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Hook Points - Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Hook Points - Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

News, Tips, Tackle and More

Ryan Chris
September 10, 2024

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Most reports coming from CJ have been very positive for most species. Bass have been biting ned rigs, drop shots and Carolina rigs and are hanging out in both shallow and 20-25’ deep water. Look for the bass around humps, rock transitions and on drop offs - the same places that you’ll find the crappie! To catch those, it seems like smaller offerings have been working. Simple crappie tubes and 2” Keitech Easy Shiners are good options. Trout have been biting from both the bank and for the trollers. From the banks, fish the flats that gradually drop into deeper water with powerbait and nightcrawlers. Trolling has been pretty simple - Flicker Shads and Salmo Hornets. We should have a new shipment of those in this week.

Boise River: Broken record but fishing well - Dynamic Lures HD Trout, Lucky Craft Pointer 65’s, Ultralight Heavyweights under a float…easy peasy!

Brownlee: Harmful Algae Bloom Warning In Effect. At 2048. See the attached image for ramps that are still accessible. I fished this myself this week…fishing was good for bass and we saw SEVERAL schools of crappie. The crappie were in 15-25’ and larger schools were closer to steeper banks. Bass are on humps and we caught them in 2 to 25’. They have plenty to eat so you might have a down day or two in there but not likely back to back days. Without question, the bait that is doing the best right now is the Idaho Rod and Reel Tugnsten Finesse Jig. There’s literally nothing catching more fish in the shop than that bait - and we have them priced less than most lead jigs. Throw a Strike King Rage Ned or Lunker City Karate Craw as a trailer, drag the bottom and hold on. For the crappie - not every school you pull up on is feeding. The shallower schools have not been as willing to feed. Could be because bass are nearby schooling them up to feed on them. Look at the deeper schools that start at the bottom. Those fish will eat…

Snake River: Temps are about to start dropping and fish are going to start feeding to get ready for really cold weather. The river will start to cool before everything else and I expect the river to fish well for bass, sturgeon and catfish. For the bass, tough to beat a jig and a whopper plopper. For the cats, I have it on very good authority that you should be fishing shallower than you think and IN THE WEEDS. Cut bait is the ticket for both Cats and Sturgeon. The sturgeon have been a little shy but guessing that is about to change.

Wilson Springs: Couple reports this week - the grass and moss is thick but fish are being caught. Look for openings and get your bait right in there. A short Carolina rig of Powerbait can be pitched in the openings between the grass and moss.

Lake Lowell: Mixed reports this last week but I expect as the weather cools that the bass will be chomping! Remember the lake closes to boats at the end of this month. I’d still have a frog with me as well as a chatterbait or spinnerbait, a belly weighted Keitech, a swim jig and a Texas rigged Man Bear Pig. Water is low. As such, see the dam closure notice from the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge below:

(8/2/24) Due to low water levels, the boat ramps at the west end of the Upper Dam and at Access 1 are closed as of today, August 2. Visitors can still launch boats at the Lower Dam Recreation Area off Riverside Drive, the east end of the Upper Dam, off Iowa Avenue, and Access 7 on the southwest side of the lake.

Cascade Reservoir: Better reports for bass fishing but still not great. The best bait that I heard about was the Hook Up Baits! Customer caught several 15-16” bass and several perch on them! Trolling for trout is starting to pick up - Flicker Shads, Shad Raps and Salmo Hornets will get the job done. Pay attention to smoke reports…

Horsethief Reservoir: No report.

Owyhee Reservoir: Bass fishing reports have been mixed. The most common report could be summed up as fair. You throw a jig, deep diving crank, a drop shot and a ned - you’ll catch something. Throw a Strike King 6XD or the Nomad Lures cranks. For the drop shot, I love the Strike King Dreamshots. Crappie are all over the place but in isolated schools. During a recent fishing trip, we were marking schools in 15’-25’ of water around points.

Owyhee River: Decent fishing right now. Those fish LOVE jerkbaits and crankbaits…

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

RAMP LEVELS AT LUCKY PEAK!!

Arrowrock Reservoir: No Report this week.

Anderson Ranch Reservoir: Several reports this week for bass at Anderson. Lots of small bass and easy to catch! A simple 3.3 Keitech Fat Swing Impact on a 1/4oz head…

Local Ponds: Not hearing anything yet in regard to the ponds but looks like they are starting to stock them with trout and I love to fish the downtown Boise bass ponds this time of year…

Shop News - 2 Big Announcements Coming!, Mystery Boxes, How To’s, Addicted Fishing

We’ve Been Busy! Can’t wait to tell you about what we have been working on to help you catch more fish! Announcement coming soon…
Salmon and Steelhead inventory will be arriving soon. We are excited to be carrying the Addicted Fishing Steelhead products!
Hair Jigs in stock this week. These are personally hand tied by Ryan on premium hooks with Tungsten heads.
Fall Steelhead Classes COMING SOON!
By VERY POPULAR REQUEST…Mystery Tackle Boxes will be available this week! Follow our social media platforms for updates on when and how many! These go really fast.
New Idaho Rod and Reel Tungsten Product in Stock NOW! Amazing quality and nobody beats our Tungsten price. We have added to our already extensive line up: teardrop drop shot weights, ¾ and 1oz barrel weights for Carolina Rigs (SO SLEEK!! See pics below), Wacky Jigs, 3/4oz Football Jig Heads ON TOP OF THE Finesse Jigs!
Keep an eye out for new HOW TO videos coming soon
In Stock Now: Idaho Rod and Reel Tungsten Finesse Jigs SELLING QUICKLY!, Zoom 5” Flukes, Strike King Ned Baits and Jig Trailers, Jackall Drift Fry (almost sold out after 1 day on the shelf), Salmo Lures (arriving this week), Ryugi Premium Japanese Hooks, X-Braid, More Daiwa Kage Rods, Daiwa Lexa 300’s, Yak Attack, Canon Downriggers, Sturgeon Bait and Weights
Yak Attack accessories IN STOCK
CUSTOM COLOR SOFTBAITS ONLY AVAILABLE AT IDAHO ROD AND REEL FROM MAJOR MANUFACTURERS COMING SOON!
CRAPPIE and TROUT fishers…custom rods built just for you coming SOOONN!!!.
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

Boise River Fishing

Technically Speaking...

Braid to Leader Knot - The FG Knot by Seth Feider

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

SCARY!!

Archery hunter survives bear attack in Island Park

On the morning of Sunday, Sept. 1, an archery hunter was attacked by an adult male grizzly bear west of Henrys Lake in Island Park. The man was hunting elk with a friend on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest near the Divide Creek Road when the attack occurred.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/archery-hunter-survives-bear-attack-island-park

FFS in the News…SHOCKER 🤣

B.A.S.S. announces technology standardization for Elite Series, Classic

B.A.S.S. announces the creation of equipment standards related to new technologies for Elite Series, Classic. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Bassmaster Elite Series and the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors are the pinnacles of competitive bass fishing. B.A.S.S. has created unwavering standards of

bass365.com/blogs/news/b-a-s-s-announces-technology-standardization-for-elite-series-classic

MLF Announces Forward-Facing Sonar Rules for 2025

New MLF rules embrace forward-facing and 360-degree sonar while protecting traditional tournament fishingBENTON, Ky. (Sept 6, 2024) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced Friday updates to its 2025 rules that will allow tournament anglers to utilize the powerful fish-catching tools of forward-facing and 360-degree sona

bass365.com/blogs/news/mlf-announces-forward-facing-sonar-rules-for-2025

Yamatanuki Modification

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

Fall Trout Trolling

Salmon Reports

A record sockeye return crosses Lower Granite Dam—but they're not all Idaho fish

Through Aug. 19, the sockeye return hit a record 2,835 fish counted at Lower Granite Dam about 30 miles downstream from Lewiston. That’s the highest sockeye return since fish counting started at the dam in 1975, topping the previous record of 2,786 fish in 2014. Unfortunately, many are sockeye that strayed from the Columbia River.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/record-sockeye-return-crosses-lower-granite-dam-theyre-not-all-idaho-fish