Day 8: ID to MT

Idaho

I woke up early the next day because I wanted to fish on the way to Montana. I was planning on meeting Luong Tam of Tanuki Tenkara and Tom, whom I fished with earlier in the week, at Tom’s ranch in Ennis, MT for dinner. I ended up driving through the Sawtooth National Forest, stopping near Stanley, and fishing the Salmon River.

While on the Salmon River, I recorded a few videos that talk about how I went about a hot spring, how I went about fishing this river, and what I caught. I caught several wild and stocked rainbow trout and more Westslope Cutthroat trout as well. Historically, there are bull trout in that water way as well, but I didn’t catch any more after fishing the South Fork of the Boise River during the Idaho camp out.

As I drove further East towards Ennis, I fished some more and found some really cool water with a black bear splashing in the water only a few feet from me and some baby fish. I caught what I think were salmon fry. The tails are forked and the spots do not fall from the dorsal aspect of the fish beyond the midline. Let me know what you think.

After the fishing, I made it to Ennis and was able to wine and dine with Luong, Tom, and Tom’s wife, Lynn. I also ended up seeing my first pronghorn of the trip on the way into Tom’s driveway. This would be my first and definitely not my last. My lack of exposure to the Western US has my mind blown on this trip and I am so glad I went before taking the “Oregon Trail” westward with my family. Oh and Tom’s homemade dinner never tasted so good!

Along with the good food, I ended up touching base with a friend and his wife, Josh and Stephanie, based out of South Carolina. I met Josh while on the board for the SC Native Fish Coalition. It just so happens he was also near Ennis and LOVES it there. So, Tom, being the man he is, invited them to stay for the fun-filled, Montana fishing adventures.

Luckily, they were there too. Until tomorrow’s story