SNAKE RIVER OUTING – Host Tom Knight
When you mention fly fishing on the Snake River, most people conger up visions of trophy trout fishing in eastern Idaho or western Wyoming. Most people who don’t live in Idaho or Wyoming dream of high mountain peaks and green valleys with miles and miles of trout waters.
After the ranchers, farmers and trout farms of eastern Idaho have finished dewatering the mighty Snake River and after the river is given new life from the aquifer and springs, we get another kind of Snake River. This is a high desert river with deep canyons, sage bush, volcanic rock walls and a warm water fishery. No more trophy trout, we now have Small Mouth Bass, Catfish, Carp and Sturgeon to fish for.
Smaller Woolly Buggers and poppers (12’s and 14’s) work really well for the bass. However if you’re going for the Catfish, Carp or even Sturgeon, you’ll need larger flies and a heavier rod. I used a 6wt last time I went, but would suggest an 8wt or larger for the Carp or Sturgeon.
We want to meet at 0900 am at the boat launch at Swan Falls Dam. Idaho Power has setup a nice launch area with a pump below the dam. Once we off load the kick boats, we can move most of the vehicles downstream to the takeout about 5 miles downriver. Once we have everyone back at the dam, we float until well after lunch until we arrive past the small rapids at the takeout. We will complete the shuttle back to the dam.
Make sure you have a small first aid kit, drinking water, lunch and a small snack for when we get out of the river. I have floated both with waders and without. If you wet wade/float, make sure you have plenty of sunscreen on your legs and arms.
If you are interested in carpooling contact Tom Knight at 208-369-5603 Days or 208-514-6185 Cell.
Directions – Take Meridian Road south toward Kuna; In Kuna Meridian Road changes to E. Avalon St; follow E. Avalon St. 0.4 mi to S. Swan Falls Road; follow S. Swan Falls Road 19.1mi. to Swan Falls Dam.
