Fish | Idaho Fly Fishing | Teton Valley Lodge

Dec
18

Cutthroat Trout Populations are Stable in Idaho

by Matt Berry

REXBURG, Idaho – The broad-based surveys showed Yellowstone cutthroat were the most widely distributed, and at 2 million fish, the most abundant trout in the state. Catch trends showed the trout were within 4 percent of the catch rates from 1980 to 2000. The findings showed the cutthroat population trends to be stable. “We also studied genetic purity,” Moore said. Those findings showed that Yellowstone cutthroat trout populations have their own genetic profile in each drainage studied. The research gave the agency a scientific basis for managing the trout to keep the populations steady.

Under its state authority, IFG has two ways to manage fish populations, Moore said. It can regulate the catch by setting seasons and limits and it can adjust the way it stocks hatchery fish. The research backs up the management decisions. And it was the push to keep the trout off the ESA list that provided the data. “In response to the data, we stopped stocking rainbows in high mountain lakes,” Moore said. That’s because the data showed nonnative trout, such as the rainbows, were the biggest threat to the cutthroat population. Catch limits and size limits were also put in place. Before the actions, the species was overfished with a 72 percent mortality rate annually. “Once we got the rules in place to protect the fish, catch is not a limiting factor,” Moore said.

Henry’s Fork stoneflies are hatching

by Matt Berry

Giant stoneflies are hatching on much of the Henry’s Fork. We noticed them coming out two days ago on June 1st. Fishing is just getting good on the lower sections as the bugs are making their way to dry land. Yesterday dry flies worked better than stonefly nymphs or other nymph patterns. We have seen some very big fish out looking for the bugs.

Give us a call to get out on the water and try your shot at a big beast.

0 Categories : Fish, Hatch, Henry's Fork, Idaho, Rivers

May
9

Teton River Fishing Report

by Matt Berry

The Idaho Fish and Game has recently published a report of the Teton River from a 2010 study. The department interviewed fishermen along the river. These anglers were asked to identify the trout species in the river, their catch rates and what fish were harvested.

Fish identification quizzes on the river’s bank indicated most anglers could identify trout species present in the Teton River. Rainbow trout were most accurately identified with 98% of the anglers correctly identifying them followed by Yellowstone cutthroat trout (94%), brown trout (81%), and brook trout (80%).

Angler catch rates were just shy of one fish per hour, and caught an estimated 53,761 fish. Catch was comprised of Yellow-stone cutthroat trout (40%), rainbow trout (22%), brook trout (27%), and mountain whitefish (11%).

Total harvest was low, at 1,183 trout – 98% of captured trout were released. Although closed to harvest, a small portion of the fish observed in anglers creel was cutthroat trout. Based on observations, 6% of harvested fish were cutthroat trout, 50% were rainbow trout, and 44% were brook trout.

Anglers spent nearly 57,000 hours fishing the Teton River in 2010. This is light fishing pressure compared to the neighboring South Fork which had over 233,000 angler hours in 2005. Over 80% of anglers were fly fishing, while 11% were bait fishing and 7% were fishing with lures. Anglers were most often fishing from a boat (71% of the anglers) instead of wading or fishing from the bank (29% of anglers), and most Teton River anglers were Idaho residents (60%).

Read more and download the recent IDFG report:
Upper Snake Region Annual Fisheries Report Activities and Accomplishments

0 Categories : Fish, fish and game, Fishing Report, Idaho, Rivers, Teton

Apr
28

Trout Recipe

by Matt Berry

I am not sure where we got this trout recipe. I know that great-grandfather Alma cooked trout in this manner. I wonder if he would mind me sharing this recipe? Ever cooked with a dutch oven. You will need one for this recipe.

Is trout good for you? Trout in general can be very good for you. It is high in Omega 3 fatty acids which many physicians feel helps to lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol. This assumes that you are careful how you cook the trout. This trout recipe probably pushes the limits of healthy eating.

First of all, and the most fun, you will need to catch some fish. Make sure and check the regulations in your area. Small fish are better. They fit nicely in the dutch oven. You also don’t have to cook them as long as big fish. The bones of the smaller fish tend to dissolve during cooking too. Clean the fish well. I don’t like to eat my fish with the heads on. Just a preference.

You will need a very hot fire. Around here we use dead willow branches for our fires. They burn hot and fast. You want the fire to burn down to coals fast. You will be cooking over the coals and not the flames. Willows break down fast so you don’t have to wait very long to start cooking.

Place a pound of butter in the dutch oven. Now take a pound of bacon and toss it inside. Let this simmer for a about 5 minutes.

Place salt and pepper along with some flour in a trash bag. Place the trout in the bag too. Now shake it up so the trout gets covered in the flour, salt and pepper.

Now you want to pull the dutch oven out of the coals. Take a slice of bacon and put a slice into each trout. Take any left over slices of bacon and place them on top of all the trout. Once this is complete, place the dutch oven back in the coals and cook for 10-15 minutes.

The trout are ready to eat when the tails are crispy like bacon. Serve with corn-on-the-cob and dutch oven potatoes. Enjoy.

Got a trout recipe of your own? Feel free to share.

0 Categories : Fish, Tips, Tutorial

Jan
12

Idaho: Fishing for Trout in the True Mecca of Fly Fishing

by Dallin Owens

During this past summer of guiding in Idaho, myself and two other guides needed a break from the area and we decided to drive out to Montana for a few days and go fly fishing for trout on the Madison River. For me it would be a trip to my old stomping grounds. Before guiding at Teton Valley Lodge, I had spent five years guiding in Montana; known in the fly fishing world as the “Mecca of fly fishing.”

Montana was a romantic life-style for me; filled with evening dry fly fishing, bears, great friends and of course large trout.

Montana was a romantic life-style for me; filled with evening dry fly fishing, bears, great friends and of course large trout.
Finally after a 1.5 hour drive, we had arrived to the world re-known Madison River. We decided to visit the local fly shop to buy licenses as well as find out what was going on with the river.

As I chatted with the owner, an old friend of mine, we began talking about the difference between Idaho fly fishing vs Montana. He mentioned to me that he had a client just weeks ago who had been on a a fly fishing trip including both states. He went on to tell me that he had sent this gentleman with one of his best guides to float the Upper Madison. He also mentioned that this certain client carried a fish counter with him, and made sure to “click” every trout landed.

“I have only caught a dozen fish today! While I was in Idaho last week, I caught a total of over 200 fish in three days, all on dry flies!”

During their float, fishing was tough. At lunch, only 12 trout had been landed between two anglers. As the day progressed the fishing got worse and eventually tension was evident between guest and guide. As tension grew, the guest finally threw his hands in the air and said: “I have only caught a dozen fish today! While I was in Idaho last week, I caught a total of over 200 fish in three days, all on dry flies!”

As the owner of the shop was telling me this story he looked to me with disgust and asked me “Can you believe that guy!? Over 200 fish in three days in Idaho?!” I paused before responding to him, trying to calculate how I was going to answer. I responded: “Did by chance this client have a nephew of his with him?” “Yes he did, how did you know that?” he replied. “Was his name (blank) and his nephews name (blank)?” I asked.

As I said the two names, I could see the blood in my friends face rise and then he asked. “Don’t you dare tell me that you guided for those guys!” I smiled, and fired back “I sure did, and I can verify that they caught over 200 fish during there trip in Idaho. They hit the salmon fly hatch perfectly and they had an absolute hay day on dries! I witnessed it myself!”

Embarrassed and upset, he quickly gave us our licenses and all but kicked us out of his shop. During the rest of our fishing trip in Montana, albeit the fishing was good, I felt vindicated and more convinced that Idaho is The True Mecca of Fly Fishing.

0 Categories : Fish, Idaho, Madison River, Montana, Rivers

Archive for Fish

Cutthroat Trout Populations are Stable in Idaho

Henry’s Fork stoneflies are hatching

Teton River Fishing Report

Trout Recipe

Idaho: Fishing for Trout in the True Mecca of Fly Fishing

Montana was a romantic life-style for me; filled with evening dry fly fishing, bears, great friends and of course large trout.

“I have only caught a dozen fish today! While I was in Idaho last week, I caught a total of over 200 fish in three days, all on dry flies!”

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