First Idaho Fish of the Year – An Unexpected Type!

by | Mar 30, 2020 | Snake River

Jeff-Currier-blogWhen Granny and I left home to wander Idaho Friday we intended to return home Sunday night.  But as we relished our coffee from the banks of the Snake River near Glenns Ferry in 50° temps yesterday morning, Granny checked the weather in Victor.  It was 29° with light snow.  I was comfortably working on my blog.  Granny is out of work.  There was nothing that said had we to go home.  We made an executive decision to camp a third night.

 

Snake-RiverAnother day allowed time for us to continue to explore this lower region of the Snake River.  This iconic river is so much different 250 miles downstream from in our neck of the woods.  Obviously its larger but also here it meanders through the plains and plateaus and along the Oregon Trail.  The trees are different.  All the plants are different.  The landscape is huge.  And with spring in the air, all you hear is the waterfowl, red-winged blackbirds and meadowlarks.  Few of which have migrated to our wintry region yet.

 

fly-fishingHeavy on my mind was to catch a fish or two as we meandered.  I haven’t been able to stop thinking about how I should be casting to bonefish in the Cook Islands as I speak.  So much for that trip happening.  But at least I could be fishing here.  After a lovely morning drive, we rattled down a rutted-out dirt road to a small lake called Crane Falls.

 

Crane-Falls-LakeCrane Falls Lake is undoubtedly best fished by boat or float tube.  The trudge to the lake was grueling.  I thought I might be able to skip my waders but not a chance.  Once in my Simms I had to penetrate the reeds and flop through watery mud and deep holes.  Luckily, once I made it to a casting spot, I saw a rise.

 

bluegillThe rise looked like a nice trout.  This was perfect because I had my 4-weight Pure.  I tied on a CDC March Brown mayfly pattern and delicately landed it near the rise.  The trout sipped again ten feet away from my fly.  At exactly the same time I lifted to cast closer to the trout my fly was eaten.  It was a nice surprise – a chunky but pale colored bluegill.

 

IdahoI only got an hour of fishing.  I caught a couple more bluegill and finally stuck the trout.  I put the speckled guy in the air before losing him.  Then a vicious little squall arrived.  It brought several dust devils that tossed tumbleweed 100 feet in the air.  Then came the rain.  Not wanting to get my Exploder stuck on a muddy road, we returned to pavement.

 

crisis-needsThe rest of the day brought typical Idaho spring weather – ten minutes of sun followed by clouds, wind then ten minutes of rain.  Eventually we decided to get some supplies then return to the exact lovely campsite we enjoyed Saturday night near Glenns Ferry.

 

camp-foodThis morning after reading the news it seems its time to get home.  Its not like we’re hanging near other people, in fact at home we have close by neighbors on three sides, but it seems like its what Idaho wants us to do.  Perhaps in a week we’ll go camping again.

 

Craters-of-the-MoonWe didn’t rush right home but rather took back roads from Bliss to Rexburg.  It was a beautiful drive back to the mountains and through the lesser known Idaho tourist spots.  This is Craters of the Moon National Monument.

 

Its been a great four days on the road.  Looks like the weather in Victor will be gross for at least a week.  Lots of cold temperatures and spring snow storms.  Its not terrible though.  It keeps me inside and I have plenty of projects I can work on from fish painting to writing.  Stay healthy, strong and stay tuned for more Idaho adventures soon.

 

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing

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I started fly fishing at age 7 in the lakes and ponds of New England cutting my teeth on various sunfish, bass, crappie and stocked trout. I went to Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, where I graduated with a Naturalist Degree while I discovered new fishing opportunities for pike, muskellunge, walleyes and various salmonids found in Lake Superior and its tributaries.

From there I headed west to work a few years in the Yellowstone region to simply work as much as most people fish and fish as much as most people work. I did just that, only it lasted over 20 years working at the Jack Dennis Fly Shop in Jackson, WY where I departed in 2009. Now it’s time to work for "The Man", working for myself that is.

I pursue my love to paint fish, lecture on every aspect of fly fishing you can imagine and host a few trips to some of the most exotic places you can think of. My ultimate goal is to catch as many species of fish on fly possible from freshwater to saltwater, throughout the world. I presently have taken over 440 species from over 60 countries!

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