Weekly Fishing Report

This report highlights a few of the best places to fish, what anglers are using and what they are catching. The information is compiled from regional Fish and Game fishery managers, local tackle shops and anglers.

Flows are dropping to a summer level but anglers need to find a spot where they can avoid the rubber-bottom bikini hatch.

Flows should be about 600 cfs and a good wade for large wild trout. Remember: this reach is restricted to barbless lures and flies only (no bait) and trophy harvest rules apply (two fish, none under 20 inches).

Yellow Perch: Fishing for yellow perch is poor. Most perch anglers are switching crappie fishing. Few perch are being caught.

Smallmouth Bass: Most bass anglers say fishing is poor right now, the slowest some can recall since the 1980s. Those who want to try it should fish early and late in the day. A few bass have been caught in the middle of the day at 35 foot or deeper but it is best to focus on rocky shorelines early and late. Use plastic baits (tubes, grubs, etc) in dark colors.

Rainbows: The hotspot continues to be below the dam near the turbine outlets. Worms fished on the bottom seem to be the best. The best fishing has been in the early morning and after sundown. Most of the fish are running between 15 and 21 inches.

Bluegill: A few are being caught in the coves of the lake throughout the day and evenings. Use worms below a small float.

Crappie: After a great start it is tough now to catch during daylight hours, fishing really picks up after dark. Boat anglers using lanterns to illuminate the water are still able to catch a bunch of fish. Jig color seems to make little difference. Fish the rocky points and coves in the Snake Arm. Fish in about 15 to 20 feet of water.

Catfish: The Bruneau Arm is producing a few good cats at night. The most consistent fishing has been near the mouth of Jacks Creek. The biggest cat checked lately was about five pounds and was caught on a crappie jig tipped with a worm.

Bluegill fishing is fair in the evenings. Please remember that all bass must be 20 inches or longer to keep in Crane Falls.

Idaho Power is running water from three of the spill gates at the dam. Be prepared to fish in high flows. Be Careful!

Channel catfish: Cut bait and worms are both catching fish. Anglers heading to the river upstream from CJ Strike should be prepared for weedy fishing conditions and big mosquitoes.

Smallmouth bass: The fishing was better a month ago than it is now. The high river flows are making the fishing tough. The bass fishing in the river should pick up in two or so weeks when the flows drop off.

Sturgeon: Below CJ Strike Dam – catch rates have dropped off a bit with the high flows. The best action has been occurring right at sundown. Be prepared to use sinkers that weigh 12 ounces (or more) to hold on the bottom. Most anglers are using pieces of fresh crappie for bait.

Stainless steel hooks and braided line last a long time after they are lost in a snag or a fish. Please leave your braided line and stainless hooks at home. Let's all help to keep the place nice, please put your trash in the dumpsters and not in the fire pits.

Crappie will be abundant in coves, off points, and any place with good shoreline structure. Catfishing will be good as usual–focus on any shallow benches, coves, or flats and use cutbait, shrimp or any other conventional catfish baits.

Kokanee fishing is still good at Lucky Peak. Fish at 25-35 feet. They are running 16 to 17 inches on average.

Kokanee fishing is to be good at Deadwood. Anglers have been coming close to taking limits and the fish fat and about 13 inches. Anglers are saying they have not seen kokanee fishing this good for as long as they can remember fishing here. There seems to be a lower age class of about 8 inches.

Cutthroat fishing is tremendous in the river where it enters the reservoir with fish over 25 inches. Most are running about 16 inches.

Trout are being stocked regularly, and bass and bluegill are available in most ponds. This is the time to take advantage of these waters which become too warm to support trout sometime around the Fourth of July.

These ponds are great for after school or work. See the Family Fishing Waters link below to find the nearest pond.