South Fork Boise River

By Greg Clark

The 3^rd Annual Trout Unlimited Fly Casting Tournament was held at Eagle Island State Park on Saturday, May 11, and raised thousands of dollars to benefit the South Fork Boise River fishery.  The event attracted over 150 people, among them team participants, sponsors, judges, volunteers, and spectators.

The Judges

The weather was unseasonably warm with temperatures easily above the 90 degree mark in the afternoon, however the winds were almost nonexistent most of the day and benefited all of the competitors.

Two rounds of competition were held.  The morning had the Gold division with expert casters and some who wish they were experts.  The afternoon round hosted the Silver division with people of various skills and experience, but united in having some fun and a little competition.

The seven Gold division teams, including one all women team (each comprised of four individuals) competed throughout the morning on fourteen

Janet Downey casts while the rest of the Idaho Angler team watches during the Gold division competition

land or water-based casting targets or “holes.” A team’s best three individual member’s scores per hole were then added together in comprising the team score.  Just as in golf, lowest total score on the 14 holes wins.

While the competition among teams can get pretty serious at times, the main purpose was to bring fly fishers, flyfishing groups, and local businesses together and raise money for protection and enhancement of a fishery that everyone has a common interest in and can support…and making sure everyone has plenty of fun along the way.  For example, here’s a comment from Whitefish Ed who was part of the Gold division team Whitefish Rules.

Contestant casts to one of the water targets

Last year’s 2nd Annual Fly Casting Tournament in 2012 kick-started the focus on flow management of the South Fork Boise River, and in late summer 2012 the first assessment was made of the effects on juvenile trout and on the macroinvertebrate community when the river flows are decreased.

Results from the 2012 work will be released this summer.  Stay tuned to this website for information.

Work will continue in 2013 and following years to assess river flows on fish stranding with the goal of finding a flow management that can improve the fishery.

This year’s Tournament continues the momentum we have built for the South Fork Boise River fishery.

At the end of the Gold division competition, a delicious lunch was served, prizes were presented to the top three Gold division teams, and a variety of raffle items were won.

Gold division results:

Willowcreek Grill

1^st place – Team Willowcreek Grill (a repeat champion, pictured at left. L to R: J.D. Miller, Chris Gerono, Dave Klein, Graham McKenzie)

2^nd place – Anglers (Erik Moncada, Dave Gourley, Bret Bishop and Pete Erickson).

3^rd place – Otter Shrimps (Richard Prange, Jeff Barney, Marty Downey, Bill Hagdorn)

The afternoon then included 12 Silver Division teams competing, including three all-women teams, and a good mix of returning competitors and new teams.  Aileen Ellis from Team Trifecta has posted a report with her review of the tournament.

As the Silver division teams completed the course everyone returned to the shelter for a cold one and to hear some recognition and gratitude to all of the sponsors and the TU Ted Trueblood Chapter Board members for their contributions and tireless efforts toward this wonderful event. Prizes were presented to the top three Silver division teams and a heartfelt thank you given to all involved.

Silver division results:

The Bush Hookers

1^st place – Dr. Arave and his ringers

2^nd place – Amateur Hour (Bret Andreason, Andy Andregg, Jeff Tonkin, Bill Tonkin)

3^rd place – Bush Hookers (photo at left, Neal L to R

Immediately at the awards Dr. Arave showed he is a class act and he handed the 1st place prize, some top-rate fly line, to the 4th place team: the Better than TU team sponsored by the Boise Valley Fly Fishers.  Dr. Arave also was a hole sponsor at the tournament.

The last act of the afternoon was a raffle was held for an NRS Gigbob personal fishing watercraft, donated by Idaho River Sports.  It was won by Connie Martineau, who was tickled at winning the boat she really wanted!

Jo Cassin (L) and Stan Kolby (R) flank Connie Martineau, winner of the Gigbob raffle

If you participated in the tournament we would like to hear your experience and you can post in the comment section below.  Thanks to everyone who supported the event!