Idaho Falls

70 IDAHO FALLS MAGAZINE JUNE 2018 Out There by Gregg Losinski Idaho is known for some pretty incredible fishing! We've got our ocean- going steelhead and salmon, blue ribbon trout streams and beautiful high mountain lakes. If you've got the time and money then Idaho is your piscatorial nirvana. Fortunately, even those with little extra time and cash have plenty of fun fishing opportunities right in good old Idaho Falls. Having one of the major rivers of the West running through your town is never a bad thing, especially when thanks to both man and nature, it is able to offer a variety of fish habitats. A series of dams right in town not only supplies us with darn reason- able hydroelectricity, but it also gives us a scenic stretch of faux falls and different fishing reaches as well. While not native to our portion of the Snake River, stocking over the past years of hatchery white sturgeon means that anyone with a good stout pole can grab some miscellaneous meat products for bait and head over to the John's Hole Bridge to ply the depths for these ancient leviathans. The river is over a hundred feet deep in that spot and the bigger fish hang deep. However, plenty of anglers with lighter tackle have been able to catch sturgeon a couple feet long that work the tops of the submerged basalt columns along the border the river. It's important to remember that all sturgeon fishing in Idaho is strictly catch-and-release with certain tribal exceptions. For those only interested in trout fish- ing there is also plenty of opportunities either casting or fly fishing right from the edge of Freeman Park or below one of the dams. Water flows can be tricky and the current swift, so it is important to be safe and keep a close eye on any children that are with you. If you have kids that you want to take fishing then the best place to go in town is Becker Pond at Ryder Park, located west of the river just south of Sunnyside Road. Since the park was created, it has become a hot spot for getting families out fishing. The creation of a second pond means that the fishing opportunities have literally dou- bled! Another added bonus is that the con- necting channel between the two ponds is a great place for kids to explore the aquatic environment on a hot day although actual swimming is not allowed at the park. During the summer months, the ponds will be stocked every two weeks with catchable-sized rainbow trout. There is a two fish daily bag limit to keep all the old timers from cleaning out the fish before the kids can get to them. The goldfish and koi that can be seen cruising the ponds were introduced illegally and while pretty to look at do not need to have their popula- tions supplemented. This year the Idaho Department of Fish & Game will once again be making every Monday night during the summer into a Family Free Fishing Event. Everyone who stops in and registers can fish that night for free and there will even be loaner rods and plenty of free bait! If all this talk of fish has put you into an aquatic state of mind but you would rather watch them, than try to catch them, then head on over to the East Idaho Aquarium on Anderson Street. This facility is not oper- ated by the city but is a non-profit trying to educate and entertain the public. Because caring for captive fish is not cheap, there is a reasonable admission free. If you're on a budget and you still want your kids to see live fish, there is always the koi pond inside the Idaho Falls Library for free! Here, Fishy Fishy! IF Fishing with kids? The best place in town is Becker Pond.

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