The fishing is hot, too. Here are some suggestions for which species to chase

Good fishing continues to roll on through these dog days of summer. I’ve been slammed with household work of late, but my first opportunity to fish came on a 100-degree day — and I enjoyed a 20-bass evening aboard my float tube. The lesson, as usual, is there are always fish biting somewhere. It’s just a matter of getting out there and finding them! Here are some tips to help plan your next fishing trip:

Panfish

Species like crappie, perch and bluegill remain active across our region. For crappie, I recommend fishing C.J. Strike Reservoir or Owyhee Reservoir in eastern Oregon. You might not catch a state record crappie at these high-volume fisheries, but both are good bets for a nice stringer of keeper-sized fish. As such, expect crowds, especially on the weekends. Panfish jigs, small crankbaits and crappie-sized spinnerbaits are the best options for crappie. Perch can also be found in C.J. Strike, and the fishing has been decent at Lake Cascade, where the famed jumbo perch dwell. Use small jigs tipped with worms or cut bait, or try trolling with perch-colored Rapalas. Bluegill are my personal favorite of the panfish species, with their vibrant colors and awesome fighting ability. Catching big ‘gills on an ultralight rig is an absolute riot! Bluegill inhabit large reservoirs but are also plentiful in smaller, float-tube friendly lakes and ponds. Bluegill have small mouths, so I like to fish micro jigs and cranks when targeting them (although my buddy Randal recently caught a huge bluegill on a 3-inch bass tube — go figure.)

Trout

Trout fishing is very good right now, particularly in high mountain streams and lakes. Small Panther Martin spinners, Rapalas, spoons, nymphs and dry flies like hoppers and floating ants are good tackle options for targeting cutthroats, rainbows, brook trout and even big, predatory bull trout at high elevations. Here in the Valley, rainbows and browns are active along stretches of the Boise River, although it’s best to avoid the popular float stretches between Barber Dam and Ann Morrison Park.

Bass

Summer bassin’ is still off the hook. Idaho has a short growing season, and bass are looking to load up on as many meals as they can while the weather is warm. Soft plastics, tube jigs, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and swimbaits are all capable of racking up numbers in the right conditions. Topwater flies, frogs and plugs will also get blown up, especially during lowlight conditions. For largemouth, Lake Lowell has been fishing well, and there are countless smaller lakes and ponds to explore. To target smallmouth, fish the Snake River or large reservoirs like C.J. Strike, Lake Cascade and Anderson Ranch.

Kokanee

Last call for big Kokanee! The annual fall spawning run has already begun in some lakes, which means adult fish will begin turning red and running up creeks to spawn and, eventually, die. Before they run, schools of large Kokanee often stage near creek outlets and can be caught using trolling gear tipped with salmon eggs or corn. If the fish are still in the main body of the lake, look for them in 40 to 70 feet of water—they go deep to avoid the heat. Once the fish enter their red phase, they are very difficult to catch, but it’s a joy to watch them migrate upstream by the dozen. The most popular Kokanee fisheries in our region include Lucky Peak, Arrowrock, Anderson Ranch, Deadwood and Payette Lake.

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.