|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Drifting Henrys Fork River |
|
|
By Bryan Brandenburg
The Henrys Fork River of eastern Idaho is the epitome of trout streams. Just mention the name and the hearts of fishermen all over the country start to beat a little faster, visions of its clear waters and lurking 20-pounders springing unbidden to mind. This is the place where modern dry-fly fishing techniques were perfected, the fishery that pioneered many of the special regulations later adopted for other waters in the West (such as in Yellowstone) to preserve native and wild trout. So when Steve Mills, the Utah sales representative for St. Anthony, Idaho-based Row Drift Boats, called and invited me on a float down the Henrys storied waters, it was an offer I couldnt refuse. The first day we did the Warm River to Ashton Reservoir float, a stretch of river popular with guide services and locals, but less well known to anglers visiting on their own. The boats we were using are designed for three passengers, i.e. a rower and two anglers, and Don Eddins, the owner of Row Drift Boats and an expert on the Henrys Fork River, handled the rowing and the guiding while my nephew and I fished. Steve and my two daughters followed in a second boat. Toward evening we floated right into the middle of a caddis hatch and the river started to boil, with 50 to 60 fish nosing to the surface at any one time. For two hours straight my nephew and I were doubling, simultaneously reeling in fish on virtually every cast. Meanwhile, in the other boat, Steve rowed and philosophized with my daughters, who are around the same age as his own teenage girls, about the nature and mysteries of young womanhood (such as why they dont fish even while floating a world class blue-ribbon trout stream). The next day found us in Box Canyon, a 4-mile long, box-like defile full of rapids and fast, rocky runs that are famous for dunking anglers. It was hard to imagine fish hiding in all that white-water, but they were there. This was the stretch where the drift boats proved their value, the boats carrying us safely through the nastier looking rapids, providing a roomy, snag free perch for drift fishing and easily anchoring up while we waded good-looking runs and channels. Like everywhere else along the Henrys Fork, the scenery in Box Canyon is spectacular, with its heavily-forested rim and its beautiful rapids, and the deep channels and pocket water provided fishing that wouldn't stop. This was the first time I had ever fished deep, fast flowing runs with a Prince Nymph and it was fun to watch the strike indicator disappear into foaming pools while we zoomed by in the drift boats. In September, the patterns to use along the Henrys Fork will be Mayflies, pale morning duns (Ephemerella infermis), and hoppers. Nymphs such as the beadheaded pheasant tail, hares ear, and prince are good all year round. If you go, consider using a drift boat. Don Eddins improves on the design of his dories year after year, building a model, launching it on the river, fishing from it, then performing the necessary nips and tucks to create the perfect fly-fishing tool. His graceful boats are light but strong, row well and are great for tracking. He offers a lifetime warranty on the hull, side storage for rods, an extra oar, and more dry storage space than any other boat on the market. For more information, call (208) 624-4038, or call Steve Mills in Utah at 455-9616. |
Home - Fishing - National Parks - ATV - Photography - Other Topics - Recreational Property
Place your ad here and reach the great outdoors! Listen to the Utah Outdoors radio show, Saturdays from 6-8 a.m. on KSL.Thanks to our Supporters!
Sky Call Communications  Site owned and operated by |
