To Idaho, With Love

Contributors: Wes Reynolds

A new year, a new decade, and a new adventure awaits us.

Malad River, Idaho

Over the last five years Amanda and I have explored the backcountry of Idaho, rivers, streams, and lakes – loving every minute of it. This year, a new adventure awaits on the horizon. Southern Alaska calls us for a new career and a new place to call home. Amanda and I couldn’t be more full of emotions. We love Idaho with its wait-five-minute weather, mountains, lakes, and community. Alaska is an opportunity we didn’t know we would have until later in our lives, but now it’s at our doorstep. We plan to take full advantage of the opportunity to allow us explore even more, just as we have in Idaho. But making this decision was no easy task. Knowing full and well that our move is sneaking up on us, we ventured out to our favorite winter fishing spot – the Malad River -one more time.

This river is one of our favorites, and there was no way we would leave without fishing it. The middle of February is typically a time for tiny midges, cold fingers, and slow-moving trout. It could not have been more different on this outing. A warm, sunny afternoon full of rainbows looking up had us excited as we looked over the canyon rim. As always, Bella pranced over the rocks and gazed into the crystal blue water for her water-bound friends. Feeling like we had come home, we ventured over the edge, talking about the potential of the new adventure in the Final Frontier that awaits us.

The Malad River is typical pocket water fishing, so we take turns fishing the small holes and runs between the rapids. It wasn’t long before I saw Amanda’s 3wt bent to the cork. A beautiful rainbow had eaten her small streamer and hadn’t showed itself yet. Judging from her reaction, I stepped over the rocks to get closer to hear Amanda laugh/yell that it was the largest fish she had ever hooked in this river before. The fish, although always eager, rarely exceed 12 inches in this stream. Once the long fight was over, and Amanda swung the fish into her net, she finally took a breath. A grin spread on her face from ear-to-ear. She has caught much larger fish before. But as we sit on the edge of our new adventure, this fish was special, and will not soon be forgotten.

Bella & Amanda, Idaho

For more information on the Malad River Gorge and the Hagerman area visit:

Malad River History: https://magicvalley.com/news/local/hidden-history-how-the-malad-river-got-its-name/article_ec73e625-b28b-5d97-98b3-8ef79c271db9.html

Idaho Department of Fish & Game: https://idfg.idaho.gov/ifwis/fishingplanner/water/1149061428630

Malad River Map:https://naturalatlas.com/rivers/malad-793867

*Special thanks to Idaho2Fly for the beautiful nets, and a chance to take a little bit of Idaho with us on our next adventure.