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Hook Points - Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Hook Points - Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

News, Tips, Tackle and More

Ryan Chris
April 22, 2024

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Crappie fishing has been decent with the number one complaint being that the fish seem a bit small. If you are using your electronics to find them, look underneath or just outside the main school for larger singles. My favorite bait for crappies is just a 2.8 Fat Swing Impact Keitech on a 1/8oz Ball head. They can’t say no! Bass fishing has been decent. Try a jerkbait, a ned or a tube and 3.3 Keitech for smallies and look shallow - 2’-8’. Look for largemouth around creek mouths and around Cove Arm Lake. Chatterbaits/spinnerbaits and senkos are tough to beat. Really good sturgeon fishing up the Snake River arm on cut bait. No report this week on catfishing.

Boise River: Lots of water in the river…not where I would be fishing right now. Ponds off the river are full and worth a look however!

Wave Cam — Boise Whitewater Park

www.boisewhitewaterpark.com/waveshaper-cam

Brownlee: Water levels are at 2064 - up 11’ from last week. Fishing has been really good for decent numbers of medium sized bass and a bit trickier for the bigger ones. Jerkbaits are HOT right now - as are jigs and texas rigged craw style baits. Crappie fishing has been improving. Take a look at steep banks between 8’-15’…I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised - especially with the SIZE of the crappie that might catch. Catfishing has been excellent and there have been several reports of big ones around Steck!

Snake River: Very consistent bass and catfishing right now. For the bass, throw swimbait, crankbait and an IRR Tungsten Finesse Jig. For the cats, many different baits are working - look for eddies and areas that have a steady flow of water in 5’-10’.

Wilson Springs: Fishing has been fair. Powerbait, nightcrawlers and Ultralight Heavyweights jigs caught fish this past week that I know of.

Lake Lowell: Mixed reports but overall, fishing well for bass. If it were me, I’d have a flipping bait for the trees, a chatterbait for the edges and a belly weighted swimbait for literally everything in between. Catfishing has been ok as well - around the dams has been best!

Horsethief Reservoir: No report this week.

Owyhee Reservoir: Lots of water and good fishing for bass and crappie. Crappie are moving towards the banks and can be caught on several things right now so pick a favorite bait and go! For me that is a Big Bite Baits Kamikaze Swim On and a Berkely Power Nymph. For the bass, skirted jigs, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and senkos are catching decent numbers of 3# bass.

Duck valley: Pay attention to the wind but go! Been fishing well from both bank and boats. From the bank, powerbait is tough to beat. From the boat, trolling flies, jointed rapalas and simple wedding rings will get it done.

Lucky Peak Reservoir: 87% full and rising. Water is off color and reports have been very mixed. The fish that have been caught have been on top. Around the dam is fishing ok but it has not been easy.

Arrowrock Reservoir: 86% full and fishing decent. Water clarity is very good and fish are being caught on pink, white and orange/chartreuse dodgers. For lures, matching spinners and hoochies will work! The fish are on top and can be caught on side planers or long lines. Lots of rainbows being caught…

Anderson Ranch: 93% Full. Fishing is slow but the pay off can be awesome as I have seen a few big fish from the last couple weeks. Fish are on top and pinks and oranges have been the most consistent for sure.

Local Ponds: Same Report as Last Week! Ponds are fishing well. Some reports of bedding bass are starting to show up. If you can see em, they don’t want your bait, and they won’t leave the area they are in - they are on beds! Grab a white Senko, creature bait or swimbait and get after it! Lots of trout stocking going on so take a look at the stocking reports and chase them with pieces of nightcrawler and small chunks of powerbait,

Shop News - Megabass in Stock, Custom Product Updates, New Classes

MEGABASS in STOCK NOW!!
BIG BAITS! I have invited Skyler Talbot to come and speak to us about fishing BIG BAITS! He is a local kayak tournament angler and LOVES to throw the big glides! THIS WILL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE WANTING TO GET INTO THE BIG BAIT GAME BUT AREN’T SURE HOW T OGET STARTED! Join us May 2nd at the Idaho Rod and Reel Learning Center from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Class is FREE! Registration will be available online.
Idaho Rod and Reel Link Rods are SOLD OUT. To answer the number 1 question I get about them, yes…we will continue to make them! We are a small shop and building these is an expensive project. However, I LOVE THAT we are able to get an incredibly high quality rod in your hands for 1/3 the cost. Just for reference, a G Loomis with this same graphite rating is $399!!
Spring Salmon class coming very soon!!
The limited run swim jigs and buzz baits sold out! I know several of you were kind of bummed about that. I will try to have more in the next week or so! Please be patient with me as I tie these myself and I’m OCD about how they look…I’m not fast is what I’m saying 😆 !
Please follow us on our NEW YOUTUBE CHANNEL! We will be uploading new content this week specifically targeting fundamentals of fishing. This channel is designed specifically to help you fish IDAHO!
Sign up for the Idaho Rod and Reel Good Fish Youth Program is LIVE!! Please visit idahorodandreel.com and select on the Youth Programs tab to sign up! This program is 100% FREE - all expenses are covered by the shop. This program focuses on leadership and self discipline skills that uses fishing and the outdoors as a conduit to deliver the message. Love to have you involved!!
Please check out the idahorodandreel.com ONLINE STORE! We are adding products daily. Local shipping is very affordable and free on orders over $75.
I am waiting for a few items to come in for the Good Fish and Good Guppies Youth Programs! They were supposed to be here 3 weeks ago!! I apologize but we will get things going quickly!
Hey Trout Fishers!! The trout area is an area of the shop that we would really like to improve. If you have bait suggestions, I would LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! [email protected] MIGHT BE A SURPRISE GIFT CARD OR TWO HANDED OUT RANDOMLY FOR SUGGESTIONS!!
New Idaho Rod and Reel Hats are in Stock!
Megabass Vision 110 jerkbaits in stock! See one of my favorites below!
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

Dworshak on the Tube

Technically Speaking...

DIY Kokanee Rigs!

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

Good Read!

A long trip home: One steelhead's journey to the Potlatch River

This beautiful female steelhead was recently captured at our weir on the East Fork Potlatch River and released upstream to spawn. Fisheries staff previously captured this fish as a juvenile at one of the habitat restoration sites in the East Fork Potlatch River in 2020. At that time, she was about 6 inches in length and now she measures over 30 inches!

idfg.idaho.gov/article/long-trip-home-one-steelheads-journey-potlatch-river

Fishing Planner

Dust off the fishing rod and plan your next family fishing outing this spring

Spring fishing is an exceptional opportunity for anglers looking to spend a day or weekend outdoors with their friends or families. Not sure where to even begin? Check out these easily accessible and regularly stocked lakes and ponds all across the state.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/dust-fishing-rod-and-plan-your-next-family-fishing-outing-spring-0

You smell that?

Current Trout Stocking

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

Crappie and the Spawn