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Fishing Reports
CJ Strike: Good reports coming from CJ for just about everything. Crappie have been caught consistently in the narrows in 15-25’ with the jigging rap and small plastics tipped with crappie nibbles being the trick. Idaho Power just stocked a ton of trout and lots of bass guys were catching them on crankbaits! Which means they are in 12’ or less and willing to chase. Flicker shads, Salmo Hornets and spoons like a Thomas Bouyant fished fairly close to the banks will produce. From the bank - Powerbait will work on the stocked fish but I’d try my hand at casting and retrieving jointed Rapalas and small cranks and jerkbaits. Bass were caught on 8-12’ diving crankbaits and lipless baits. I’d be looking at reds, oranges, browns with just a touch of chartreuse…The Idaho Rod and Reel Tungsten Finesse jig caught several fish here this weekend as well! Try a 3/8 or 1/2oz with a small craw trailer and just drag that jig around and over shallower rock piles. It works!!
Boise River: Flows are still at a good level for fishing but that won’t last much longer I am sure. By this time next week it looks like we will be off the river…Warming weather = melting snow = higher flows. I’m still throwing small jerkbaits and cranks for larger fish. Rapala Countdown Minnows, Dynamic Lures HD Trout and Lucky Craft Pointer 65’s…
Brownlee: Water levels are at 2031 and have been all over the place for the last few weeks. It has been fishing a little tough. Bad moon phases and crazy water fluctuations have something to do with that for sure. If you smashed them this weekend - that’s awesome! If you didn’t - you were in the majority. They can’t keep their mouths shut forever and I expect that the next couple days will get them to go a bit. I’m still in the mindset of cranking, jerking and lipless….uh….liplessing 🫠 ….but I am going to have a finesse jig, a ned and/or a drop shot and I really think the new Great Lakes Finesse baits (Snack Craw and Juvy Craw) have a great chance to coax a few bass in to biting. On the upside, catfishing down around Steck Park has produced a couple of flatheads that I know of!
Snake River: The river fished decent this week for smallies and I expect it to really start to pick up as long as the flows don’t get ridiculous with runoff. Keitechs, tube jigs, finesse jigs and red crankbaits should be on your list of what to throw. Not hearing great reports from the water down by Marsing and Homedale. I’d focus my efforts a little bit higher upstream.
Wilson Springs: Getting stocked regularly and fishing well! Powerbait, Dynamic Lures HD Trout and Ultralight Heavyweights jigs!!
Lake Lowell: Water is cold and high but I did get a picture from a fish caught on a Z Man Finesse TRD and a few pics from my man Bryson that looks like he might have got on em here with the Idaho Rod and Reel Tungsten Finesse Jigs.
Lake Cascade: No report this week. Check with Tackle Toms!
Horsethief Reservoir: Lots of smaller fish being caught through the ice still on small jigs and bait rigs. Easy access and a high chance of success are the draw here!
Owyhee River: Water levels have dropped fairly suddenly - likely to prepare for runoff - and if allowed to settle a bit should bode well for fish catching. As the water recedes, crayfish and aquatic worms are more readily available…
Owyhee Reservoir: Same report as last week!! Lots of water in the reservoir and reports of good crappie catches are starting to come in. Main lake points attached to decent sized coves seem to be holding the biggest schools. Customer found bunches of fish in 20-30’ and they were eating Big Bite Baits Swimon’s.
Duck valley: ONE OF MY FAVORITE TIMES TO FISH DUCK VALLEY IS RIGHT NOW!!! From the Tribal Website:
March 18, 2024 –Warm weather from the weekend carries over Monday and Tuesday, as spring officially makes a return this week on March 19, 2024, until Wednesday, when partly cloudy skies set the stage for more precipitation that looks to move over into the next week.
The ice at both Sheep Creek and Mountain View reservoirs has been open for two weeks, and any ice remaining is quickly and steadily thawing. Trout activity has been phenomenal for shore casting and fly fishing, with both styles producing excellent results with a wide variety of baits. The Mountain View and Sheep Creek reservoirs are now watercraft accessible as both have over 95% open, ice-free top water.
Please be advised Billy Shaw will reopen very soon on April 1, 2024.
Lucky Peak Reservoir: Fishing has slowed a bit as the water has come up a fair amount in the last week - almost 10%. Water clarity is off a bit and that probably has something to do with the tougher fishing. Pinks and oranges have been catching the fish that I have heard about and the fish have been caught long lining on top. Makes sense as that will be where the better visibility is…
Arrowrock Reservoir: Little bit off color here as well and the fishing has slowed. It’s been a mixed bag of colors that have been working. The key to catching a limit will be putting in the time…
Anderson Ranch: Curlew is accessible from what I am hearing and the fishing has been tough. The fish being caught are good sized and worth the effort. One customer reported really consistent success on the Kokabow Wonder Bread dodger and Kokabug combo.
Local Ponds: Good reports for bass and trout on the local ponds! Ned rigs, texas rigged creature baits and wacky rigged senkos should be what you need for the bass and for the stocked trout - Powerbait and Nightcrawlers.
Shop News - Upcoming Classes, New Idaho Rod and Reel Customs Jig Patterns, Youtube
Congratulations to Billy Watford for winning the Idaho Rod and Reel Link Casting Rod at the Spring Bass Fishing class. With over 50 in attendance, the feedback was INSANELY positive and many sent pictures and comments the VERY NEXT day about success due to implementing the things they learned!! This is why we do what we do and I love that!
Curious about throwing big swimbaits for bass?? Class coming very soon!!
“Stop Fishing and Start Catching” class taught by Jordan Rodriguez with Tight Lines 208 will be at the Idaho Rod and Reel Learning Center on March 19, from 6-8:30pm. This class costs $50 and INCLUDES a starter tackle pack. Registration is available at tightlines208.com!
Please follow us on our NEW YOUTUBE CHANNEL! We will be uploading new content this week specifically targeting fundamentals of fishing. This channel is designed specifically to help you fish IDAHO!
Sign up for the Idaho Rod and Reel Good Fish Youth Program is LIVE!! Please visit idahorodandreel.com and select on the Youth Programs tab to sign up! This program is 100% FREE - all expenses are covered by the shop. This program focuses on leadership and self discipline skills that uses fishing and the outdoors as a conduit to deliver the message. Love to have you involved!!
Please check out the idahorodandreel.com ONLINE STORE! We are adding products daily. Local shipping is very affordable and free on orders over $75.
LINK ROD UPDATE: Spinning Rods - Sold Out, Jerkbait Rod - Sold Out, MH Casting - 1 Left, M Casting - 10 Left
Hey Trout Fishers!! The trout area is an area of the shop that we would really like to improve. If you have bait suggestions, I would LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! [email protected] MIGHT BE A SURPRISE GIFT CARD OR TWO HANDED OUT RANDOMLY FOR SUGGESTIONS!!
New Idaho Rod and Reel Finesse Tungsten Jigs are IN STOCK NOW!
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
I know it’s not fishing…but great on CAMPING trips!!
Technically Speaking...
Bass Fishing Tips!
Local and National Fishing News…and other “Stuff”
The Uni-Knot - I use this one A TON!
Dworshak Stuff!
Not just for summer…
Current Trout Stocking
Great way to introduce kids to fishing!
Steelhead Update!
New in the Shop
Idaho Rod and Reel Tungsten Finesse Jigs PB&J
Idaho Rod and Reel Tungsten Finesse Jigs, Idaho Craw
Catch Spotlight
Submit your own entry to be featured in Hook Points to: [email protected], Subject: Catch Spotlight
Success!!!
Lenae with the ONLY BASS in the boat!
The shop manager Brian Purtell getting it done on the river with the new FishHead Primal Vibe!
Maison with a good pond bass!
Kekoa finding a pond bass as well!!
Dennis sent a little “Peace for your soul” to all of us!
Jodi with an awesome rainbow!
On a crank he painted!
Michael with a good Bull trout!
A beautiful Boise River rainbow shared by Gage Medico
Damon - doing Damon things!
Kyle with CHROME!
“We cannot solve problems with the kind of thinking we employed when we came up with them.”