Hook Points - Idaho's Fishing Newsletter

Fishing Reports

CJ Strike: Smallmouth bass fishing remains good. Some fish being caught on deep diving crankbaits - which if you haven’t tried, is tons of fun! Something diving down in the 15’ range should do the trick - especially on an overcast day. Otherwise, Neds, tubes and drop shots will get the work done. Crappie fishing has been steady. Customer showed me a screenshot of his Garmin unit with a massive school sitting between 15 and 20’. Vertically fishing on these schools can be productive. If there is a lot of boat noise and pressure, try marking the school with a buoy and backing off…

Boise River: Fishing on the river has been really good. Couple really nice fish caught on some Dynamic Lures HD Trout jerkbaits for a good customer of the shop. Moving up higher in the river system, just a simple salmon egg and split shot will do the trick most of the time. Still seeing pics of Chinook being caught drifting eggs, jigs and throwing blue spinners.

Brownlee: Harmful Algae Bloom advisory in effect for Brownlee and Hells Canyon Reservoirs. Water levels are 2056- down 21 feet. Bass fishing has been really good. Drop shot Missile Baits Magic Worms has been catching a ton of fish for one of our Idaho Rod and Reel Ambassadors. I’d have a Ned rig on the line as well - give the Z Man Baby Goat a try…

Swan Falls - Above the Dam: Good fishing on most stretches of the Snake right now. Try a Whopper Plopper in the morning and evening and roll a 3.3 Keitech or Ned rig during the heat of the day.

Swan Falls - Below the Dam: Couple nice sturgeon caught below the dam on cut bait and catfishing remains steady on most sections of the river. Bass fishing has been good - Ned rigs, nail weighted senkos and a 3.3 Keitech will get the job done. The ol’ curly tail grub can be a killer on the river on any day that ends in “Y”. If you’re a fly guy, this time of year can be really good for swinging Clouser Minnows and double bunnies into the boulders close to the banks.

Wilson Springs: No report

Lake Lowell: Bass fishing has been very consistent the last couple of weeks. Good reports from the bank as well as from the boats. On the bank - move around a bit with a swim jig or chatterbait. Have a Texas rigged creature bait as well for when you get into the weeds.

Lake Cascade: Bass fishing has started to pick up. As the days get shorter - this place will really start to get good. Look for rocky areas and points - drop shots, Ned rigs and I have always caught fish with green pumpkin tubes. Lot’s of perch are being caught as well. Try small curly tail grubs on 1/8oz jig heads around the docks, rock piles and look in the backs of coves.

Owyhee River: The river will fish really well for the next few months. Caddis in the evening but BWO’s will do the majority of the work right now. I’d still throw a hopper…

Owyhee Reservoir: I fished here personally this week and while the bass fishing remains tough, crappie were everywhere as long as you were in 25’ - the fish were sitting in 15 - 20’. We did not find as many schools of them in the backs of coves - most were out off of main lake points.

Duck valley: Sent a customer out to Duck Valley this weekend and they had a blast trolling flies along the weed edges at Mountain view…when the wind wasn’t blowing like crazy 😃. This is a really good fall fishery from a boat or the bank and powerbait rarely disappoints here.

Lucky Peak Reservoir: Reports of a few fish still coming in but it’s been tough for sure if you’re looking for Kokanee. Couple customers told me they caught some small trout up by the dam on Kokabow dodgers and bugs.

Arrowrock Reservoir: Most of the reports coming in are from guys catching bass, trout and the Idaho’ most popular game fish - the pike minnow 😂😂! Decent reports for trout from the bank on crawlers on the beach by the boat ramp.

Anderson Ranch: No report for kokanee or trout this week. Couple bass guys caught a bunch of little fish on a Ned and a curly tail grub.

Local Ponds: Tough to fish in most cases because of the lack of open water but if you are pond hopping – that’s exactly what you are looking for – open water with an accessible weed edge would be a great place to launch your baits. Trout stocking will start to pick up as the weather cools.

Snake River - Catfishing: Catfishing is really good right now! Find some clean water and you can bet there will be a cat nearby. Cut baits and chicken in kool aid have been the tickets.

Shop News - Class Postponed, Sale Bin and Pre-Order for Rods

• JIG TYING CLASS HAS BEEN POSTPONED! Several interested folks have asked if I could move this class into September as this week and next are back to school for most. I will announce a new time very soon!

• The C.A.S.T for Kids event at Black Canyon was an absolute blast!! It was so cool to see so many people from the fishing community come together to serve these awesome kids and help them catch a fish or two. One kiddo caught his PB stick fish - nearly 3’ long and loved it!! It really is a great event. If you’d like to get involved with the program or you have a special needs kiddo that you think would enjoy this event next year - please contact me and I will get you in touch with the right people!

• Jordan Rodriguez with Tight Lines 208 will be teaching his Panfish School Class on August 24^th in the Idaho Rod and Reel Learning Center. Perch, bluegill, crappie and more! Sign up at tightlines208.com

• Pre-Ordering for the Idaho Rod and Reel “Link” rods will be available on our website within the week! Available models include a 7’1” MH and M Baitcaster designed to be a multi-purpose work horse. There will also be a 7’ M Power spinning rod and a limited edition jerkbait rod built the way I like them…and I LOVE FISHING JERKBAITS!!

• 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.

Worth Watching

Not just for bass fishing!

Technically Speaking...

Simple bait that still gets it done…

Local and National Fishing News

Salmon and Steelhead!

Current Trout Stocking

For the belly…

New in the Shop

Evergreen Bow Worm Noodle

Idaho Rod and Reel Black and Leather Hats!

Teckel Sharker

Catch Spotlight

Submit your own entry to be featured in Hook Points to: [email protected], Subject: Catch Spotlight

Stephen says Lowell is fishing just fine!

A little Lake Powell scenery from Andrew!

Josh and Khris with Owyhee gold!

Eddie says CJ is fishing great! 😆