Tag: Sturgeon

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Why Southern Idaho is the Ultimate Sturgeon Fishing Destination

When it comes to sturgeon fishing, few places in the western United States can compare to the abundant waters of southern Idaho, particularly around CJ Strike Reservoir. Whether you’re an experienced angler or a newcomer hoping to snag some impressive catches, this remarkable region offers an exceptional fishing experience you won’t want to miss.

The Sturgeon: A Unique Challenge

Sturgeon are one of the world’s oldest fish species, often characterized by their unique appearance and impressive size. Known for their powerful fight and gentle nature, these fish provide both a thrilling and fulfilling fishing experience. CJ Strike Reservoir and the Snake River is home to healthy populations of white sturgeon making it a prime location for anglers seeking a true adventure.

Abundant Waters at CJ Strike Reservoir

Located just southeast of Boise, CJ Strike Reservoir is renowned for its vast and diverse aquatic ecosystem. Stretching over 20 miles, this reservoir offers a variety of habitats perfect for sturgeon. Anglers can find success in different areas—whether you’re fishing shallow bays, deep channels, or rocky structures. The natural beauty of the surrounding landscape paired with the thrill of going after these formidable fish creates an unforgettable outing.

The waters of CJ Strike are particularly well-suited for sturgeon due to ample forage and optimal spawning conditions. The combination of these factors leads to larger fish and more active feeding times, which translates into a more successful fishing trip.

Accessibility and Ease of Travel

One of the standout features of fishing in southern Idaho is the convenience of travel. The Boise Airport (BOI) is the gateway to your sturgeon fishing adventure, providing multiple daily flights from major cities across the country. Once you’ve arrived, it’s just a short drive to CJ Strike Reservoir, making it easy to transition from air travel to the great outdoors.

With various accommodations available nearby, including campgrounds, lodges, and rental cabins, you can easily set up a home base for your sturgeon fishing expedition. This accessibility means you can spend less time worrying about logistics and more time casting your line.

Local Guides and Resources

For those new to sturgeon fishing or unfamiliar with CJ Strike Reservoir, working with a local guide can enhance your experience significantly. Dedicated professionals know the ins and outs of the water, ensure your safety, and maximize your chances of landing a trophy sturgeon. Many offer half-day and full-day trips tailored to your needs, whether you’re targeting trophy fish or just having fun with friends and family.

Supporting Local Conservation Efforts

Fishing plays a critical role in the conservation of local ecosystems. By participating in sustainable fishing practices and supporting local fishing guides and businesses, you contribute to the preservation of Idaho’s natural resources. This commitment ensures that future generations will also have the opportunity to enjoy sturgeon fishing in the beautiful waters of southern Idaho.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for an exciting fishing destination, look no further than southern Idaho and CJ Strike Reservoir. With its bountiful sturgeon population, beautiful scenery, ease of access from Boise Airport, and excellent local support, this area is truly the ultimate sturgeon fishing destination in the West.

So pack your gear, book your travel to Boise, and get ready for an unforgettable sturgeon fishing adventure in southern Idaho. Don’t forget to visit jonessportfishing.com for tips, guides, and everything else you need to make your fishing trip a success!

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Discover the Ultimate Sturgeon Fishing Experience in Idaho

When it comes to sturgeon fishing, few places can rival the breathtaking beauty and abundant opportunities found in Idaho. At Jones Sport Fishing, we’re here to highlight the incredible areas we fish for sturgeon and explain why your next fishing adventure should take you to the heart of Idaho’s pristine waters.

Why Choose Idaho for Sturgeon Fishing?

Idaho is home to some of the most stunning landscapes and ecosystems in the United States. With rivers and lakes teeming with fish, it’s no wonder that sturgeon fishing has become a must-do activity for anglers from all over the nation. Here are several reasons why sturgeon fishing in Idaho should be at the top of your destination list:

  1. Year-Round Fishing Opportunities: Unlike many fishing destinations, Idaho offers anglers the unique opportunity to fish for sturgeon year-round. This means that no matter the season, there’s always a chance to hook into these magnificent fish.
  2. Expert Guidance from Local Professionals: At Jones Sport Fishing, our experienced guides are familiar with the local waters and know the best spots for sturgeon fishing. They are equipped with the latest techniques and tips to ensure that you have a successful outing.
  3. Diverse Fishing Locations: We fish in a variety of areas that are perfect for sturgeon, including American Falls, CJ Strike Reservoir, the King Hill area, and the lower end of Hell’s Canyon. These waters not only boast robust sturgeon populations but also offer beautiful scenery, making your fishing experience both enjoyable and memorable.
  4. Catch and Release Practices: Our commitment to sustainable fishing means that we promote catch and release practices, ensuring that the sturgeon population remains healthy for future generations. You can enjoy the thrill of catching a sturgeon while knowing that you’re helping conserve Idaho’s natural resources.

Prime Sturgeon Fishing Areas in Idaho

At Jones Sport Fishing, we target several key locations renowned for their sturgeon fishing potential:

  • Snake River in Southern Idaho: We target the Snake River South East of Boise Idaho in the CJ Strike area, and the Snake River between CJ Strike Dam and the town of Bliss. This is one of the best natural spawning areas in the Snake River for white sturgeon and is our flagship area for sturgeon fishing in Idaho. One of our owners, Brett Jones guided the current Idaho catch and release state record holder to his awesome catch here. That fish measuring 10’4” as of the date this was written still stands as the record for Idaho.
  • Lower Hells Canyon: The lower end of Hell’s Canyon is a top destination for sturgeon anglers. Located near the towns of Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington, This area offer fantastic sturgeon fishing in the lower end of Americas deepest canyon. Catch rates here are not as high as the Souther Idaho or American Falls areas, but hooking and landing multiple big fish in a day is definitely a possibility. There are some very large sturgeon in this area, and added bonus of fantastic smallmouth bass fishing can be combined to any sturgeon trip in this area from April – October. Also during the months of September-March multi day trips can be arranged that target salmon or steelhead one day, and Sturgeon the next.
  • American Falls: This is probably the best location we offer for overall numbers of fish caught. The American Falls Sturgeon area offer a very high catch rate for fish that are generally between 3-7 feet with fish over 8 feet in length caught on occasion, but not at the rate of our other areas. The high catch rate in this area is perfect for kids.

Preparing for Your Sturgeon Fishing Adventure

If you’re ready for an unforgettable sturgeon fishing adventure, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

  • Dress Appropriately: Since sturgeon can be caught year-round, be sure to dress for the weather conditions. Layers are essential, especially during the cooler months. During cold weather make sure to bring waders so you can get in the water with these awesome fish and get that perfect picture.
  • Stay Hydrated and Energized: Fishing can be a physically demanding activity, so stay hydrated and bring snacks to keep your energy levels up throughout the day.

Conclusion

Idaho is a sturgeon fishing paradise waiting to be explored. With year-round fishing opportunities, stunning scenery, and experienced local guides, there’s no better place for anglers to embark on their next fishing adventure. Visit Jonessportfishing.com today to book your guided trip and discover the thrill of sturgeon fishing in Idaho—where every catch is a story waiting to be told!

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Is Winter the best time for Idaho Sturgeon?

Without a doubt the number one question we get in our office is “when is the best time to fish for sturgeon?” While the question seems simple our answer isn’t always as cut and dry. Through our conversations with customers we try and get an idea of what kind of trip they are looking for and what time of year might be the best to recommend, this isn’t always easy to do, as Idaho sturgeon fishing is good year round. Seasonal movements for spawning, and feeding often determine what areas we fish, and our guides are tuned into these cues and will put you on the best areas possible.

With all that said if folks are simply looking to catch a pile of sturgeon and have a great day out of the house the winter and early spring months of December-March are consistently some of our best for catching numbers of fish. The winter might not be the favorite time for getting in the water and swimming with your catch, but the fish are in predictable patterns and our guides consistently get on good numbers of fish. Fishing has been fantastic the last few weeks, so if looking for a winter adventure and fishing is more your thing don’t hesitate to give us a call or check out our online calendar under the book online tab.

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Fall Into Great Sturgeon Fishing

The days are getting shorter, hunting seasons are open, and temperatures are dropping. This means one of the best times of year to chase sturgeon is upon us. Fall is one of the absolute best times of year to catch sturgeon as they feed heavily to stock up on critical fat reserves that will get them through the cold winter months ahead.

All of our sturgeon fisheries fish great during the Fall. Now is prime time for both our Southern Idaho area’s and Hells Canyon. Fall is also one of the best times of year to add some additional fishing opportunities onto your Sturgeon trip. In Southern Idaho Crappie and Perch fishing can be done on the same day with sturgeon, and in Hells Canyon we can easily do a sturgeon and steelhead combo trip. We can’t think of a better trip then catching world famous Snake River Steelhead in addition to battling huge Sturgeon.

We currently have openings in both Southern Idaho and Hells Canyon, so if you have been thinking of a sturgeon trip with us it’s not too late in the year, and you may end up on one of our best trips of the year.

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Jones Sport Fishing Catches Idaho State Record Sturgeon

On Friday Idaho Fish and Game announced that on August 5th, 2022 the State Catch and Release Record had been broken. This amazing fish measuring 10’4” and was caught by Jones Sport Fishing customers Greg and Angie Poulsen who were on board Brett Jones’s boat on CJ Strike Reservoir. This is the second catch and release state record Brett Jones has been a part of. He is also the record holder rainbow trout for a beast of a rainbow caught out of American Falls Reservoir.

This record fish was just icing on the cake for an already incredible day. In addition to landing the record fish Greg and Angie also landed a 9’11”, 9’1”, and multiple other fish over 8 feet.

Brett, who has boated hundreds of sturgeon said this fish was like nothing he had ever seen before, and was just in awe by its overall size. Fish like this one are extremely rare, as this is the only 10 foot plus fish that Jones Sport Fishing has ever landed.

Sturgeon fishing in Idaho is an incredible experience and is a bucket list trip for many. At Jones Sport Fishing we offer sturgeon fishing year round in several locations throughout Idaho. Covering the Snake River in Southern Idaho, as well as the lower end of Hells Canyon. If you are interested you owe it to yourself to give our office a call at 208-669-1569 and Dani will get you all set up and answer any questions you may have.

Click the following link to check out Idaho Fish and Games press release https://idfg.idaho.gov/press/monster-sturgeon-tops-state-record-list

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How To Rig Up For Sturgeon

Just wanted to take a chance to share with everyone a recent video we uploaded to our YouTube Channel. In this video guide Joe Weisner, one of the fishiest dudes we have ever met, give a quick rundown on how he rigs up for sturgeon on the Snake River in Southern Idaho. Keep in mind we are fishing from boats, and this rigging may or may not work well for bank anglers. We have landed hundreds of fish with this set up, and it works very well for us.

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Snake River Spring Sturgeon

We often get asked what our favorite thing to fish for is, and I bet if you asked all of our guides you would get a different answer from each of them. One thing though that we all agree on is that Sturgeon Fishing on the Snake River in the Spring is an awesome experience.

Spring is a time of revival. The river canyon is waking up from its winter sleep and life is all around. Green grass can be seen on the hillsides where in only a few short weeks summer will be set in and the canyon walls will be locked into their dry brown look again. Just like the grasses and the birds, the sturgeon are waking up too. These fish have spent most of the winter in deep holding water feeding on whatever merger resources they can find, and now with the warming water they are on the hunt for food. Along with a search for food is an urge to spawn, and many of our fish are traveling the river system to find their spawning grounds.

Spring is definitely a movement period for these fish, and every day is an adventure in finding fish. It’s amazing how much some of these fish can move day to day, and equally amazing how some seem to stay in certain holes, content to live their lives in one sweet spot.

During the spring we often see some of our best fishing of the year in our Hells Canyon Fishery, as for some reason this time of year tends to concentrate a large number of fish in the general vicinity of Heller Bar. Spring is also a great time of year for our Southern Idaho fishery’s, but it tends to just mark the beginning of an awesome season.

If you are looking for a sturgeon adventure in Hells Canyon or southern Idaho make sure to get with us. We are full time professional fishing guides and we strive to make your trip special. We provide all fishing gear and even cook you a hot lunch on the boat.

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Fantastic Crappie and Sturgeon fishing at CJ Strike!

The absolute lights out winter crappie and perch fishing continues at CJ Strike Reservoir. Located only an hour south of Boise, Idaho this is a truly special place for anglers in southern idaho who are looking for a local get away close to home. One of the best things about CJ Strike is the diversity of this fishery. On any day we can target Crappie, Perch, Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, huge White Sturgeon, and the ever present fantastic Rainbow Trout Fishery.

Lately our boats have been focusing on the Crappie, Perch, and white sturgeon. We had 2 boats out last Saturday and between them they took 200 crappie and caught and released 12 sturgeon, with the largest fish going 9’1”.

We have been finding all our crappie suspended over deep water. Most of the crappie schools tend to be suspend from 30-50 feet over both deep water flats, and deep water humps. On the flats the fish tend to be moving around a lot, and the schools come and go very quickly, but on the humps fish are tending to hold in the same area all day. This makes these bunches of fish very accessible.

We have also noticed that schools of fish that are more related to the bottom tend to have a bunch more perch in them and provide some awesome mixed bag fishing.

Currently we are finding fish in all parts of the reservoir. Most people relate the narrows as the epicenter of the crappie and perch fishing on CJ Strike, but we have been finding huge piles of fish up the Snake Arm as well. CJ is a huge place, so if fishing around other boats is not your cup of tea then get out and explore. You will be greatly rewarded. Below is a video of Brett giving a quick rundown on how he is targeting these large schools of fish.

We have boats available most days to get you out fishing, and the best thing about CJ is that it’s a year round fishery, so if your more in warm weather adventures make sure to get you spring and summer trips lined up now before we get super busy.

If your ready to book, or just want to talk to us about a trip, please give our office a call at 208-669-1569 or click the green book online button at the top of the page. We can’t wait to get you out on the water.

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Sturgeon Fishing and Relaxing on the River

Snake River Sturgeon

The past few weeks have seen us transition from our intense up at 2am, fishing at daylight spring Chinook routine to a much more laid back approach sturgeon fishing, bass fishing, and enjoying the beauty of the lower end of Hell’s Canyon.  We have been having a blast catching fish ranging from 4-9 foot sturgeon and averaging 50 + bass/ day.  The month of June is a time of year we look forward to every year, when we wind down a little and enjoy the river around us a little more.  While we may start our days a little later and take in the scenery more often we are still fishing hard!  The huge white Sturgeon of Hell’s Canyon will test your strength to the core.  For those of you who have ever done battle with an 8 foot prehistoric giant of a fish you know what I am talking about!  Many people walk away from our Sturgeon trips saying that it was one of the best times they have ever had fishing!  We invite you to enjoy a day on the water with us and let us show you how special of a place we call home and what its flagship fish have to offer.  For the rest of the month of June we are offering Catch and Release Sturgeon trips in Hell’s Canyon.  Give us a call or check out the rest of our website for more information on these great trips.  This is the perfect outing for family’s and people just looking to take in some sun and enjoy a relaxing day on the water.

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Snake River Sturgeon
Snake River Sturgeon

Snake River Sturgeon
Snake River Sturgeon

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Snake River Sturgeon and Bass Fishing Report 5/30/16

Snake River Sturgeon

We had the great fortune yesterday to spend a wonderful day on the Snake River near Heller Bar chasing oversize catch and release sturgeon and small mouth bass.  Both the sturgeon and bass fishing can be fantastic this time of year and spending warm late spring days in the canyon is a real treat.  We landed a total of 4 sturgeon with one being a very nice 6 foot fish that gave everyone in the family a chance to try to pull him in.  We also put a whacking on the prolific bass in the area.  I think our total for the day was close to 50 fish landed.  Most of these bass are on the smaller side ranging from 6-12 inches, but the action is non stop.

The Sturgeon and Bass fishing will remain very good for the next few months and we will be out chasing them.  We also offer a chance at keeper sturgeon on the Columbia River in the Hanford Reach.  If you are looking for a fantastic dedicated sturgeon trip I really recommend fishing this area with us.

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