The weather has been kind to us lately. Not too hot and only a couple of real windy days and a scattered rain shower now and then. As such the fishing in the area lakes is still going well. The water level in the Methow and Okanogan rivers is still on the drop opening more areas to access on foot and the small hoppers are starting to show up. Current Conditions Chopaka Lake - The water temperature is going up and down with the different weather fronts moving through the area. The morning bite is the most productive time until the damsel start climbing out and hatching. There are still some minor mayfly hatches coming off now and then along with some caddis hatches. #16 to #12 mayfly patterns and #16 to #14 caddis need to be in your box. Hopper activity is picking up along the shoreline and the fish know it. #12 gre...

PMD Mayflies and caddis are hatching big time on the Missouri River.  There are some larger drakes and a few salmon flies on the freestone streams.  Now is the time to take your vacation or call in sick or be retired and fish every single day. Current Conditions Missouri River below Holter Dam - Flows have dropped to the mid 5K range.  Easy wading opportunities abound.  While everyone’s take and experiences are different, the volume of bugs and the dry fly fishing has been nothing short of epic over the past week. The PMD hatches have come later in the season and thus the density of bugs has been compressed into a smaller window.  They have been hatching in big numbers lately from mid-morning all the way until dinner time.  On top of that, the caddis are out in big numbers too. Nymphing r...

The weather has been a little off with rain, wind, and a bit chilly at times. Trout fishing has remained steady on certain waters with great hatches of BWO’s, PMD’s, and Caddis. Green drakes have been popping on some local streams as well, offering for some fun dry fly action. Larger rivers and streams are coming down and are fishable, small cricks are dropping like a rock, so get it while it’s good. Lake fishing is still great, but look for some changes in tactics as fish transition with the flux in water temperatures. In the right spot and right setup, Pike, Bass, and Walleye can all be caught on the fly this time of year, making for a lot of fun opportunities when trout fishing slows down locally. Current Conditions Lake Pend Oreille - The big lake is steadily fishing for quite a few species. Bass are an eas...

June has been a fantastic month for fishing here in North Idaho.  We've had plenty of water and all the local streams are in great shape.  The occasional rain has spruced things up along the way and keeping the water nice and cool.  Looks like we are in for a bit more rain come Thursday and back into the hot stuff the following week.  No 90's yet but high 70's and 80's, so ideal in my book. Hatches have been getting stronger.  Lots of Pale morning duns and caddis as per usual.  The St. Joe is still not quite at normal summer flows but this is a good thing.  Having extra water for the summer is what we look for.  The Clark fork is finally in shape and giving it up big time.  Things are shaping up for a killer summer.  Hopefully, we don't get too hot and we keep getting some rain here and...

Pale Morning Dun Bunny Dun Fly Since I started tying my small comparadun or sparkle dun style flies, I have been on a quest. They are not an overly complex fly, but the crux is the wing. Finding the perfect comparadun hair can be difficult. Too long of a hair, doesn't look quite right or too stiff of hair... the same thing. It can be a challenge making the wing look, just right. So, when someone showed me you could use snowshoe rabbit’s foot, I was impressed, to say the least. This fly comes in all the cool dyed colors. It compresses very small when you tie it in, and the best part is that it floats amazingly well. I'd say it rivals CDC. So, once I was shown this material, I started tying a lot of my small mayfly patterns with it. What I also like about it, is that it seems to shed water very quickly when you cast it. The last th...

Being an Alaska kid, the idea of bass or spiny ray fish other than pike was just something I read about growing up.  Moving to North Idaho and learning about the diversity of the fisheries here was really overwhelming. From native Westslope cutthroat to wild steelhead to all the different warm water species we have in our lakes and streams, the smallmouth is one of the most underrated species, I think, in the fly-fishing realm.  Not only are they aggressive and downright greedy, but they also fight just as hard as a dime bright rainbow in cold water.  If you are a big numbers person and need a constant tug on the line, these are the fish for you.  For our area, Hayden Lake is a great place to start out chasing these fish. Hayden Lake in Comparison Hayden is one of the smaller lakes ...

No Dirt, No Problem Straw bale Gardening I have a love-hate relationship with Pinterest when it comes to gardening. Copious pages of pictures with all sorts of beautiful gardens, creative landscapes, perfect rows of veggies guarded by Gnomes and the most amazing flowers that would make Martha Stewart jealous. This is the part I love. The inspiration. The part I hate? Probably the same part you hate, unobtainability. Unobtainable, until I stumbled across the concept of gardening almost any veggie with the use of little to no dirt. Light bulb flickers on- Admittedly, I've almost always had dirt (science teachers everywhere are cringing at the word dirt, so I'm sticking with it) to garden in. But the few years I haven't, I've successfully killed plants in pots. Straw bale Garden Epiphany Straw bales, not to be confused with hay bales, are ...

Gallagher Turbo Wire is one of the best-known secrets in the portable fencing world. When you need a stronger option, Gallagher makes Turbo wire. It’s built to be reliable, super-conductive, and highly portable, Turbo Wire is one of the best choices in areas where weather conditions may be a concern (winds, snowfall, etc). The mix of stainless steel and copper provide long-lasting conductivity in the realm of 40X that of regular poly wire. Nine mixed-metal strands 40 times more conductive than standard poly wire Resistance is 209 Ohms/mi. Four high conductive strands carry the pulse further UV-stabilized and strong for longer life Ultra-white, clearly visible to animals Click the video below to learn more or buy your Gallagher Turbo Wire here. Hi, I’m Derek with Gallagher Animal Management and I’m here with North 40 at the Mi...

Anyone can cook on a pellet grill. And, anything can be cooked on a pellet grill. From grilling roasts to smoking BBQ, pellet grills are really easy to use and really easy to maintain. In our How to Pellet Grill Guide, you’ll learn how a pellet grill works and how to keep it clean. You’ll also learn what foods are great for cooking on a pellet grill and understand if it’s hard to clean up afterward. It’s easier than you think. Get ready to pick out your favorite pellets and get started.  Convenient and easier to use than you think, pellet grills are affordable, safe to use, and easy to maintain. In this link, we explain the benefits of having a pellet grill and help you feel confident that anyone can cook on a pellet grill.        Video Transcription Why Should I Buy a Pellet Grill? ...