cj strike

[Browningsilver]

Is CJ Strike any good for anything at the moment? The idaho fish and game website said that the trout are biting. How about anything else. Any advice out there? ....It would all be appreciated. Thanks.
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[jimpete525]

I have not herd anyone give a report on CJ so I would think the fishing is nothing special. I my self have never fished it. I am sure someone will let you know whats up there.
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[basskikker]

just got back from fishing below the dam. very slow fishing for every one i talked to there, and for me. if you go sturgeon fishing, make sure you bring your own bait because catching some will be difficult.
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[Aluma165]

Still early but with the mild weather I would think the trout might be caught on the troll. Do you have a boat? I haven't been this year but will head out mid-March or a bit earlier if this is a mild spring... The pool at the dam should be clear water; usually is all year except in the back bays.
PM if you want some advice on how to nail trout on the troll.
Probably much too early for perch and crappie but I don't fish them so can't say for sure. There are huge concentrations of both these species during spring, summer and fall. Fall has always been best for me with rainbows.
C.J. Strike is a lake that you can limit on trout and catch a mess of perch, and crappie all in one day. Need a boat for best results but the shore fisherman do well with the right equipment and technique. Big trout below the dam and right off the dam in the lake. Trolling you get the planters from 16" to 19" inches.
I hope this helps you.
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[thebug]

cousin and uncle went and trolled strike said the trout were hitting spoons and perch rapalas. said they found a school of crappie and jigged about a hundred of them up. bigish ones two 10inch was about average they said
stupid work stoped me frrom going
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[Kodiak1]

Wow! 100 big crappie this time of year is impressive! And the talk of getting into the trout will get Aluma's heart a pumpin' !!! Mike
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[Browningsilver]

Thanks for the info.....I currently use a canoe and electric trolling motor to get around on the lake. During spring and summer I usually fish the narrows and catch a lot of crappie. I also catch a bunch of smallmouths that are under the size limit. I have made a couple passes trolling with spoons, rapalas, and popgear over the main body and was unsuccessful. I heard you don't want to get near the dam in a small canoe so I haven't been anywhere near it. I've been to CJ about three or four times total and have yet to catch anything besides crappie and smallmouth. Any more pointers?

Thanks,

Matt
Boise, Idaho
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[Kodiak1]

Head across from the Air Force ramp and fish the east shore for trout. Rapalas, pop gear and worm, or wooly worm all work. Fish it all the way over to the beginning of the narrows. Just look for all the other trollers. The fishing was terrific last year. Set your drag loose; these guys hit with gusto!!
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[Browningsilver]

Are the trout all planter size? Rainbows I assume?
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[STEELHEADKID]

In the last couple weeks I've been getting into perch and trout as well as a few sturgeon below the dam. I've heard reports of the trollers getting into 18in plus rainbows and schools of crappie!
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[Waterskipper]

What is the ice situation at C.J.? Is the whole reservoir open or just along the edges?
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[STEELHEADKID]

Havent seen any ice at all.......
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[bigd85yota]

I went up last weekend and only hooked up on two planter size trout. one in the narrows and one in the shallows by black sands. Both of them on a gold and black Rapala. I'm going up this weekend for some sturgeon and trout below the damn and I'll probably do some trolling.
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[Browningsilver]

Are you able to troll for trout beneath the dam?.....I haven't seen the entire dam so I don't know if the water is slow enough or large enough for it.
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[StacyR]

I went out to CJ yesterday for a few hours for my first trip of the year. I don't have a boat, so I tried around Cottonwood campground and off the bridge below the dam.

I was hoping the crappies would be moving into the shallows near the boat launch at Cottonwood with the warmer weather we've been having, but all I saw was a few perch caught. Guess it's still too early for them. Give it another month or two. I was there in late March early April last year and was usually able to catch them on every cast. Nice sized ones between 10"-12", some even bigger.

Just before dark, I moved to the bridge below the dam and got a couple of bites. I managed to catch one trout about 14", but I was only there for about half an hour before it got too dark. The trout was in sorry shape, so I threw him back. It looked like some kind of flesh eating bacteria had gotten to him. There was a huge sore about the size of a nickle on his side, sunk right down to the meat. Just about gagged looking at it. All of the other fish I've caught from the area have been clean, so it's probably just a fluke. I probably could have caught more if I had started fishing from there earlier.

As for trolling below the dam, I'd say no. The bridge is about 300 yards downstream from the dam, and there are signs posted saying boats are not allowed between the bridge and damn due to the possibility of large flows of water happening at any time.
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[Browningsilver]

Is anyone else fishing from a boat with a report?
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[idahopanfish]

Have you ever tried cove arm' dyke. I havve seen alot of crappie and gills caugh there.
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[STEELHEADKID]

Went out saturday and today and the crappie bite is wide open! You can catch as many as you wish to fillet!
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[Waterskipper]

If you don't mind my asking, what were you using? Were there any colors that seemed to be producing better than others?
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[STEELHEADKID]

Yellow body white skirt and all chartreuse. If you tie two jigs on the same line you can get quite a few doubles too!
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