Snake River

3d3e · 07-13-2003, 04:05 PM

Hi.

I was on my way to Wyoming three weeks ago or so I went by the snake river many times I have always heard people talking about fishing Channel cats out of there I ws just wondering what town you lauch your boat at I saw no boat ramp signs? also is there a ramp that has camping on or near by? and finally what is the general depth of the river and what types of bait do you use and is it really better to fish them after dark?

thanks Tyler.

Oh yes what time of the year is the best and worse times to go?

maggot · 07-13-2003, 07:24 PM

contact ...mojo......on this forum....hes in the snake river valley and has a good knowledge of the area.

Mojo · 07-14-2003, 06:37 AM

3d3e,
Fishing for cats in the Snake can be really good. I wouldn't think about fishing much upstream of C.J.Strike Reservoir (located near Mountain Home ID). The fishing is best from Strike down through the Hells Canyon Dam Complex. There are kittie fish in Hell's Canyon, but the fishing there is more of a Jetboat/steelhead/sturgeon thing. Down near Lewiston (Heller Bar and down) it gets good again, clear to the confluence with the Columbia. I'm most familiar with the section from C.J. Strike to (and including) Brownlee Reservoir.

As you drove along I-84, you passed Farewell Bend. There is a good boat launch there, that will let you acess a bunch of the upper end of Brownlee, and some of the Snake. Use cutbait, and/or worms. Fishing for kitties is really good all the time (day or night) but I have the best success in the mornings and evenings.

A little bit upstream there is an unimproved access at Nyssa. there are some good catfish holes in that section, both below (all the way to Weiser), and above (to Marsing). Look for water that's deeper than the rest of the river, or fish eddy lines at the tails of the islands. This pretty much hold true for where to fish all the was up to Swan Falls Dam. I also like to fish the spots where a rock bar drops off into a hole. The river depth varies greatly. There are 20 foot deep holes, but they are rare, and have sturgeon lurking in them. Fun on a catfish rod, but they'll wreck your gear. Crawdads are deadly on kitties in this section of the river. It is legal to use live ones (in Idaho) if you catch them in the section of river you are fishing. There are many little dirt or gravel launches along the river from Nyssa to Walters Ferry (Idaho). There are good concrete launches at Marsing and Walters Ferry.

Above Walters Ferry the river goes back into a canyon. There are places that you shouldn't run a boat. It is runnable (in a river boat only -aluminum hulls and jet pumps) under most stream flows, but it can be a boat wrecker. There are some good spots below Swan Falls. From Swan Falls to Strike it can be really good. Jetboats only here as well. Most is easily runnable, but there are spots that are tough. Cutbait, crawfish, and worms are what I use.

In the lake at Strike there are some really good cats, and a lot of water to fish for them in. If you are planning to come over, e-mail me and I'll hook you up!

Hope that answered your questions. If you have any more, let me know.

3d3e · 07-14-2003, 08:41 AM

Thanks MOJO I appreciate it.

Just one more question is the fishing for channel cats better in the summer than winter?

and is that www.idafish.com your web page and is that your E-mail.

Thanks Tyler

Mojo · 07-14-2003, 09:54 AM

Tyler,

Fishing for cats is best from March through November. When it gets really cold they get sluggish. You can catch them but it's slow. Now is actually a good time to target them.

www.idafish.com is my brother-in-law's and my website. He set it up, and we both do the updates, and provide content. The good looking dude on the main page, with the 3 kids holding the sturgeon is me.

You can e-mail me through the link at the bottom of this post (the envelope icon next to the 2 little people looking icon). That one goes to my home account, and that's the one I use most.

[ 07-14-2003, 10:57 AM: Message edited by: Mojo ]

skein · 07-15-2003, 02:38 PM

Mojo,

A tip of the hat to you. You are always quick to respond and are really good about sharing information. Thanks. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Skein

3d3e · 07-15-2003, 09:36 PM

Thanks Very Much Mojo I will get in touch with you beforer next summer I will be taking a trip over their to fish. Do you guide any in the area?

Thanks Tyler

BonkBonkBonk · 07-19-2003, 07:50 AM

hey mojo, is it me or has catfishing really gone down the drain the past 5 years or so on the snake?

Mojo · 07-20-2003, 12:04 PM

3d3e,
No I don't guide, I just fish too much (ask my wife). Actually she's the catfisherperson in the family.

Bonk,
The problem with the Snake lately is, basically, someone needs to flush the toilet. We haven't had any spring runoff to speak of in so long that the weeds and moss floating down the river have made it very tough to fish any sort of bait. What we need is the Snake to blow out at 20,000 cfs for a week to ten days, next spring.

I have targeted catfish a few trips this year, and done pretty well. Averaging between 8 and 12 fish a trip. I don't keep big ones, and I don't keep little ones. 14-20 inches eat about right. If you really want to smack a few, try some of the deep holes on Map Rock Road either that or up below Swan Falls Dam. If you have the time to run over to Steck Park, there are some great spots just upstream of there. Try just above the sand dunes (you'll know them when you see them), just below the shallows. Also try the area between Farewell Bend and the Railroad Bridge at Steck.

[ 07-21-2003, 05:35 AM: Message edited by: Mojo ]

BonkBonkBonk · 07-20-2003, 06:44 PM

thats odd
i havent caught crap at swan falls in a couple years..maby im just not fishing right

Crappie Chaser · 07-20-2003, 08:38 PM

I just heard today of a 29 lber caught at Farewell Bend recently.It was caught in the evening, the guy weighed it, took a picture and put it on a little chain stringer and put it back in the water.It twisted up the stringer and broke loose sometime during the night.I am pouring concrete with this guy Tuesday so hopefully I will see the picture.I'm guessing it was a flathead but don't know that for sure.

Mr. BrownTrout · 07-21-2003, 04:51 AM

Hey Mojo, sounds like your the person to talk to then, if a person does not have a boat and does not want to drive to steck park, where else would you recomend, what about celebration park. I have lived in Boise for 6 years now and have only went catfishing twice. Any pointers would be great. [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

Born to Fish · 07-21-2003, 06:20 AM

Hey Gary, pouring concrete doesn't sound like much fun. How's the fishing been up in your area. Have you and your Dad been getting into those big trout yet?

Dean

Mr. BrownTrout · 07-21-2003, 03:27 PM

Hey Mojo I'm affraid I don't know where that map rock road is??????? as far as warm water fish go, I have fished CJ strike 2 times, somewhere out in the fields on the snake for catfish 1 time, steck park 1 time, swan falls dam 1 time. I have spent most of my time chasing trout.

Crappie Chaser · 07-21-2003, 07:31 PM

Hi Dean,fishing has been pretty good.The reservoir is only 2' down and crappie are going good off the points.You have to keep moving to find the better ones.Catfish are going good and some good catches of perch have been coming in.
The trout made a showing but it's about over now.We didn't hurt them too bad this year.
Have you been able to get any fishing in this fire season?

Mojo · 07-22-2003, 04:06 AM

Mr. Brown Trout,
Map Rock Road is off of hiway 45 (12th Avenue South). Take 45 till it hangs a big 90 degree left (near Melba) and then you'll go down a big hill. At the bottom, before you get to Dan's Ferry Service, you'll see Map Rock Road on your right. Lots of good access for about 20 river miles. Map Rock is covered with petroglyphs. It used to be a lot cooler than it is now, but some @*%#$!'s have defaced it.

Go try this area. There is a bunch of good fishing there.