Hook Points - Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: The cold spell that moved through made things a bit funky but the week ahead looks excellent. My guess is that this is a weekend that you are going to want to plan to fish. I would expect bass to be up shallow at most parts of the day. Look at a tube jig, a jerkbait, a keitech and I wouldn’t be nervous at all to throw a topwater. For the crappie - they are moving and up shallow. Take a look at major and MINOR points that have trees growing on them and hanging out over the water…throw a Kamikaze Swimon or VMC Boot Tail jig and see what happens - tip with Berkley Crappie Nibbles!! Sturgeon fishing above the dam has been excellent and ok below the dam. Cut sucker and crappie are the baits of choice. No reports for trout this week.

Boise River: Flows are coming down for the moment and I am starting to hear about people fishing the river once again. I wouldn’t call it a hot spot but it is fishable. Worm rigs with a corky drifted in deep pools, countdown minnows and Dynamic Lures HD Trout baits fished on the shallow edges are good options.

Brownlee: Water levels are at 2066.7 - up 1’-ish from last week and has been stable. Great place to take the kids right now or to fish from the bank and there are many small-ish smallmouth available along with some crappie. From the bank, the not used enough bait of the year is the 5” curly tail grub and that is a great option right now. Pair it with a 1/4oz ball head and let it sink on a slack line…see what happens 😉. From a boat, jerkbaits and crankbaits will get bit as will Keitechs. I wouldn’t forget about the Dry Creek Green Pumpkin Purple tube…Catfishing has been really good on the shallower sandy areas with cutbait and night crawlers. And Idaho Rod and Reel Tungsten Finesse Jigs according to one customer 😆! Crappie are being caught and they are big! Trolling flicker shads, beetle spins and other moving baits is a great way to cover water and isolate where these guys are playing right now. Once on top of them - I’d throw a jigging rap!

Snake River: Water is high and of color. The fishing has not been especially spectacular and guys are struggling to find a consistent pattern that will produce regular bites. If you are going to fish it, look at a dark jig like the black Vader Idaho Rod and Reel Tungsten Finesse Jig - paired with a Morning Dawn craw pattern…wait ‘til you see it!! I’d probably have a spinnerbait and a Keitech as well.

Wilson Springs: Oddly enough - no report this week…

Lake Lowell: Mixed reports but overall, I would say the fishing is really good - and only going to get better heading into the weekend. Funky weather pattern right now has the lake fishing well in small chunks of time but that will go away as we get closer to Wednesday and Thursday if I had to bet. Flipping in the trees and rolling buzzbaits, working frogs in the shallows…if they aren’t willing to roll on your topwater, try a flipping jig or senko up in the shallows.

Cascade Reservoir: Trolling for perch with Shad Raps, Keitechs and Flicker Shads has been really effective for the perch. Bass fishing has been a little hit or miss with the current weather pattern likely having something to do with that. I’d be looking in 5-15’ and searching with tube jigs, Keitechs, jerkbaits and maybe a lipless.

Horsethief Reservoir: One report this week that an angler did really well with a nightcrawler near the dam. Had the lake to himself…

Owyhee Reservoir: There are crappie being caught up by Leslie Gulch but I am confident you do not need to go up that far to find them. They should be moving shallow - and might be staging just off main lake points at certain times during the day. Bass are being caught up shallow. If you can find a bay or cove with some bushes or weeds in the water, throw a Texas Rigged bait around them and see what happens. Spinnerbaits were working before the cold front moved in and I suspect they will again after this cold moves out in a day or two. A dark chatterbait or a small rubber skirted jig could work well also.

Duck valley: Trolling has been really good on the days that the wind will allow. Flicker shads, flies and Shad Raps should get you bit. From the banks, powerbait and nightcrawlers should do the trick! Along the dam at Mountain View has been the hot spot.

Lucky Peak Reservoir: Been slower than Arrowrock and Anderson. Almost full and in some areas the water is more off color than in others. Can’t stay down for long however…In the off color water - I really love the copper Kokabow dodgers.

Arrowrock Reservoir: Mixed reports but overall I would call Arrowrock steady right now. Pinks, oranges and black and copper have been successful. The fish are still on top and long lining is still a good option to catch them. For those of you that are newer to the Kokanee game and struggling to land these feisty guys - reel with your rod down, not up like we were taught as kids 😃! These fish are tough to keep pinned when they jump and roll on the surface so do what you can to keep them under water!!

Anderson Ranch: A steady week for Anderson and the Kokes have been really good sized 14-17” fish. Fishing on top with oranges, pinks and copper have been the hot dodgers. If you’re struggling here - give a side planer or two a try. After helping a few customers get into the side planer game, it sounds like some don’t realize that you don’t need to run one off of each side of the boat. You can run just one…use it as a test and see which rod gets bit more often!

Local Ponds: Same Report as Last Week! Spawning bass are still being spotted and a few of you have discussed with me the frustration of bed fishing 🤣! My advice is to throw a bait you can see and experiment with different angles before switching baits. Not uncommon to find an approach that fires up the fish a bit more than others. Trout stocking in the local park ponds has been good and so many are catching. For these stockers - crappie nibbles (not joking), salmon eggs, nightcrawlers and powerbait can do a good job!

Shop News - Salmon are in Idaho NOW!! Class Available

• MEGABASS in STOCK NOW!!

• Salmon Fishing Strategies and Tactics! Come join us this Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30pm as Hells Canyon Salmon/Steelhead and Sturgeon guide, Cody Ard, will be teaching us all about how to catch these awesome fish. Class is FREE!! Sign up online at Idahorodandreel.com 

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

• LOTS of requests for more custom hand tied products…I will see what I can do!! Availability will be announced on our social media platforms.

• 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!

• ACC Crappie Stix Rods back in stock! 

• 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

Interesting…

Technically Speaking...

For the new boaters out there…

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

A little planning help…

I get asked about this quite a bit!

Current Trout Stocking

One of my favorite baits!

Steelhead/Salmon Update!

Have you tried this for crappie?

Color and crappie…

Let’s get your taste buds fired up for Salmon fishing!

Great bass fishing video!

New in the Shop

Idaho Rod and Reel Camo and Orange Hat!

ACC Crappie Stix Rods

Catch Spotlight

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

Love seeing this Zach!! Take a kiddo with you! Won’t hurt ‘em to kiss the fish…look at me, I kissed hundreds of fish and I’m totally normal 🤣 

Good catch Josh!

Kekoa with a great FIRST BASS FISHING tournament result!!

Colby doing fishy Colby things!

Congrats Kelvin on your Kokanee Tournament Finish! Representing Idaho Kokanee fishers well!

Ulyses battling Chemo by fishing! Love you brother! Fishing heals - cancer can suck it

Brian with one of quite a few kokanee he caught last week!

Elias got in on a little Lowell action! Congrats brother!