Hook Points - Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Smallmouth fishing has been decent. Look at throwing topwater and jerkbaits in the morning and tube jigs later in the day. Sturgeon fishing has been good below the damn on crappie. Crappie fishing has been steady. Trolling seems to be the most effective way to catch them right now.

Boise River: Still running high but Idaho Rod and Reel ambassadors are reporting catches in shallow water on trout spinners. Again, be careful!! Flows are high.

Brownlee: Reservoir is full. Catching smallmouth has not been a problem - catching the big ones has been. But lots of 1-2 pounders still makes for a great day! Many of the bigger fish have spawned and are out suspending…doing as little as possible while they recover. Tubes, curly tail grubs, neds and drop shots! Crappie fishing has been decent and the fish are big! Try trolling small crankbaits in 8-14’ of water around any rocky point.

Swan Falls - Above the Dam: Fishing reports remain very positive. Try a texas rigged Reaction Innovations Smallie Beaver and topwaters in the morning.

Swan Falls - Below the Dam: Good reports for sturgeon on cut bait! Guys have been asking for help fishing for bass with the high water. My recommendation is to find the current breaks. These bass don’t want to sit in the heavy current wasting energy. The fish ARE IN the back eddies. Try a texas rigged craw and heavier weight if you are having a hard time tracking your bait in the current.

Wilson Springs: Fishing picked up as the ponds were stocked for free fishing day. Fish early!

Lake Lowell: Fishing has been really good here. Flip tubes and creature baits in the trees and give the edges of the weeds a try with a spinnerbait. Find openings in the smart weed to throw a frog and you got a shot at a cool blow up.

Owyhee River: Fishing really well! Try streamers in between hatches if you want a big one.

Owyhee Reservoir: Bass fishing has been tough if you’re looking for the big ones. Not bad for the 1 to 1.5 pounders. Crappie have moved off the banks a little bit and are not as widely dispersed. The schools are still large! Just more spread out. Take a look at 8-15’. Hearing decent reports for big trout around the dam.

Duck valley: Great trout fishing from the bank with Powerbait. For the fly guys I'd be stripping leeches and scuds just above the weed line with an intermediate sinking line. Damsels!!

Lucky Peak Reservoir: Kokanee are being caught but it still seems to be a Jekyll and Hyde kind of thing. One day the reports are solid and the next it was tough. Seems to have been a little slow the last couple of days. To keep things interesting though, trout have been biting. Orange Kokabow dodgers and baits have been working.

Arrowrock Reservoir: Fish are being caught but report is similar to Lucky Peak.

Anderson Ranch: Bass fishing remains good for small fish but the larger ones seem to be…well, hiding. Kokanee fishing has been tough but they are on top and they are big!

Local Ponds: Good fish being caught in the ponds. For the stocker trout - throw powerbait! The bass have been hitting texas rigged worms and creatures as well as wacky rigged senkos.

Snake River - Catfishing: Good catfish are being caught throughout the river. Cut bait and Ardcore squid are working.

Shop News - Classes, ARK Rods and WINNER!

• Jordan Rodriguez and Tightlines 208 will be teaching a Sturgeon class in the Idaho Rod and Reel learning center on June 13 from 6-8pm. This class INCLUDES an opportunity to then fish with Jordan and land one of these awesome fish on your own on June 15. Please visit tightlines208.com for more details and to sign up.

• I will be postponing our lure making class until I can reliably procure the materials that I need. Hopefully we can still get it done this month!

• New Idaho Rod and Reel Sun Hoodies are HERE and SELLING QUICKLY! The fabric is UV-Flect, designed to reflect light (and heat) away from you and provide 55 spf protection. For $30, these are a great deal. We have them in Heather Grey and Navy Blue in sizes Sm thru 5xl.

• I made a bulk purchase on fishing pliers and am passing the savings on to you. I have both straight and curved - FOR $3!!

• Intermediate bass fishing class to be announced this week!

• Congratulations to SCOTT AUGUSTUS! You are the winner of the $200 Tungsten Prize Package for using Idaho Rod and Reel Customs baits and tackle! We had OVER 400 ENTRIES THIS MONTH! This stuff works…and it saves you money…and you win freaking cool stuff!

• Idaho Rod and Reel Customs drawing this month will be for a Daiwa Fuego spinning reel AND a spood of Daiwa J-Braid and Sunline Fluorocarbon. This is valued at over $140! Just catch a fish with any Idaho Rod and Reel Customs product and tag us on Facebook and Instagram. Every time you post, you are entered!

• Idaho Rod and Reel is now an ARK Rod dealer! Please see the links in the New Products section to learn more! These are affordable, crazy high quality and dare I say sexy rods. I have been personally fishing them for a few weeks now to test them out. I am absolutely in love.

Worth Watching

Favorite series of mine…

Technically Speaking...

I get lots of questions about one of my favorite ways to fish - SWIM JIGS!! Watch this…

Local and National Fishing News

Free Fishing Day!

The Salmon Run!!

Current Trout Stocking

Trolling for crappie

New in the Shop

ARK Rods (and a few baits!) will be in stock soon!

ARK Fishing Rod Pro Brock Mosley WINS!

Idaho Rod and Reel Anniversary "Celebrate Idaho Fishing" Hats! Selling quickly and for a great cause! 50% of profits from these hats will go to help fund our youth programs!

Check out the new fishing pier at Barber Park!

Catch Spotlight

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

Fishing with VETS!!

Brian Callahan!! That’s a fish brother! And he’s a HECK of a finish carpenter if you need one!! No better back drop than Hells Canyon!!

Elias and Cody Ard with Hells Canyon Adventures…caught this little fella on a Corn Dog! Just kidding…no they didn’t.