06-18-2011, 05:23 PM
The wife and I just got back from Brownlee (Steck Park) yesterday. We camped and bank fished from the 8th of June to late night the 16th. We caught some nice cats, both channel and flatheads. They ranged between 3 and 12 lbs with most about 6 or 7 lbs. With the rising water, things were a bit slow but the bites came in short spurts throughout the day and the one night we fished late the big channel cats were hitting pretty consistently. Our biggest fish came from about 3 miles or so below Steck Park during the early afternoon. We had the best luck on cut bait but caught some nice fish on worms as well. We tried chicken liver but it only attracted pike minnows (squawfish) and chubs. We also landed a few smallmouth bass on the worms but only one keeper that went 13".
In the early evenings when the wind was not blowing, the crappie would feed at the surface close to shore in 5 -10 feet of water and I found them easy pickings if I spot cast to individual fish with tube jigs. I tried several color combos but the only thing that worked was something with brown in it.
When we left, the boat ramp at Steck was just barely in the water but there is quite a drop-off at the very end of the ramp so I don't think it was usable yet. The larger ramp just below Steck was usable, however.
We're debating whether or not to go back for more or try somewhere for some trout. Any trout reports from SW Idaho?
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