Wexford Highland Rod and Gun Club

For the past two weeks I have been touring lovely Sun Valley, Idaho, with the family and O'Connor Crew. Most importantly, we fished almost every day: on the Wood, Silver Creek, and even Copper Basin.

We went out twice on Silver Creek for Tricos and it was amazing. Though some of the most difficult fishing of the year, seeing the unbelievable number of bugs, as well as the fish, is really awesome. Notice in the photo how early we were out by the expression on my face!

There were also two expeditions up to Copper Basin during the stay. We mostly caught brookies, but we also harassed some rainbows, whitefish, and Yellowstone, Fine Spot, and West Slope Cutties.

Most of our trips were on the Wood in the evening. We got into some awesome Caddis hatches along with some Yellow Sallies (they're really green). The last night we were out, everyone caught well over a dozen fish each in just a couple of hours.

It was a really fun, but exhausting couple of weeks. Can't wait 'till next year!

Save our Wild Salmon

The fishing's been excellent! Tricos are hatching daily on Silver Creek by the billion, the fish are hungry and accessible on the Wood, and the brookies are jumping on anything in Copper Basin. The Kokanee should start running any day on the Lost as well.

Though the fishing couldn't be better, I've had the most fun going to the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery to watch the Chinook Salmon completing their 909 mile journey from the ocean. These fish are huge...and gorgeous. Because of dams and other ridiculousness caused by man, just a few thousand fish are able to complete this journey up the Salmon River.

The determination of the chinook (and other anadromous fish) to swim upstream is unrivaled and it awesome to see. It was unbelievably sad to see them make their last leaps into a hatchery instead of clear gravel spawning beds.

I did find a super sweet bag at the Smiley Creek Lodge covered with Salmon yesterday, though. Made by Granite Gear, proceeds from this bag support Save our Wild Salmon (www.wildsalmon.org). You can buy this bag on Ebay--search Granite Gear--Everyday Reusable Tote Save Our Salmon. Photo Credits Ebay, Granite Gear, and Save our WIld Salmon.

Remove the 4 Lower Snake River Dams. No to Pebble Mine.

Little Wood Fun

Until 4th of July weekend the Wood has been too high to safely fish so I've been exploring elsewhere. The upper Little Wood is about 15 miles north of Carey and provides some awesome "Wilderness" fishing. Fishing above the reservoir produces some enthusiastic fish. This is a great stream to venture out to when there's spring runoff elsewhere and gets a little exciting with lots of moose and bear tracks.