Idaho It has always been the Mecca of fly fishing. There are so many great rivers that one really can’t go wrong when choosing a place to fish. Idaho has excellent trout fishing on rivers like the South Fork Snake River, the Henry Fork of the Snake River, and the Boise River, to name a few. It is also a great place to catch the Steelhead on its way that frequents the Clearwater and Salmon rivers. But what about the lesser known rivers? This series explores five of our favorite Idaho rivers that provide a great fly fishing experience for any angler. However, he is most likely the only fisherman in them.
The river of the falls
The river
The Falls River begins its journey in the southwest corner of Yellowstone National Park north of Lake Beula. It gains some momentum as smaller streams flow into it, but it really adds some flow when it runs into the Bechler River just before exiting the park. The Falls River then travels south out of the park, where it cascades down an elevation drop that forms the often-visited Cave Falls. At this point it crosses from Wyoming to Idaho where there is another even more spectacular waterfall called Sheep Falls. The Falls River then passes through rather rugged country before flowing through Idaho’s famous potato farms east of Ashton, where it eventually empties into the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River, just west of Highway 20 over Chester Dam.
Rental
Depending on where you fish along the Falls River, getting there can be a chore. I fished just above the bridge along Highway 20 and was somewhat lucky, but in my opinion the best stretch of the Falls River is east of Ashton, Idaho. To get there, take Highway 47 from Ashton and while heading north, head east on Marysville Road. A few miles east of the bend, one can turn right onto 4500E and access the Falls River from the bridge (which is great fishing, but many know), but for complete solitude (and fantastic fly fishing) continue on Marysville Road. It eventually turns into a dirt road called Cave Falls Road (FR 582). Finally, you notice that the landscape drastically changed to a very thick and rugged forest. After many kilometers, you will see a road (FR124) that turns right. Take this path. If you make it to the Bechler River Ranger Station, turn off, or enter Wyoming, you’ve gone too far. FR 124 starts off good, but to get to the Falls River you have to go through some pretty bad roads. Once there, you can fish upstream or downstream. Downstream is Sheep Falls, which can be some great fly fishing. However, it is not for the faint of heart. The hike is quite difficult and your friends on the river could easily be Moose (Big Ones) or Grizzly Bear. I would definitely recommend bringing the bear essentials (the bells, spray, etc.) or just a friend who runs slower than you. My couple of trips there only delay me from seeing Moose, but if you speak to the Bechler rangers they will inform you to be careful because the Grizzlies will be residing very close to this area.
Fishing
This is a unique river in the sense that the further up the river, the better the fishing. Long walks and off-trail access minimize fishing pressure, especially around the Sheep Falls area. Much of the Fall River drainage was devoid of trout above Cave Falls. Sheep Falls and Cave Falls are believed to have been the historic upstream barriers for trout. Most of the luck I’ve had fly-fishing the Falls River has been under the surface with flies like: Prince Nymphs, Hares Ears, Pheasant Tails, and Stone Fly Nymphs. The first major aquatic insect to emerge is the pale morning brown. Starting in July you will see stone flies and brown and green drakes. I have also released leeches, streamers, and woolly critters with some success. Just below Sheep Falls there are some nice deep runs with bigger trout. The average size of trout in these waters is about 12 to 14 inches long, but in many places along the Falls River it is not uncommon to land trout north of 20 inches. Plus, fishing the Falls River near Highway 20 will yield some nice browns too.
If you’re heading to Idaho and want to get away from the crowds, the Falls River could be your ticket. The wildlife and serenity are great. It’s a nirvana for backpackers, fly fishermen, and photographers.