Hook Points - Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Water if still off color and algae is still present. That is not stopping the fish from biting though! Trout fisherman have done well trolling Flicker Shads and Salmo’s and it sounds like a few fish are being caught from the bank on powerbait and nightcrawlers. Crappie and perch are biting on small crankbaits, underspins and jigs. Reports have been that the really big crappie have been hard to find but there are plenty of smaller fish that are more than willing to bite your line. Bass fishing is great and fish are being caught on a variety of lures. I’d have a 3.3 Keitech, Spro RK Crawler crankbait, a Ned Rig and a big jig tied on. Sturgeon are biting on crappie and Ardcore bait is back in stock and catching fish.

Boise River: River has been a lot of fun lately and will continue to be productive on in to winter. I sound like a broken record but the Ultralight Heavyweights jigs are just catching so many fish. Their Mayfly jig under a float is just deadly…

Brownlee: Harmful Algae Bloom advisory in effect for Brownlee and Hells Canyon Reservoirs. Water levels are 2053 - down 3 feet from last week. Bass fishing is great right now and a bunch of baits will get the job done. For easy, stress free fishing - tough to beat a Ned rig. Throw the Z Man TRD Craw on the Idaho Rod and Reel EWG Ned. If you are targeting a bigger fish - throw a ¾oz jig and craw or consider a Carolina Rig with a fluke. Catfishing has been excellent between Woodhead and the Dam as well as between the Spring ramp and the trestles.

Swan Falls - Above the Dam: Fishing has been really good on most stretches of the Snake. All the loose grass in the water can make it tough to fish your bait cleanly so Texas Rigging could be the answer.

Swan Falls - Below the Dam: Curly tail grub! Keep it simple…

Wilson Springs: A few fish have been stocked and they are being caught. Water is getting cleaner but definitely some moss and grass to contend with. As it cools, this will get better and you’ll see the number of stock fish increased. I’d recommend a float set up to keep your baits off the bottom and out of the grass. You can see the fish swimming in some of the sandier areas - for those, throw Ultralight Heavyweights jigs on light line.

Lake Lowell: Good fishing and lots of baits have been working. Even seen some really big crappie being caught 😏. Texas rigged senkos, swim jigs, drop shots in open water and you can still flip back weed edges with a Trench Hawg or Reaction Innovations Man Bear Pig.

Lake Cascade: Perch are being caught fairly close to the banks - try trolling small cranks and jigs tipped with bait. Keitech 2.8’s are great baits that catch perch and bass! Bass fishing has been mostly good with a some days of “meh” fishing mixed in - for humility purposes I suppose 😄. Ned rigs, swimbaits and crankbaits are what I’d rig up.

Owyhee River: Fishing tougher on the colder windy days as the hatches are shorter. Jaret, an Idaho Rod and Reel ambassador reported success on small green and black zebra midges.

Owyhee Reservoir: Lots of crappie being caught between 15-25’. Bass fishing has been ok with Ned rigs, jigs and deep cranks.

Duck valley: No reports this week

Lucky Peak Reservoir: No report this week

Arrowrock Reservoir: Some decent numbers of trout being caught and saw pics of a few small kokanee. Trolling salmo’s, flicker shads and Kokabow dodgers has caught fish. Decent population of smallmouth here and a simple curly tail grub or Keitech will catch a few of them…and probably a pike minnow every now and then 🙄 

Anderson Ranch: Good reports for trout on the troll. Sent a customer out with Salmo’s last week - he sent back pictures…

Local Ponds: Fish stocking is starting to increase as the water temps are dropping to a level that is more conducive for trout survival. Keep an eye on the Fish and Game stocking reports. A link is always attached to this newsletter below.

Snake River - Catfishing: Hard to work around the grass but fish are being caught. If you can find areas with just a bit more current, you can often throw your bait behind rocks, pilings, etc. and find clean water. You can also seek out inside edges of river turns - the outside edge often gets the most grass pushed up against it,

Shop News - ARK Tharp Rod Sale, New Keitechs

• I was able to purchase several ARK Tharp series rods at a discount as they are this current years model and will be replaced by a new version. Take advantage of that! They are in stock and on sale for $90! These are regularly priced at $139. These are Japanese Toray, high modulus blanks with Fuij guides. SERIOUSLY GREAT RODS!! I am currently fishing the B-Hittay model which is a perfect chatterbait and medium to deep diving cranking rod. Only a few in stock!

• Idaho Rod and Reel Customs Tungsten Finesse Football Jigs are in stock! Available in 3 colors and 2 sizes - all designed to be effective on OUR LOCAL waters. THEY ARE CATCHING FISH LIKE CRAZY!

• Tungsten EWG NEDS BACK IN STOCK! This is easily one of the most asked for Idaho Rod and Reel Customs products in the shop. We ran out for a bit but we have tons in stock right now!

• Pre-Ordering for the Idaho Rod and Reel “Link” rods will be DELAYED just a bit longer as we are in the middle of switching website providers!!

• 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.

• Lots of NEW Keitech colors and styles in stock!

• 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

How to: Tip Top Replacement!

Technically Speaking...

One of the best videos on side imaging I have seen:

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

Easy way to find new fishing spots

Current Trout Stocking

Bookmark this!

Trolling for Perch!

New in the Shop

Idaho Rod and Reel Customs Tungsten Finesse Football Jigs

These are selling fast and catching a ton of fish!

This COLOR WILL WORK!! Keitech Electric Baby Bass

Catch Spotlight

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

GOT A BUNCH THIS WEEK! ENJOY!!

SCOTT!! Nice one buddy!

Taylor with a Beautiful Golden Smallmouth 😁 

Rebecca with a NEW 2.89# PB!

Braydens FIRST STURGEON! Congrats little man!!

Frank bass fishing, and NOT catching a catfish…just sounds weird 🤣 The striping on that fish is INCREDIBLE!