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Hook Points - Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Hook Points - Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

News, Tips, Tackle and More

Ryan Chris
August 29, 2023

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Bass fishing is really good right now. Mixed reports on size…some folks catching good ones - others smaller fish - but plenty of them. Fish are spread out and you will find some deep and some shallow. That’s typical as the days start to shorten and the fish get ready to fatten up for fall and winter. Ned rigs, drop shots, 3.3 Keitech’s and some reports of fish on jerkbaits…if you know me, you know how happy I am to hear that 😀! Catfishing has been awesome on cut bait and chicken. Good reports for sturgeon below the dam.

Boise River: Good trout fishing on the river. An Idaho Rod and Reel Ambassador had a phenomenal day with a float, a split shot and an Ultralight Heavyweights mini jig - 1/32oz Black Blue Flake.

Brownlee: Harmful Algae Bloom advisory in effect for Brownlee and Hells Canyon Reservoirs. Water levels are 2059 - up 3 feet from last week. Bass fishing and catfishing are both really good. The usual suspects are working for the bass like the drop shot and ned rig but I would not be shy at all to throw a deeper diving crankbait. Catfishing has been really consistent - cut baits, chicken and even night crawlers with procure scents on them will get it done.

Swan Falls - Above the Dam: The road down to the dam was damaged from a storm - it is open but the website is saying that it is possible to run in to delays. Fishing on the Snake for bass has been really consistent. Keeping it simple with a Ned rigged Z Man Baby Goat or a Reins 3” Ring Craw will catch a bunch. AAAANNNNNDDDD….I’d have a whopper plopper for sure.

Swan Falls - Below the Dam: No report this week but I’d expect it to be similar to the report above the dam. There’s a bit more current in some of this water below the dam - I love throwing the old school 5” curly tail grub….

Wilson Springs: No report

Lake Lowell: Fishing well. Grab a ¾ or 1oz Tungsten flipping weight and your favorite creature bait and get in the weeds! Take a look at the Idaho Rod and Reel brand tungsten flipping weights…nobody beats our Tugnsten price and these weights are CLEAN looking. Available in chip resistant green pumpkin.

Lake Cascade: Fishing has been really consistent in Cascade. Guys reported several fish caught up until the big storm hit on Saturday night. As the weather cools and the days get shorter - this place will only get better. For the bass, look at a drop shot, ned rig, tube jig and deep diving crankbait. For the perch, small crappie jigs tipped with a little night crawler will get it done when you’re on the schools.

Owyhee River: The river will fish really well for the next few months. Caddis in the evening but BWO’s will do the majority of the work right now. I’d still throw a hopper…

Owyhee Reservoir: I fished here Saturday in a Bass tournament and good fish were caught. Still fishing tough but I feel like the fall is going to be decent up there. There will be a lot that disagree with that but we caught good numbers of decent fish. Drop shots, senkos and crawfish baits caught fish. The crappie are all over the place…every main lake point we looked at had fish on them.

Duck valley: Idaho Rod and Reel Ambassador Brian Callahan visited this last week and said the water is low and weedy and tough to fish if you are trolling. I reached out to my Reservation contact and have not heard back from him as to the best way to fish right now. Another ambassador had his fly rod on Mountain View on Sunday and caught some good fish from his float tube using leech patterns.

Lucky Peak Reservoir: No report this week

Arrowrock Reservoir: One Idaho Rod and Reel ambassador fished here last week and caught several small rainbows trolling Kokabow dodgers and lures - trolling close to the dam.

Anderson Ranch: No report

Local Ponds: Tough to fish in most cases because of the lack of open water but if you are pond hopping – that’s exactly what you are looking for – open water with an accessible weed edge would be a great place to launch your baits. Trout stocking will start to pick up as the weather cools.

Snake River - Catfishing: Fishing has been really good but gotta find clean water. From the banks you’ll be fighting a lot of drifting grass matts. A good customer of the shop recommends that you pay attention to the current and see where all the matts are being pulled and find a casting route that keeps you away from them. He said that he is seeing so many guys casting right into places that are clear for a minute - but then covered the next.

Shop News - Holiday Hours, In Stock, Sale Bins and Classes

JIG TYING CLASS HAS BEEN POSTPONED! Several interested folks have asked if I could move this class into September as this week and next are back to school for most. I will announce a new time very soon!
Idaho Rod and Reel Customs Tungsten Flipping Weights are IN STOCK now and the prices are awesome! Available in ¾ and 1oz - perfect for pulling fish out of the weeds at Lowell!
Idaho Rod and Reel will be CLOSED on Sept. 4th.
Pre-Ordering for the Idaho Rod and Reel “Link” rods will be available on our website within the week! Available models include a 7’1” MH and M Baitcaster designed to be a multi-purpose work horse. There will also be a 7’ M Power spinning rod and a limited edition jerkbait rod built the way I like them…and I LOVE FISHING JERKBAITS!!
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.

Worth Watching

YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS ABOUT CRAWFISH AND CRAWFISH BAITS!!

Technically Speaking...

Simple crappie rig tweak…

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

You need to PUT THIS IN YOUR MOUTH!! " 😂😂🤣🤣

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

Smallmouth Bonanza!

Walters wins it all on the St. Lawrence - Bassmaster

CLAYTON, N.Y. — Safe to say, Patrick Walters now loves northern smallmouth bass. Overcoming what he had previously considered one of his few limitations, the fifth-year pro from Summerville, S.C., caught the...

www.bassmaster.com/elite/news/walters-wins-it-all-on-the-st-lawrence