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Not Your Typical Vacation:
Idaho's Outfitters Make
the Experience Unique
This summer and fall, book an outfitted excursion for a truly unique way to see America's west.
Try a
Summer Pack Trip for a Different View
Everything looks different from the back of a horse. Whether you are interested in trying a new mode of travel or an avid equestrian, summer pack trips combine unique opportunities to ride horses and see Idaho's backcountry lakes and
meadows, fish, stargaze, or just relax.
Get the Right Angle on
Fishing in Idaho
From dry fly walk-and-wade fly-fishing to jet boating and drift boat fishing, you are sure to catch the fever along Idaho's rivers and lakes this summer and fall. A great family experience that accommodates young and old alike, fishing
with Idaho outfitters provides all the relaxation and thrill of world class fishing with the captivating scenery only found in the American West.
Whether you want to explore the trails by horseback, hunt, fish, or marvel at the natural beauty of mountains and canyons, there is an Idaho outfitted experience right for you.
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No Phones, No Lights,
No Motorcars…
Sawtooth Wilderness Outfitters (www.sawtoothadventures.com) operates in the Sawtooth Wilderness just 100 miles north and east of Boise. This pristine area that includes glacial and spring-fed lakes can only be accessed by foot or
horseback and provides fabulous views of the Sawtooth mountain range. "With horses you can get deeper into the wilderness than by foot, and you don't have to carry your gear and supplies in on your back," says owner Kari Allred. Allred and
her husband, Darl have operated in the Sawtooth Wilderness for 16 years.
"It is incredibly unique to have wilderness of this magnitude within two-and-a-half hours of a major city," says Allred. "Guests can come for overnight, weekend or week-long trips," says Allred, who notes that many people come in from
nearby Boise just to get away from it all. "With rising gas costs and the difficulty of getting time off from work, it is amazing what you can do in your own backyard." If you are interested in a pack trip in the Sawtooths this summer, you
need to act fast. Because of the altitude (over 8,000 feet), prime time is between July 15 and September 1.
 Sherry Nygaard of
Lochsa River Outfitters (www.jacksidaho.com) in Lowell, Id., loves taking guests into the Selway-Bitterroot mountain wilderness. "It's like my living room and I want to show it off," says Nygaard, whose family has owned and
operated the business for 70 years. They take guests ages 5 and up out to see the spectacular scenery, flowers and lakes. "Within an hour ride from our base camp at Gold Meadows you can see a panoramic view across six different lakes."
Guests, she says, leave feeling that "Idaho is the most beautiful place in the world and they want to come back year after year." One couple from Arkansas, Nygaard reports, has returned four years in a row.
Each trip is customized to the group, with a maximum of 17 guests at a time. Trips range from 3 to 7 days, and Nygaard recommends booking early to get your best choice of dates, especially since they only take one group out at a time.
Nygaard goes on every trip and makes sure the guests are well fed. Pork chops, steak, meat loaf, cheesecake, strawberry shortcake, hotcakes and eggs are on the menu. "We eat good." If you are in the area after a rafting trip or visiting
friends and family, Lochsa River Outfitters also provides day rides.
 For a little different experience,
St. Joe Outfitters (www.stjoeoutfitters.com) in Idaho's panhandle region, pack you into their wilderness lodge for a rustic stay of relaxing and fishing for wild cutthroat trout in the St. Joe River. "It's only a six mile horseback
ride into the lodge from the road," says owner Barbara Judge, so for those who may not be interested in riding per se, they don't have that far to go. The lodge can host up to 10 people with two cabins and one tent house. A generator
provides lights, and there are hot showers to come back to each evening. While it is rustic, "it's a step up from camping that appeals to women and families because you are not quite roughing it," says Judge. St. Joe Outfitters is just
three hours from Coeur d'Alene, two hours from Missoula, Mt., and just over an hour from St. Regis, Montana.
For more information and a list of licensed outfitters in Idaho, please visit
www.ioga.org.
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Outfitted Fishing in Idaho:
As Good as It Gets
 If you are angling for the ultimate fishing experience, you are sure to find it with one of Idaho's
Outfitters.
In Hells Canyon, the deepest gorge in North America,
Fishhawk Guides (www.fishhawkguides.com) takes anglers of all ages to experience the excitement of fishing for sturgeon, small mouth bass and steelhead. Take a day trip and ride in on a jet boat with owner Tim Johnson, a former
Oregon game warden, and learn the history and geology of the canyon and a fishing trip you won't soon forget. "In the summer, people want to catch a big sturgeon," says Johnson, who adds that these feisty fish range from 2 foot to 10 feet
long and weigh about 400 points. "If you catch one over 6 feet, it can take an hour or more to land it. It's quite a spectacular fight." In fall and winter, steelhead fishing is a big draw.
Having an experienced guide is a real asset, especially for first timers or people unfamiliar with the area. Johnson takes guests out for the day or for 2 to 4 day trips, depending on their interests. In the summer, the small mouth bass
are exceptional, too. "We have a large population of them in the Snake River, ranging from 11 to 15 inches." Known for being strong fighters, they are also excellent eating fish, sautéed or on the barbecue. The neat thing about them, says
Johnson, "is they are cooperative and you can catch a lot of them – 50 to 100 a day is not uncommon." Because they are so plentiful, they are a particularly good catch for young children with shorter attention spans. A lot of people bring
their grandchildren to catch their first fish. The canyon offers opportunities to see a wide variety of other wildlife, including big horn sheep, deer, chukars and golden eagles along with the spectacular views of the canyon only available
from the water.
Further south along the Oregon border, Jim Looney operates
Brownlee Reservoir Charters (www.brownleereservoirfishing.com) in the uppermost reservoir of the Hells Canyon complex, a long (58 miles) and narrow body of water that covers more than 15,000 acres. A great fishing spot for warm
water fish, such as smallmouth bass, catfish, blue gill, perch and crappie, Looney has several boats from which to enjoy the angling, including a 21-ft Alumaweld that seats four, and a new 20-ft pontoon boat that can accommodate larger
family groups and handicapped guests. Looney sees a lot of father-son fishing activity and shares his own love of the sport with his 13-year-old son, who sometimes helps with the fishing tours.
According to Looney, Brownlee Reservoir has become a pretty popular place to visit because you can catch a lot of fish and keep them. Many people are in the area to explore and drop in for some fishing. "We catch lots of fish, the scenery
is pretty, and its comfortable, easy fishing that makes for a relaxing day," says Looney. The season at Brownlee is a long one – March through late-November, so there are many opportunities to fish along its banks and favorite fishing
holes. Looney will take you where the fishing is best for the species. "This is a big reservoir. With a guide you can learn different techniques for different fish and get a deeper understanding of the fish and the reservoir
environment."
 On the eastern edge of the state,
Three Rivers Ranch (www.threeriversranch.com) offers world class fly fishing on some of the best known rivers – the Henry's Fork and South Fork of the Snake River, the Teton River, Warm River, and the Madison and the Yellowstone
Rivers. The ranch offers a guest lodge that house up to 16 people in individual cabins and a guest lodge, complete with meals, and three fly shops. A multigenerational family-owned business, Mitch Allen has worked in the business alongside
his parents since he was 10 years old and knows the value of a guided fishing trip. "Most guests don't have the experience or knowledge of the water they are fishing on. A guide knows the water pretty intimately and takes the guess work
out of it." For first timers, a multi-day guided trip is well worth it. With one-on-one instruction from the guides to help with technique and the benefit of their knowledge of the rivers, "it's the best way to learn how to fly fish," says
Allen.
While fly-fishing for rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout are the main draw, Allen says "people come for the whole experience and not just the fishing. They want knowledgeable guides in a pristine environment where they can spend time with
friends, spouses, and buddies, fishing and enjoying each other's company." Three Rivers Ranch is within an hour of Yellowstone National Park, for those people who want to combine a trip to Yellowstone, Grand Teton or Jackson Hole with a
great fishing trip. Day fishing trips are also available.
For more information and a list of licensed fishing outfitters, please visit
www.ioga.org.
For a free copy of Idaho Guided Outdoor Adventures, visit us on the Web at
www.ioga.org.
For additional information on Idaho,
call 1-800-VISIT-ID.
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MEMBER
NEWS
Mark Your Calendars
IOGA's 2005 Fall Meeting
December 12-16
at the Red Lion Downtowner, Boise
Contact Grant Simonds at
gsimonds@cableone.net for more information.
Look For Your Advertising Packets
late-May/early-June
DON'T FORGET
Membership Dues are Due JULY 1
ENTER TO WIN!
Test your knowledge and enter our contest to win prizes.
This issue's contest question:
Who was the only woman with the Lewis & Clark party?
CLICK HERE to enter our contest for your chance to win an IOGA Dutch Oven Cookbook.
The winner will be chosen from among the correct answers submitted and will be notified by e-mail.
Have an idea for a contest question?
E-mail it to
gsimonds@cableone.net
SEND THIS E-NEWSLETTER TO A FRIEND!
Do you know people interested in learning about great outfitted vacations in Idaho? You can send this e-newsletter to them by clicking on the "Send to a Friend" button at the bottom of the newsletter. They can then "subscribe" to
future issues.
GREAT IOGA Cookbooks, Belt Buckles & Briefcases Still Available
Check out these great gift ideas that support your IOGA:
IOGA Recipes & Poetry Book $10 each
IOGA Briefcase $50 each
IOGA 50th Anniversary Belt Buckle $25 each
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We welcome you ideas and story suggestions.
If you have any questions about this publication, please contact Grant Simonds at gsimonds@cableone.net.
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OUR MISSION
IOGA is committed
to the conservation and enhancement
of quality outdoor experiences
on Idaho's lands and waters.
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For more information on
Idaho's
Outfitters
and
Guides
visit www.ioga.org or email us for your free guide to outfitted vacations in Idaho at
idoutfitt@cableone.net.
www.ioga.org
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