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Hook Points - Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Hook Points - Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

News, Tips, Tackle and More

Ryan Chris
July 10, 2023

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Trolling for crappie has been productive. Try small crankbaits and underspins. Bass fishing remains very steady for small to medium sized fish. The larger fish are being caught very early and late…Ned rigs, texas rigged beaver style baits like Reaction Innovations Smallie Beavers and Roboworms on drop shots have been doing really well. Sturgeon fishing has been fair both above and below the dam on cut bait.

Boise River: Ambassadors have reported some decent catches on the Boise for those that are willing to walk and explore. Water is down quite a bit. Try ultralight Heavyweights jigs, shrimp on a jig head under a float and small crankbaits and jerkbaits.

Brownlee: Reservoir is 5’ from full. Bass fishing remains very steady with bottom crawling baits performing the best. Try Ned rigs, drop shots and Carolina Rigs. The Z Man TRD Craw has been as close to a guarantee as you can get! Catfishing has been VERY GOOD on just about anything.

Swan Falls - Above the Dam: Same report as last week: Very consistent action. Look at dragging a tube later in the day and give the ol’ whopper plopper a try early and late! I might add: try swimming a 2.8 Keitech on an eighth ounce ball head up in the shallows….just trust me 😃!

Swan Falls - Below the Dam: Smallmouth fishing below the dam has been good. Try a swim jig for larger fish and drag a small tube for consistent all day action. Topwater early and late has caught a few.

Wilson Springs: Lots of weed growth can make the ponds a little tougher to fish in the summer. May need to try fishing from the top down with a float and worm to stay out of the junk!

Lake Lowell: Fishing has been good and reports are mixed as to where the fish are hiding. Plenty of fish were caught on the weed edges as well as in the trees - which means they are moving around. Try flipping smaller beaver style baits and throwing spinnerbaits along the weed edges and give a bait like a Deps Cover Scat a try back in the thick stuff. Frog fishing has been decent but not quite as crazy as we’d all like to see it. I would 100% have one rigged up though I might fish it in 10 minute bursts…

Lake Cascade: Bass were a little trickier to catch this week. Start looking for rocky points that extend out in to 20’+ water. Try a Carolina rigged fluke, a Ned rig and/or swim a 3.3 Perch colored Keitech on a ¼oz head. Trolling for perch has been productive with Perch colored deep diving crankbaits.

Owyhee River: Decent reports this week from the “O” for the fly guys. Good PMD hatches early and Caddis late as well as decent terrestrial fishing with Chernobyl ants and foam hoppers.

Owyhee Reservoir: Good numbers of smaller bass are being caught on chatterbaits, jigs, senkos and lipless cranks but the big ones remain elusive. Crappie fishing is still very consistent. Fish are in 20-30’ of water but customers are reporting schools in 15’ at times throughout the day as well. The Big Bite Baits Swimon has easily one of the top producing baits out there this year and is a top seller in the shop for crappie in general - especially on the Owyhee.

Duck valley: Same report as last week. Several customers confirmed my recommendation to pay attention to the weed edge. Fishing remains really good! From the banks, powerbait has been doing the work. Trolling has been effective along the dam and out on the weed edges. If you’re trolling, keep an eye on the weed edge and get a good route going wherein you can keep the lures just above the weed edges. You will SMASH them if you can!!

Lucky Peak Reservoir: Good reports for small to medium sized Kokanee and trout. Pink and Orange dodgers and baits remain the champs. Start your trolling early around 15’ but start experimenting down aroud 20-25’ if you aren’t having any luck. Early morning fishing has been best.

Arrowrock Reservoir: Same report as Lucky Peak. Lots of limits being caught here right now. It’s been hot outside! I expect these fish to keep diving deeper.

Anderson Ranch: Kokanee fishing remains fair but not everyone is catching their limit. The upside…1 Anderson Ranch kokanee can equal 2 kokanee from other areas 😃…bass fishing is good for catching smaller 1 - 1.5 pound fish with 2+ pounders being hard to come by. Ned rigs and drops shots are doing the damage here. The Reins Bubble Shaker created a 30+ fish day for one of our customers. None were big but they were thoroughly entertained!

Local Ponds: Same report as last week: Many of the ponds are starting to get pretty mossy but there are still fish to be caught. For those hunting some stocker trout - hit the fish stocking link below. For the bass guys…frogs!

Snake River - Catfishing: Catfishing has been really good. Fish are shallower and being caught on cut bait as well as chicken and kool aid.

Shop News - June IRR Customs Winner and July Contest, Sponsorship and New Products

The IRR Customs Monthly Contest for June was for a Daiwa Fuego Spinning Reel with a spool of Daiwa J Braid and a spool of Sunline Fluorocarbon. The WINNER IS….Stephen Kruckeburg! Come in any day this week to claim your prize!
For July, the IRR Customs Monthly Contest prize will be an Idaho Rod and Reel Custom Spinning Rod matched with Lews Speed Spool Spinning Reel!
New Reins Baits are in stock. Reins is a Japanese company whose products I have been fishing for a few years after a business partner of mine from South Korea introduced me to them. You need to see these and I KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, just how effective these baits are.
Idaho Rod and Reel is happy to be a contributing sponsor to the upcoming Willy’s Youth Tournament put on by the Idaho Bass Masters at CJ Strike! TAKE A KIDDO WITH YOU! It’s more than just lip service with us.
I want to introduce you to new Idaho Rod and Reel Employee Michael Valenzuela! Michael is a very experienced angler both in salt and freshwater. He might be one of the nicest dudes I have ever met and I know that he will do his absolute best to make sure you are taken care of to Idaho Rod and Reel standards. See his picture below. I love this guy…I think you will too.

Worth Watching

This is one of my guilty pleasures…I’m so ashamed 🫣

Technically Speaking...

How to Flip and pitch:

Local and National Fishing News

Summer Chinook!

What's happening with Wild Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon from Lower Granite Dam?

An intact adipose fin and the angler must release their catch, often leaving them wondering about the iconic fish they just released. Where did it come from? How old is it? How many are there? Answers to many questions about wild salmon in Idaho lie in the data collected by IDFG and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) staff at Lower Granite Dam located about 40 miles downstream of the Washington/Idaho border.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/whats-happening-wild-springsummer-chinook-salmon-lower-granite-dam

Big Lost River near Arco stocked with 2,000 rainbow trout

Due to a high-water year, Idaho Fish and Game was able to stock 2,000 catchable rainbow trout in the lower section of the Big Lost River near the city of Arco on June 29.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/big-lost-river-near-arco-stocked-2000-rainbow-trout

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

Summer Trout!