Jack’s Creek Campground – Bruneau Arm of CJ Strike Reservoir
Our latest quest to this campground was fueled by the need for vengeance against what we suspect was a colossal Catfish that rudely snatched our fishing line during our last visit. As luck would have it, we chose to venture there on a work day, resulting in a delightfully deserted campground with an embarrassment of camping spot riches. Let me break down the various campsites for you and shed some light on their unique features. Who knows, it might just help future visitors pick the prime real estate for their camping escapades!
Discover Campsite #1 – Sandy Shallows
This campsite was like finding a hidden treasure map in the back of a dusty old book – the first road to the left when driving into the campground felt like our own secret passage to adventure. We eagerly scoped out the prime real estate, securing the first spot on the left, like claiming the biggest slice of cake at a party. As we set up camp just before dark, we were greeted by the squad of mosquitoes, as thick as a cloud of witnesses at a juicy scandal. But lo and behold, the cold overnight temps turned out to be our silent heroes, banishing the pesky insects like a superhero with a can of bug spray. Excited to dip our toes in the water, we discovered a beachy sand paradise with no sneaky rocks or surprise drop-offs – jackpot! However, our grand plans of night fishing quickly turned into a comedy of errors, leaving us questioning whether the fish were just playing a clever game of hide-and-seek.
Since we stumbled in at dusk, we scrambled to set up our camp for the night and flung our Hellcat catfishing rods into the water with some bait, fully expecting a fishy feast. Much to our chagrin, the bait just refused to take the plunge. We remained optimistic, but alas, not a single bite graced us throughout the entire night.
The next morning, in our quest for the elusive fish, we tried an array of baits – from wiggly worms to flashy rooster tails – and yet, not a single bite. Defeated by the fishy indifference, we abandoned our angling ambitions and turned our attention to inflating rafts and beach balls for a much-needed breakfast break. As we finally made our way into the water, expecting a refreshing aquatic adventure, we were met with an unexpected plot twist. Instead of the anticipated deep diving escapade, we found ourselves leisurely strolling for what felt like an eternity, barely getting our ankles wet. It turns out, we were treading on nothing but sand with sporadic pebbles, no wonder the fish weren’t taking the bait! We made the most of the situation though, as it turned out to be the perfect playground for the kids and even our furry companions. The shallow, current-free waters provided the ideal setting for some carefree water frolics, much to the delight of young and old alike.
Since we were there for a mix of fishing and water shenanigans, we eventually decided after the second night to pack up and skedaddle to another spot before the weekend warriors overrun the place. The next part will delve into that spot and the escapade there. As for this spot, if your main goal is swimming, rafting, and water frolic, this place was the bomb – remote and a blast. But if you’re all about the fishing life, steer clear of this place like it’s ground zero for a fish pandemic!
Discover Campsite #2: Embark on the Rocky Road to Fishing Paradise!
So we decided to pull up stakes after the second night and stumbled upon a gem of a spot further down the road, just before you hit the boat dock. It was nestled on the left side, approximately 3 campsites away from the dock nestled in the rear of that quaint cove. We had room to spare for the tent trailer, canopy tent, car, you name it. There were even two primo fishing spots, one of which was perfect for a little aquatic frolicking!
Packing up camp to move just 3 minutes down the road felt like preparing for a cross-country expedition, but hey, we made it! While I twiddled my thumbs waiting for my hubby to make a quick run to the corner store in Bruneau, I thought, why not test my luck with a fishing rod? I started with the flashy rooster tail, got zilch, and then, in a stroke of genius (or laziness), I went with the classic worm-on-a-rod technique, complete with a jingling bell. Lo and behold, the bell jingled, and there it was – a tiny Yellow Perch dangling at the end of my line, just what I needed for some prime Catfish bait. Who knew camping could be this entertaining?
After hubby returned, he was thrilled to see our fishing luck take a U-turn, but as luck would have it, it was high noon and the kids were turning into little human torches, so we had to take the plunge. This spot seemed to attract more waves than a rock concert, and the lakebed was rockier than a teenager’s path to maturity. We ventured out and were amazed by how far we could tread, but soon found ourselves entangled in more weeds than a procrastinating gardener about 30 feet from the shore. The kids stuck to the safety of the shore, up to their usual shenanigans, while I tried my luck fishing from the water. Armed with my trusty rooster tail, I suddenly found myself in a tug of war with an aquatic behemoth. After countless screams and chaos, I triumphantly reeled in a colossal Smallmouth Bass! Feeling like a conqueror, we geared up for the nocturnal fish fest.
For the nocturnal nibble, we tossed out our finest cut bait and dangled some juicy worms on our daintiest rods, all the way into the wee hours of the morning. The old ball and chain managed to reel in a wee Channel Catfish and a Bullhead catfish, but overall it was as quiet as a mouse. Still, we were chuffed to bits with our modest fishy catch!
We woke up the next morning ready to show those fish who’s boss! After catching another perch for some cut bait, we decided to play in the water, wading in and casting our lines. Lo and behold, we reeled in yet another Smallmouth Bass on the very same rooster tail! Looks like someone’s got a taste for fashion. 🐟
The second night of fishing turned out to be a bit like a sloth on a Monday morning. Hubby managed to persuade a Smallmouth Bass to join the party using a worm, while I successfully lured a Bullhead Catfish with a worm as well. Unfortunately, our Hellcat rods decided to take a nap and we missed our chance to conquer the monster at CJ Strike, leaving us feeling as gloomy as a goldfish in a bowl.
After enduring four nights of camping, we finally caved in and surrendered to the weekend warriors. It was time to bid adieu to the great outdoors, embrace the luxury of home showers, scrub the trailer clean, and gear up for our next escapade.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, I’ve got to say, the second campsite was a blast! It was like they read our minds and set it up just for us, you know? But hey, if you’re all about paddling in the water and couldn’t care less about fishing, that first spot was pure gold! It was like having your own secret swimming hideout. Drop us a line if you end up checking out the area, and let us know if these tales of adventure guide you on your quest!
Idaho Offgrid Adventures 
Leave a comment