Idaho Falls

26 IDAHO FALLS MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 STEVE SMEDE PHOTO CODY SAXTON PHOTO BILL CRAIG PHOTO Education opportunities abound at 26th annual Eastern Idaho Fly Tying/Fly Fishing Expo The 26th annual Eastern Idaho Fly Tying/Fly Fishing Expo is set for March 29-30 at the Shilo Inn Convention Center. Run by the Snake River Cutthroats Fly Fishing Club, admission for this educa- tional gathering is free. The doors open at 8 a.m. More than 100 tyers from around the world will be showing off their skills in one-on-one settings. The Expo is famous for hands-on workshops that are the envy of other shows and expositions in the Northwest. The tying work- shops, taught by some of the best instructors in the country, include Steven Fernandez, Boots Allen, Gary Barnes, Charlie Craven and others. Casting workshops taught by certified casting instructors are available, as well as two workshops on tying and fly fishing designed especially for women. Other activities include a tying theater where regionally recognized tyers demonstrate their well- known flies and techniques. Proceeds from the Expo go towards conservation projects on local waters in southeastern Idaho and for youth and adult educa - tion on fly fishing. For more information, visit www.snakerivercutthroats.org or www.srcexpo.com. Meet Idaho's Great Grey Owls "This owl appears large but most of its bulk is actually just feathers! They prey on small rodents and have been known to leave an area if there is a shortage of voles. This species generally favors country with a mix of dense forest for nesting and roosting and open areas for hunting; much of their range is remote from impacts of human activities. They are a species of greatest conservation need in Idaho and are threatened by habitat loss and degradation, human disturbance, and climate change. Thankfully the Idaho population is still described as relatively stable!" Teton Regional Land Trust www.tetonlandtrust.org Idaho Falls resident Bill Craig knows a thing or two about monstrous trout lurking in the Snake River just beyond his backyard. Well, they're not too monstrous anymore – at least not when compared to some of the river's more recent inhabitants. Thanks to an ambitious stocking effort a few years ago, our stretch of the Snake has become a cozy home for sturgeon, like the one here hooked by Mr. Craig. "I caught it right behind my house," he notes. "This sturgeon is 5 feet long. I also caught six others that were 3 to 4 feet long. Good for me!" Although the fish are planted in this stretch of river, angling for them is strictly catch and release. In fact, the fish should never leave the water. (If you happened to catch one, take a quick pic and send it to: steve@harrispublishing.com.) They're a Hoot Are You IF Monsters of the Falls

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