Hook Points - Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Crappie and perch fishing has been fair to great depending on the day that you go…watch for the wind! Sunny days with mild winds have been best. Look for crappie in 20-25’ of water and for perch on the bottom in 30-35’ underneath them. I will have some hand tied feather jigs in the shop this week - tied by me. I’ll announce it on social media - they will move quickly! The guys that have fished these jigs, know how effective they are!! The bass have been a little slow but catchable for sure. Blade baits, neds and Keitechs fished along the bottom will get you bit. This is finesse fishing…keep it on the bottom and move them slowly. Up in the river you might find warmer water temps and can get a few to react to a jerkbait or two…

Boise River: Good fish are being caught consistently. This is a great option to fish right now. Look for pools at the back end of runs or fish the seams between currents. If you are new to river fishing - look for areas that look like the current is going “upstream” as these are eddies and can hold tons of fish. Carolina rig with a nightcrawler, drifting jigs under floats and beads/eggs can catch fish regularly in this river. If big brown hunting, crankbaits and jerkbaits can catch larger fish!

Brownlee: Water levels are at 2064. I fished here recently and found water as cold as 33 degrees. Around 36-38 degree water I started marking crappie in 20-25’. Bass were catchable but tough. However, they were good sized fish. I’d be looking for 30-40’ deep water next to shallower flats and trying to target sunnier days if possible. Light just helps things in the winter so much!! I think a good suggestion would be smaller profile minnow style baits that you can fish slowly. So a baitfish colored ned (over a green pumpkin orange or craw color), a paddletail, curly tail grub, etc.

Snake River: River is fishing ok for bass. Gotta find deeper sections outside of the main currents. Look at a Keitech, a drop shot and a Ned to be effective. On sunnier days - I’d give a jerkbait a try but it’s not necessarily the technique I would sell out on.

Wilson Springs: A really good customer rigged up 2 rods and caught several trout here last week on a single salmon egg on a red mosquito hook. He said that the fish that wouldn’t hit those would hit a Ultralight Heavyweights jig that was set up on his other rod! I love this strategy…

Lake Lowell: No report this week.

Lake Cascade: Best bet right now is to pay attention to the Facebook groups dedicated to ice fishing Cascade and to check in with Tackle Toms for ice conditions. There have been days with ice thinning and pulling away from the bank - sounds like that might not be the case at the moment but I wouldn’t be planning any trips up there without contacting the local shops. Fishing has been very steady and great fish are being caught. Sure feels like it’s going to be a short hard water season - so get up there asap!

Owyhee River: No report this week.

Owyhee Reservoir: No report this week.

Duck valley: From the Tribal Website: (FYI - SAME REPORT AS LAST WEEK)

January 29, 2024 – Heavy, wet snow and muddy roads throughout the valley.  Both reservoirs are iced over, thicker ice along shorelines and shallows, with thinner ice covering the deeper depths towards the center of the reservoirs.  Warmer daily temperatures have caused some watershed accumulation on top of the ice in various areas at each reservoir, and floating ice, as some ice has detached from shorelines. 

Ice thickness measurements taken January 26, 2024, at a distance of a hundred feet from the shoreline of the main boating dock, indicate Mountain View ice depths at five inches, and at distances of 250 feet from the main dock is registering at four and a half inches.  Ice forming over middle deeper water is remarkably thinner at four and three-quarters of an inch 50 feet out, and thin along the edges.   The west dam area, and eastern shallows are around six to seven inches thick at 100 feet from the shore. 

Lucky Peak Reservoir: Lucky Peak has been a real steady performer this winter. Orange and pink Kokabow dodgers and lures have been doing a lot of good work! You’re going to find fish on your electronics that are distributed as deep as 50’. The trick is finding the level that has the FEEDING fish - not the “just hanging out” fish. For me - I’m going to start long lining at 12-15’ early in the morning and then start working my way down the water column if those won’t eat. I think your feeders will be between 15-30’ based on what I am hearing. This next piece of advice is purely anecdotal and I have no scientific reason for this - but in my experience, if I’m catching a bunch of rainbows - the kokes aren’t there. I’ve heard other kokanee guys say that as well. For what its worth 😃 

Arrowrock Reservoir: Good fishing at Arrowrock and I’d do the same thing here as I would at LP. The road is bad bad bad…be careful, go slowly and tie down your stuff!! Customer told me they shook a few rods off the deck of the boat…

Anderson Ranch: No report and while I am curious as to how the ramps are with the warm weather we have had - I would feel bad sending anyone up there just to find out they couldn’t even launch. If you know what conditions are like up there, please reach out!

Local Ponds: No reports.

Shop News - Hey Trout Fishers!!, Youth Program Announcement, Kokanee Class #2, Link Rods Going Fast

• The Kokabow Kokanee class on Feb. 17th from 10am to Noon, sold out in 3 DAYS! Alan with Kokabow has agreed to teach a SECOND CLASS from 2-4pm that SAME DAY! Please keep your eyes on our social media pages for announcements regarding open registration for that SECOND CLASS.

• Trout Class put on by Jordan Rodriguez and Tight Lines 208! Join him for a great class at the Idaho Rod and Reel Learning Center on February 15, from 6pm to 8:30pm. Cost is $50 and includes a Trout Fishing Started Kit. Please sign up online at www.tightlines208.com.

• The Idaho Rod and Reel link rods are selling quickly. I made these rods to get tournament quality equipment in as many hands as I possiby could - at an affordable price. 

• We will be announcing TWO Youth Programs this week. 1 for kids 7 to 11 and another for 12-17 year olds! I am SOOO excited about this! Please keep an eye on our social media platforms for the announcement!

• CHANGES COMING!! The goal of the shop this year is to make this the best year of fishing that YOU have ever had…Just wait to see what we have planned!

• Hey Trout Fishers!! The trout area is an area of the shop that we would really like to improve. If you have bait suggestions, I would LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! [email protected] MIGHT BE A SURPRISE GIFT CARD OR TWO HANDED OUT RANDOMLY FOR SUGGESTIONS!!

• Some great new crankbaits are in the shop - getting ready for March!

• idahorodandreel.com is LIVE and can be used to purchase products. More are being added daily! Items can be set aside for local pick up, shipped free with purchase of $75 or more or UPS and USPS shipping.

• 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

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Crappie and Trout! VMC Boot Tail Spinnerbaits in Stock!

Catch Spotlight

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Frank on his way to achieving his goal of catching a bass every month this year.

I am predicting a delicious meal in Scott’s future…

I love smallies!