There are few things in life more pleasurable than a misty morning on an Idaho river. The sun still sleeping behind the ridge, rising slowly as the fish begin to stir. For Jon White, and his partner Maria Prekeges, this is paradise. And precisely the paradise that inspired them to create the Idaho Mountain Anglers YouTube channel.
“I had wanted to do something like this for a while and living in an area like Sun Valley lends itself nicely to great scenery and fishing opportunities,” shared Jon. “Idaho Mountain Anglers is both for people interested in the sport and seasoned anglers as well. We give educational tips, gear reviews and videos of our experiences on the water.”
As a child growing up in Weiser, Jon had easy access to the Salmon River when he visited his grandmother in Riggins and would spend the summers catching Rainbow Trout for dinner with her. Jon’s affinity for time spent on the water grew as his interests shifted from bait fishing to fly fishing. He enjoys the challenge of fly fishing and learning to master the art of effective casting and fooling a fish with an “imposter” bug on the line.
"I never thought I’d become so into fishing like I am now,” Maria said. “I’m still learning in many respects and am thankful to have someone like Jon to help men out so much and make it so much fun for us. Our saying for Idaho Mountain Anglers is Get Out-Get Hooked, and that’s what we hope: for people to get out into the beautiful outdoors and try a sport that we love.
Jon and Maria encourage everyone to get outside and try their hand at angling. “Don't be intimidated by the sport, whether it's fly fishing or any other method. Talk to tackle shops and fly shops, they are very helpful and willing to help you get into fishing. There are also a myriad of free clinics and groups to get involved in to help get started.”
The pair also recommends hiring a guide. Guides have a wealth of knowledge and experience, and they love to pass it along, especially to beginners.
When asked what their favorite spots were, they replied, “Some of my favorite places to fish would be: Big Wood River; Silver Creek near Picabo, Idaho; The Big Lost River; Salmon River near Stanley; and Riggins, Crane falls Reservoir outside Mountain Home, and the Owyhee River below the Owyhee Reservoir dam. Specific spots are always a secret!
And of course, be sure to check out Idaho Mountain Anglers on YouTube for the latest tips, tricks, and gear to help you get the most out of your outdoor experiences. Some of their more popular videos include topics like the Three Best Knots for Fly Fishing and a review on Trout Fishing at Henrys Lake.
So, what are you waiting for? The invitation is clear: the great outdoors are waiting for you!
JON’S STANDOUT FISHING SPOTS
South Fork – Boise River
70 miles east of Boise, is one of the states best wild trout fisheries. Accessible downstream from Danskin bridge, and can get very busy because of it’s locale to Mountain Home and Treasure Valley anglers. The deep canyon here provides great scenery, and can be floated further west into Arrowrock reservoir.
Silver Creek, Picabo Idaho
Nature.org, PicaboAngler.com fly shop and Silver-Creek.com fly shop in Ketchum
The Silver Creek Preserve covers more than 10,000-acres of prime trout, waterfowl and moose habitat, located 33 miles south of Sun Valley on Hwy 20 East. Known for it’s famous brown drake hatch in the spring, these waters are catch and release and was a favorite spot of Ernest Hemmingway!
Big Wood River, Ketchum ID
LostRiverOutfitters.com and Silver-Creek.com Fly Shop in Ketchum
The Big Wood River is 137 miles long and runs through the heart of the Wood River Valley, meandering its way among the towns of Ketchum, Hailey, and Bellevue ID. Plenty of healthy Rainbow trout lurk in this freestone fly fishing mecca.
Owyhee River Below Dam– Oregon
There is approximately ten miles of good fishing from the Owyhee Reservoir dam downstream that is easily accessible. The brown trout get large and in charge in this river feeding on their rainbow cousins. The water is always a little cloudy with vegetation and moss which makes for a little easier fishing than gin clear trout streams.
The Big Lost River, Copper Basin ID
There are three different streams here to fish: The Big Lost main, East Fork Big Lost and the North Fork Big Lost. This area can be accessed by Hwy 26 through Arco then to Mackay, The river tributaries provide great roadside access and camp sites with great views!
Salmon River, Sawtooth Range
The Salmon River flows for 425 miles through Central Idaho starting near Galena Summit and culminating into the largest un-dammed rivers in the continental United States. The Stanley area is great for floating and wade fishing for Rainbow and Cutthroat trout, with good access to the water. Numerous guided float trips available here.
Middle Fork- Salmon River
This 104 miles central Idaho river holds West Slope Cutthroat, Rainbow, Bull Trout and Salmon. I camped one summer with my son at the Dagger Falls area, where I waded in and caught a few fish. Beautiful area I plan to return to this summer, maybe even booking a drift boat fly fishing trip.
Crane Falls Lake (Reservoir) – Bruneau Dunes Area
I discovered this little gem of a bass lake that sits next to the Snake River, a great fishery for Largemouth Bass, Panfish on the fly, and stocked rainbow trout. These fish can be caught by wading the edges or on our kayaks for some early summer bass action.