First Experience – Women with Bait Steelhead Fishing Tournament
March 18th, 2012 | No Comments
Women with Bait Steelhead Fishing Tournament. Susan Olson with Bait Boy and her steelhead catch
I was recently invited to fill an empty spot on a steelhead fishing adventure to the Salmon River outside of Riggins as one of my friend’s prior attendees was unable to make the trip. My friend had arranged to participate in the Women with Bait Steelhead Fishing Tournament held each year in Riggins.
This was my first time. There are six slots available per boat and the boat is provided along with a captain and a “bait boy” – yes, that is what they refer to him as. Three of us were professional women from Boise, one was retired, one was a school teacher from A-Rock Oregon (look that up on a map), and one was a school teacher from John Day Oregon.
We all converged upon Riggins Friday evening and stayed at the delightful Best Western right on the river complete with a hot tub and swimming pool as well as pleasant hosts. We were on the river with our poles in the water by 8:30 AM on Saturday morning. We had until 5:00 PM sharp to land our fish.
It was a tough day of fishing with muddy, cloudy water and rain, snow, and wind but we powered through and the heaters within the covered shelter on the boat gave us refuge from the elements and time to warm up and devour our snacks and beverages as the captain gave us a wonderful tour of the river in search of the perfect fishing spot.
We saw big horn sheep and at least 100 head of beautiful elk along the hillsides throughout the day. In total, we landed 4 fish. Mine was 33 inches and I caught it at 4:10 PM. You could call it a day of a thousand casts. It was completely worth the effort and the thrill of reeling that fish in and landing it on the boat made it all worthwhile.
It was an adventure I might not have otherwise thought to take had a friend not shot me the email invite. I would do it again in a heart beat.
Guest Blogger Susan Olson
Fall Fly Fishing
September 30th, 2011 | No Comments
Fall is prime time for fly fishing trips on Idaho’s blue-ribbon trout streams.
Idaho’s trout get restless during the warm days of the fall spawning season, which is great for all those fly fishers out there. Silver Creek—one of Hemingway’s favorite haunts near Sun Valley, the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, and the Coeur d’Alene River in North Idaho are prime fly fishing locations.
Fishing guides at Castaway Fly Fishing Shop in Coeur d’Alene say the trout fishing is outstanding in the fall months because of consistent weather, dry fly hatches and perfect water conditions. The river current moves slower in the fall, creating more time for anglers to present a fly.
Dry fly fishing for native cutthroat becomes consistent in September and on through October, and the average native cutthroat in Coeur d’Alene is typically 12-15 inches, with some as large as 20 inches. Anglers look forward to the October caddis hatch—large, inch-long bugs that the fish love.
Joe Roope, shop owner at Castaway, said catch-and-release regulations on the Coeur d’Alene River have dramatically improved the fishery. “In the last couple years, the quality of fishing has really accelerated,” Roope said. “The number of fish and the size of fish have increased.”
Fall in Idaho is gorgeous as it is, and once temperatures have cooled to pleasant, a day on the river with the fishing rod is hard to beat. If you’re a newcomer to fly fishing, or are not confident in your fly fishing skills and would like a brush-up on techniques, there are many outfitters who offer guided fishing trips throughout Idaho.
Idaho rivers offer fly fishers an unparalleled experience.
Check out these outfitters for fall fishing trips
- Henry’s Fork Anglers
- Solitude River Trips
- Hughes River Expeditions
- Mackay Wilderness River Trips
- Rocky Mountain River Tours
- Idaho River Journeys
For more information, on fall fly fishing in Idaho, contact the outfitters mentioned here or contact the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association www.ioga.org.
From Desert Darling to Mountain Maven; My Trip to McCall
August 4th, 2011 | 1 Comment
Written by guest blogger Katie Zinn.
Being from Phoenix, AZ means pretty much one thing during this time of year: I’m hot. No, not the flattering, attractive kind of “hot” but rather the 113°, everywhere feels like you’re living in an oven kind of hot. It’s brutal. Thus, when given the opportunity to ditch my scorching desert mountains for the cool, snow-capped peaks of McCall, I was all in.
Having never before traveled anywhere close to the Pacific Northwest, I was clueless on what to expect and thrilled with what I found out. Simply stated: I fell in love. McCall turned out to be the most gorgeous place filled with friendly folks and plenty to keep me busy. Whether I defined “busy” as whipping around the lake on a speedboat or reading a book with a glass of wine on the dock didn’t matter, both options were equally and readily available. As you can imagine, being from a city full of concrete, crowds and climate that (at July 1) feels like I may melt at any given moment I was in awe with all things Idaho and the small town charm of McCall. For anyone who has not yet had the privilege to make the trip to this gem of a Gem State city I urge you to consider it and offer you my must-do’s when in McCall:
- Spend some time on the shores. When planning your trip to McCall the place to stay has to be Shore Lodge, a city institution
since 1948. Stepping through the doors was like stepping into the most fantastic cabin I’d ever seen. The warm environment, friendly staff and endless activities list make this resort the perfect place to experience all things McCall. Favorite parts about my stay include: fresh baked cookies by my bedside each night, eating popcorn while watching a film in McCall’s only movie theater, riding around town on the Lodge’s red beach cruiser bikes, enjoying an incredible pedicure at The Cove spa, touring around Payette Lake on a vintage speed boat and meeting guests while making s’mores at the lakeside campfire. If you truly want the Idaho experience, this place absolutely has it all. - Take a hike. The summer season in McCall is short so when the snow melts enough for you to hit the trails, take advantage and take a hike up Brundage Mountain. Though known for its exceptional ski runs, Brundage also offers hiking trails that are both challenging and stunning. Surround yourself with pine trees and soak up some sunshine as you get your daily workout in on this lakeside beauty.
- Enjoy a meal (or 3 or 4) at the Lake Grill. After an evening flight and a two hour drive from Boise which, by the way, is a gorgeous journey, we were ready to eat and headed here first. Located at the Shore Lodge resort, the patio at Lake Grill sits on the breathtaking shores of Payette Lake. I happily enjoyed a fresh seafood Cobb salad alongside the sunset over the water surrounded by snow tipped mountains. Naturally we returned for breakfast, lunch and a few more dinners- with a view like that and incredible, locally focused-food, this place is a definite must.
- Take a stroll through the streets of Downtown. The city of McCall feels like a scene out of the most adorable Disney movie. With a law that prohibits chain restaurants and businesses from being established, everywhere is locally owned and operated. This makes for unique shopping finds, incredible home-cooked food and warm people that are happy to talk to you about the place that they love. My favorite spots include Foglifter Café for a fresh baked Heath bar cookie and McPaws Thrift Store that operates to fund their local animal shelter.
- Eat huckleberries in every form you can find. Huckleberries are a widespread local fruit, similar to a blueberry but a whole lot better. I ate them every way I possibly could and loved each and every bite. Get your hands on some huckleberry honey, huckleberry barbeque sauce, huckleberry martinis, huckleberry taffy, huckleberry popcorn… I could continue, but I’m starting to salivate.
My journey to McCall was simply magical, filled with unexpected adventure, much needed relaxation and plenty of new-found friends. If you’re looking to beat the heat this summer (as I know all of us desert dwellers are) just follow the river and hit the road north to McCall, Idaho. I’ll certainly be back and hope to see you there.
Redfish Lake Lodge
August 1st, 2011 | 1 Comment
Written by guest blogger Emily Engelhardt.
A place in Idaho, a place in the Sawtooth Mountains, a place in my heart, Redfish Lake Lodge. As I sit here and write this I am reminded of what summer at Redfish Lake is. Its sandy beaches, crystal clear water, families, boating, ice cream, live music on the lawn, laughing, Bloody Mary on a Sunday afternoon, campfires, star gazing, sightseeing….and the list goes on and on.
If you are familiar with the area you probably have your very own favorite activities but if you not, here are some suggested Redfish Lake ‘Bucket Lists:’
If you had one day to spend at Redfish Lake here are some ideas:
- Take a Lady of Lake Tour to learn all about the lake
- Jump off ‘Jump Rock’ with 10,000’’ peaks looming above you
- Enjoy a lunch at the Outdoor Gazebo with ‘Livin’ the Dream’ Soft Serve Ice Cream
- Chase and possibly catch minnows in the warmer, shallow water
- Soak up the fresh mountain air and sun
- Do a back flip off the docks
- Take a stroll on the board walk at the Redfish Visitor’s Center
- Listen to live music on the lawn, lakeside
- Relax on the beach with a good book
- Test your balance on a paddle board
If you had two or more days to spend:
- Take a boat shuttle across the lake for a hike to Lilly Ponds, Alpine Lake, Bench Lake, Saddleback lakes, or the Baron Divide. Relax on the beach
- Listen to live music on the lawn, lakeside
- Rent a paddle board, fishing boat, kayak, canoe, or a paddle boat and feed your adventuress soul.
- Fish the clear waters of the inlet
- Lay under the stars during a meteor shower
- Experience Happy Hour at the Rustic Lounge
- Go whitewater rafting on the Salmon River
- Dive off ‘Jump Rock’ into the clear water at the far end of the lake
- Relax on the beach with a Bloody Mary or a Margarita
- Enjoy a horseback ride to a mountain lake
These Redfish ‘bucket lists’ don’t even come close for experiencing one of the greatest playgrounds! Redfish Lake is very special to many people. It’s a place where families and friends build lasting memories; it’s a place where traditions are created, and most of all it feels like home.
This summer there are many amazing and memorable events happening at the lake. We hope you can make one or all of them.
Here’s to a wonderful summer season!
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