Fishing

The best part about the sport of fly-fishing is experiencing the scenery and calmness around you as you are trying to hook your trophy fish. Idaho has many great places where you can find some solitude while fly-fishing. In fact, the vast expanses that surround the rivers and streams in Idaho provide you with some of the most relaxing solitude anywhere not to mention some of the most scenic country you will ever experience.

One of the best parts about the sport of fly-fishing is experiencing the scenery and calmness around you as you are trying to land your trophy fish. Idaho is a great place to find some solitude while fly-fishing. In fact, the vast expanses that surround the rivers and streams in Idaho provide you with some of the most relaxing solitude anywhere.

"Gibson Dam, the principal structure of the Sun River Project, is on the Sun River, 70 miles west of Great Falls, Montana. It is a concrete arch dam and contains 167,500 cubic yards of concrete. The reservoir, with 1,296 surface acres and 15 miles of shoreline, offers fair fishing for rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and brown trout. Recreation is managed for Reclamation by the U.S.

"Tiber Dam and its reservoir, Lake Elwell, are on the Marias River in north-central Montana. The dam and reservoir are features of the Lower Marias Unit of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Project. The reservoir has 17,678 surface acres and 181 miles of shoreline. Major game fish include northern pike, walleye, and rainbow trout. Concrete boat ramps, campgrounds, marina, picnic shelters.

"Dickinson Dam and Reservoir (Edward Arthur Patterson Lake), on the Heart River, store water for irrigating valley lands downstream from the dam, and for a municipal water supply for the city of Dickinson, North Dakota. The reservoir has about 1,100 surface acres and 22 miles of shoreline. Public use area open 7 days a week. Overnight camping, water and electric hookups.

"Nimbus Dam, on the American River 7 miles below Folsom Dam formed Lake Natoma to re-regulate the releases for power made through Folsom Powerplant. The Nimbus Fish Hatchery was built on the left bank below the dam to compensate for the spawning areas of salmon and steelhead that were inundated by construction of Nimbus Dam.

Joes Valley Dam, Emery County Project, is an earthfill dam 1,290,000 cubic yards in volume, 192 feet above streambed, and 750 feet long at the crest. Recreation management at Joes Valley Reservoir is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service, Manti-La Sal National Forest. The Forest Service can be reached at (435) 637.2817. An open setting with limited shade. Situated 15 miles west of Orangeville, at a 6,990-foot elevation with a 1,160-acre surface area.

Chinook salmon have arrived at Riggins Idaho and along with the salmon so have the salmon anglers. As the salmon are staging at the mouth of the Little Salmon River waiting for the water temperatures to rise before beginning their migration up the Little Salmon anglers are making the most of this opportunity lining the bank and hoping to entice a chinook to their line.

As the rivers are running high and muddy salmon fishing is very tough. You may want to try and do some plunking for salmon under these conditions. I received several emails asking just how you would set up to do some plunking for salmon. This technique has been around for years and I thought that every one knew what I was talking about for those of you who didn’t let me explain a little about it.

I know that the river condition are not right for fly fishing for Salmon just yet but I thought that I would throw out some common tips to get you started on the right foot when the rivers do come in. I hope these help you in some way and that the rivers will straighten up soon until then here are the tips.

Tip #1: Fly Fishing for Salmon – Mood Matters