Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Trout fishing has really picked up from both the bank and for those trolling. From the bank, try the areas next to the dam with nightcrawlers and powerbait. There are several access points for camping that have good bank fishing - go explore a few of those and toss in a line or two. Bass fishing has been decent. Drop shots in 25’, cranks along the shorelines with 35 to 45 degree slopes with a good mix of rock on them and I might even give a blade bait a try 🫢.

Boise River: Good fishing on the river. The usual suspects are catching fish: Ultralight Heavyweights jigs, small minnow style baits like the 2-3” Berkley minnows on a small jig head and small crankbaits and jerkbaits. Under a float is a GREAT way to catch these fish.

Brownlee: Harmful Algae Bloom advisory in effect for Brownlee and Hells Canyon Reservoirs. Water levels are 2052 - UP 2 feet from last week. You can see the current ramp levels on the image below. Fishing for Crappie, Bass and Catfish has been good at Brownlee. Bass fishing is a bit of a “junk” fishermans paradise…just about everything will get the job done right now! I’d have a crankbait, jerkbait, Ned and a Keitech rigged up. The crappie have been around main lake points. You’ll mark smaller fish around 15-25’ but large slabs are a bit deeper and not as schooled up. I recommended the Bobby Garland Pile Driver baits on my last weekend fishing planner…a customer took me up on that recommendation. See their comments below.

“Dude that bait caught us some of the biggest crappie we have ever caught at Brownlee! It looks so good in the water and the bass ate it too which was kind of fun on crappie gear!” - Scott A

Snake River: River is fishing well for bass and catfish. If you are struggling to find the cats, you may be fishing too deep. They do spend time in the deep holes - but its fall and these fish are eating to get ready for the winter. That means they are up shallower hunting. Customer recommended beef liver over the commonly used chicken liver and had great success. For the bass, try the Idaho Rod and Reel Tungsten Finesse Football jigs - they are catching so many fish right now and personally, I am super proud of that!

Wilson Springs: Good fishing! Has been stocked recently and the water is starting to clear up - don’t read that to mean “Cleared Up”! Still going to have to get your baits in the gaps between the junk out there but there is a little less of it. Powerbait works well out here. Throw it on a light Carolina style rigging…

Lake Lowell: Fish are being caught with regularity and close to the bank. Try a swim jig, chatterbait or weightless texas rigged baby bass senko.

Lake Cascade: Good perch fishing and decent smallmouth fishing! Like I mentioned in last weeks newsletter, try a 3.3 Keitech. You’ll probably catch both smallies and perch. Trolling salmos has been really effective for the perch and I’d have a jerkbait and tube jig for the smallmouth.

Owyhee River: No report this week.

Owyhee Reservoir: A very good friend of mine and friend of the shop reported excellent bass fishing and crappie fishing this weekend. Try a skirted jig and a dark/black and white crankbait for the bass and I’d recommend the Bobby Garland Live Roam’r baits as well as the Pile Driver.

Duck valley: From the Tribal website:

Warmer weekend temperatures give way to a mid-week temperature drop and possible showers. Heavy overcast through most of the week, with moderate winds, making fishing waters choppy and casting challenging. Barometer pressures looking a bit low through the week. Mountain View activity has been steady at low to moderate, and Billy Shaw lake has been productive with the trophy-sized cutthroat favoring nymphs, elk hair caddis, or The Sheep Creek Special. Fishing response is expected to increase with the annual fall stocking of rainbow trout into Sheep Creek and Mountain View on October 5, 2023. Unfortunately, some anglers are finding areas in Sheep Creek a bit slow due to the presence of algae on the west end near the dam, all algae is expected to clear up with the seasonal temperature drop.

Lucky Peak Reservoir: 9% Full. No report this week.

Arrowrock Reservoir: 35% Full. Couple more kokanee caught this week that I know of - on Pink Hoochies and dodgers. Trout fishing has been decent - they are shallow.

Anderson Ranch: 84% Full. No report this week.

Local Ponds: I’ve seen a couple of really good bass this last week from the ponds. They have been hitting neds, jigs and senkos.

Shop News - Classes, ACC Crappie Rods and Custom Rod Update

• We had a great turn out to our jig tying class! I want to thank all those that attended. Congratulations to Glenn who caught a fish on a jig he tied the VERY next day! He also won a $25 gift card to the shop.

• WE ALMOST SOLD OUT! So I am reporting it again…New Rigging system that I am currently fishing and LOVE - In Stock Now!! See that in the New “What I Fish” Section

• We are completely re-stocked on Panther Martin and Blue Fox Trout Spinners!

• IDAHO ROD AND REEL “LINK” Rods and Signature Jerkbait Rod. This has been a hot topic at the shop as many of you want to ensure that you have your place in line to buy one. THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT! Providing products like these rods are fulfilling one of the missions of the shop which is to GET YOU ON FISH! These rods built with the components we built on, under a big brand name, would cost upwards of $250. They will be $119.99 to anyone that pre-orders and will run for $139.99 after that. WE PLAN ON HAVING THAT LINK LIVE THIS WEEK! Please watch our social media for updates.

• We are getting ready to launch the new website and point of sale system in the shop. Please bear with us as we work through the bugs!!

• DISCOUNT BINS!! We have tons of baits and rods that are marked down 50% to help me make room for new iCast products. These are NOT JUNK BINS! These are rods from Daiwa, Shimano, Lews and baits from 6th Sense, Zoom, Z Man, Yamamoto, Rapala, Netbaits and more.

• New ACC Crappie rods in stock

• Great Lakes Finesse Snack Craws and Drop Minnows are In STOCK and catching fish!

• I’d love to hear from you about products that you would like to see in the shop. Email me at [email protected]…one random suggestion just might end up winning you a prize

Worth Watching

For the Steelheaders!

Technically Speaking...

Jigs for BIG FALL BASSESSESSESSESS!

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

Steelhead Report

Current Trout Stocking

I did not know about this channel…

Adding a little split shot for crappie…

New in the Shop

Great Lakes Finesse Snack Craw

What I am Fishing Right Now

Many of you know that I love to finesse fish and I have helped several people catch fish with a Neko Rig. Traditionally, I have set this rig up pinning a Neko hook under a Wacky O-Ring that I have slid onto a Senko or other worm. My major complaint with this set up is that I go through a bunch of Senkos 😐️. I recently decided to try the VMC Crossover system to see if anything improved. For those that are unaware, the Crossover system is comprised of a wider band (as compared to an O-Ring) that has a small “bump” on it with holes to allow for wacky or Neko style hooking. I have paired with a #2 VMC Redline Neko hook. I have fished this system both recreationally and in 2 tournaments (Dworshak and CJ Strike) and I love it! I don’t feel like I am losing any fish because of it - in fact, I’d argue the opposite and I am 100% losing fewer senkos. I waited to bring the items into stock until I had fished them myself but they are on the walls and in stock now. I absolutely love this system. What I fish it on is listed below:

• 7’4” Daiwa Tatula Elite Rod, Medium, Fast

• Daiwa Tatula MQ LT, 3000 Spinning Reel

• Daiwa J-Braid Grand, Lt Gray, 15#

• Sunline Maborashi Leader, 10#, 10 to 11 cranks of the handle to determine how much I put on the reel (so yes, its a LONG leader)

Catch Spotlight

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

Glenn with a fish on his own jig that he tied at the Jig Tying class!!

Dean with a great smallie!

Colby with another big fish…seriously, another one. Leave some for the rest of us dude!

Oliver with a big cascade perch on the kayak!

Paul with a freaking GIANT!

Andrew with a SPOT!

All the fish Lance Pitcher caught this week