Southwest Idaho: An Overlooked Fly Fishing Destination

When most anglers think about fly fishing in the great state of Idaho, they often conjure up images of casting dry flies to selective rainbow trout on the Henry’s Fork or battling large, wild fish on the South Fork of the Snake. Truth be told, Idaho may be the best state in the country for trout streams with good wading conditions. The entire middle section of the state is mountainous and there are quality trout fisheries everywhere. One part of Idaho that does not get the trout fishing acclaim that it deserves is the southwestern region of the state.

Fishing for Redbreast Sunfish

The redbreast sunfish, one of the prettiest game fish in all North America, is known for its bright colors, long and narrow black gill cover, and of course the red breast. The red breast isn’t always red though. In some males it appears as a yellow breast or orange, and in females it is nonexistent. The surest way to distinguish this fish is by what looks like a long, distinctive black flap above its fin which is actually a narrow extension of its gill cover.
This is one of the most fished and easiest caught fish in the United States. And with good reason too, the redbreast sunfish is among the sweetest tasting freshwater fish and is often dipped into a pancake batter before being fried and consumed.

Early Ice Fishing Tactics

Ice fishing early in the season is one of the best times to get out and catch quite a few fish. Some of this has to do with the oxygen levels in the water — as the season continues on, the fishing declines because of the declining oxygen level under the ice. To some extent, also, the fishing will decline due to the success of other fisherman; the population of fish will gradually shrink, lessening one’s chances of getting anything. Thus, it is best to get into ice fishing as soon as possible, so that one can expect good results. Getting out before the rush is always nice, and will leave open a lot of options, as the ice will be clear.

Understanding Fly Fishing the Ozark Region for Trout

When fly fishermen think of the angling available in the Ozark Mountain region of southwest Missouri and northern Arkansas, visions of huge brown trout come to mind. Countless record fish have been caught on the White River and its coldwater tributaries. There are five rivers that originate below dams and support trout in the Ozarks. From a fly fishing perspective, the waters below Table Rock, Norfork and Bull Shoals Dams offer up the most prime conditions and the highest concentrations of fish. These “tailwater” trout fisheries are often misunderstood because water flows are extremely unpredictable, but the fact remains that there are no better trout rivers in the country with respect to offering up the chance to catch lots of fish – along with the occasional trophy.

Drift Fishing for Crappie

Crappie are one of the most popular freshwater fish and there are several different ways to go about catching them. Drift fishing is the most popular way to fish for crappie and it is also the most effective. Despite its popularity, being able to successfully drift fish requires a lot of practice and is a difficult technique to master.