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Upcoming Events, January 4th, 2025

January 4, 2025
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Fishing Reports, Upcoming Events

Saturday, January 11th Fly Tying Demo Features Jarer Thuerer

I was introduced to fly fishing with a “broomstick” 6 wt. Fenwick and Pflueger Medalist reel. My first casts were just off the banks of the Mack’s Inn stretch of the Upper Hank. (I’m old enough to remember the Mack’s Inn before the fire.) Back then we fished renegades religiously and kept rainbows over 12 inches for a weekend trout breakfast.

I’m one of those self taught, old school fly tiers. Fly tying materials consisted of feathers, fur, and hair with exotic synthetics being wire and tinsel. My first flies were tied following along with Jack Dennis’ Western Trout Fly Tying Manual. It was the original black and white edition. I fell in love with natural materials and many of my go to fly patterns represent those roots.

My tying style is representative of the great tiers in the West of the 80s and 90s. I love the patterns and design of A.K. Best, René Harrop, Gary LaFontaine, Craig Matthews, Kelly Gallup, and Bob Jacklin to name a few. In recent years I’ve been influenced and impressed by younger tiers and their innovations. Cheech and Lance are true artists when it comes to productive fly design and it’s an honor to be asked to tie for Fly Fish Food Jimmy’s this winter season.

Ultimately my motivation and inspiration in life comes from a girl I met in 1989 and fell for at first sight. Heather and I were married 29 years ago and have 4 incredible sons, Benjamin (who is married to a local Idaho Falls native, Mikayli) Henry, Heber, Carter, and 1 favorite daughter named Libby (who incidentally is THE Libby of Libby’s Salmon Fly fame.) Calvin is our new grandson and next generation fly tier!

When I’m not on the river with my family or at the desk tying, you can find me improving my tying skills while practicing dentistry, a necessary job to support my addiction to hackle and rare fly tying materials. I will refrain from dentistry during my demo, but will offer the results of my tying experience with natural and a few synthetic materials!

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South Fork Fishing Report, January 4th, 2025

January 4, 2025
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Fishing Reports, South Fork

South Fork Rainbow Trout Suppression Study Update

To achieve suppression goals IDFG used boat electrofishing to capture and remove Rainbow Trout

( RBT ) from the South Fork Snake River (SFSR) in 2021 through 2023. Boat electrofishing occurred while RBT were spawning in the mainstem SFSR from early-April through May. In 2024, unlike previous years, the program relied entirely on angler harvest. The change in suppression methodology occurred in response to comments by the outfitting and guiding community regarding the use of electrofishing to remove RBT. Idaho Department of Fish and Game was responsive to comments and agreed to withhold electrofishing efforts if our suppression targets could be met through harvest alone.

In the autumn of 2023, IDFG estimated 701 RBT/mi. (± 176) in the Conant monitoring reach and a total of 13,319 RBT from Palisades Dam downstream to Dry Canyon. To meet our goal of annually removing 30% of RBT present in the upper portion of the SFSR (i.e., where RBT are most prevalent) our suppression target was 3,996 RBT for 2024. In 2024, anglers have submitted 4,007 RBT to the program, surpassing our suppression target by 11 fish. The general public has harvested 816 RBT and guides and outfitters have harvested 3,191 RBT (South Fork Lodge: 2,967; The Lodge at Palisades Creek: 224.

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Henry’s Lake Fishing Report, January 4th, 2025

January 4, 2025
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Fishing Reports, Henry's Lake

Henry’s Lake Mortality Study by Nate Tillotson IDF&G Fisheries Biologist

We conducted a post-release ice fishing mortality study on Henrys Lake. Here is a summary of our ice fishing mortality study We used anglers of all skill levels to capture 161 trout through the ice at Henrys Lake – all using the same bait and barbed hooks. We held those fish in spawn shed at the Henrys Lake hatchery for three weeks to monitor post-release mortality before releasing them back into the lake. At the same time, we allowed 151 trout to swim up our fish ladder and into the spawn shed voluntarily to act as our control group. None of the fish in the control group died, and only one of the fish in the ice fishing group died. That’s 100% survival of our control group, and 99.4% survival of our treatment group. The only fish that died in the treatment group was dropped on the ice a couple of time by the angler, leading us to believe that handling is much more important than whether or not the fish was caught and released through the ice. Regardless, the difference in mortality between the groups was negligible, and we can confidently say that catch-and-release ice fishing does not influence trout mortality in Henrys Lake. The same logic applies to the regular season fishing; pre-release handling impacts mortality. So be gentle when releasing trout any time anywhere!

If harvest doesn’t contribute to trout population declines, and post-release mortality doesn’t contribute to trout population declines, I can confidently say that the extended fishing season on Henrys Lake does not contribute to trout population declines.

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Upcoming Events, December 7th, 2024

December 7, 2024
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Fishing Reports, Upcoming Events

        Jimmy Gabettas Fly Tying Demo (beginning 10:30 AM), December 14th, 2024

I am a lifelong resident of Idaho and fishing has always been a big part of my life. Some of my earliest memories on this planet were fishing the Wood River and Silver Creek with my Dad in the 1960’s. In those early days it was dead drifting worms and single salmon eggs. They make a good foundation for nymph fishing!  As a teenager I transitioned to flyfishing and flytying before going to work at Will Godfreys fly shop in Island Park after high school graduation.

After a brief try at college I opened All Seasons Angler in 1979 which began a 43 year career in flyfishing. In 1995 I sold the Pocatello shop and moved to the Shoup Ave. and A St, location in Idaho Falls.  All Seasons Angler became the premier fly fishing retailer in the Snake River Plain.

In June 2023 Curtis Fry and Clark Pierce of Fly Fish Food acquired the shop and allowed me to go fishing as much as I want now. Thank you Guys! I have been fishing some new places for fun and have been going back to some waters I haven’t fished in many years.

I have had the opportunity to fish in many places around the world but my favorite place is still Idaho.

I plan to share some of the salmonid fly patterns I like to use for some of the great species we have available here. Looking forward to the 14th. See you then!

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Salmon River Steelhead, December 7th, 2024

December 7, 2024
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Fishing Reports, Salmon River Steelhead

Thanksgiving week was the coldest week so far on the Upper Salmon River this fall, but despite the chilly temperatures, steelhead anglers were still having success downstream of Deadwater in location codes 14 and 15. The fishing was much tougher upstream of Deadwater though because the slush (or frazil) ice started flowing on Friday.  

Catch rates last week remained good downstream of North Fork. Anglers interviewed downstream of the Middle Fork Salmon River in location code 14 averaged 8 hours per steelhead caught, and anglers interviewed downstream of North Fork in location code 15 averaged 9 hours per steelhead caught. 

Few interviews were obtained from anglers fishing upstream of North Fork in location codes 16 and 17. One angler reported harvesting a steelhead in location code 16 which produced an average catch rate of 52 hours per steelhead caught., and no anglers that were interviewed upstream of the Lemhi River in location code 17 reported catching a steelhead.  If you have questions about steelhead fishing here,, call the Salmon IDF&G Salmon office at 208 756-2271.

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Small Streams, December 7th, 2024

December 7, 2024
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Fishing Reports, Small Streams

A meeting in Idaho Falls took place two evenings ago to provide information on the ongoing gold exploration in the West Camas Creek drainage northwest of Kilgore. This action is being performed by a Canadian company which has cut roads and produced drill holes damaging habitat in Caribou-Targhee National Forest land. These actions alone alter the environment used by big game animals as well as some headwater streams that host cutthroat trout.  Concern for these actions are based on the possibility that if gold in economic amounts is found, an open pit mine could be constructed resulting in major damage to the area.

     1.  Specific concerns include physical and chemical alteration of the West Camas Creek, the area     trunk stream, which sinks into the substrate at the top of the Snake River Plain Aquifer, 

2.    Degradation of this drainage at the top of the aquifer could negatively alter its quality impacting downstream agricultural and municipal use as far as the Magic Valley,

            3.   Loss of water quality in the West Fork of Camas Creek impacting the hosted cutthroat and exotic trout (brook and brown trout) population, 

            4. Major loss of big game habitat in the area, and

            5. Loss of scenic values.

Private organizations such as the Idaho Conservation League and public agencies including IDFG Fish and Game Upper Snake River Region Department are watching impact and progress of this activity.

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Upcoming Events, November 30th, 2024

November 30, 2024
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Fishing Reports, Upcoming Events

Our winter slate of Saturday Fly Tying Demos will begin on December 7th. Paul Hoelscher is our guest tier that day. His fly tying bio follows. Paul has spent the last 10 years guiding, exploring, and mastering the fisheries of Southeast Idaho. He is a seasoned, patient, and successful teacher with a proven track record. Paul’s comprehensive knowledge of fish, insects, birds, wildlife, and flora enables his clients to enjoy every facet of the river. 

Paul is from Conway, Arkansas where he grew up fly fishing the White River system in the Ozark Mountains. Paul was fortunate to find his calling early in life–he’s been fanatical about catching fish since the age of 2. At age 11 Paul began fly fishing and tying his own flies. His summers in college were spent guiding and fishing Colorado, Montana, and Yellowstone National Park. Paul spent the last 10 years guiding at Henry’s Fork Angler’s, and now guides at the South Fork Lodge.

We are looking forward to have Paul showcase some of his “flies that work”! bring your fly tying notebook!

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Salmon River Steelhead, November 30th, 2024

November 30, 2024
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Fishing Reports, Salmon River Steelhead

 As of November 26th, average catch rates took a step back in a couple areas and improved in others. Anglers interviewed downstream of the Middle Fork Salmon River in location code 14 averaged 17 hours per steelhead caught, and anglers interviewed downstream of North Fork in location code 15 averaged nine hours per steelhead caught. Anglers interviewed downstream of the Lemhi River in location code 16 averaged 20 hours per steelhead caught, and anglers interviewed downstream of the Pahsimeroi River in location code 17 averaged 19 hours per steelhead caught. Flow in town of Salmon is about 1080 cfs.

Flies to fish:

Hoh Bo Spey-Green Butt

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Fly Tying Classes

Fly tying classes are offered mainly during Winter. Fly tying demonstrations, featuring tiers from around the area and beyond are held every Saturday morning (November through March) and are free and open to anyone to watch.

Our Shop

Mon - Sat 10.00am - 6.00pm Sunday CLOSED

1-208-524-7160

245 A St, Idaho Falls, ID 83402

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