Fishing report: Hit the Snake River for giant Idaho sturgeon
Late summer and early fall provide some of the best, most diverse fishing of the year in Idaho. Whether you like to chase bass and trout, rustle up some crappie for the frying pan or wrestle a giant sturgeon, the Gem State has you covered. Here are some ideas for your next fishing trip:
STURGEON
There’s no bigger fish in Idaho than the prehistoric white sturgeon. These Snake River monsters can reach lengths of up to 10 feet, putting even the most experienced anglers to the ultimate test.
Early fall is a good time to try for sturgeon, as the fish are actively feeding in the deep holes they call home. Pickled herring, squid, pikeminnow and other cut bait fished on a large circle hook is the top method for targeting sturgeon — follow Fish and Game’s guide for low-impact fishing to help preserve these protected giants.
If you lack the heavy gear needed to wrestle a sturgeon, you can hire a guide. Remote stretches of the Snake River in Hells Canyon are known as some of the best sturgeon waters in the country.
BASS
Fall is a great time to catch bass, particularly smallmouth on the Snake and Payette rivers. As water temperatures start to cool, warmwater fish like bass put on the feedbag as they prep for the lean winter months ahead. It’s not uncommon to catch large numbers of food-crazed smallies in these conditions—use crayfish patterned jigs, soft plastics and crankbaits around rocky structure and you should be in good shape.
My last trip to the Snake River produced my biggest bass of the year! Largemouth bass also remain on the chew. Fish with plastics, swimbaits and topwater lures around remaining weedy cover, or target them offshore with crankbaits, drop shots and Carolina rigs.
TROUT
Trout fishing continues to impress across our region as hungry fish, friendly flows and cooler water temps provide a winning combination. In rivers and streams, try flipping spinners, casting a dry fly with a nymph trailer or drifting bait through deep pools and riffles. If there are brown trout around (they live in the Boise, Owyhee and Wood River drainages), be aware fall is their spawning time. It’s best to avoid wading (which can disturb nests) and practice catch-and-release on browns (it’s the law on the Owyhee, which also requires an Oregon license).
Boat anglers are catching rainbows on Arrowrock, C.J. Strike, Lake Cascade and other reservoirs, usually by trolling with spinners, Rapalas or pop gear tipped with corn. And if you haven’t made it up to the mountains this summer, this might be your last call! It’s getting chilly at higher elevations, but there’s still good fishing to be had.
CRAPPIE
Crappie can be a year-round species if you know where to look for them, and late summer has been productive for anglers at C.J. Strike and other parts of the Snake River system. Crappie travel in large groups, so locating a school usually means catching enough for a fish fry. Jigs are the most common lures, but don’t overlook small crankbaits and spinnerbaits, particularly if the fish are hanging out closer to the surface. For more tips on catching crappie, check out my next fishing class, Panfish School, on Sept. 29 at the Hilton Garden Inn Boise Spectrum. Get all the details and sign up at tightlines208.com.
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.