Hook Points - Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Steady fishing for just about everything at CJ right now. While the bigger bass have been a little trickier to find, smaller 1-2 pound fish are being caught on drop shots, ned rigs and Keitechs. Sturgeon are being caught up the Snake River arm as well as below the dam on cut baits. You’ll need a good selection of weights if you are going to be below the dam - flows have varied from “dang that’s a lot of water” to “Flood!”…Crappie are being caught all over but the largest concentrations definitely are in the narrows right now. They are being caught by bank anglers as well as the crappie are spending a fair amount of time in the shallows right now - 5-15’. I’m still a huge fan of 2.8 Keitechs and Big Bite Baits Kamikaze Swimons with a crappie nibble.

Boise River: Starting to receive more reports even though the river is still scootin’. Careful wading still but it is fishable. Fly guys should be throwing streamers. Bait guys should look for back eddies and throw nightcrawlers on heavier Carolina rigs. If you are throwing hardware, tough to beat a spoon in high water.

Brownlee: Water levels are at 2070 - 7’ from full and fishing very well. For the bass, neds, Dry Creek curly tail grubs on ¼oz ball heads, Dry Creek tubes and still fish being caught early on cranks and jerkbaits. Look for transition areas…small rocks to sand, small rocks to big rocks, rock walls to broken rock, steep to shallow, etc. Fish will be there…especially if you are crappie hunting. I caught all I could handle last week on Keitechs and Kamikaze Swim-ons in 5-10’ of water, just off the banks. Come talk to me if you want to see where I was fishing. Catfishing should really start to pick up here soon as the water starts to warm to the high 60’s.

Snake River: Still running off color but small to medium sized bass are biting. Look for places the bass can hang out in to get out of the heavier flows. Ned rigs, Texas Rigged Craws, tubes and Idaho Rod and Reel Tungsten Finesse Jigs with a Reins Ring Craw on the back are still getting bit. Our inventory on the jigs is LOW - hoping to have it replenished in a few weeks.

Wilson Springs: Starting to moss up a bit but plenty of fish still being caught. Powerbait on a light Carolina rig, salmon egg on a single small hook or try an Ultralight Heavyweights jig.

Lake Lowell: Fishing really well. If you’re struggling to find a few, come talk to us and let’s check your gear and talk about what these fish are doing. For me, I’d have a topwater, a search bait and a flipping bait. Let’s go Spro Popping Frog, Bluegill Mini Max Chatterbait with a Chatter Spike trailer and a Reaction Innovations Man Bear Pig with a 1/4oz Tungsten bullet weight.

Cascade Reservoir: Fishing well and not so well…depending on what you are looking for! Perch fishing has been excellent and can be caught trolling Flicker Shads or Shad Raps (SR05) and can be caught from the bank throwing 2.8 Keitechs on an 1/8th oz ball head. For whatever reason, the bass have been a little harder to come by. For me, I’m going to be looking for shallow points and sandy/mud areas and I’m going to be throwing Keitechs, topwater walking baits like a Reaction Innovations Vixen (early and late in the day), a jerkbait and a tube jig.

Horsethief Reservoir: Decent fishing for trout by the dam trolling wedding rings. Some good fish being caught from the banks with nightcrawlers and Powerbait.

Owyhee Reservoir: Crappie are biting! Weekday trips if possible will help you avoid the crowds but there’s plenty of places to fish even when the lake looks crowded. Pick your favorite plastic and walk the banks or cruise them in your boat. Fish are shallow and should be up close to rock points and in most coves. If I’m bank fishing, I do NOT throw 1/16oz or lighter…I throw 1/8oz so I can cover more water quickly. Bass fishing has been decent on crankbaits, lipless cranks and Texas rigged plastics around shallow structure.

Duck valley: Still the trout hot spot right now for sure. Powerbait from the banks and Shad Raps from the boat.

Lucky Peak Reservoir: Decent reports from LP but seems moodier than Arrowrock and Anderson still. Pinks and Oranges - old reliables! Fish are on top but might try dropping down a few feet later in the day.

Arrowrock Reservoir: Steady Eddy. Really good report from a customer using a Kokabow green and silver dodger on Friday with a black hoochie. Fish are still on top. Don’t forget to troll around the dam…hint hint 🤣 

Anderson Ranch: Slowed down a bit but don’t read that as “SLOW”. It’s still pumping fish out in good numbers. Pink, Orange and Chartreuse and Pink dodgers continue to be the faves.

Local Ponds: Start looking early morning and evening for better bass bites. Lots of trout stocking on Family Fishing Waters so take a look at the reports on those and go catch a couple stockers!!

Shop News - Classes, WFO and Wiggle Hoochies

• Western Fishing Operations has been restocked! Includes bass baits AND egg clusters for Steelhead and Slamon!

• Summer Bass Fishing Tactics - Class coming very soon! To be taught by former FLW Professional angler Cody Murray.

• CRAPPIE and TROUT fishers…custom rods built just for you coming SOOONN!!!

• Custom hand tied Swim Jigs will be available this week! Watch our social media platforms for availability as these go really fast. Premium skirting material, painted heads and Gamakatsu hooks - hand tied by Ryan with Kevlar thread…these are a premium product.

• We will have our first Good Fish and Good Guppies meetings and activities in June! We have been waiting for materials to show up and have just had so many issues getting things produced and delivered on time. It still has not arrived!! I don’t care…moving on without it!!

• Please check out the idahorodandreel.com ONLINE STORE! We are adding products daily. Local shipping is very affordable and free on orders over $75.

• Rods…something very cool is coming 😉 

• Macks Wiggle Hoochies in Stock NOW!

• 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

One of my FAVORITE Channels!

Technically Speaking...

Flukes!!

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

Say Something!

Looking for a Trolling Motor?

Current Trout Stocking

Catfish Takedowns!

Chinook Harvest Report

Sneaky?

Because everyone should just know this...

Little Perch Story

Crappie in the Shallows! (Yes we have underspins in stock)

New in the Shop

WFO 30mm Egg Clusters!

WFO Creepin Craw!! Hello Lake Lowell…

Wiggle Hoochies!

ARK RODS IN STOCK!!

Cobb Series!

Tharp Series Spinning!

Catch Spotlight

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

Colby getting it done on some trout!

John ALWAYS on the fish!

Ben and kiddo with a very interesting catch!

Frank showing off some hard earned Cascade smallies!

Kekoa with little man and a nice bass!! That’s just good parenting…

Brian and Company with a 7 footer down in Hells Canyon!

Michael showing us he can catch just about anything!

Garren and Son Ryker with a dinosaur!

Josh is starting to like this bass thing…even if he says he doesn’t 😆 

Kelvin with future fish tacos!

Great catch Brian! Thanks for sharing man!!

Todd and company found some smallies!! Tough to be sad holding a smallmouth!

Dan with a BIG ONE!! Great catch brother!

BUCKET LIST FISH!! CONGRATULATIONS! What a catch…the hat had something to do with it I’m sure 😉 

Yes Kaci!! Representing the kiddos well!!

Dan with a good Lowell bass!!

Kelsey back in the newsletter! New species this time…great catch!

Great catch Jordan!

This fish…

Lead to this picture! Congrats Holden on your first place finish! Way to go CHAMP!! Love seeing the local clubs helping the youth enjoy fishing! Thanks Lance and IBM!

My baby girl and her first sturgeon! Take a kiddo with you!! Big thanks to Ronnie and Will!!

Every now and then, even I catch bass! That’s the look of shock on my face…”huh, how did I do that?”