Few places I have visited capture my imagination like central Idaho. My introduction to the area was in the late 90’s, never having traveled to the Rockies, I was absolutely floored by the wide open space, infinite sky and unadulterated landscape. Since the maiden voyage I’ve made it a point to get back there every few years or so. This trip my wife joined me for a nice summer getaway. We flew into Boise, hit the grocery store, filled a few coolers, rented a car and made the three hour push east on Route 21. Appropriately named “The Highway to Heaven”, the panoramic views of jagged, rock studded peaks along the switch-back road left us feeling very small and insignificant. We stopped for lunch halfway at a groovy restaurant in Lowman, on the Payette River. The views from the deck were stunning and this being my wife’s first time out west, she was absolutely mesmerized and blown away. We reached our destination in the late afternoon, a sweet little cabin on the Salmon River. The next eight days would prove to be nothing less than spectacular, the conditions were tough for fishing with high and unseasonably cold water due to a super wet spring. We fished a bunch anyway and made the best of it, rode horses, hiked, soaked in the hot springs, visited some old ghost towns and had an unforgettable time in the process. Things just seem to move a little slower up in the mountains out there, a very welcome pace compared to the hustle and bustle of the daily grind back east. I find myself there frequently when life’s situations and circumstances are wearing me thin. It is amazing how the sights, smells, sounds and various stimuli imprint on your psyche when you develop an intimate relationship with a wild place. I look forward to making many return trips to that little cabin and hope the area remains wild and untainted for generations to come.
Dave,
I’ve never been to Idaho. Would love to someday. The Golden Trout is also a species that I would like to try my luck at too. I never realized that Idaho had such spectacular mountain ranges and such vast amounts of space. No wonder why you were so excited to take Sara there. I remember you telling me the water was really cold and high when you were there .. and the fishing was a bit off. Let’s say that the fishing was optimal .. what kind of species of fish might a guy have a reasonable chance of catching? What time of year do you think is the ideal time to visit that fishery as a traveling fly fisherman? Thanks Dave. Great fish tale!
The Sawtooth Mountain Range…I rode through there in the mid-90’s with a good fishing buddy coming back from a stay at Silver Creek. We fished for Rainbows along that road and I remember it was a small Adams that was the ticket…Awesome lake views and there was the Salmon River where there is a Steelhead run in the fall….we passed through the area in July or August, I think. Yes. there is a lot to see in this great State. Thanks for teh recall, Dave.
Marsh
Typically the second week of July is when I have had the best fishing out there. Rainbows and Cutts dominate the Salmon River drainage, with a nice run of summer Chinook salmon which you can target now as of a couple years ago. Pretty cool as these fish have traveled about 900 or so river miles by the time they hit the headwaters, I spooked a ton while trout fishing. Over the pass, about an hour south, you can fish the Big Wood river in Sun Valley which gets an epic Green Drake hatch early July and of course the holy grail of dry fly fishing Silver Creek, near Picabo, ID. Would love to round up the boys and do a trip out there one of these summers, it would be a great time and I would enjoy sharing the honey holes I have stumbled upon over the years.
Dave, good read got me all psyched up to get back home to Utah…Idaho has some incredible geography and that part of it is truly spectacular as you said. I have only been through Stanley once on a steelhead trip and have always wanted to go back. Blows my mind that Salmon and steelhead make it up there almost 900 miles from the ocean! I have never trout fished up there but it sounds awesome! Lookin forward to our trip meeting up with Joey on the Olympic peninsula…
I’ve fished in the Rockies but not in Idaho. I certainly would like to. I’ve been told by others how beautiful it is. Congratulations on finding your spot to be you! Hope to get there.
I live about four hours south of stanley in twin falls Idaho.
We go camping out there at redfish lake.
I love it up there so much!
There is a real nice hole where the redfish creek goes into the salmon river!
Great Post Dave. I have never spent anytime in Idaho, but from the way you describe it I would love to. The west has some amazing beauty and the pace is a bit slower than the hustle and bustle. Thanks for sharing your Idaho experience. See you on the Coast soon. We’ll have to look at some chrome beauty in the rainforest. 🙂
Dave,
I’m with you bro, Idaho and the Salmon River have long captured my imagination too… Floating and fishing the Middle fork of the Salmon is at the top of my life list. Thanks for the glimpse, and glad you had a good time despite the tough fishing.
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