Hook Points
Posts
Hook Points - Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Hook Points - Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

News, Tips, Tackle and More

Ryan Chris
September 25, 2023

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Lots of fish are being caught at CJ right now. Bass fishing has been very consistent and some good sized fish are showing up again. Sounds like several fisherman have been fishing shallow expecting the big fish to have moved up but with mixed results. Check the next shallowest staging spot if you aren’t finding them up on the banks just yet. Trolling for perch and crappie has been decent. If you are casting to them with lures - tip your bait with power balls or crappie nibbles.

Boise River: Good fishing up closer to Boise. If you are struggling to catch them or not sure where to start fishing - look at the bridges. Fish are active and moving right now - think about that with your lure selection…give them something they can chase and see what happens.

Brownlee: Harmful Algae Bloom advisory in effect for Brownlee and Hells Canyon Reservoirs. Water levels are 2051.5 - down 1.5 feet from last week. Good catfishing reports around the sandy areas with chicken and kool aid. Lots of reports from the bass guys catching them as well on bass baits - so they are hungry and moving around. Good crawfish bite for the bass. Jigs, carolina rigs and neds will get bit! Crappie remain elusive but BIG if you can find them. I’d troll the mouths of the coves that have creeks running in to them and see what I see…

Snake River: Throw a tube and a swimbait on the river. Idaho Rod and Reel Ambassador Justin caught them on those baits this week as well as a jerkbait. If I had 18 thumbs, they’d all be up!! Love me some jerkbait fishin’!

Wilson Springs: Decent fishing has been reported. Nightcrawlers and ultralight heavyweight jigs…

Lake Lowell: Bass have been biting and Idaho Rod and Reel Ambassador Damon has been having great success from the bank. Swim jigs, flukes and chatterbaits can catch them right now.

Lake Cascade: Good perch bite going on right now. Get around rocky structure and drop off’s. Sounds like fish are in 12-20’. I caught them myself with a Keitech on a ¼oz ball head. Small jigs in perch and bass colors will catch those perch. Bass fishing has been inconsistent dude to weather most likely. I’d have a selection of jerkbaits, swimbaits and ned rigs ready to roll…trout are biting as well!

Owyhee River: Bring some midges! You’ll run into small BWO’s as well.

Owyhee Reservoir: Good crappie fishing right now around the rocky main lake points in 20-25’. Bass fishing remains tough for largemouth but good reports for the smallmouth. Skirted jigs have been working with craw trailers. Ned rigs are working as well.

Duck valley: No reports this week

Lucky Peak Reservoir: No report this week.

Arrowrock Reservoir: Trout being caught on the troll and got reports that a few decent sized smallmouth were caught on Kokanee gear 😃!

Anderson Ranch: No report this week.

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: Lots of cats being caught. I’d recommend fishing fairly shallow and the tails of islands if you can.

Shop News - ARK Tharp Rods Selling Quickly, IRR Custom Rod at the Shak?!, Fall/Winter Classes Coming Soon

The discounted ARK Tharp rods are selling quickly! This is a crazy good rod at a really low price. Normally $139 - on sale for $90! Japanese Toray graphite, fuji guides and great selection for different techniques.
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!
Upcoming fall and winter class schedule includes classes such as Lurecraft, Fly Tying, Fishing Fundamentals and Steelhead Fishing.
We are getting ready to launch the new website and point of sale system in the shop. This will allow us to get the custom rod pre-order link up and running. Several rods have been claimed already!! One of the prototype rods received a thorough testing by yours truly this weekend at Dworshak where it landed everything that hit it. Light, sensitive, soft tip with a sick backbone. I’m so pumped about these!
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

Good one!

Technically Speaking...

Good info!

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

THIS IS A BIG DEAL! PLEASE READ!!

Fish and Game closes all fishing in a portion of the Snake River in response to quagga mussel detection near Twin Falls

The Idaho Fish and Game Director has authority under Idaho Code to declare an emergency, and under this authority has closed fishing of any kind on the Snake River from Twin Falls Hydroelectric Dam to the bridge crossing the Snake River at Highway 46 beginning Friday, September 22, 2023. This emergency closure is set to expire at 5 p.m. Friday, September 29, but could be extended.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/fish-and-game-closes-all-fishing-portion-snake-river-response-quagga-mussel-detection-near

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

Cold weather is on the way…

Solving Cold-Weather Power Problems - The Fishing Wire

New Hope, MN – Summer is nearly over. Overnight air temperatures are dropping and the water’s cooling too, which is getting anglers excited for the fall bite. With the change in weather and season, though, anglers face some unique challenges—not only changing locations and presentations to match seasonal fish-holding and feeding patterns but issues with […]

thefishingwire.com/solving-cold-weather-power-problems