So.....What DOES Idaho offer?

Idaho has many varied fishing opportunities, for all ages, lifestyles and budgets. Among these, just to list a few, are disability accessible rivers, ponds and dams, high mountain lakes, backwoods streams, and wilderness rivers, including the mighty River Of No Return, the Salmon river.

Among the many species of fish found here are, catfish, kokanee, perch, bluegill, crappy, large and smallmouth bass and many varieties of trout. Idaho is also renowned as one of the premier salmon and steelhead areas in the lower 48 states. Combining this with the beautiful scenery of the state makes it a almost unbeatable experience for young and old alike. Being as fall is upon us as i write this, i will began with steelhead fishing, although questions about any other fish are welcome at anytime.

Steelhead---Where to go

There are many locations to fish for this ocean run trout, in this column i will share some of my favorites. This are, respectively, the Salmon, Snake and Clearwater. The Clearwater is easily accessible by boat, car or foot and has the advantage of being nearer to town in case supplies are needed or if you should choose to book a hotel during your stay. The Snake, also easily accessible in most areas, provides many of the same advantages, as well as being a wider deeper river.

     Both are easily navigated in common boats, and easily fished from shore. The Salmon, running for most of its course through rough wilderness areas, is a far wilder river. Carving through deep canyon walls and twisting and turning over boulders and into swift boils and rapids, it is accessed mainly by jetboats, although a dirt road does exist into the upper end. If you choose this river, there are various guide services available for both transportation and accommodations. I would recommend if you are new to the area, to use a guide the first time in, or at least consult some of the locals for an idea as to what to expect for weather conditions, road conditions and gear required.

The Clearwater

The Clearwater is easily accesible by car for its enire length, and is primaraly fished during the high waters of the spring run-off. Although rainy weather can produce muddy waters in the upper ends, particularly in the south fork of the river (Elk City to Kooskia) the river still yeilds up many fish every year. Tackle for this area mainly center around jigs and sammies, often with a egg sack or shrimp tied to them. Another technique that has been gaining acceptance over the years is fishing with a fly rod using larger flys and streamers. The river has several different types of holes, and when deciding upon tackle and gear, the type of hole you intend to fish should be given as much thought as the conditions, for example, some holes are far out in the main channell, making it nearly impossible to drift fish without becoming tangled on the rocks during retrieve. By comparision, with a good set of waders and a fly pole, the hole can be easily covered from top to bottom. (note, there is a excellent E-book available on the subject called Fly Fishing Guidebook wich is has a wealth of knowledge available in it on everything from basics to the most advanced secrets. It can be found here Click Here! It's risk free and definetly worth checking out)
The lower reaches of the river, from Kamiah Towards Lewiston, tend to be more boater-friendly, and can be fished in a variety of manners, back trolled plugs, jigs, trolled spoons and spinners and bait all produce fish.
for the most part, the weather is fairly amniable, and sweatshirts and/or long underwear will suffice. A rain jacket, preferably one with hat and zip in lining, will usually provide sufficient warmth if the weather turns worse.

A Bit About Me..............

Hi, my name is Floyd, I'm a native Idahoan, born and raised and have lived here for 33 years.
My family is a 4rth generation family, and have been in Idaho since the late 1800's. I have always been a avid outdoorsman, and fishing has always been my favorite sport. The purpose for this blog will be to try and share some of my experiences and knowledge about Idahos fishing opportunities and to answer any questions that you may have about it. Please feel free to comment or question, as this will help this blog to grow. Most of all, ENJOY!