There is still quite a bit of snow on the ground in the good Chucker and Hun areas and the roads are getting more and more shady. I expect one more dusting and the roads will be done. I am thinking it might be time to switch back over to waterfowl.
It has been an amazing season climbing the hills. We got into birds every day except one and just cannot beat that.
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Well the Chucker's showed no love today but the scenery did.
In album November 19, 2011 (11 photos)
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November 19, 2011
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Reshared post from +Warren Ponder
It has been snowing off an on the last two days in the valley. The Oywhees seem to have a nice amount of coverage. Trying to decide if I should go Chucker hunting or Duck hunting.
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I love fall fly fishing. Rivers are just right. Crowds are gone. Hunting season starts and people transition over. Oct. 1 Chuckars opened here. Now is the time for cast and blast. A good mix of feather and fin. We needed to take some time off so we hit eastern Idaho and the park in late September. The result? Big Cutbow hybrids, Big Brown Trout and scrappy Yellowstone Cutthroat. It just does not get any better. Now, the problem is Stealhead are moving in… So, Stealhead, Chuckers, Stealhead, Chuckers?
As an avid hunter and conservationist I feel fortunate to have the benefits of both right outside my door.
This is the season when the Waterfowl nursery that borders our property kicks into full swing. The video below demonstrates the value of protecting our resources especially when they are right at our door step.
I captured this mother Mallard with her chicks just after a Wood Duck hen passed by with her chicks. This same water way serves as a hunting, training and nursery area all in one.
Yesterday one of the Wood Duck chicks got separated. So we are keeping a close eye out to see if he catches up with his family or if he pairs up with the Mallards.
If we are lucky we will also get to post more videos as the chicks get older.
Amazing really when you think about it. 8 dams and about 1000 miles Steelhead and Salmon have to travel to bite flies in Idaho.
Although the dams do not seem to be coming down anytime soon. Changes to the tactics the fish and game are taking to increase return and survival rates seem to be paying off.
The last two years have been record years for Steelhead and Salmon returning to Idaho spawing grounds. I am by no means an expert in this area. What I have learned is every thing has to be just right to hook into these bad boys. If you are lucky enough to get hooked you are in for a great battle.
These are just amazing fish absolutely beautiful and strong fighters when you make contact. In some sense I love Steelhead fishing here on my home waters. Although you are lucky to land just a few fish the whole process of hunting them down is what I really enjoy. This year we were lucky enough to have several battles from another great run.
Recent years have been record numbers of Salmon and Steelhead returning to Idaho and their native spawning waters across the Sawtooth Wilderness. Idaho holds some of the longest Salmon and Steelhead runs to the Pacific. Salmon and Steelhead run through the Columbia Basin met several challenges along the way from often controversial man made dams used to generate power across the Pacific North West.
Even with record number returns many of these species are still at a critical place when compared to the mind numbing numbers of fish that migrated in the early 1900′s.
This year was a special time for us. While out on a drive through the forest out on a drive we were fortunate enough to catch some Salmon returning to their spawning grounds.
A rewarding adventure and way to give back to the fishing community as a whole is helping out the Fish and Game. As a well under funded organization to do all the things needed to keep things in good order, they do an amazing job with what they have.
One way to help is by volunteering. Our contribution this year was a trip to Northern Idaho to stock an Alpine Lake in the Kootenai National Forest, with native Cutthroat.
Our trip started off at the hatchery where we loaded up with 2100 fingerlings. From there it was off to the trail where we made a 6 mile hike with a total elevation gain of approx. 4500ft. the toughest part being a one mile scramble across a large bolder field. Not exactly the the easiest with a large water balloon on your back. The trek was long enough we made an over night trip out of it. The weather was not fun. It was wet the whole time, but we survived.
Northern Idaho is one of the most beautiful places we have ever been and it was well worth the work despite having low clouds blocking most our views.
No introduction needed for Henry’s Fork I hope. This year I got an amazing present. A trip over to Henry’s Fork to hit opening day. This year our Winter carried on into spring. Making this opener cold, wet and snowy. It snowed and rained the whole trip but we still had a blast chasing the fat rainbows in one of the finest streams in the country.
