Anyone at Hewitt Park/Brownlee This Weekend

[fisher guy]

My son leaves for college on the 23rd and his last day of work is the 18th. We are thinking of taking the boat over and fishing friday thru sunday. Is the boat ramp still usable at hewitt? According to the idaho web site the water level only clears by 3 feet right now and they keep dropping the level.
If anyone was over there I would like to here how you did.

Thanks in advance

[Crappie Chaser]

Just to update the PM's we exchanged and to inform any one else interested , it's still usable but dropping daily. Down another foot today.
The word is that it will be down to the bottom of the ramp, which is another 8 vertical feet, in the next 2 weeks. I would call Hewitt Park at 541-893-6147 before coming over. Also trim your lower unit up some before launching, the ramp kind of flattens out at the end.

[fisher guy]

Thanks crappie chaser for the info. We are going over for the weekend and will give it a go my son is looking forward to it then it's off to the books.

[Hunt'nFish]

Gary, one more question......
A buddy from Enterprise wants to know:

"I am going to the snake river this weekend. Would you ask Crappie Chaser on your i-fish page where's the best place to fish for cats. Is the mud flats dried up? and where's the most crappie at."

He's refering to Hewitt Park. Any advise? Sounds like the flats will be REALLY shallow.
Are they still fishable?
Hunt'nFish

[Crappie Chaser]

The flats are all but gone,they now start in front of Holcomb. I have been off cats for a few days but they should be right in front of Hewitt and within 3/4 mile downriver from the launch. Crappie are just about everywhere in the Powder. I would start about a mile from the park or where the water starts to clear. Look for schools on the points or work down the bank until finding a concentration. Not many slabs showing up but if you cull all but the black crappie that are showing shoulders you can get a nice mess of eatin crappie.

[Hunt'nFish]

Thanks Gary!

Hear that "Zumwalt"? Go get'em and we'll expect a couple pics.
Hunt'nFish

[myxxolydyan]

The flats are all but gone,they now start in front of Holcomb. I have been off cats for a few days but they should be right in front of Hewitt and within 3/4 mile downriver from the launch. Crappie are just about everywhere in the Powder. I would start about a mile from the park or where the water starts to clear. Look for schools on the points or work down the bank until finding a concentration. Not many slabs showing up but if you cull all but the black crappie that are showing shoulders you can get a nice mess of eatin crappie.

You are exactly right. We went over on Sunday morning and put the boat in about 6:00 a.m. Lots of 2-3 lb. SM, but found crappie on the points in deeper water anywhere from 15-30feet. Caught one really big catfish across from the Hewitt boat launch. We had a great time. My good friend tore his knee up early this summer and hasn't been able to get out until yesterday. He caught a bunch of fish and had a really good time.

[Zumwalt]

Sorry H&F no pics. We did catch lots of small crappie but nothing of any size. We mostly worked on the boat. O yeah and got extremely wet Saturday.

[Hunt'nFish]

Zumwalt, Sorry to hear that. So what happened to the boat?

Marshall, that's cool you got your buddy out on the water and into some good fish.
Hunt'nFish

[Zumwalt]

Zumwalt, Sorry to hear that. So what happened to the boat?

Marshall, that's cool you got your buddy out on the water and into some good fish.
Hunt'nFish


The starter went out on it. Blew the top gear right off so we had to do the ole rope trick to get anywhere, what a pain.... Ran down all our batteries using the electric motor. We never did find any cats but then again I didn't want to go out very far after dark with the motor not being up to snuff.

[Hunt'nFish]

Oh man, that bites! But at least you knew there was a pull cord underneath.:whistle:

I remember a trip where a similar thing happened and we had to paddle against the wind to get back to the launch. It wasn't until latter when my Uncle said, "why didn't you just get out the pull cord and start it?" that I learned that trick. :passout:
So, you were at least.... smarter than me.
Hunt'nFish

[fisher guy]

Thanks again Crappie Chaser I was glad to meet you down there. We had a great time and caught a ton of crappie. As you now the weather wasn't the best Friday night and Saturday so I learned my lesson need to bring rain gear no matter what.