If you’ve ever wondered how Redfish Lake near Stanley got its name, you can learn how at two events celebrating Idaho’s salmon.
Here’s a hint. There’s a fish called a sockeye, and another called the kokanee, but they’re the same fish. Sort of.
But wouldn’t you rather learn this while eating ice cream, listening to music or seeing the fish live and up close?
Here’s how:
* Kokanee Outdoors Day is Aug. 6, and here’s how it works.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., take your family on a self-guided road trip up Idaho 21 to Idaho City and follow the route of the kokanee salmon that swim up from Lucky Peak Reservoir.
The road trip will include four well-marked road stops along Idaho 21 near Mores Creek and in Idaho City.
There are activities at each stop, such as gold panning, learning about raptors, and if the fish cooperate, spotting live kokanee in Mores Creek.
Their bright-red color is easy to spot in the creek’s clear water. In recent years, they’ve been plentiful in the creek during the event. This year they have started to move so there should be some to see.
When you get to Idaho City, there’s a free festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at John Brogan Park at 3801 Idaho 21 with kids games, live birds of prey, story telling, fly fishing lessons, music, food and drinks. For details go to TedTrueBloodTu.org, or call (208) 345-9800.
* Another option is the Sawtooth Salmon Festival in Stanley from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 20.
The Stanley area is home to the southernmost populations of ocean-going sockeye salmon, which are Idaho’s most endangered fish.
Every year, baby sockeye swim about 900 miles to the ocean and return as adults by swimming upstream 6,500 vertical feet to return to Redfish Lake Creek to spawn.
The last year was a banner sockeye return to Stanley. This year’s sockeye run is also looking promising, so there’s a good chance you can see a very rare fish during the event, which features salmon-spawning tours.
There will also be music, vendors, activities and a wild salmon dinner at the Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical Association off Idaho 75 in Stanley.
The event is free, but dinner is $15 for adults and $10 for children. For details go to SawtoothSalmonFestival.com.
Roger Phillips: 373-6615
