Because of their size they are often fearless, taking enormous flies with reckless abandon. The Idaho state record was caught in 1949—when the harvesting of bull trout was legal—in Lake Pend Oreille, and weighed a whopping 32 pounds. Since 1856. Second, there’s an ongoing debate over how bull trout ended up in the Little Lost River. This is a river that’s best fished in the summer through the fall. Flies They are in most river drainages in central and northern Idaho that flow into the Snake and Columbia rivers. The river—little more than a trickle by late summer—is alive with feisty rainbow trout and bull trout, and they’ll both hit high-floating dry flies with little hesitation. The explanations vary. As the bull trout grows larger their diet begins to consist of other fish species. If you’re looking for a great trout river in Northern Idaho, the St. Joe is a great alternative to the North Fork Coeur D’Alene. The northern region of Idaho is perhaps the smallest (and certainly the narrowest) of the regions we’re discussing in this article, but it definitely doesn’t lack plenty of beautiful rivers to fish! [C]onsider the fishy bounty contained within the Idaho backcountry—the trout and char that might see only a few flies, or no flies, over the course of a fishing season. And, without a reel or the need to manage line, it removes some of the complexities from the craft without taking away from the enjoyment of fly fishing. This piscivorous behavior increases as the fish continues to grow. The North Fork Coeur D’Alene is the pinnacle of what you’d expect from a Northern Idaho river: It’s pretty small, runs through forests and mountains, and the fish aren’t particularly picky. All 9 million acres of it on U.S. Forest Service land, and millions more found on Bureau of Land Management property belong to every single American as a birthright. The Little Salmon River stretches about 51 miles along the western portion of the state. If you’re visiting the state’s more famous neighbor, Montana, don’t pass Idaho up. Population densities were estimated at 10–20 fish per km (0.62 mi) in 1996. Cutthroat Trout offer anglers, especially flyfishers, a highly entertaining native trout experience on almost every North Idaho water. The Missouri River, below Holter Dam, is a tailwater system with consistent flows and water temps making it the perfect environment for trout to thrive. Silver Creek isn’t a river for beginners – the slow-moving and gin-clear nature of the stream make it a difficult stream to fish, even for experts, and a guided trip is a good idea if it’s your first time. Hatches are prolific, and you’ll see fish rising for mayflies, midges, and a host of other insects throughout the day. Missouri River is arguably one of the best trout rivers in Montana, if not the best? Many people like to camp along the banks of the river – if you are camping, follow local rules and make sure to minimize your environmental footprint as much as possible! This river isn’t known for having the biggest fish in the state, but it is very nutrient-rich and trout can grow up to – and beyond – 20 inches. A slow-moving, gin-clear piece of water, Silver Creek attracts fly fishermen in pursuit of large trout from all across the globe. By Gary Lewis. And some of these native char get quite large for the water they occupy—a few years back, my son Cameron caught one on a grasshopper pattern that pushed 17 inches (as per Idaho law, the fish was quickly released). They are some of the largest growing freshwater salmonids in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia. Here is a comprehensive look at Idaho’s best fly fishing rivers. DIET: Juvenile bull trout, during their first year of life, feed primarily on small aquatic invertebrates. Bull trout need water that’s 60 degrees or cooler, and water that’s around 54 … North Fork “CDA” fish aren’t as big as some of the trout in the rest of the state, but they’re numerous and you can have a field day with a dry-dropper setup. The Northwest region of the United States is undoubtedly the best region for cold-water fly fishing region in the country. Written by: Evan Williams. Years ago, when the first settlers came to the Little Lost River Valley, it’s possible that they transplanted fish from the Pahsimeroi into the fishless Little Lost. I think you’ll come to love it, too. The river’s bull trout are largely relegated to the upper reaches of Sawmill Canyon. In time, my son was handling the Japanese rod without any assistance from me, and when he connected with his first bull-trout—a beautiful 10-inch fish that hit a Royal Coachman in a foot of water—he beamed from under the brim of his hat. There are a lot of fishable streams out there. All photos courtesy Evan Williams . South Fork of the Boise River. This form of fly fishing allows the angler, in close quarters, to present a fly to wary fish with nothing but the fly on the water. Intentionally targeting bull trout in Idaho is illegal—the fish occupy a spot on the federal Endangered Species List. As an added bonus, its proximity to Oregon and Washington makes it a doable weekend trip if you’re up for the drive. Located outside of Victor in eastern Idaho, the Teton River offers some of the finest fly fishing and scenery that the state has to offer. That said, when fishing for westslope cutthroat trout on a particular Idaho panhandle river one knows that, despite being pretty rare, bull trout do inhabit these waters. Some anglers argue that it has the best trout fishing in the whole country, especially the tailwater directly below Flaming Gorge Dam. Be sure to check local regulations before you head out, as they can change year-to-year. If you live in or near Idaho—or if you plan to head their to fish—this is one book you won’t want to miss.]. Add that to the large numbers of trout per mile and you have arguably the most productive trout river in the country. Enjoy this head start—or as my son would say, the “cheat code.” I think you’ll find it valuable, but I hope, rather than just fishing the places I’ll describe in the pages to come, you’ll be inspired to wander up lonely trails along those blue lines on the map. Summer steelhead on the Clearwater typically arrive later in the season than they do in Oregon and Washington’s rivers – this is due to the Clearwater’s geographic location – but once they arrive, the season can stretch on for many months. The best fishing on the Green River is in … Make sure you carefully check the regulations before you go out. High in the river’s headwaters, the road up Sawmill canyon comes to an end, and the only way to get to the water is walk among the willows and the downed timber left behind from a fire some years back. Bull trout exhibit 3 life history types in Idaho: adfluvial, fluvial and resident, all which require temperatures <16 C (<60 F) during portions of their life cycle to persist. Bull trout are widespread in Idaho, mostly in rivers and streams, but they can also found in lakes and reservoirs. Check this one out if you’re looking for some big trout in Central Idaho! We fished the upper reaches of the river most of afternoon and into the evening, wandering well away from the end of the road and relishing a slice of Idaho backcountry that will remain special—to both of us—for years to come. Much like the other rivers in Northern Idaho, westslope cutthroat are the primary target here. Across Idaho, there are plenty of places to catch large trout. It offers just as many fantastic fly fishing opportunities as anywhere else in the Northwest, and often with a fraction of the people. It is no secret that bull trout are in trouble across much of their range, but they are still found in fishable numbers in parts of British Columbia, Alberta, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon.. The Little Lost River is a sinks stream that flows south out of the Beaverhead Mountains toward the little village of Howe, Idaho. The Big Wood River is a classic Idaho stream, open and wide with numerous trout species eager to rise to dry flies. Bull Trout are incredibly powerful and challenging fish making an angler give his best to land them. The river is extremely popular, and you’ll no doubt be joined by plenty of other fly fishermen if you decide to fish the Owyhee. Passionate about the outdoors, Carter is a fly fishing aficionado and spends his days on the river when he’s not writing. For me—and for my son—this place is magical. This is the secret Idaho. Parachute Adams, stimulators and pheasant tails are all excellent patterns to try out on the North Fork. Carter Reschke is a freelance writer based in Bend, Oregon. Although they typically average in the 12 to 14 inch range, cutthroat in here have been known to surpass 20 inches. Don’t miss Northwest fishing news! The river runs along the Wyoming-Idaho border under the magnificent Teton Range, and it is home to good populations of rainbow … The best Idaho fly fishing based on popularity are considered to be Big Creek, Selway River, Kelly Creek, St Joe River, and South Fork Snake River. It could be easily argued that protecting it in perpetuity is in the best interest of every angler willing to step off the pavement in Idaho and explore a little bit. I go there every year not only for the fish but the vast opportunities of the outdoors and to visit the old mines it is my home away from home that’s the only place I go camping . What defines one’s “best fishing” experience? There are multiple stretches of this river drainage that are popular with fly fishermen. The Clearwater is known for producing giant steelhead, and the run is famous with anglers from across the country. Bull trout are widespread in Idaho, mostly in rivers and streams, but they can also found in lakes and reservoirs. It’s possible that some geological event—this portion of Idaho is seismically lively, and some of the nearby lava fields are only 2,000 years old—separated the Little Lost (and its fish) from the Pahsimeroi, creating an isolated population of bull trout in the Little Lost River. Gear Bull trout inhabit both forks of the Jarbidge River, as well as several tributaries. In this stretch, the fish get a bit bigger, and trophy trout fishing becomes a real possibility, particularly for rainbows. The bull trout (a char) is a colorful fish with back and flanks of olive or brown, sprinkled with red, orange, pink and yellow spots. Idaho stands out in particular as a stellar state, especially when it comes to fly fishing for trout – and if you’ve been wanting to fish Idaho, you’re not alone. Its season generally runs from Memorial Day through November, but there are certain parts of the river open year-round for catch and release. Best Fishing in America will update and enhance articles to provide the best information to our readers. Bull trout may live near areas where they were spawned or migrate from small streams to larger streams and rivers or from streams to lakes, reservoirs or salt water. And that’s why I feel that I can writ… We’ll start with a bit from Chapter 2 that explains what the book is about, and then move one to one of the waters he describes. But the real secrets of Idaho are still out there, awaiting the wandering fisher who, armed with a 3-weight and a box of dry flies, can literally step back in time and experience the best of Idaho. Idaho truly does offer fly fishermen some of the best opportunities in the country when it comes to spectacular trout fishing. Big rainbow trout await anglers who fish the river, and there is plenty of water to access – this river is a paradise for fishermen who typically walk-and-wade. Although Wyoming is known for the legendary Teton mountain range, the Teton River actually makes its journey to the Henry’s Fork of the Snake on the Idaho side of the border. As we wandered among the willows, we spooked a cow moose and her calf—thankfully at a safe distance—and watched for a time as one of the stream’s many beavers repaired a leaky dam, courtesy of a late-summer deluge the day before. The Little Lost’s trout aren’t terribly picky—a theme you’ll find among most backcountry trout. The river is most commonly fished from Ashton downstream to St. Anthony. These, of course are the real secret waters of Idaho. Although they typically average in the 12 to 14 inch range, cutthroat in here have been known to surpass 20 inches. Technically, there’s no connection between the Little Lost and the Snake River below Shoshone Falls (where bull trout would be considered native). The Little Lost River Owyhee River is a gem of a fly fishing stream. The environment of Silver Creek is favorable for all kinds of bug life, and both brown and rainbow trout grow extremely large in the creek. The geologic unrest separated the Little Lost River from the Pahsimeroi River to the north, creating a unique population of the threatened native char. Bull trout have a lot of restrictions around them in the United States. Anglers—and hunters—are more and more important in the conservation discussion all across America. Bull trout are a fish no one wants to see go extinct. The river goes on for 137 stunning miles, and is known to contain rainbow, brown, and brook trout. “Like” us on Facebook. 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