2008 Woodie Awards
Traveling Angler: Silver Creek
William Sharp
Issue date: 4/25/07 Section: Outdoor
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The pictures likely speak much for themselves, but I want to also say to you that Silver Creek, one of Idaho's most pristine and written about waters, truly is beautiful. Not only is the water crystal clear, but the scenery around the Creek is enough to paint a picture of (and many have painted pictures of Silver Creek). Whether you are an angler or not, Silver Creek is a place to visit for supreme beauty and peaceful solemnity.
Last summer my wife and I decided to take the scenic route from Idaho Falls back to her parents' home in Mountain Home. Fortunately for us, this route took us past Silver Creek. I am not an expert fly fisherman, but I couldn't pass up this opportunity to fish the famed water. The hot summer sun in the valley created a wonderful opportunity for sunglasses and sun block, along with my not-so-traditional shorts and a wide-brimmed straw hat. I strung my fly rod with urgency, thinking that if I did it more slowly, the huge native rainbow or predator brown trout might get away. Little did I know, both of these fish would elude me that gorgeous day on Silver Creek.
There truly are some monster rainbow and brown trout in this prestigious stream that is made for fish and fly fishermen, but they are not always easy to find and hook up with. For me, it didn't matter so much that I didn't catch a fish on my first go at Silver Creek. More importantly, I took in the beauty and became more aware of the simple pleasures of nature. I do look forward to again fishing the water that Hemingway and countless others have written about. Maybe I'll try to get up there again this summer. If you want to fish Silver Creek, I recommend you study the fishing regulations well for the area you will be fishing. Although some areas allow the harvest of trout, I recommend the practice of catch-and-release so that we can preserve the future of Idaho's gems.
Last summer my wife and I decided to take the scenic route from Idaho Falls back to her parents' home in Mountain Home. Fortunately for us, this route took us past Silver Creek. I am not an expert fly fisherman, but I couldn't pass up this opportunity to fish the famed water. The hot summer sun in the valley created a wonderful opportunity for sunglasses and sun block, along with my not-so-traditional shorts and a wide-brimmed straw hat. I strung my fly rod with urgency, thinking that if I did it more slowly, the huge native rainbow or predator brown trout might get away. Little did I know, both of these fish would elude me that gorgeous day on Silver Creek.
There truly are some monster rainbow and brown trout in this prestigious stream that is made for fish and fly fishermen, but they are not always easy to find and hook up with. For me, it didn't matter so much that I didn't catch a fish on my first go at Silver Creek. More importantly, I took in the beauty and became more aware of the simple pleasures of nature. I do look forward to again fishing the water that Hemingway and countless others have written about. Maybe I'll try to get up there again this summer. If you want to fish Silver Creek, I recommend you study the fishing regulations well for the area you will be fishing. Although some areas allow the harvest of trout, I recommend the practice of catch-and-release so that we can preserve the future of Idaho's gems.
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