Brownlee-Oxbow-Hells Canyon Reservoirs
You could call Brownlee-Oxbow-Hells Canyon a complex of reservoirs.
The dams were built for
power generation, and the water is primarily managed for power demands, but
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Brownlee Reservoir - August 2004
the fishing on these impounded waters is excellent. Brownlee is the first reservoir
in the line-up. Then comes Oxbow, then
Hells Canyon. Altogether there are 95 miles of slack water.
Brownlee Reservoir itself is
40 miles long.
Brownlee is a warm water fishery, and the fishing is fantastic
for Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, and Catfish. Rainbow Trout also roam
these waters. Fishermen love Brownlee and some call it the best fishery
in the State of Idaho.
Everyone can find a fishing passtime here. Kids can
catch Crappie and Smallmouth Bass from the docks. The tailwaters below the dams
have great numbers of big trout. Hardcore tourney style Bass fishermen ply the waters
with their high tech fishing platforms (Bass Boats). There are some Bass fishing
tournaments here during the summer. Leisurely boating for Crappie schools is a favorite
on these waters. Bank fishing for Catfish is very good too. The Catfishing is especially
good at the head end of Brownlee where the Snake river runs in.
Idaho Power has provided some wonderful camping facilities along these Reservoirs.
The campground just above the dam, on Brownlee Reservoir,
is one of the nicest around. Check it out for some great camping and fishing.
Water levels fluctuate on these reservoirs due to the
needs of the power generators and flood control managers.
Fishing is good in the Spring as soon as the water
warms up a little, and then stays good all summer. The fish do go deeper
with warmer water.
A boat is helpful on Brownlee Reservoir as there is little access on the shore.
This is a canyon type of reservoir. The sides of the hills are steep
and the lake bottom topography is steep also. There is not a lot of
structure, but the fish will hang out near the points, bays, and
old stream channels. A depth finder is helpful.
If you don't have a boat don't worry. A lot of fish
can be caught off the boat dock or off shore. Many fishermen catch bucket
loads of crappie off the docks.
If you have a boat find a school of crappie and jig with plastic baits. Ask
around for the best bait. White and chartreuse grubs have been good.
Good old fashioned worms work great for Bass, Crappie, and Catfish.
The Fish
These warmer waters hold Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass,
Crappie, Rainbow Trout, Coho, Bluegill, Perch, Bullhead,
Channel Catfish.
Oxbow and Hells Canyon hold primarily Smallmouth and Rainbows.
Fishing Reports for Brownlee Reservoir, Oxbow,
and Hells Canyon
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April 2
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2008 |
Name: Erich
Water Temp: 46-52
A friend and I fished Brownlee for about 30 smallies.
It started slow with a fish every 20 min. on plastics until the sun started warming
the water. Aroung 10 am, we started getting fish to 2.5 pounds on deep crankbaits and
after noon the fish to 3.75 pounds moved onto the bank and were slamming spinnerbaits.
The tourn. guys are doing
better than us but it is hard to complain about the day we had. All fish released.
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June 16
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2007 |
Name: Drew
Date: 6/15/07 through 6/17/07
Water Temp: 70 degrees F
We fished the new moon in June and if the wind wasn't
blowing the fishing was alright. It was actually great as the sun set and
got better in the dark. We caught 30-40 crappie each day but caught the
majority of them just before dark. During the day we were able to catch
some really nice crappie trolling 2 miles per hour with any white or pearl
colored crankbait. The active crappie were right on shore or right on the
surface suspended. We used jigs in the evening and did the best with a 1/8
ounce red and white tube jig. Catfish and smallmouth bass were caught
occasionally using the same techniques as the crappie. The crappie averaged
twelve inches.
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May 13
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2007 |
Bass fishing is pretty good with the warming temps. I'd use dark colored plasics,
crankbaits, and spinnerbaits. Try drop-shotting small finesse worms if all else fails.
The crappie have started to pick up as the weather warms. Once you find a fish,
stay on the school using your fish finder. I'd fish roadrunner type lures to find
'em, then 2-jig rigs.
Catfishing has picked up at the upper end of the lake. Cutbait and worms are
the hot ticket right now, but crickets will work too.
This fishing report courtesy of the fine folks at
www.idafish.com
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April 6
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2007 |
Name: Erich
Water Temp: 53-59
Brownlee is fishing very well. I caught 40 plus fish on
spinnerbaits, crankbaits, senkos, and a darterhead reaper. The bite lasted all
day and all but 5 or so fish were keepers.
Biggest was about 3 1/2 pounds and the average fish was 14" and fat as can be.
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2/25/05
A few trout, smallmouth, and crappie being caught. They
are bunched up an usually down 20 to 40 feet, so says the IDFG.
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3/26/05
Fishing is warming up with the weather. Crappie, bass, and catfish are biting.
Also, trout are being taken on bait below the Brownlee dam.
Water level about 2 feet down.
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4/08/05
Nice fish (trout) are being roped in below the Brownlee Dam.
This is one of my Dad's favorite fishing spots. There is some
heavy current, and real deep places, but I hear there are some real
good fish too.
Warm water fish are starting to bite in Oxbow and Hell's Canyon.
Fishguy
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4/08/05
Air Temp 50
Water Temp 40
Water Clarity - Cloudy Brown
Fishing Report: The fishing was terrible the only fish caught were 4
smallmouth bass the whole day, which was between 10:00am to about 6:30pm.
The weather was raining and windy. The water was choppy. It just isn't a
great time to fish.
Jackel Bass
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4/23/05
Name: Tom Laney
Lake: Brownlee - Hells Canyon
Air Temp: 68
Water Temp 54
Water Clarity and Color : Cloudy - green
Fishing Report: A few real good crappie north of Mountain Man along rock
bluffs. Using black/red splittail bass jigs. about 20' deep. my buddie dave hooked my right ear...
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4/21/05
Name: Nick
Air Temp: 64
Water Temp 59
Water Clarity and Color Somewhat clear - brown(dirty)
Fishing Report:
Slayed the crappie! Also caught our fair share of bass,
perch, and even a few nice cats. Fished primarily the rock creek area in about
12-18' of water with 11/2" tubes of about any color, both on the bottom,
and under a slip bobber (about 10') down. Tipped most with nibblets, but did
very well with minnow pieces as well.
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4/29/05 to 5/1/05
Name: Michael
Lake: Brownlee
Air Temp: 60
Water Temp 57
Water Clarity and Color Clear
Fishing Report: We were catching 30 to 40 keeper bass each morning and night.
Best times were 8am to 11am and 4pm to 7pm. Each day I landed at least two or three
fish that were 18 inches or over. Landed three of them that were over 4 pounds
and one that was 5 pounds. Lots of fish 14 inches to 16 inches weighing 2 to 3 pounds.
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5/7/05
Fishing was slow it was cold and raining .
I caught two small catfish one crappie and one bass .
Upper Brownlee at Steck Park. Nice campground.
Bill W.
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June/07/05
Crappie fishing is fair to good after the spawn but the fish are generally big.
The fish are scattered so use searching lures like roadrunners
(jig with a blade behind the head) and trolling shad raps.
Jig fish small jigs with a crappie nibble for flavor if you find a school.
I hear there are some nice perch being caught as well in the Powder River Arm.
Try small (1/32 to 1/64th oz.) crappie jigs, and sweeten them with crappie nibbles. FISH SLOW!!!
Bass fishing is pretty really good. Crankbaits,
plastics and spinnerbaits are all producing well.
Catfishing is good. Try fresh crappie chunks, Mormon Crickets,
and/or worms in the upper lake around Spring boat ramp and Farewell Bend.
Fish where there is some current in the water for best results. If you are
further down the lake, fish the alluvial fan edges and drop offs.
This fishing report courtesy of the fine folks at
www.idafish.com
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June 21, 2005
Crappie fishing is fair to good after the spawn but the fish are generally
big this year. The fish are scattered so use searching lures like roadrunners
(jig with a blade behind the head) and/or trolling shad raps and other rapala
type lures. Jig fish small jigs with a crappie nibble for flavor if you find a school.
I hear there are some nice perch being caught in the Powder River Arm.
Try small (1/32 to 1/64th oz.) crappie jigs, and sweeten them with crappie
nibbles or worms. FISH SLOW!!!
Bass fishing is awesome right now. Crankbaits, plastics and spinnerbaits are all producing well.
Catfishing is good. Try fresh crappie chunks, Mormon Crickets,
and/or worms in the upper lake around Spring boat ramp
and Farewell Bend. Fish where there is some current in the
water for best results. If you are further down the lake,
fish the alluvial fan edges and drop offs.
This fishing report courtesy of the fine folks at
www.idafish.com
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June 23, 2005
Name: Erich
Lake: Brownlee Reservoir
Air Temp: 85
Water Temp : ?
Water Clarity and Color : Somewhat clear - brown(dirty)
Fishing Report:
Three guys in one boat caught 20 plus smallies and one nice crappie
in 4 hrs of fishing.(8-noon) On the water a little late but caught
all fish on hand poured plastics, splitshot in 5-15' of water. Fish
ran from 12"-16". E
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July 17, 2005
Brownlee Reservoir
Crappie fishing is fair. The fish are generally big this year.
They fish are scattered so use searching lures like roadrunners
(jig with a blade behind the head) and/or trolling shad raps and
other rapala type lures. Jig fish small jigs with a crappie nibble
for flavor if you find a school.
Bass fishing is decent by Brownlee standards right now, but not red hot
(other than the weather. Crankbaits, plastics, and spinnerbaits are all
producing well. The tourney yesterday had 30+ boats with all boats weighing
limits. The big fish was 3.5 pounds +/- so don't expect hogs.
Catfishing is good. Try fresh crappie chunks, Mormon Crickets,
and/or worms in the upper lake around Spring boat ramp and Farewell
Bend. Fish where there is some current in the water for best results.
If you are further down the lake, fish the alluvial fan edges and drop offs.
This fishing report courtesy of the fine folks at
www.idafish.com
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August 4, 2005
Fishing for Bass and Smallies is fair to good. Best times are
early morning and evening, when it is cooler.
Stay away from the Catfish until the F & G figures out what is
going on with the poor guys.
Fishguy
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November 6, 2005
Bass fishing is still fair to good in this fall season.
The lake is filling up. Folks are also catching some catfish, perch, and crappie.
Fish deeper.
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November 28, 2005
Brownlee Reservoir
Crappie fishing is slowing, but it can still be good if you can find
the schools. The schools are scattered so use searching lures like roadrunners
(jig with a blade behind the head) and/or trolling shad raps and other rapala
type lures. Jig fish small jigs with a crappie nibble for flavor if you find a school.
Bass fishing is slow right now. Drop shotting, finesse plastics,
and spinnerbaits are all producing well.
Trout fishing has picked up, troll pop-gear with a wedding ring and worm or a flatlined rapala.
This Brownlee Reservoir fishing report courtesy of the fine folks at
www.idafish.com
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March 25
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2006 |
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Brownlee Reservoir is down about 50 feet this week, and dropping.
Fishing is slow. The only accessible boat ramp is at Woodhead Park.
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March 30
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2006 |
Reported by: Erich
Water Temp: 46-48
Fishing Report:
Well, after moving to Idaho 3 years ago, I finally
made it to Brownlee. With high expectations I hit the water at 7 am. IT was
one of the best days fishing I ever had. I had a small limit of smallmouth
by 7:30, by 8:30 I had culled my limit to 15" or better with a six pound
kicker. By 9am I added a four pounder. The bite continued strong until 11am
and then picked up again just before I left at 2pm. I released the two big
gals to spawn, they were all egged up. My livewell was full of crawdad parts
from the fish. They were all caught in 8-12' of water on reaction baits.
The guy at the bait shop said fishing was tough as did the "Statesman" but
I burned a whole roll of film today that says otherwise.
Erich
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April 7
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2006 |
Name: Tyler
Water Temp: 45-51
Fishing Report:
A couple buddies and I tried our luck on brownlee
and oxbow this past weekend and were amazed by the quality of fish we caught.
Started out on brownlee on the 7th at about 7:30 and had 8 fish or so by 8:30
with a couple over three pounds, caught on crankbaits in 8-12 feet. We moved
down river to oxbow for the afternoon about a mile below the dam where the
water calmed down and caught over 50 fish in the one to two pound range
and an occasional three pounder, on crankbaits in 6-12 foot of water. Good times!
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April 30
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2006 |
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Fishing is up and down, like the water (mostly down).
I've had some decent reports on crappie and bass, but
the wild fluctuations of the reservoir levels make
this a crap shoot. Catfishing has been pretty good near
Steck Park. Most of the ramps are unusable right now.
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May 23
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2006 |
I believe all ramps are usable now. Bass fishing is great right now.
Plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits have been best. Drop-shotting and
suspending jerk baits are also working great. Crappie are scattered, but
big. I heard or 2 that went 15 and 16 inches last week. Troll rapalas
or roadrunners till you find a school of crappie then get busy.
Catfishing has been good in the upper end of the lake. Worms, crickets,
and cutbait are the hot ticket.
This Brownlee Reservoir fishing report courtesy of the fine folks at
www.idafish.com
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June 10, 11, 12
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2006 |
Name: Drew
Water Temp: 70 F
Fishing Report:
Three friends and myself went to Brownlee and really
struggled. I have been there before many times this time of year and did well.
It may have been the full moon or the low pressure system that came through
but we really worked hard for our fish. We caught a few fish trolling #7
rapalas. Most of our fish however were caught drifting and casting tipped
with yellow or white crappie nibbles. We all bought red and white jigs
(the "hot" color) but they did not catch one single fish. We caught our
fish on white/chartreuse or red head chartreuse body and white tail. We
ended up with 50 fish total for the three days. Most of them were 11-15
inch crappie. We also caught 2 really nice small mouth bass (16 inches)
and 10 nice channel catfish. It was a nice trip however but the fishing
was really slow. The crappie were in 30-40 feet of water and suspended
at 15-20 feet.
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July 8
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2006 |
Name: Dale
Water Temp: 77
We arrived late to the lake. Started fishing around
10:00 am and fished till 2:00 pm. Caught several small smallmouth bass,
couple of bluegill and one crappie. Afraid to admit the most consistant
was regular worms. The crappie was on a yellow jig.
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June 29
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2006 |
Full and stable, the lake is starting to fish really well.
Bass are hitting about anything. Crappie are scattered, but when you
find 'em they are nice sized. The reports I got were 8 or 9 crappie per guy.
Try trolling shad-raps to find the fish.
Catfishing has been good in the upper end of the lake. Worms, crickets, and
cutbait are the hot ticket.
This Brownlee Reservoir fishing report courtesy of the fine folks at
www.idafish.com
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August 7
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2006 |
HOT! The lake is almost full, the lake is starting to fish really well.
Bass are hitting about anything. Crappie are scattered, but when you find 'em
they are nice sized. Try trolling shad-raps or small spoons to find the fish.
Catfishing has been good in the upper end of the lake. Worms, crickets,
and cutbait are the hot ticket.
This Brownlee Reservoir fishing report courtesy of the fine folks at
www.idafish.com
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August 22
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2006 |
Name: Robert
Reservoir was down about 20 ft. fishing was good for cat fish, biting on worms,
largest 3.50 lbs. bass fair one 14" and one 13" caught on worms. No sign of crappie.
Brownlee fishing report courtesy of the fine folks at
www.idafish.com
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Nov 19
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2006 |
Bass fishing is o.k. on dark plasics. Try drop-shotting small finesse worms.
Catfishing has been decent in the upper end of the lake.
Worms, crickets, and cutbait are the hot ticket.
Brownlee fishing report courtesy of the fine folks at
www.idafish.com
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Send in a Brownlee Reservoir Fishing Report.
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