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Hook Points, Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Hook Points, Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

News, Tips, Tackle and More

Ryan Chris
June 04, 2024

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Steady fishing has been the most common report from CJ. You’ll find crappie in 5-15’ of water and located relatively close to the banks. One customer caught several from the bank by Cottonwood. It won’t be too long before these fish start to move out to deeper water - we have close to 100 degree days coming up - summer tactics soon. Smallmouth have been on the smaller 1-2 pound size for most but willing to bite tubes, Neds and Keitechs. A Texas rigged Smallie Beaver is never a bad idea as well. Sturgeon fishing has been really good both above and below the dam. Some decent reports for trout below the dam from anglers throwing Keitechs for bass 😆!

Boise River: Flows are up a bit this week but fish are being caught. Water clarity is pretty good and Dynamic Lures HD Trout and similar baits fished close to the bank are a good choice. If you haven’t tried drop shotting in the river - you should. Small Berkly Gulp Minnows are a great place to start!

Wave Cam — Boise Whitewater Park

www.boisewhitewaterpark.com/waveshaper-cam

Brownlee: Darn near full at 2073. Fishing is really good at Brownlee - biggest complaint being that the bass are a bit small. These fish are moving around and are going to start thinking about getting into their summer routines here pretty soon. Just means you might need to start moving around more and even try fishing just a bit deeper. Tubes, Neds, curly tail grubs and swimbaits are all good options. Throw on a football jig and see if the bites get a little bigger. Crappie have moved off the banks a bit and starting to spread out but are still relatively easy to find and catch. From the banks, gonna need to throw baits that let you cover water…for me, that’s a Road Runner, Beetle Spin or 2.8 Keitech on an eighth ounce ball head jig. From the boat, using your electronics is key - I don’t fish for ‘em until I can see ‘em on my sonar! If you need a little help with that, come and talk to me and I can provide some tips.

Snake River: Flows still coming down and water clarity is good. Bass are biting and so are the catfish. For the cats, try cut baits and fish areas that have “character”. This can be deep pools next to current turns, downed logs, sand bars in eddies, etc. For the bass, I’d rig up a topwater popper, a Tungsten Finesse Jig (without question, nothing has caught more bass on the river than this bait…), a Keitech and a Great Lakes Finesse Juvy Craw.

Wilson Springs: Heavily stocked to get ready for Free Fishing Day.

Lake Lowell: Lots of fish being caught on the lake. I’d have a frog, a swim jig, Reaction Innovations Man Bear Pig and a weightless Senko rigged and ready to go. The fish are spread out and moving around so the hot location can be different day to day. A good strategy is to start a little deeper and work the different structure at that depth. Move in a few feet and repeat…

Cascade Reservoir: Perch fishing was a bit tougher this week. Best reports have been from mid lake but I personally have had great success around the rock piles on the south end. Trolling for them has also been effective. The folks catching the better ones have been trolling deeper with Shad Raps on down riggers or with trolling weights. Bass fishing has been decent for smaller fish and a bit tougher for bigger ones. Spend a bit of time on shallower sloping banks and dragging a tube or ned is not a bad idea for the smallmouth. For largemouth, spend your time up north with Senkos and spinnerbaits. If it looks like largemouth water - it probably is 😃 !

Horsethief Reservoir: Fishing really well with both bait and lures. One customer caught several fish walking the banks and throwing the Lucky Craft Pointer 65’s. If you haven’t seen those before or know what they are - come talk to me and we will get you squared away.

Owyhee Reservoir: Good fishing right now for bass and crappie. For the bass, I’d have a topwater, a spinnerbait and a jig. For the crappie, look closer to the banks and re-read the Brownlee report 🤣 !

Owyhee River: Water is up and down a bit but fishing is good! If it were me, and you told me I had to leave my fly rod at home, I’d be throwing small jerkbaits and cranks.

Duck valley: From the Reservation Website:

May 8, 2024-Fishing activity has been incredible in the valley with the latest restocking of trophy-sized rainbow trout into all three reservoirs. Weather has been moderate

The Billy Shaw reservoir has been doing exceptionally well, where recently, a local angler netted a trophy-sized rainbow that had been living in Billy Shaw for the past eight years (see picture below).

The Mountain View trout activity is high, with bright neon green colors seeming to attract the most action.

Sheep Creek is doing well, trout activity is high with the recent trout restocking of the reservoir. Water clarity a bit hazy due to the recent spring runoff.

Lucky Peak Reservoir: Not a lot of reports from LP this last week but the few I received were that it fished either tough or difficult 😆! My guess is that the fish are starting to move down a bit and might be just out of reach for the guys just long lining.

Arrowrock Reservoir: Reports from Arrowrock have been ok. My good friend and Kokabow Ambassador Chris Zaccato mentioned that the fish have been good sized and that fishing has been best EARLY - like before 6am early. Fish are still relatively shallow but going to have to start fishing deeper for them after the early morning bite.

Anderson Ranch: Good fishing for Kokes and bass reported from Anderson and seems to be the more consistent of the lakes right now. Bass have been on topwater poppers, tubes and small drop shot baits like the X-Zone Hot Shot Minnows. Kokanee have been on top early and moving deeper as the water warms. Pinks have been the number one color that I keep hearing about.

Local Ponds: Trout bites on the ponds have been good. Free fishing day is Saturday so lots of our suburban ponds are loaded right now. That’s a good thing for guys that like to throw big baits for big bass…I’ll leave it at that 😉

Shop News - Summer Bass Fishing Class, Free Fishing Day, What’s a Trixie Shark?, and Customer Appreciation Month

I want to be clear about how grateful I am to you and to this community for supporting Idaho Rod and Reel. It’s humbling to say the least and we feel a huge responsibility to keep growing, challenging what a local tackle shop can be and do and to keep providing value and information that the big guys just can’t. June will be customer appreciation MONTH - watch our social media for fun activities, sales and events!
Summer sun and post spawn are coming!! Summer Bass Fishing Tactics - Class will be held in the Idaho Rod and Reel Learning Center on Saturday, June 8th from 10am to Noon. This class will be taught by former FLW Professional Bass Angler Cody Murray. Sign up at idahorodandreel.com - click on the “Classes” tab, add to cart and checkout!
CRAPPIE and TROUT fishers…custom rods built just for you coming SOOONN!!!
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!!
FREE FISHING DAY IS SATURDAY JUNE 8!!
Rods…something very cool is coming 😉
Check out our social media this week for 5 ways to modify and fish one of my favorite baits - the Reaction Innovations Man Bear Pig!
Reaction Innovations Trixie Sharks in Stock Now! AND SHIVER GLIDES! Images 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

Google it!

Technically Speaking...

Drop Shot for Bass

Drop Shot for Trout!

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

Go Catch ‘EM!

Great fishing awaits anglers in June as F&G trout stocking reaches its annual peak

Between May and June, Fish and Game stocks about 685,000 catchable trout in Idaho waters. Those are the two biggest stocking months because Fish and Game hatchery crews want there to be plenty of fish for anglers to catch throughout the state and it tends to be some of the best fishing conditions of the year.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/great-fishing-awaits-anglers-june-fg-trout-stocking-reaches-its-annual-peak

Casting Spinning Reels

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

How to make that frog walk!

Salmon Reports

Spring Chinook Salmon Fishing Update 5/28/2024: Rapid River Run, Hells Canyon, and Clearwater River Fisheries

idfg.idaho.gov/article/spring-chinook-salmon-fishing-update-5282024-rapid-river-run-hells-canyon-and-clearwater

Lower Salmon River from Rice Creek Bridge to Time Zone Bridge Closes to Chinook Salmon Fishing

idfg.idaho.gov/article/lower-salmon-river-rice-creek-bridge-time-zone-bridge-closes-chinook-salmon-fishing

Down Imaging for Crappie!

Free Fishing Day!

Catch the Fun on Free Fishing Day June 8

Saturday, June 8 is Idaho’s Free Fishing Day and Idaho Fish and Game invites anglers, residents and nonresidents, to celebrate the day by fishing without a license. Learn the joys of fishing at two local events: Salmon - Kids Creek Pond, 10 a.m. to noon and Stanley - Sawtooth Kids Pond, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/catch-fun-free-fishing-day-june-8