CJ newbie

[Ncfshman1]

Hey guys, this is my first post on this site and I just moved to Idaho and I'm going to cj this evening to run the boat and try to fish a bit. I was just wondering what part of the lake would be good for some smallies and what should I throw ?
Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks guys.
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[tubeN2]

Welcome to the boards and thank you for your question. I believe this question would go over better on the Idaho forum.

Have you been able to navigate around a bit? We have several members that are regulars at CJ. I haven't fished that in many years. I used to live just a hop, skip and a jump from CJ.

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[wiperhunter2]

Welcome to the site, I've moved your post to our Idaho board, so you will get a better response.
WH2
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[mtish]

have fished for 40 plus snake river arm is and lots of banks to fish with different lures. the bureau arm get fish more large mouth, but has some great smallies also .as well as the narrows . cranks ,tubes spinners baits . just have to try and see what works . good luck
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[cpierce]

A big "Welcome to BFT" to both of you. Hope to hear more from you.

Spring fishing can be really crazy at CJ or any of the other reservoirs. The fluctuating temps can have the fish in close one day and out deep the next.

All I can say is to get out there and cover the different conditions until you find fish. Good luck

A quick word of warning.... WIND is a four letter word on CJ. If heavy winds are forecast don't go or doing go far from shore. It can get really wicked fast.
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[Ncfshman1]

Is there any particular baits or color that work best
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[idahopanfish]

Welcome to the site ! I have found crappie like white and a light green, perch like yellow and cut bait, occasionally night crawlers. Bass varies to the time ofyear and trout are trout moody. CJ is one of my favorits!
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[Duck-Slayer]

X2 on the WIND..... Perch cut bait by far is the preferred bait, Crank's of all shape's and colors will get you a decent amount of Bass, Red/White with a black head will get you crappies, a sinker and 2/0 hook with sucker meat will get you catfish, an orange and white floating rapala will get you trout, 1/16 jig and crawler/wax worm will get you bluegill, a Bowfishing bow and arrow will get you Carp, am I forgetting anything else you can catch on CJ reservoir?
Matt
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[Bassnbob]

Welcome aboard!!

For Bass on CJ, any rocky areas will get you Smallies and reedy areas will get you Largies. I usually use a red watermelon fluke most of the time. Watch out for the wind, it can get pretty nasty in a hurry.

Good Luck!!
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[Ncfshman1]

Thanks for the help guys I pan on going soon
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[hooknhunter]

Welcome to the board.

I'd blow off CJ for now and head to Cascade. Fishing is starting to really turn on. Bass, Perch, Crappie are all hitting right now. I didn't catch any large mouth, but I've been told they are biting right now too.
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[Ncfshman1]

Do any of you guys ever drop shot for the smallies and What color cranks work well, I'm just trying to figure out the natural forage for cj.
Thanks again for everyone's help and advice it's very much appreciated
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[dtayboyz]

Drycreekoutfitters
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[PACKFAN]

I use to live in Grandview many years ago and fished C.J. a lot for Bass. My go to bait was a gold #2 Mepps spinner with a 3 inch white or yellow Uncle Josh pork rind trailer. I doubt if any body throws that anymore. I took 2 LMB that both went over 7 lbs. One was weighed at Black Sands the other weighed at the Waterfront which is no longer there. All my largest bass came from the Snake arm from the AF dock to the peach orchard, have fun my friend, I know I did. Oh, by the way don't tell anyone about that lure. []

I found an old picture of one of the bass, this was posted on a recreational paper that was published out of Boise in those days. The owner of the Water Front ( My favorite watering hole) was a good friend of ours and he wanted a picture of the bass, I told him that I had killed the fish after catching it by sticking the sharp end of my rope stringer into her brain and then slitting her throat to bleed out and put her on the rope stringer with some other fish and the wife and I continued fishing so she may not look so pretty for a picture but he wanted one any. In those days being in the AF and a young NCO with a family we ate all the fish we caught including the big females. That way of thinking changed quite a few years ago.
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[Ncfshman1]

So let me ask you strike guys a question when do the smallies spawn on strike, has it already happened or will it be towards the end of this month around the full moon
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