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Fishing Reports
CJ Strike: Decent crappie fishing for those fishing between 20-40'. If you can find 53+ water temps, you might find some shallower crappie. Bass fishing has been improving. Ned rigs, drop shots, crankbaits and chatterbaits have been working. The bass are a little bit all over the water column. Smallies have been deeper but will be shallower soon. I'm still on the reaction bite train and would have no issue throwing lipless and jerkbaits. Guys from the bank are reporting good catches of trout with powerbait and worms. Sturgeon fishing has been really good! Ardcore Pickled Smelt is catching a lot of fish right now. I only have a few jars left!
Boise River: Running VERY high! Fishable from the bank in some areas but I would stay out of the water!
Brownlee: Water levels are 2050.5 as of the time of this publication. This opens up almost all of the ramps. Fishing has been very good for bass and catfish. Bass on crankbaits, ned rigs and drop shots. Catfish on cut bait.
Swan Falls - Above the Dam: Bass fishing is good but not consistent. Keep an eye on the wind as the colder windy days seem to be the days with fewer fish caught. Water clarity is a few feet but getting darker. Still a reaction bite available here...crankbaits, jerkbaits and lipless but you won't ever catch me up here without a tube jig! Keep a look out for floating debris.
Swan Falls - Below the Dam: Bass fishing has been good but not an all day bite. Ned rigs, Mepps spinners and curly tail grubs have been catching. Try black!! sturgeon fishing has also been really good. Cut baits and Ardcore Pickled Smelt.
Wilson Springs: Fishing has been really good early and late but just ok during the middle of day. The Ultralight Heavyweights have been outfishing bait! But baits like powerbait and the Pautzke Crappie Balls have been working really well. Fishing is about to get really good here! Take a look at the stocking report below to see when...
Lake Lowell: It's been an evening bite! Reports of fish being caught in 2' of water as well as deeper...just means they are spread out still. As the temps rise and water levels are sustained, this bite is going to move shallow - fish are being caught off wood. Chatterbaits, spinnerbaits and drop shots near the rocky/sandy areas are catching fish. Been fishing well from the bank!
Owyhee River: River is up! Trout fishing slowed a little though with the rising water.
Owyhee Reservoir: Water levels are rising and water is cold. Fishing has been tough! Crappie fishing is better as you head towards Leslie Gulch but with as many crappie are in that thing, this will change as the weather warms and water temps rise. Need that 52+ degree water to start bringing those crappie up higher in the water column and closer to shore.
Duck valley: From the Reservation website:
Mountain View Reservoir has open water on most fingers of the lake though, there is still ice present towards the center. Similarly, Sheep Creek Reservoir has open water but there is ice present in the center of the lake. Lake Billy Shaw is now open for recreational fishing activities and it's conditions are like that of the other two lakes.
Billy Shaw lake is now OPEN to recreational fishing activities. Currently, it is ice covered with no open water.
Lucky Peak Reservoir: Fish are being caught. It's been spotty but most are finding at least a fish or two. They are on top - give black and dark green a try. Water here is a little warmer than Arrowrock.
Arrowrock Reservoir: Fish are being caught but report is similar to Lucky Peak. See current water levels below. Try fishing shallower - closer to the bank than you normally might. You'll probably at least run into a few more trout this way. Good reports from the bank for trout with powerbait and worms.
Anderson Ranch: Water is cold! Launches are open but fishing has been tough. Will improve as the temps warm up!
Local Ponds: Really nice bass being caught in the local ponds off the greenbelts and in Caldwell. Been a mixed bag of lures working...skirted jigs, spinnerbaits and drop shots caught fish that I know of this week. I used an Idaho Rod and Reel Customs Real Gill 1/4oz swim jig with a Big Bite Baits Pro Swimmer trailer to catch a couple of evening fish in Caldwell. I used a medium paced retrieve with several sudden but subtle rod twitches.
Snake River - Catfishing: Seeing good fish caught! If you are new to the catfishing game, start by fishing by the many bridges that cross the snake. Cut bait has definitely been the bait of choice. Catch a couple pikeminnows or suckers on nightcrawlers and you are good to go!
Shop News - Upcoming Events and Hayabusa Jigs!
Idaho Rod and Reel Employee Levi Swan fished in his first bass fishing tournament this weekend at CJ Strike - and he caught fish!! Congrats my man!
Fish an Idaho Rod and Reel Customs product, post in on social media and you might win a $100 Mystery Tackle Box! Just tag us @idrodandreel on IG and @idahorodandreel on FB - use the hashtag idahorodandreelcustoms! Whether you used one of our custom swim jigs or an inexpensive lead drop shot weight - DOESN'T MATTER!
New Idaho Rod and Reel Anniversary hats ARE IN STOCK! Artwork was done by local Idaho Artist, Michael Crane. If this hat doesn't represent Idaho fishing, then I don't know what does! They will be available for $19.99. I plan on having a new hat every year for our Anniversary. Start collecting now :)
Kokabow Tackle will be at the Idaho Fish and Game Headquarters in Boise off of Walnut Street on April 29th from 1-3pm. With the "interesting" weather, water and tricky Kokanee Fishing that we have been dealing with - I WOULDN'T WANT TO MISS THIS!
New Hayabusa jigs are SICK and in stock!
Upcoming events include a customer appreciation event, an intermediate level bass class and a lure crafting class! Keep your eyes on our social media for that.
Worth Watching
Ben Milliken has set the world on fire! Love him or hate him...
Technically Speaking...
Loop knot for more movement on your baits...
They catch trout and crappie too!
Local and National Fishing News
Why not?!
What do you know? We stock Big Bite Baits...
Current Trout Stocking
Kayakers! Did you know...Cashion has rods just for you and we stock 'em!
What are my electronics looking at?!
New in the Shop
Hayabusa Jigs in Stock!
BKK Ned Heads and Sturgeon/Catfish Hooks in Stock!
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!
Catch Spotlight
Submit your own entry to be featured in Hook Points to: [email protected], Subject: Catch Spotlight
Levi finding huge success in his FIRST EVER bass fishing tourney! Levi is the other FACE of Idaho Rod and Reel - come by and say hi on Thursday and/or Saturday this week and congratulate him!
Justin was struggling to catch a bass in 2023...buys a new 13 Fishing Meta rod and a couple hours later NAILS ONE! Coincidence? I don't think so :)
Zach can just flat out catch them...
"Strength comes after the weight is lifted. Coordination comes after the obstacles have been navigated."