Idahos St. Joe

Well i went to Idaho to take my daughter to spend time with her cousins. It was the wrong time of year for fishing. The season really doesnt start until late May as Idaho closes most of its rivers in winter. However a few stay open like the St. Joe. I however was there at peak spring runoff. The drive to the river was amazing, the landscape was dotted with lakes and it seemed that every river was hugh. The St. Joe sits about 60 miles South east of Cour dalaine, i dont know how to speel it. You want to fish clear up at the head water in the town of Avery, tiny. There the water is smaller and easier to attack. The river is a dry fly mecca in the summer, one of those rivers where you can huck a Maddam X or a size 10 Stimmy to cutts that are feeding with wreckless abandon. For summer reference the local shops recomend a large stimulator with a size 12-14 stonefly nymph dropper and variations thereof. With the water high, there was not much hope of dries working for me. The water was crystal clear dispite runoff conditions. I found pockets along the edge slowed by rocks and other bottom features. I noticed a small stonefly that was hatching like mad. I had read an article that had suggested a small Prince Nymph as a good match and a good match it was. With that and a Larva Worm i landed between 15 and 20 sweet cutts. The big ones all took me into the swift water and got away. The majority of the fish where 10-14 inches. I only got to fish for a few hours but it was well worth it. The beauty of this river is worth the drive alone, I will definantly be back.