It’s time for fall fishing — and one species should be at the top of Idahoans’ list
We’ve entered the fall fishing season in Idaho, but with warm weather and sunny skies, it’s a great time to get out. Here are a few pointers for your next fishing trip, along with some fishing news and notes from around Southwest Idaho:
Fall Trout Season in Full Swing
October is my favorite month to fish for trout. With ideal weather, angler-friendly river flows and lots of hungry fish around, it’s a great time to explore Idaho’s rivers. Spinners, crankbaits, streamer patterns, egg-sucking leeches, nymphs and bait are all effective trout catchers. One thing to keep in mind during low-water conditions is fish tend to be warier than usual. A little stealth can go a long way. On one recent trip, I happened upon a deep, beautiful pool and snuck up from the downstream side before launching a Rapala to the top of the hole. Just a few twitches in, the bait got annihilated by a gorgeous 18-inch brown trout. Browns are a staple of fall fishing — they can be found in the Boise, Wood and Owyhee systems, and they are usually larger and more aggressive than other trout species. October and November are prime spawning months for brown trout, so I recommend practicing catch-and-release and staying on shore to avoid disturbing nests.
Local Agency Holds ‘Hooked on Mental Health’ Event
Local mental health agency A Body & Mind Health Services will host its second annual “Hooked on Mental Health” event Saturday, Oct. 10 at the Caldwell Rotary Pond. Anglers of all ages are invited to participate beginning at 8 a.m. Fishing permits for the event are being provided by Idaho Fish & Game at no cost. Organizer Patrick Fithen hopes to use the event as a platform to promote mental health awareness in the Treasure Valley and highlight the therapeutic benefits of being outdoors.
“Mental health is so important. We have to work together as a community to address it and provide more local resources,” said Fithen, co-founder and CEO of A Body & Mind. “We hope this will become an annual celebration and opportunity for the community to gather mental health resources, create healthy relationships, and fall in love with fishing while enjoying what Idaho has to offer.”
Caldwell Rotary Pond is regularly stocked with rainbow trout and is also home to bass and bluegill. There will be lots of fun and prize giveaways, including a fishing rod I donated to the cause. Admission is free and all are welcome.
Father-Daughter Duo Enjoy State Record Spree
Local anglers Jon Urban and Hayley Urban enjoyed a busy summer inking their names into Idaho’s state record books. Jon is a friend of mine, and it all started when he caught a whopper black crappie on a trip we took together, setting the new catch-and-release record with a 17-inch slab.
Jon and Hayley continued their record quest by pursuing some of Idaho’s lesser-known game fish. The Urbans logged catch-and-release records for green sunfish and bluegill/green sunfish hybrid at local ponds, and then headed to the high desert in search of elusive Lahontan cutthroat trout. They again succeeded, with Jon catching a 15.25-inch catch-and-release record Lahontan, and Hayley bagging the certified weight record with a 1.17-pound cutthroat.
I’m a big fan of father-daughter time spent in the great outdoors, so congratulations to Jon and Hayley for their record-breaking summer. Tight lines!
Jordan Rodriguez has been fishing Idaho waters since he was a teen. Share your fish stories, adventures, tips and tricks with him at tightlinesboise@gmail.com or visit www.tightlines208.com.
This story was originally published October 6, 2020 at 4:00 AM.