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Hook Points - Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Hook Points - Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

News, Tips, Tackle and More

Ryan Chris
October 02, 2023

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Fishing has remained steady and guys are catching mixed bags. Crappie guys trolling are catching bass and bass guys throwing plastics are catching trout! Lots of fish looking for a meal before winter sets in. Trolling to find the crappie as per usual has been working. Once they are found - stay on top of them and drop down on em with something like a Z-man Micro Goat…not many guys around here throwing that little sucker! For the bass, it’s junk fishing time. Cranks, jerkbaits, Ned rigs, chatterbaits, drop shots…I’ve received reports that all of them are working. Look at the new 6th Sense finesse baits that just arrived in the shop…maybe throwing them something they haven’t seen yet will set you apart.

Boise River: If you want to catch a big one - throw something big at those darn trout! Idaho Rod and Reel Ambassador, Maison, routinely catches large fish out of the Boise on 4-5” jerkbaits. We just received a really good restock of Panther Martin and Blue Fox Spinners that always produce.

Brownlee: Harmful Algae Bloom advisory in effect for Brownlee and Hells Canyon Reservoirs. Water levels are 2049.7 - down 2 feet from last week. I personally fished Brownlee this weekend with 3 great young men and landed TONS of 1# smallies, a few 2 pounders and we lost 2 that were close to 3# - all on Idaho Rod and Reel EWG Ned Heads, Z Man Baby Goats and TRD’s. Cranking will work right now - try something like a Strike King 5XD for your deeper stuff and the ARK CMT-10 Mini Crankbait for your 8-12’ work. Catfishing has been really good! A customer reported several landed last week with Ardcore Sturgeon Candy. He recommended the backs of coves, in 15 to 30 feet.

Snake River: Ambassadors are reporting that it seems like there is significantly less grass and that the water is a bit more clear. Sturgeon fishing has been really good using crappie and Ardcore Pickled Smelt. Catfishing has been really good using chicken and kool-aid. For the bass, throw an Idaho Rod and Reel Finesse Tungsten Jig with your favorite trailer. The number of reports that I am receiving about that jig are so awesome!! New patterns will be in the shop soon!

Wilson Springs: Lots of weeds but Idaho Rod and Reel Ambassadors Oliver and Colby are having a lot of success here throwing Ultralight Heavyweights jigs in the openings of the weeds. They are able to see the fish hit ‘em!

Lake Lowell: Lake is closed to motorized boats now but bank and kayak fishing is still on and fish are biting. Throw a weightless senko and/or a weightless fluke. Couple reports of the occasional chatterbait fish as well.

Lake Cascade: Good reports this week from Cascade for trout and perch. Decent reports for bass. Trolling Flicker Shads and Salmos has been productive for the rainbows and some perch. For the perch, cast small swimbaits and grubs around rock. For the trout, try putting the boat in 25-30’ of water and trolling at a little quicker pace than you might normally. Guys have been catching bass on tube jigs, jerkbaits and senkos.

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

Owyhee Reservoir: Crappie fishing remains fair as trout fishing has picked up. Bass fishing has been decent as well for less than 3# fish. Trolling has been the most productive way to catch crappie and trout though there have been good reports of crappie being caught around the boat launches and in some of the bays that are accessible by foot. For the bass, try a carolina rigged fluke, a deep diving crankbait or a ½oz jig.

Duck valley: From the Tribal website:

Cold mornings, hot days, and cool evening, are typical around the reservoirs this time of year. Heavy stratus in the skies giving way to warmer temperatures throughout the day. Currently, all reservoirs are demonstrating a moderate fishing response this week whether by boat, float or bank as steady mild temperatures begin to lower drastically on Sunday, October 1. Anglers are finding Sheep Creek a bit slow due to the growing presence of algae on the west end near the dam. Mountain View activity has been steady at low to moderate, and Billy Shaw lake has been productive with the trophy-sized cutthroat favoring flies tied in sparkly nymph, elk hair caddis, or The Sheep Creek Special.

Lucky Peak Reservoir: 15% Full. Couple reports of some decent smallmouth from a few bank anglers who were fishing for trout with Panther Martin spinners. They reported catching a few trout by the dam below Arrowrock.

Arrowrock Reservoir: 37% Full. Couple reports similar to Lucky Peak. Some trout being caught from the beach by the boat ramp as well as a few bass. Trout were caught on powerbait set on a light carolina rig.

Anderson Ranch: 84% Full. Reports of small trout being caught on the troll. Ambassador was using the smaller Kokabow dodgers and pink hoochies. That is the only report I heard about…

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.

Shop News - Jig Tying Class, New Products and Custom Shop Rod Update

JIG TYING CLASS! Learn how to make your own Football, Finesse and Hair Jigs. This class will include everything you need to tie 4 different jigs using 4 different techniques: banded, hand tied with thread, hand tied with wire and hair tying. Idaho Rod and Reel will be providing vices for everyone in the class. Each attendee will leave the class with the following: 4 Jigs, 2 bags of marabou, 3 colors of thread, spool of wire, scissors, bobbin, bobbin threader and a skirt tool for making banded skirts. Cost is $45. THERE ARE 10 SPOTS AVAILABLE FOR THIS CLASS!! Those signed up for the newsletter will have a head start to sign up as I will not announce on social media until Wednesday!! Class is Thursday, October 12 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the Idaho Rod and Reel Learning Center.
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!
IDAHO ROD AND REEL “LINK” Rods and Signature Jerkbait Rod Update!! We are working on getting the pre-sale link live on our website in the next week or so. For anyone that purchases a rod through our pre-sale, the cost of the rod will be $119.99. After the pre-sale, rods will be $139.99. If you purchase a rod from our pre-sale, when you pick up your rod and if you purchase a reel to go with it, you will receive 10% off the reel and Idaho Rod and Reel will put line on it for FREE. These rods are built on high modulus blanks with American Tackle and Fuji components with a woven carbon fiber grip system and custom rod sock. They are built 100% for function! I am personally fishing these rods right now and so excited to be able to offer something of this quality at this price. Models available: 7’1” MH Fast and M Fast Casting, 7’1” M Fast Spinning Rod, 6’7” Signature Jerkbait with ¾” shortened butt section to save weight and to aid in ease of use. Pictures will be available soon! It is the MISSION of Idaho Rod and Reel to serve the community that supports our shop and I mean it when I say “Let’s Get You on Some Fish”! I am so excited to bring a rod to our local market that I think under a different brand name - would be priced too high for most of us to fish. I am personally committed to you and your fishing and it has been my dream most of my life - to help people get more enjoyment from this sport by catching more fish. When you feel more, you catch more. It’s that simple.
We are getting ready to launch the new website and point of sale system in the shop. Please bear with us as we work through the bugs!!
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.
New 6th Sense finesse baits in stock. New Z-man Micro Goats in Stock! Cashion BFS in Stock! New 2024 Daiwa Fuego’s 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

Trout Spinners!

Technically Speaking...

How to Tie a Snell Knot

Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”

The “Quagga Saga” (see what I did there?) Gotta keep our eyes on this story!!

F&G Commission closes fishing, hunting and trapping along portion of Snake River due to recent detection of quagga mussel larvae

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission met via conference call on Friday morning, Sept. 29 and voted to close fishing, hunting and trapping below the high-water mark of the Snake River around Twin Falls where quagga mussel larvae were detected. The closure will span approximately 23 miles of the Snake River, from the waterfall known as Twin Falls to the Highway 46 bridge, also known as Ken Curtis Bridge.

idfg.idaho.gov/article/fg-commission-closes-fishing-hunting-and-trapping-along-portion-snake-river-due-recent

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

Panfish News

A Good Ol’ Boy Makes A Splash! - The Fishing Wire

A light spinning rod, a thin cork, and a few minnows on a light jig head are often the introduction to freshwater fishing for many people, and crappie are often the target. Fishing for crappie has often been the gateway to this sport, and it doesn’t hurt that they are also one of the best-eating […]

thefishingwire.com/a-good-ol-boy-makes-a-splash