Yesterday morning the last three vehicles pulled out of the Three Rivers Resort at Lowell Idaho. JC & LF, VEE & REE, Stan & Denny.
We had 41 people register, of which 11 were ladies.
Everyone I talked to caught fish. Some were small and some were way above average in size. The flies that were effective were as wide spread as were the sizes of fish brought to hand.
Tons of photos were taken and will be eventually sent to VEE who will do the follow up article and mail on to FAOL publishers.
Please e-mail your photos to REE & VEE.
We were lucky to have JC put on his casting thing wearing the very hot black tails get up. (He is good!)
There was a very interesting distance casting contest.
JC was the winner. A drawing from the ones that participated in the distance casting all put up $5 each and had the opportunity to win a Courtland rod combo. (The $$ will all go to the Al Campbel Memorial.)
Stan Carlberg was the proud winner and went on to catch fish with it the next two days. He was a happy camper.
One evening we all were pleased to have World Class tiers, Al & Gretchen give us a demonstration on tying. The rumpas room was packed and I am sure we all walked away with some additional tips. They own BT’s and are Sponsors here on FAOL if you do not know who they are. Really Super people! Thanks to you both from all of us!
JC & LF gave anyone who wanted it casting pointers/lessons/and lots of help! (me too, again)
We also had an accuracy casting contest, no charge for entry. All found we need practice. The contest was won by Benjo but even he felt he could have done better. It was fun.
There will be a full report here on FAOL when all the photos arrive and VEE gets the time.
Hope all made it home safe and sound. For me it was good to get home but I was sad to pull away from the Resort.
My thanks to all who attended. You all made the week a memorable one for me.
The dates are set for 2007 for the Regional ID FI.
They are Sept 23 through Sept 29, 2007. Hope to see all of you there.
Well Denny, you’ve got me feeling even worse about not being able to make it.
I had a prior commitment which cancelled at the last minute, so it turns out I could have been there.
I am marking down the dates for next year and will make no other commitments!
Hopefully I will get up your way before that. Got to get up there and do some fishing with you and Stan, we certainlly have all talked about it enough.
PS: Deanna and Jim, your also on my list when I get up that way!
It was a great time in Idaho. Got to see some old friends and make some new ones.
JC’s casting demo wearing his Tails was a hoot, also very informative. Helped my casting a bunch. His evening entemology slide show was just super. VEE and I both learned a lot and have no doubt it will influence our dry fly tying styles in the future.
Speaking of tying, Al and Gretchen Beatty were kind enough to show us all a few tricks of the trade one fine evening. I’ve got to admit, some of their simple tricks made me feel pretty foolish. What a treat to work smarter, not harder. Thanks Al and Gretchen.
The Lochsa, Selway and Clearwater were kind to everyone, providing some excellent fish or at least some great scenery. The weather was perfect, the people friendly, and hopefully everyone enjoyed the Regional Fish-In.
Sunday morning was a pretty bleak day. Another gorgeous day, but there was no campfire going with the morning crew gathered around deciding where to fish, the cafe across the street had no morning crowd of fly fishers talking about what mile marker on the Lochsa had been good the day before, or what hole on the Selway held the big fish. We did salvage part of the day by stopping in at The Red Shed Fly Shop in Peck, Idaho, and spent an hour or so talking with Mike about the steelheading on the Clearwater and spending some hard earned money on a few things we just couldn’t live with out.
The only thing we don’t like about the Idaho Fish-In is that at some point, every single year, it ends.
Hopefully, we’ll see even more smiling faces next year.
I wanted to come this year but decided not to.
If I come to another fish in it will be the one in Idaho.
Absolutely gorgeous country, great water to fish and great people…every one of em.
Jerry,
We did miss you and your wife.
There will not be a sign in until we get next years page for ID FI up on the site, BUT!
I will keep a sign up, I’m going list now, then give it all to LF when she gets the new page up.
Dates are set in concrete, above on my first post.
Just e-mail me to be added to the sign up for next year. REE & VEE & myself will be hosting again. Hopefully we can get Les Young to join us in Hosting, that is if he does not have to change plans because of the birth of another new grand baby. Was a boy! Congrats Les & family.
He was commited to help us host but had this special event and could not come.
Denny I was so pleased to meet you at the FI. I am looking forward to tying some flies with the feathers I got from you. (I should have got more!)
I hope to see you next year at both the Central Washington FI and at Lowell. Or if I’m lucky we will go to Spokane again later this year, in which case I will stop in at your ranch for chicken dinner. (Just kidding Denny put down the shotgun!!)
I drove from Lowell straight thru only stopping for gas in Spokane it took me 9 hours.
Sure wish I could have stayed till the end. I really wanted some help with my casting.
Gnu Bee, we will be at the Central WA Fish-In (anyone want to set a date?) and be glad to help with your casting. We had a terrific time, see all there next year in Lowell.
