"Never forget: Fly fishing is fun partly because it is frustrating." ~ Phil Monahan The upper end of Sullivan's Slough is aptly named the Shark Tank. From the road cutting across the sage covered hillside above the Slough, gawkers stop and admire the size and quantity of looming rainbow trout. The simple fact is, these fish are hard to fool.…
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"A fly fisherman's knowledge is compounded of many things. It grows out of imagination, curiosity, bold experiment, and intense observation." ~ Roderick L. Haig-Brown The next time you go fishing, fish less and watch more. Don't rush into the water and start casting the same flies that worked last week. Watch the water closest to the bank. Observe the patterns…
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"Spring creek trout have a reputation for being moody, which often means they are difficult, but when they are in the mood to feast, almost nothing-- not sloppy wading, not poor casting, not a ridiculous choice of flies--will dissuade them." ~ Ted Leeson Ted is right about spring creek trout. When it is time to feast, when the Tricos and…
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The steelhead coming up river from the Pacific Ocean to the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery have to travel nearly 1000 miles and pass over 8 dams. And this year, they are early to the dance! Typically these fish begin to show towards the end of March in the stretch of the Salmon between Stanley and Challis with the season closing the…
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“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” ― Plato The Sun Valley Symphony Season has arrived and fly fishing is a great way to spend the day prior to enjoying the music. After all, there is a musical quality to fly fishing and rivers if one cares to…
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"Most anglers soon discover simple fly fishing helps preserve our capacity to wonder." - Yvon Chouinard The next time you go fly fishing, try and simplify your overall approach. Take just a few flies and a spool of tippet. Leave the reel and line behind and grab a Tenkara rod. Make fewer casts. Position yourself closer to the fish so…
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One of the great challenges of winter fly fishing is dealing with glare. The low angle of the winter sun makes seeing your flies on the water difficult. One solution is to use flies that provide contrast to the low light conditions. It is a great idea to have a selection of High Vis parachute patterns to help when visibility…
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With multiple hunting opportunities, the prospect of a great ski season on the horizon, and miles of open water free from fishing pressure, November is a great time to be in the Wood River Valley. If fishing is your activity of choice, keep checking the weather forecast and dress for the occasion as the forecast for the next two weeks…
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To our friends outside the area, a local wildfire is affecting some activities in the Ketchum Sun Valley community. We are monitoring evacuations in certain areas, as well as air quality. Visit this link for more info, or call the shop to check on the status of your upcoming fishing trip or plans to visit the region, as some but…
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The second week of August and we still have a lot of great fishing opportunities to look forward to on the Big Wood, Silver Creek, the Big Lost and the other fisheries in the Valley and beyond. Keep in mind, with the smaller bugs and lower water, the fishing this time of year can tests your skills, so you might…
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