Idaho is a great area for fishing because it offers a wide range of fishing choices. Although Idaho is known for its great trout fishing, there is also ample opportunity to fish for Steelhead, Salmon, and other fish in the state. From the snowy peaks of the northern Bitteroot Mountains to the rolling plains of Southern Idaho, it is definitely one of America's premier fishing destinations. A fishing vacation in Idaho is full of opportunity for all types of fishing enthusiasts. If you are planning a fishing trip to the Idaho region you should consider the following locations.
The Saint Joe River in northern Idaho is one of the premier spots to catch Cutthroat and Rainbow trout in Idaho. The best way to fish the Saint Joe River is with a dry fly, although bait fishing is allowed in many parts of the river. If you are going to fish the Saint Joe River, the best flies to have in your possession are an elk hair caddis and several different types of Adams flies. The size and type of fly used will vary by the season. Local fly shops are always willing to fill you in on the best fly to use. One of the best times to fish the Saint Joe River is late summer because the grasshoppers are reaching maturity. Both the Cutthroat trout and Rainbow trout are easy to catch on live grasshoppers.
You can catch grasshoppers locally in any small field. An easy way to catch the grasshoppers is to take a fly swatter and an empty soda bottle with you on your fishing trip. Then follow a grasshopper until it lands. When it lands on a piece of grass or on the ground hit it with the fly swatter. This will temporarily stun the grasshopper and give you enough time to catch it and place it in your empty soda bottle. The soda bottle is handy because you can slip it easily into one of the pockets of your fishing vest or trousers. Also the bottle is easy to open with a fishing pole in your hand. The narrow neck of the bottle makes it easier to get one grasshopper out at a time without the others getting out.
The best way to fish with a grasshopper is to use a spinning real. Tie the narrow end of a 1/8 or 1/4 oz. spinning float to the end of your line. Then tie a two foot piece of line to the larger end with a bait hook on the other end. Place the grasshopper on the hook and float the grasshopper down the river. In areas of the Saint Joe River it is possible to catch a fish on almost every cast when fishing with a grasshopper. You can also use an imitation grasshopper with a fly pole, but the success rate is much lower.
The Saint Joe River is one of Idaho's premier trout fishing locations, but there are many more great areas to fish for trout. The Coeur d ' Alene River in Northern Idaho is also an excellent location and is close enough to the Saint Joe river that you could fish both on the same trip. Also the Salmon River in Southern Idaho provides some great opportunity for fly fishermen and other anglers.
Idaho is also a great fishing destination because of its excellent steelhead and salmon fishing. The Clearwater River outside of Lewiston Idaho is one of the best areas in
the state to fish for salmon and steelhead. You can easily charter a fishing trip in this area. Usually the best time to charter such a trip is during late fall while the fish are still running up the main river. In late winter and early spring the fish will have moved to tributaries which are not accessible by boat.
If you cannot afford to charter a trip, you can also fish for Steelhead or Salmon from the bank. The best time of year to do this is during the spring season. The spring season for steelhead usually opens in early March and runs through June. I would recommend planning your trip during March or April. The best area for bank fishing is the South Fork of the Clearwater River. The gear needed to fish for steelhead is very simple and can be cheaply acquired from any local tackle shop. If you will be fishing from the bank for steelhead or on a boat during the winter, be sure to dress warmly because temperatures can be extremely cold in this area of Idaho during the fall and spring.
If you are interested in catching a steelhead on a dry fly then you will want to fish the Clearwater River in the early fall. This is the only time of the year that the steelhead will bite on a dry fly. The reason for this is that once the steelhead enter the river they become more and more sedentary. For most of the spawning season a steelhead will not even eat. They only bite on lures out of instinct. However, in the early fall they are still aggressive enough to strike on a dry fly. If you are planning a trip during the fall then you should make sure to check with the local fly shop to see what the fish are biting on that day and where the best areas to fish are.
The best time to fish for salmon is during the summer months. Once again the Clearwater river is one of the best locations. Make sure to take a lot of water along with you on your trip because the weather on the Clearwater River can be extremely hot during the summer. Some people use the same gear to fish for salmon that is used to fish for steelhead. However, man people fish with salmon row (salmon eggs). You can buy salmon row at any fishing or sporting goods store. Although using the row is easy, there are many different ways used to place it on your line. Ask someone at the local sporting goods store the different options and decide what is best for you.
There are many other areas where it is possible to fish for steelhead and salmon. The Snake River provides ample opportunity for anglers, but is not as easily accessible by land. This is because of the size of the Snake River and its strong current. If you are going to fish the Snake River it would be wise to have a boat. Another good place to fish out of a boat for steelhead and salmon is the Salmon River in southern Idaho. Due to the length of the journey up the snake and then into the Salmon River the fish tend to be a little smaller, but they are still fun to catch
Lake Pend Oreille in Northern Idaho offers one more opportunity for fishing enthusiasts. Lake Pend Oreille's extreme depth and cold temperatures provide a great habitat for Lake Trout and Kamloop Trout. Due to the large size of the lake, it is wise to charter a fishing trip on the lake when visiting it for the first time. I would recommend staying in nearby Sand Point, Idaho and chartering a boat out of Sand Point bay.
Lake Pend Oreille is also one of the few lakes in the United States where it is still legal to catch Bull Trout, also known as Dolly Varden. The lake holds the record for the largest Bull Trout caught in the United States at 32 pounds. This is not the only record for fish caught in Lake Pend Oreille. The largest Rainbow Trout in the United States was also caught in the lake, which weighed in at 37 pounds.
If lake trout, bull trout, and Kamloop are your favorite fishing choices then northern Idaho is the best area to travel to. Priest Lake which is less than an hour drive from Pend Oreille Lake is also an excellent lake to catch these fish in. The state record for the largest lake trout in Idaho was caught in Priest Lake. If you are going to travel to Priest Lake I would also advise that you hire a fishing charter company so that you have a better chance at catching these sometimes elusive fish.
Idaho is a wonderful place to fish. The wide variety of fishing opportunities and the sheer beauty of the state make it a great place to vacation. If you are interested in traveling to the state you will want to check with Idaho Fish and Game to get the latest regulations. This is easy to do on line through a search on any web search engine. The fish and game website also has prices for licenses, state fishing records, and salmon and steelhead counts for the year.
