Fishing report: An update on the good, the bad and the muskie at Lake Lowell
Pressure on local fisheries has been at an all-time high this season as more anglers than ever are using “social fishtancing” to fight the COVID-19 boredom. As a result, I have stayed away from recommending specific bodies of water for fishing, as many popular access points are already crowded.
This week, I’m breaking form to discuss Lake Lowell. The lake is no secret, as it is the closest major bass fishery to Boise. And, as you might expect, it is overcrowded on many days, with anglers, swimmers and boaters flocking to enjoy warm evenings and weekends. A weekday morning is probably your best shot at avoiding large crowds. Otherwise, be prepared to wait in line at the launch ramp and share the lake with hundreds of fellow recreationalists. As far as the fishing goes, here are some updates:
The good
We’ll start off on a positive note — bass fishing is the best I’ve seen in years. Because of low water and a hard winter, the bass population took a big hit at the end of 2015. Since then, fishing has been slowly creeping back toward the quality anglers enjoyed in the early 2010s, when 20-fish days and 20-inch fish weren’t uncommon.
On a recent trip, my buddy Caleb and I teamed up for a dozen fish, including a 12-pound bag of five largemouth, in four hours (all caught and released, which is required through June 30). We had to work hard and battle some nasty wind, but for context, tournament-winning bags (among dozens of boats fishing 10-hour days) were in the 11-pound range just a couple years ago. So, fish quality and catch rates are improving, and I’ve seen lots of encouraging reports that indicate bass are starting to thrive again.
As far as tactics, pitching weedless plastics among flooded trees, weed beds and other heavy cover is the best bet. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits and topwater lures fished along rocky shorelines or the edges of vegetative cover will also pick up fish.
As anglers, the best thing we can do to help fishing stay on the upswing is to practice catch-and-release, even after it becomes legal to keep bass. I would love to see Lowell return to its prime, and keeping adult spawners in the lake will certainly help.
The bad
While bass are on the rebound, carp continue to dominate Lake Lowell. They are a nuisance in the spring, when they make all kinds of noise splashing around as they spawn in the shallows. Carp have been a problem at Lowell for years, and they can choke out other species if they become too numerous. If you’re a bow angler, come on out and get some target practice! The water is clear and there are lots of fish in shallow water to help hone your archery skills.
The muskie
Idaho Fish and Game followed up last year’s stocking of 1,000 tiger muskie with an additional 1,000 in early June. Surprisingly, I haven’t seen a report of anyone catching a muskie (they are relatively small, at about 12 inches, but they are aggressive predators and it seems like a few bass anglers would have hooked one by now).
Putting tiger muskie in Lake Lowell is an experiment that, if all goes well, could create a cool fishery for these toothy monsters, which can grow to 50 inches in length. Adult muskie would also help control populations of unwanted carp and suckers. It will take a few years for the muskie, which are sterile hybrids, to grow large enough to fish for them. If you hook one, let me know.
Last call for cass class!
I have just a couple spots left for my next fishing class, All About That Bass, on June 23. Sign up today at www.tightlines208.com and come learn all about bass fishing in Idaho!
Tight lines!
Jordan Rodriguez has been fishing Idaho waters since he was a teen. Share your fish stories, adventures, tips and tricks with him at tightlinesboise@gmail.com or visit www.tightlines208.com.