell open, these are going quickly
- 7’6” Link Tech Casting Rod, ML Fast, Cork and Graphite Grips Left
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: Way too many items to list!!!
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

Some local stuff!

Technically Speaking...

Launching a Boat by Yourself!

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

Great news for ROTARY POND

F&G, City of Caldwell partnering to address invasive weeds at Rotary Pond

Sometime during the week of May 4 through May 10, Idaho Fish and Game staff will be assisting the City of Caldwell with an herbicide application at Caldwell Rotary Pond to knock back invasive aquatic weeds that frequently make the pond unfishable in the summer months. The actual date of the treatment will depend on pond conditions and weather.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/fg-city-caldwell-partnering-address-invasive-weeds-rotary-pond

Kokanee Reports!

F&G staff gives kokanee fishing tips to help you better understand (and catch) these unique fish

Idaho Fish and Game staff not only stock and manage kokanee fisheries throughout the state, they also spend time fishing for them. Our experienced (and novice) kokanee anglers at Fish and Game provided these tips to improve your knowledge of kokanee fishing and hopefully help you catch more fish, or just know these unique fish better.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/fg-staff-gives-kokanee-fishing-tips-help-you-better-understand-and-catch-these-unique-fish

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 Salmon Fishing Update 4/29/2025: Rapid River Run, Hells Canyon, and Clearwater River Fisheries

idfg.idaho.gov/article/spring-chinook-salmon-fishing-update-4292025-rapid-river-run-hells-canyon-and-clearwater

Steelhead Dam Counts

Steelhead Dam Counts

idfg.idaho.gov/fish/steelhead/dam-counts

Steelhead Reports

Checking the pulse of Idaho's salmon and steelhead runs

When it comes to Idaho’s migrating salmon and steelhead, we can get a quick idea of the health of the populations by counting the number of fish passing dams on their migration. Like a pulse, it doesn’t tell us everything, but it is a good first cut at how healthy our fish populations are.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/checking-pulse-idahos-salmon-and-steelhead-runs