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Fishing

the tug is the drug
Swan-Valley
South Fork of The Snake

The South Fork is a 64-mile stretch of the Snake River in southeast Idaho. This portion of river is fast and deep, making it great for float trips, but if you’re looking to access the river by foot, there are plenty of access points near Swan Valley, Irwin, and Heise, ID. Cutthroat, brown, and rainbow trout are the primary fish in this section, with the exception of the occasional whitefish.

 The ecosystem of the South Fork is wildly diverse and abundant in food sources for these native and wild fish, resulting in some very healthy catches. Most notably, the brown trout in this section are known to reach trophy level sizes with several 24-inchers being caught each season. If you’re looking to get a local’s take on the area, there are several fishing guides and outfitters who offer guided fishing trips and equipment rentals. These guides can provide valuable insight into the best fishing spots and techniques for catching trout on the South Fork.

Henrys
Henry's Fork

Highly regarded as one of the most famous fly fishing destinations in the U.S, Henry’s Fork’s primary access points are located around Island Park and Ashton, ID. Bait fishing isn’t allowed, barbless hooks are required, and endless hatches set the scene for Henry’s fly fishing notoriety. The river does house cutthroat and browns, but if you’re itching to chase large and elusive rainbow trout, Henry’s is the best place to start. This large and complex river system has several sections of fast-moving water, riffles, pools, and deep channels, making it great for deep wading, or fishing from the boat.

The abundance of hatches means solid fishing throughout the season. Because of this, however, Henry’s gets a lot of pressure from visitors and locals alike, looking to set their hooks into a trophy-sized fish. If you’re up to the challenge, the rewards are incredible. But if you’re looking for a bit of guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of the many outfitters in the area for a guided trip that’s sure to catch fish. 

Teton
Teton River

Often overlooked by its sister systems mentioned above, the Teton River is a phenomenal watershed that doesn’t get the same kind of pressure as the South Fork or Henry’s. This is great for the angler still looking to catch fish, but without overfished runs and pockets. The scenery of this river is dynamic and engaging. Incredible views of farmland dip into wide stretches of water with views of the Tetons, then into deep desert canyons littered with pines.

The upper section of the river is mellow and great for floating, while the lower section has more turbulent patches of white water and deep pockets holding record-sized cutthroats. On its best days, the dry fly fishing is unparalleled with consistent strikes from eager fish on top-water. Be sure to check out one of the few exclusive outfitters that are allowed to guide on the upper section of river for tips, tricks, and foot-accessible portions of the Teton River.  

Warm-River
Warm River

Warm River is a natural, spring-fed tributary leading into the Henry’s Fork in eastern Idaho. Because this river is fed from a an underground spring, it maintains a consistent temperature of 52 degrees, even through the winter. This makes it an excellent choice for winter fishing, where other rivers in the area fall short. 

The fishing can be very productive at Warm River, but may not be as consistent or produce as large of fish as some of the sister systems in the region. For this reason, it doesn’t see quite as much pressure, which is perfect for beginners learning to fly fish or anyone simply looking to get out of the house and enjoy nature. Warm River is a wade only river, and is much easier to navigate than the fast and deep waters of the South Fork and Henry’s. Do be mindful, however, of runoff seasons where water levels can create more dicey conditions on the river. The best time to fish Warm River is during September and October where the water levels are calm, and the abundance of terrestrials drive the top water bite.

Big Wood River

Starting in the alpines, running through the heart of Sun Valley, and then into high mountain desert is the Big Wood River. This freestone river is great for wading due to relatively low water levels, and slower currents. It’s a great river for all skill-levels of fishermen. The larger width of the river makes it a terrific place for beginners learning to cast, while some pockets can challenge even seasoned anglers. 

Rainbow and cutthroat are the primary fish present throughout the system, with brown trout congregating above and below the reservoir. The wild trout in this river are especially keen to snap on dry flies, but are also open to nymphs and streamers where depth permits. The Wood has countless access points and the bite is consistent, even with high seasonal pressure.

Wild rainbow trout in Silver Creek near Sun Valley, Idaho
Silver Creek

Silver Creek is a world-renowned dry fly fishing destination. It’s fed from a spring located at the base of the Picabo hills just south of Sun Valley, which creates gin-clear water nearly year round. The incredible water clarity comes with good and bad news. Transparent water means you can sight fish unlike anywhere else in the west, narrowing down runs and holes with simple color differentiation, but this comes at the cost of easily spooking fish with sloppy presentations, shadows, or even exposed fly line. 

Silver Creek has grown a reputation of being the premiere challenge destination for world-class fish–if you can manage to trick them. Older brown and rainbows in the upper 20″ range are overwhelmingly abundant in this system, but they’re not fooled easily. This being said, if you practice stealthy approaches and natural presentations with longer leaders, your persistence should pay off. Various hatches occur from early May to October with incredible punctuality, meaning you can practically throw dry flies on the water all season long. Overall, fishing Silver Creek is a challenging and rewarding experience for anglers of all skill levels, and offers the opportunity to catch some of the most sought-after trout in some of the most scenic areas of the west.

Salmon River

The Salmon River is a truly special place to fish in Idaho. The primary reason is due to the immense variety of fish that dwell in the system. As you’ve probably gathered, the river name is derived from the migrating Chinook Salmon population, but this is only one of the noteworthy species. Massive migratory steelhead, native bull trout, cutthroat, brookies, redband trout, and even sturgeon can be found on the Salmon. 

Rugged canyon walls rise higher than the Grand Canyon in certain sections, with the highest portion being over a mile tall. This river is deep and wide, so while wade fishing can be excellent in certain sections, the best way to cover water is via boat. Several outfitters in the Stanley area offer day trips that are great for any experience level. Before heading out, be sure to check for proper permitting and regulations if you intend to target certain fish.

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