Idaho Odyssey 9-14 to 9-18-07

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]TubeBabe and I made a five day circuit of some southern Idaho lakes last week. Already posted these reports on both the Float Tubing and Idaho boards, but thought that some fishing-starved Utahans might enjoy seeing them too. There are three separate reports but I will copy and paste all of them onto one Utah report. Hope you like them.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]MACKAY RESERVOIR...First Stop[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Friday 9/14 was a non-fishing day. Drove from Salt Lake to Moore, ID. Stopped in Blackfoot and Idaho Falls to buy 4 day out of state licenses for TubeBabe and myself…and to wander around through old neighborhoods of my Idaho childhood. It’s true. You can never go back…without getting lost.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]TubeBabe and I put on a fish dinner Friday night in Moore, for about a dozen relatives and family friends. We did my fried “Kitty Krispies” and some “Shrimperch”…shrimp flavored oven baked perch fillets. At least half of those present had never eaten either catfish or perch before. All had at least two helpings of each. Several made the comment “Why would anybody ever want to eat trout when they can have this stuff?” [/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]After spending an appropriate amount of quality time with the aunt and uncle in Moore Saturday morning, TubeBabe and I headed north for Mackay Reservoir. We had been warned that it was LOW. That was an understatement. It was only 3% of capacity. The end of the lake was clear down past the campground toward the dam. But, there was water in it, so we drove down to the gravel beach near the dam and set up the tubes.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]We saw trout jumping in the choppy water of the morning onshore breeze, so we were encouraged. There was at least something living in the water, even though it was somewhat stained. While we were getting set up, a bank tangler began fishing to the north of us and two more walked out on the face of the greatly exposed dam. Both began catching trout on bait right away. Looking good.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]We launched about 9 AM…late for us. The air temp was a balmy 45…warming to 70 by the time we left after 2 PM. Water temp was 51 at launch, and rose to 55 by early afternoon. There were light NW breezes early, but they calmed to glass in about an hour. Most of our fishing was very relaxed in beautiful Idaho fall weather. The few big white clouds that started to build in the afternoon only added to the purty pictures…and not to the weather.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]My “fishing database” (mental) told me that if I did not want to use bait, I would probably do best with sunken flies or with spinners. Left the flies home so tied on spinners for TubeBabe and myself and started casting. I had several hits, but TubeBabe scored the first trout. I got in the game soon and started hooking nice trout in the 13” – 16” range too. We each found that gold spinners with orange spots seemed to be better than any spinner in silver. That seems to be the case in most situations where there is some color in the water. Later in the day the fish moved closer to shore and we did well throwing small light roadrunners in the gold and orange combo.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]We had some entertainment to go along with our fishing. A couple of parasailers were doing takeoffs and landings off the dam, using the updraft from the morning breeze against the dam face. Later, a motorized paraplane (?) did some aerial maneuvers out over the lake. Sounded like a big mosquito. The final show was some Idaho geniuses playing in the mud with their trucks. First one guy tried to drive through the greaselike mud with his truck…and got stuck. Then, the nice guy who tried to help him out got stuck too. Both had big aggressive-tread tires and 4X4, but that ain’t good enough in the goo.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]By late morning there were a few other tubers and a couple of tooners out on the reduced lake with us. Most of them were using the “float tubers’ distance cast” with fly rods. That is making a short sloppy cast and then stripping out line as you kick backwards…trolling the flies. Only saw a couple hook up and the jumping fish looked like the small ones we also caught and shook off with regularity. [/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]The deepest spot we found on sonar was a very small channel just before the outlet. It read out at 15 feet but jumped quickly back up to the 12’ maximum we could find anywhere else. The average depth except for right in front of the dam was about 8’. [/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]There were quite a few bank tanglers by the time we left…both off the gravel beach where we launched and off the face of the dam. Many of them were catching trout on worms, salmon eggs and “bottle baits”. I knew I was back in Idaho as I observed the heavy red fiberglass rods with big reels and heavy line…and the guys reeling backwards with the spinning reel on top of the rod. Oh yeah, we got to enjoy watching the bank tanglers make that great looking two handed distance cast…finished up with the left arm fully extended, holding the rod butt. The empty corn cans (Idaho dry flies) also reminded me that I was not fishing in Utah…where corn is illegal.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]TubeBabe took big fish honors for the day with a pretty colored 17 incher. We both caught several in the 15” range and quite a few smaller ones. I also caught an ugly spawned out kokanee. Really a small kokanee compared to some of the kokes we catch in Utah. Not a bad day on the water, especially for fishing it the first time ever…and when everybody tried to discourage us from wasting our time on a “dry lake”.[/font][/size]
[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29691;"][#000000] 1. DAM LAUNCH SITE.jpg [/#000000][/url](269 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29692;"][#000000] 2.SHORE LAUNCH.jpg [/#000000][/url](254 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29693;"][#000000] 3. DAM AT 3% FULL.jpg [/#000000][/url](155 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29694;"][#000000] 4. OUTLET CHANNEL.jpg [/#000000][/url](206 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29695;"][#000000] 5. LOCAL AIR FORCE.jpg [/#000000][/url](216 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29696;"][#000000] 6. HIGH FLIER.jpg [/#000000][/url](233 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29697;"][#000000] 7. STUMPED ON LOW WATER.jpg [/#000000][/url](215 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29698;"][#000000] 8. TUBEBABE ON GLASS.jpg [/#000000][/url](158 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29699;"][#000000] 9. TUBEBABE'S BIGGUN.jpg [/#000000][/url](189 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29700;"][#000000] 10. SPINNER BOW.jpg [/#000000][/url](205 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29701;"][#000000] 11. SWEET SIXTEEN.jpg [/#000000][/url](205 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29702;"][#000000] 12. FEISTY FOURTEEN.jpg [/#000000][/url](213 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29703;"][#000000] 13. YOUNGSTER.jpg [/#000000][/url](197 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29704;"][#000000] 14. SPAWNED OUT KOKANEE.jpg [/#000000][/url](158 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29705;"][#000000] MACKAY 2 TRUCKS STUCK IN MUCK.jpg [/#000000][/url](206 KB) [/size][/black][/font]

[font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Day 3 of our Idaho odyssey. Left Arco by 7:30, after a breakfast at Pickles (café). Had never been to Magic Reservoir, so we missed the turnoff to the west side and ended up in Shoshone…several miles too far to the south. Checked the map, turned around and went back. Found the right turnoff and drove to the launch area. [/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Whoa! The tide was WAY OUT. We had heard that the lake was low, but you can hardly even see any water from the main launch ramp. We had noticed a sign on the way in that said something about a low water launch ramp. So, we back tracked (again)…driving on the dirt tracks visible all over the west side on the exposed former lake bed. [/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]We finally found the ramp. It looked like an old road bed going down into the lake, with a short wooden tieup dock beside it. There were a few vehicles parked there, and a couple of boat trailers. We could see a group of four other tubers and tooners in the distance, fishing out off a rocky point to the SW. Looked doable. We couldn’t see any other place to launch through the nasty looking mud around the edge of the lake, so we opted to give the ramp a try.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Bad move. That was the only launch ramp on the lake. Almost as soon as we parked the car and got our tubes off the top to air them up, a steady procession of boats started arriving to use the ramp and the docks. It took us an hour of shuffling tubes up and down off the dock, out of courtesy to the boaters, to get set up for launch. You can bet that the boats were not willing to offer US any special courtesies. [/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]I launched first, on the non-ramp side of the dock. Almost lost both fins in the muck getting launched. Had to use my “fin tool” to pull the straps back up on my fins after launching. TubeBabe was held up behind some guy who tied his boat up to the dock, blocking use of the ramp. But, she eventually waited him out and got launched. [/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]That was the latest I have launched my tube for a long time. It was almost 11 AM before we were fishing. The air temp was over 70 and the water temp was a toasty 65. Quite a bit warmer than the conditions we found at Mackay the day before.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]I had a couple of whacks on the same gold spinner I had been using on Mackay and then hooked a zinger. A big rainbow put the line over his shoulder and boogied. But, after about a five minute tussle, he kindly let me have my spinner back. Professional release. I stayed in that area for a few minutes, but had no other inquiries.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]I kicked over to the area on the south shoreline where the mud changed to rocky rubble. Usually a good fish holding area. There were some bank tanglers fishing bait and just as I arrived, they began hooking some nice rainbows. They landed them with the Idaho finesse control technique…hauling the gut hooked fish unceremoniously up onto the shore with their heavy lines. Not a net among the bunch.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]I waited until I was a respectful distance down the shore before I began casting a light roadrunner close to shore. About my second cast WHAMMO. An active and energetic 18 inch rainbow took to the air and took a few yards of my line as it zinged around trying to get loose. However, the little Matzuo sickle hook held well and I was finally able to scoop and measure the fish. [/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]A couple of casts later, I hooked and lost a fish that looked quite a bit bigger than the one I had just netted. Felt good anyway. Well fought noble fishie. TubeBabe was still hanging back where I had lost the first fish, hoping to score something without having to kick too far from the mud hole launch ramp. I hollered her up on the walkie talkie and told her to get herself over to that stretch of shoreline. It seemed that there were some active fish there…and since I am a sharing kinda guy…[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Just before TubeBabe got there, I successfully out dueled a feisty 16 incher. But, as is customary, as soon as TubeBabe showed up, the bite stopped. No more trout for either of us. We both caught a grundle of dink perch. Nothing over about 8 inches. Those are merely pests where we usually fish for perch. We don’t get excited unless there are some 10 inchers for the basket with the potential for some “footlongs”.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]We watched the Magic tuber floatilla…the four in a team that were there when we got there…as they moved around trolling flies. I don’t think I saw any of them actually make a cast with their fly rods…just flop and drag. But, all of them went bendo once in awhile and they did C & R quite a few trout. I also did not see them bring in any larger fish. The only fish I witnessed were probably around 13 to 15 inches.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]About 1 PM a breeze started to kick up from the northwest…the direction we had to go to get back to the mud ramp. I suggested to TubeBabe that we might want to start back that way, before the breeze turned into a wind. The other tubers had already retreated and were loading into their truck. [/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]We started back slowly, casting as we went…getting nothing but perch. Then, a big gust of wind came out of nowhere and just about spun us in circles. We straightened out and started kicking toward the ramp with more dedication. That big gust of wind had unfastened the rope a a guy in a canoe had used to tie his craft to the dock while walking up for his truck. TubeBabe advised me on the walkie talkie that the canoe was drifting out to the open lake pretty fast. I took my bearings and kicked in the afterburner on my fins. I was able to catch the canoe before it disappeared over the horizon and I towed it back to the dock. The guy who waited there was more than appreciative. I was glad to help…even if it did mean a Charlie horse or two.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]We went through the same routine coming in as going out. We had to wait to get up on the ramp, while boaters came and went. Then, we had to put out tubes up on the dock while we broke everything down ready to load back in the vehicle. It was a long time getting loaded again.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]After getting out of the water, in the building breeze/wind, we drove up to the dam and looked for other potential launch sites…for future reference. No doubt about it, the water level was way down. I took one picture from way up on the dam, at the high water mark. You can barely see the lake in the background…well, not really. [/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Magic is really producing some good trout fishing right now. It will probably hold up for quite a while. Fly flingers should do very well and the bank tangler contingent were catching lots of fish all around the lake. The perch are small, but there are plenty of them…to keep the kids amused.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]We headed south for Twin Falls, to spend the night before going on to Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir on Monday. See the next report.[/font][/size]
[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29706;"][#000000] 1. LOW TIDE.jpg [/#000000][/url](210 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29707;"][#000000] 2. DRY DOCKS.jpg [/#000000][/url](200 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29708;"][#000000] 3. VIEW FROM HIGH WATER MARK ON DAM.jpg [/#000000][/url](199 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29709;"][#000000] 4. LOW WATER RAMP.jpg [/#000000][/url](200 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29710;"][#000000] 5. MAGIC MUD.jpg [/#000000][/url](253 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29711;"][#000000] 6. LAUNCH COMPETITION.jpg [/#000000][/url](207 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29712;"][#000000] 7. FELLOW TUBERS.jpg [/#000000][/url](168 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29713;"][#000000] 8. MAGIC CLOUDS.jpg [/#000000][/url](133 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29714;"][#000000] 9. 18 INCHER.jpg [/#000000][/url](245 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29715;"][#000000] 10. SIXTEEN INCHER.jpg [/#000000][/url](250 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29716;"][#000000] 11. MEGA PERCH.jpg [/#000000][/url](189 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29717;"][#000000] 12. TOWING LOOSE CANOE.jpg [/#000000][/url](186 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29718;"][#000000] 13. DOCKING THE TUBES.jpg [/#000000][/url](190 KB) [/size][/black][/font]

[font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Day 4 of the great Idaho caper. Enjoyed the complimentary breakfast at the Twin Falls Best Western and headed south to Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir before daylight. Looking good. As an old Idaho boy, it was shameful that I had never before wet a line on this productive pond and I was going to make up for lost time. [/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]We made all of the right turns and hit the right turnoff at Rogerson in good time. We drove up to the waters’ edge about 7 AM and got the tubes off the car top carrier. The water was calm, with only a light ripple on the lake. Looking good.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]But, by the time we got the tubes aired up and the gear ready to go, a stout NW breeze had started blowing wavelets onto the spot we were going to launch. And, it got stronger by the minute. Been there before. Mama Nature can sometimes be a real pain in the tubes. I left TubeBabe with the gear and drove over across the ramp to another potential launch spot, with just a bit of protection from the wind and a quicker shot at getting across the steep rocky channel to the opposite side, out of the wind. It looked possible, so I drove back and loaded up TubeBabe and her gear…and dropped her off first. Then I got my stuff and we both launched.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]We shoulda stood in bed. No tube fishing possible from the ramp area of Salmon Falls Creek on Monday. We had to kick like crazy to get across the narrow high walled dam channel to get out of the wind on the other side. Once there, our sonars showed 60 to 80 feet of water right next to the lava rock walls. Still, we threw spinners for a while before realizing it was pointless. No shoreline forage and no fishies.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]We kicked out into the strengthening wind and let it blow us toward the spot where we had stopped to launch earlier. We kept casting as we sailed across the water, but no hits for either of us. TubeBabe was the smart one. She just said “To heck with it” and rode the surf into shore. I continued on a ways and got out along a promising looking bit of shoreline to do some bank tangling. I made a few casts and had one nice trout hooked…briefly. But, the wind and waves were building and my casts into the wind came straight back so fast I had to duck (not really). [/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]I fought my way back out into the wave tossed water and worked my way to where TubeBabe had came ashore. I had to walk from there over to where we had left the vehicle when we launched. No biggie. Been there done that before. Tubers gotta adapt.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Just before we came back in, Idaho Fish and Game backed down a fish tank and dumped a bunch of 4” trout fry at the ramp. That sounded the dinner bell for the seagulls. Out of nowhere it suddenly looked like a scene from that movie “The Birds”. I don’t know how many of the new transplants made it past the first hour…or the first day…but I do know that a lot of them went into the local bird ecology. I suspect that the walleyes dined well that day too. TubeBabe saved one that was washed up in the surf and we took a quick picture before carrying it out a ways for re-release.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]One of our goals for the day was to do some driving and to locate as many possible tubing launch sites around the lake as possible. We did find a few, but many required a steep hike down to the water, with questionable fishing potential along steep banks. Most of our best tube fishing is in areas with shallow slopes with alternating structure (rocks) coming down into the water. We finally found something like that late in the afternoon at a place toward the south end of the lake called Big Sand Bay. [/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Just like its name, this spot was a wide stretch of sand, bordered on both sides by rock and rubble coming down into the water. The bottom was a gradual shelf going out to the deeper part of the lake. It looked very promising for tubing…EXCEPT FOR ALL THE #@&%$ waves being piled on shore by the ever strengthening north wind.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]I fished almost a hundred times last year, and am on track to do about the same this year. I have not been skunked in over two years and it was looking like my success streak was coming to an end. NO WAY. I told TubeBabe to grab her favorite rod and some tackle and we were gonna catch something…even if it was just a bad windburn. [/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]After working a hundred yards of shoreline without a tap for either of us, we were just about ready to admit defeat. TubeBabe actually made the comment that we were “Barking up the wrong tree”. But, as I looked up ahead, I noticed an area where the sand turned to rocky rubble. That often spells fish in my book. So, I said I would make a couple more casts and we would go. [/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]I got a chunky perch about the second cast. Then a couple of pikeminnows (formerly known as squawfish). I also lost a big trout/. I called TubeBabe over to join me. Within a couple of casts she had also scored a pikeminnow…and then a nice smallmouth…and then several small walleyes. We both had quite a few hits and managed to bring in several fish of several species. But, the wind got so strong that we could not fish our light stuff any more and left.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]On the way back to the hotel in Twin Falls, we changed our plans for the following day. Originally we had planned to drive to American Falls Reservoir, just to check it out. But, because of poor reports and extremely low water there too, we decided that if the weather forecast for Tuesday was decent that we would return to Big Sand Bay on Salmon Falls Creek…for a shot in our tubes.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]The forecast was for calm early. We hit the water just after daybreak at Big Sand Bay and it was game on. I was first in the water and had hits immediately. Felt like small perch, except for one major munch that felt big trouty. Then I moved over near the rocky area and began hanging smallmouths on almost every cast. They weren’t big…10”-14”…but they fought like smallmouths. They bent my stick and stretched the string on my light gear.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]TubeBabe announced on the walkie talkie that she had brought in a couple of nice perch from 12 feet of water. I moved out deeper and started bouncing a variety of jigs along the bottom. Whammity wham! Big perch and small walleyes wouldn’t leave me alone. Fun, fun.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]A couple of pickups drove into our private bay and unloaded a bunch of bank tanglers. They quickly began to rassle in some decent sized trout. TubeBabe observed that some of them were fishing bait under a bobber. So, she rigged a bobber and worm combo and got busy with wome troutskis. Her biggest was a feisty 20 incher that abused her badly before she let out a whoop and lifted it in her net. She later caught another, on one of my little “Ultra Minnow” jigs that was almost as big, but fought harder than any trout she had ever caught before.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]I was having too much fun with the “spiny rays”, so I did not mess with the trout. But, a few of them messed with me. They did not realize that I was fishing for perch, walleyes and smallmouth and several trout invited themselves to play too. My biggest was about 18” and I had several between 16 and 18. There were also a lot of fish about 12 to 13 inches that were jumping…and jumping on our hooks from time to time. Pesky troutskis.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]Caught a bunch of walleyes. Most were under 14”, but I kept 3 between 16 to 18 inches. Lost a real porker wallie right at the tube when it did the old open-mouth head shake and tossed my lure back to me. Mighty nice of her. My biggest smallmouth was about 14”, but I also lost the biggest I had hooked. It looked to be about 16 inches, and really beat me up before getting bored and releasing me unharmed.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]The perch were a pleasant surprise. I had heard there were some goodies in that lake, but the average size was impressive. Most were at least 8 or 9 inches, with plenty of 10 plus. My biggest was slightly over 12 inches and very chunky. It weighed 1.2 pounds. I would settle for those perch anywhere, any time.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]In addition to more pikeminnows, I also caught some crappies. They were only about 8” to 10”, but like all the other fish in the lake, they were very healthy. That is a very fertile lake.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]TubeBabe’s troutskis slowed down about noon so she borrowed some my hot new Ultra Minnow jigs and some perch meat I cut up for her. Then she went to town on the perch too. She did not score any decent sized walleyes but did catch quite a few smaller ones. She also caught every species I did except for the crappies. They seemed to be concentrated way out on an outside point and she stayed inside, playing with the slimers.[/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]The water temps were about 60 degrees most of the day, and there were only light and variable breezes until about 1 PM. Then, some dark clouds started building and a fairly stout west breeze kicked up. I figured I had had enough enjoys for the day. My hands were all chewed up from “fish rash”…from handling a bazillion perch, smallies, wallies and crappies…all spiny suckers and some with nasty sharp head gear. So, I rode the breeze back to the vehicle, continuing to catch large perch as soon as my jig got near the bottom on “the troll”. [/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"]TubeBabe reluctantly put up her fishing gear and joined me on shore. We had everything packed up and headed back toward Salt Lake by 2:30. Great trip.[/font][/size]
[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29720;"][#000000] 1. BEACH LAUNCH NEAR RAMP.jpg [/#000000][/url](199 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29721;"][#000000] 2. POPCORN PROTECTION.jpg [/#000000][/url](187 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29722;"][#000000] 3. WAVE RIDER.jpg [/#000000][/url](269 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29723;"][#000000] 4. TUBEBABE HANGIN' TEN.jpg [/#000000][/url](247 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29724;"][#000000] 5. DAMN DAM.jpg [/#000000][/url](246 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29725;"][#000000] 6. STEEP ROCK WALLS.jpg [/#000000][/url](251 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29726;"][#000000] 7. SOUTH FROM DAM AREA.jpg [/#000000][/url](241 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29727;"][#000000] 8. CAMPING & BOAT RAMP.jpg [/#000000][/url](263 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29728;"][#000000] 9. BANK TANGLERS.jpg [/#000000][/url](346 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29729;"][#000000] 10. SEAGULL FOOD.jpg [/#000000][/url](185 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29730;"][#000000] 11. SEAGULLS FEEDING.jpg [/#000000][/url](236 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29731;"][#000000] 12. BIG SAND BAY.jpg [/#000000][/url](126 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29732;"][#000000] 12-A. SUB-PRIME TUBING WATER.jpg [/#000000][/url](219 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29733;"][#000000] 13. SHORE CAUGHT PERCH.jpg [/#000000][/url](178 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29734;"][#000000] 14. SHORE CAUGHT SPINNER SMALLIE.jpg [/#000000][/url](205 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29735;"][#000000] 15. SHORE CAUGHT WEE WALLIE.jpg [/#000000][/url](262 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29736;"][#000000] 16. PIKEMINNOW (SQUAWFISH).jpg [/#000000][/url](162 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29737;"][#000000] 17. BIG SAND BAY LAST DAY.jpg [/#000000][/url](181 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29738;"][#000000] 18. GREEN GUNK SOUP.jpg [/#000000][/url](255 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29739;"][#000000] 19. EARLY SMALLIE.jpg [/#000000][/url](167 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29740;"][#000000] 20. TUBED SMALLIE.jpg [/#000000][/url](259 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29741;"][#000000] 21. DROPSHOT WALLIE.jpg [/#000000][/url](172 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29742;"][#000000] 22. DINNER WALLIE.jpg [/#000000][/url](180 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29743;"][#000000] 23. CRAPPIE TOO.jpg [/#000000][/url](186 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29744;"][#000000] 24. BASKET PERCH.jpg [/#000000][/url](197 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29745;"][#000000] 25. PORKY PERCH.jpg [/#000000][/url](185 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29746;"][#000000] 26. 1.2 POUNDS OF PERCH.jpg [/#000000][/url](183 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29747;"][#000000] 27. HEALTHY BOW.jpg [/#000000][/url](155 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29748;"][#000000] 28.TUBEBABE BENDO.jpg [/#000000][/url](389 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29749;"][#000000] 29.TUBEBABE'S BIG BOW.jpg [/#000000][/url](297 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29750;"][#000000] 30. AFTERNOON RIPPLE.jpg [/#000000][/url](211 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29751;"][#000000] 31. TUBEBABE'S TAKE.jpg [/#000000][/url](240 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=29752;"][#000000] 32. FIVE SPECIES BASKET.jpg [/#000000][/url](277 KB) [/size][/black][/font]
[signature]

[fuzzyfisher]

damn Dude it took an hour to read that one.. where do you find the time to type up stuf like that? [sly]

good job my friend sounds like a fun trip! great report
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Blazing fingers. I do type pretty fast.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Glad you liked it.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[ram4x]

[reply]
[cool][#0000ff]Blazing fingers. I do type pretty fast.[/#0000ff]
[/reply]
For a little guy!
[signature]

[bassrods]

Nice to see your still on this site[cool], I haven't been taking any pictures cause I didn't know who I could trust with them...

Looks like you had a great trip and seen a lot of country, well my finger is sore from all this typing it took me over an hour for this much will send you a pm later....


.
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Everybody always picks on us little guys.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[ironworker]

great report and pictures, as always. sounds and looks like you two had a wonderful time. thanks for sharing. [cool]
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Thanks, Cliff. You know I will be happy to help you post your pics. One of these days we need to get together on either your computer or mine and I can run you through the process. Sometimes seeing it done is better than trying to tell someone how to do it...kinda like dropshotting.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[orvis1]

Now that is a fishing report, it felt like we were on the trip with you! Looks like you caught a gripload of fish and some real quality rainbows. I have never fished ID but I REALLY have to consider it. Thank you for taking the time to post the report and for all the great pictures!
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Thanks Bro. I am from Idaho originally, and grew up catching big bows almost everywhere...many years ago. The good news is that Idaho has an aggressive fish management program on most reservoirs and the fishing can be phenomenal. Of course, depending upon water conditions and fishing pressure, it can also be frustrating. But, if you stay on top of the reports and know where and how to fish, you can get into some quality fish.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I will be anxiously watching the snow and water reports through the coming months to see how my favorite ponds are faring. In good water years there are a lot more larger fish toward the end of the summer. However, some of the lakes, like Henrys, are spring fed and maintain good populations of big fish year round. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You should definitely plan some excursions into Idaho next year. The guys up there will try to convince you that there are no fish in Idaho, but they lie about other things too.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[Mc_Lennon]

Man o man that takes me back. Great report! I have very fond memories of fishing Mackay, especially the big lost just below the reservoir. That was actually the first place I caught a trout over 20", on the good old Mackay Special. I really need to get a few days off and try those old rivers up round there.

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I don't know how long it has been since you fished the Big Lost, below Mackay, but it is almost all private land now. Only a few places marked for "Sportsman Access" and they are not very good fishing. Just mentioning that is a good way to set off my elderly aunt who lives in Moore. She has fished the Big Lost all her life and can no longer get to her favorite spots.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]This year there was not even any water in the river much below Mackay. It is all sucked out into irrigation canals before it gets very far south. There has been no water going through Moore for over two years.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[Mc_Lennon]

That sucks.[] Show's how long it's been since I've been up that way. Guess it has been more than a few years. Since I was about 12, so 8 or so now. I can't believe all that river's private. That sucks. Used to walk down that thing for miles right from the camp ground, catching fish the entire time.

Something about it being pretty much dry, too. I used to fear drowning in that thing every time I waded it. Flooded the old hodgemens too many times to count trying to get to the good holes with my dad and uncle. I might have to still check it out, though, for old times sake at the very least. I remember an old canal around Darlington that had giant Brookies in it. Worse comes to worse the reservoir's always there, too.

[iconoclasticPaul]

I just got back from idaho visiting my sis in law and the family in St. Anthony. (No fishing) It is a beautiful country there now, with the fall foilage and a little dusting of snow in the mountians. My teacher once told me he think it's "God's Country" and "Heaven on Earth" up there. I have to agree!

Sheeesh.... and to think I grew up in Los Angeles with its beaches, its surfers and gangs with their graffiti. You couldn't find them there in Idaho! I sure missed out on a lot in Idaho.[]
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Part of Idaho is great for stream fishing...the Snake River, Warm River, Fall River and all of the streams and lakes just north in Island Park. That is where we originally planned to travel and fish on our last trip but the low water levels in many of the waters had resulted in poor fishing and even fish kills in some spots.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Interesting, your comment about growing up in So Cal. I was born in Idaho and was a dedicated Idaho trout fisherman until I was about 11 years old. Then my family moved to Orange County. Talk about culture shock. Oh yeah, I caught on to beaches, surfing and the California "lifestyle" soon enough, but my heart never really left Idaho. Everytime I go back, and start driving by the potato fields, the streams and the beautiful back country, I feel "at home" again.[/#0000ff]
[signature]