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Hook Points - Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Hook Points - Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

News, Tips, Tackle and More

Ryan Chris
July 29, 2024

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Despite the crazy temps, fishing at CJ has been really good - though maybe not all day long. Expect a lull in the afternoon but early morning and into the evenings has been excellent for most species. For the largemouth bass, take a look in any Tule patch that reaches out 5+ feet out into the main lake for the largemouth - try flipping a speed craw or Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver. For the smallies, you can find them both shallow and deep. For the shallower fish, try a weightless fluke or a tube with a 1/8oz head in it. That shallow bite might not be an all day thing…For the deeper fishing, the new Missile Baits Micro D Bomb has already caught several fish on the back of an Idaho Rod and Reel Tungsten Finesse jig. Other really good options include your favorite creature bait on a Carolina rig, a roboworm on a drop shot and I’d have a Crush City NED BLT on a 1/4oz BKK Ned Head - it has the best hook in the business and if you’re casting long distances and hooking fish in 25+ feet of water - you’re kidding yourself if you don’t think the hook matters. Ambassador Jeremy was catching bass everywhere…as in they were spread out. He had more success with darker colors early. Crappie have been spread out and suspended. Most reports are in 15-25’ suspended over 30’. That makes them tough but not impossible from the bank - just going to have to cover water. For that, I’d throw a small Keitech on an 1/8oz head to allow me to cast further and cover more water. A small underspin or bladed crappie bait is not a bad idea at all. If you’re in a boat, use your electronics and start figure 8ing around the narrows and where they open up into the Bruneau and see what you can find. Trolling is never a bad idea. No report or Sturgeon but as warm as that water is, probably best to target them in the river and leave the main body fish alone until it cools off.

Boise River: The new Dynamic Lures BA Special is a limited edition bait - and it’s catching already! They can be fished deeper by simply adding a small Suspendot. Spinners, flies and jerkbaits are working. The river is a great place to fish right now!

Brownlee: 16’ from full at 2061’- slowly dropping. It has been very smoky - especially on the upper ends of the reservoir - people launching at Woodhead mostly. There is a big fire in Oxbow right now so Woodhead might be a wild card here soon. Fishing has been excellent for most - not necessarily for giants but decent fish. Look for bass on steeper bluffs and rocky banks next to sandy or smaller chunk rock flats. Try an X-Zone Hot Shot Minnow on a drop shot, a Z Man TRD Craw on a 2/0 Idaho Rod and Reel Tungsten EWG Ned head (a great snag-less option), a Finesse Jig with a Micro D-Bomb trailer and a Carolina rigged fluke. Crappie are spread out but not impossible to find and there have been some really nice fish caught. One of the best reports for crappie came from a bass angler that caught several 12-14” crappie on a Keitech 3.3 on a 1/4oz ball head - much larger than what most crappie anglers are throwing - in the same areas that he was fishing for bass. I have had the same experience with crappie - I CONSISTENTLY catch them on the 3” and bigger baits and they are usually really good sized! Brownlee summer crappie can be a little tricky to find at first but they are very predictable - meaning, I catch them in the summer in the same places I have caught them for years. Current, shade, cover and access to deeper, cooler water is the deal for most species right now. Catfishing has been excellent and I have seed quite a few flatheads caught recently. Flatheads love to hunt so if you’re targeting them, they like their bait moving. Big crankbaits and minnow style baits work really well - as do nightcrawlers - something moving is key!

Snake River: If you haven’t caught a bass on topwater - get to the river and throw an Ark Z Pop in the Bone or Chartreuse Shad colors! Jigs, drop shots and ned rigs are gonna get bit as well but tough to beat a good topwater bite and there are plenty to be had on the river. Catfishing has been tough due to the heat and an increased amount of grass and grass mats - spend time around traing tressels, deeper back eddies and around boulders (current breaks essentially) in deeper water.

Wilson Springs: No report.

Lake Lowell: Folks are catching at Lake Lowell right now. Frog bit has been spotty but really good when on. No way I’d be here without one. The Zoom trick worm is another great option in and around the more sparse weeds. A chatterbait on the edges can be awesome right now! White and chartreuse or Bluegill patterns in 1/2oz with a Yamamoto Zako, Spunk Shad or a Big Bite Baits Kamikaze Swimon are great choices. If your favorite creature bait hasn’t been catching like you want - try flipping a tube. Its a bit more subtle and they get thrown less. Idaho Rod and Reel Ambassador Jeremy caught a 24” Tiger Muskie! First one I have seen over 10”…

Cascade Reservoir: Bass fishing has been decent around rocky points, docks and at the ends of sandy points. Carolina rigged Flukes, deeper diving crankbaits, 3.8 Keitechs in green pumpkin or perch colors (hint: dye the tail of the green pumpkin chartreuse) on 1/4oz ball heads and roboworms on a drop shot can be really productive. Don’t forget to look shallow! Perch are all over the place making trolling your best bet to catch them. Rocky points and areas with boulders have been really good - some of the areas around Sugarloaf fit the bill but plenty of structure south of there as well. I have not heard anything about the trout fishing.

Horsethief Reservoir: No report this week.

Owyhee Reservoir: Crappie fishing at the O took a bit of a lull for a few weeks but has picked back up a bit for those willing to spend a bit of time on their electronics looking around. Summer crappie spread out and move around a bit. Look in 15-25’ for larger fish. Not uncommon to find the smallest fish in the school up shallow and close to the bank. If you are catching smaller ones, move out just a bit and try to get a little deeper by throwing a slightly larger and heavier bait. Tough to beat a curly tail grub or a Keitech Easy Shiner in the 2 or 3” size on an eighth ounce head. Bass fishing has been good. Largies have been caught on deep cranks, chatterbaits and senkos. Don’t ignore the bluff walls in the summer. As the temps rise throughout the day, seems like the smallmouth bite picks up. Carolina rigs, drop shots and a Ned are good options for the smallies. Lots of smoke in the area and I have videos shot by my good friend Sam of fires right on the banks.

Owyhee River: Fishing on the Owyhee during the summer is one of my favorite things to do - I love throwing hoppers on the fly rod! The smoke in the area has made it a little ugly out there but fish will still bite. Small minnow jerkbaits, larger Blue Fox spinners in the deeper holes and crappie jigs up by the dam are really good options for right now.

Duck valley: No Report

Lucky Peak Reservoir: BEING DRAWN DOWN FOR RAMP REPAIRS. Take a look at this link for updates!

Lucky Peak Dam and Lake - WallaWallaUSACE | Boise ID

Lucky Peak Dam and Lake - WallaWallaUSACE, Boise, Idaho. 3,635 likes · 640 talking about this · 1,128 were here. Striving to deliver operational excellence in flood risk management, responsible...

www.facebook.com/LuckyPeakLake

Arrowrock Reservoir: Kokanee reports are still coming in but they are fewer for sure. Hearing about fish being caught as deep as 60’ - careful! If you don’t know Arrowrock well you can lose a downrigger ball or two, especially as you play around the South Fork. Black and pink seem to be the most consistent producers. I’m not hearing about a lot of limits being caught but most are still picking up a few. Sounds like most of the Kokes are turning red. Bass fishing is really good right now - expect smaller fish but a ton of them. They’ll take a topwater popper and crankbaits all day long!

Anderson Ranch Reservoir: Same report as Arrowrock for the Kokanee. Bass fishing has been decent but they have been smaller fish. That being said, I have seen a couple decent fish caught deep on Carolina rigs around creek mouths.

Local Ponds: Couple decent reports from a few buddies that caught some pond bass from their kayaks fishing long 8-10” worms slowly!

Shop News - KIDS EVENT!, Ladies ONLY Class, Round 2!, New Baits, Catching Your PB Bass Class, Missile Baits/Idaho Rod and Reel Colab, Memorial Tourney

FOR THE KIDDOS! Wednesday, July 31st, we will have a table set up in the shop filled with things for kids to make their own baits! For kids 0 to 17 years old! Kids take 10% off any rod or reel as well. Show up anytime between 10am and 6pm! NO COST!
EXCITED to be offering in the next few weeks a class specific to catching your PERSONAL BEST bass. Fall is coming and it is a really great time to target big fish. Former FLW professional Cody Murray has guided MANY people to their best fish - he’s going to be here to help you find yours! Please pay attention to our social media as we will be surveying to see what days work best to get the most people involved as possible. WE WILL BE GIVING AWAY THE LAST KNOWN IDAHO ROD AND REEL LINK, MH CASTING RODS! All you gotta do is attend!
LADIES! Let’s do it again!! Join us Wednesday, August 7th for ROUND 2 of the Fishing Fundamentals Class! Class will start at 6:30pm and go until 8:30pm. Food, drinks, fishing and fellowship! Registration will be live at idahorodandreel.com SOON! If you were unable to attend the first class - NO WORRIES! YOU CAN STILL ATTEND!!
The Idaho Bass Masters will be holding a Memorial and Fundraising bass tournament on August 17th. All fees will go to the family of our good friend John Jenkins who just passed away. Idaho Rod and Reel will provide a raffle ticket for the LAST Signature Series Jerkbait Rod to anyone that signs up and fishes the tournament. Registration can be done at Idaho Rod and Reel.
Idaho Rod and Reel and Missile Baits will be joining forces to product a limited edition, exclusive Micro D Bomb color! It will perfectly match a BRAND NEW Tungsten Finesse Jig design. BOTH COMING SOON!
Lots of new products in the shop and coming! Take a look at the new Rod Glove covers for forward facing sonar transducers, Missile Baits Micro D Bomb (caught fish in less than a day from being delivered to the shop!!), Lunker City Karate Craw, Great lakes Drop Worms (arriving this week), Plano Edge Tackle Organizers, Mepps and Panther Martin Spinners and a ton more
WE ARE ALMOST SOLD OUT OF IDAHO ROD AND REEL TUNGSTEN FINESSE JIGS!! NEW SHIPMENT ARRIVING IN 2-3 WEEKS SO IF YOU NEED A FEW MORE OR WANT TO TRY THEM, GET EM QUICK!
CUSTOM COLOR SOFTBAITS ONLY AVAILABLE AT IDAHO ROD AND REEL FROM MAJOR MANUFACTURERS COMING SOON!
Jordan Rodriguez from Tight Lines 208 will be teaching his “Catfish are Jumping” class here at the Idaho Rod and Reel Learning Center on August 22, from 6-8pm. Sign up at tightlines208.com. PEOPLE ARE LOVING THESE CLASSES AND CATCHING MORE FISH BECAUSE OF THEM!!
MASSIVE Trout Lure Restocking!
CRAPPIE and TROUT fishers…custom rods built just for you coming SOOONN!!!
New Daiwa Kage Rods are FLYING out of the shop! These things are absolutely on fire! Just beautiful rods! Come take a look for yourself.
Custom Rods…something very cool is coming 😉
Bait and equipment reviews coming…along with some How To’s….
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

Fun Watch!

Technically Speaking...

Why Tungsten? Nobody beats Idaho Rod and Reel Tungsten Prices…

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

Hot Water!

Perspective: Trout fishing during low water and high temperatures

Summer of 2024 is shaping up to be one of the hottest on record, so we are reposting this article from 2022 because it relevant to what many anglers are experiencing this year. This research was completed several years ago, but the conclusions are still applicable today. Higher stream temperatures have become more common in recent years, leading anglers to ask two common questions. First, is catch-and-release fishing actually causing harm to trout populations by fishing on summer days when water temperatures get warm? Secondly, should Fish and Game use “hoot owl” fishing closures to prohibit even catch-and-release fishing when water temperatures get too warm? Read about how Idaho Fish and Game biologists performed a study last summer to help answer those questions.

idfg.idaho.gov/blog/2022/06/some-perspective-trout-fishing-during-low-water-and-high-temperatures

What’s going on?!

Hundreds of dead fish discovered in American Falls Reservoir

During the summer, the cold bottom layer of a large water body contains low levels of dissolved oxygen, and if there is a sudden turnover of the water layers-- like from a wind storm-- that can be deadly for fish.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/hundreds-dead-fish-discovered-american-falls-reservoir

Lucky Peak Boat Ramp Repair Coming Soon!

U.S Army Corps of Engineers lowering Lucky Peak water levels

During the fourth week of July, crews will lower the lake 125 feet for the September Turner Gulch Ramp project, boating season will shorten by several weeks.

www.ktvb.com/video/news/local/us-army-corps-of-engineers-lowering-lucky-peak-water-levels/277-c5ad5936-6814-4876-8307-dc35122cf70e

Bait Making!

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

Double Jig Rig for Crappie

Salmon Reports

Salmon Fishing - What’s Open, What’s Closed?

North Fork Clearwater River closes for Chinook fishing July 16

Fishing for Chinook salmon on the North Fork Clearwater River closed Tuesday, July 16 after harvest quotas were met. This closure is from the mouth of the North Fork Clearwater River upstream to Dworshak Dam.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/north-fork-clearwater-river-closes-chinook-fishing-july-16