REC/LISTINGS Register
REC/PLAY
INSTRUCTIONAL FITNESS PROGRAMS—Boise State Recreation offers a variety of three- and eight-week programs aimed to get you fit. Check out their list of classes and register online at rec. boisestate.edu/fitness.instruction or call 208-426-5644. Boise State Rec Center, 1515 University Drive, Boise, 208426-5641, 208-426-1131, rec. boisestate.edu. KNOBBY TIRES SERIES COYOTE CLASSIC—Beginners and pros are invited to this points race for the Wild Rockies series. The eight mile course runs through sagebrush and creeks with varied elevation. Great for single speed racers. Race is Saturday, May 8. knobbytireseries.com. SUN VALLEY HALF MARATHON—Registration is now open for the Sun Valley Half Marathon. Racers and spectators alike will dig the newly renovated course with a newly designated star t/finish spot, making it easy for friends and family to catch you crossing the finish line. Race is Friday, June 5. $40. For registration information, visit www.sunvalleyhalfmarathon.com. VELOPARK GRAND PRIX—Four-part race series. Four mile course. All skill levels welcome. Free for spectators. Register online at veloparkgrandprix.com. Saturday, April 17, 9:30 a.m.; Sunday, April 18, 9:30 a.m.; Monday, April 19, 9:30 a.m.; and Tuesday, April 20, 9:30 a.m. Idaho Velodrome and Cycling Park, Old Horseshoe Bend Road, Eagle, www.idahovelopark.org.
Events & Classes ADULT VOLLEYBALL CLINIC— An environment for adult play. Brush up on skills and incorporate them in play. Coached by a cer tified USA volleyball coach. Saturdays, 9-11 a.m. $10. Rolling Hills Public Char ter School, 8900 Horseshoe Bend Road, Eagle, 208-939-5400, www.sde. idaho.gov. BOMBB SQUAD—The Boise Off-Road Mountain Bike Babes is a biking group for women of all ages in the Boise area who enjoy mountain biking. Activities include group rides, maintenance clinics, riding clinics and monthly potlucks. Mondays. For more information, e-mail idbikegirl@yahoo.com or call 208-484-4649. LADIES WRENCH NIGHT—The work night for ladies only is a chance to work or learn to work on bikes with the tools and exper tise provided. Mondays, 6-8 p.m., FREE.
38 | APRIL 14–20, 2010 | BOISEweekly
JEFF B AR NEY
HOOFIN IT 5K—Head out to the backcountr y for a beautiful 5K run to raise money for the American Blazer Horse Association. Register online at www. bluecirclespor ts.com. Packet pick up is scheduled for Friday, April 23, from noon-5 p.m. and the run is on Sunday, April 25, with the one-mile fun run/ walk at 1 p.m. followed by the competitive 5K at 1:30 p.m. $20 for 5K, $15 for one mile, $5 late fee for entries received after April 19.
Scott Grothe caught three big fish on the cold, cold Salmon River. Jeff Barney caught none.
STEELHEADING ON THE SALMON RIVER As with any successful fishing trip, this one began with a good beer and a good friend. Ted Koch and I left Boise on a recent Friday afternoon to meet up with our friend, Scott Grothe, for some early spring steelhead fly fishing on the Salmon River. Fall archery hunting had brought the three of us together for years. Yet, somehow, this was our first joint fishing adventure. On the drive toward Stanley, Ted and I began spotting herds of elk near Garden Valley. We discussed at length: elk vs. wolves, elk vs. roads, steelhead and dams, sage grouse and West Nile Virus, and how fire management and climate change may trump them all. The discussion made the windshield time remarkably pleasant. After a quick pit stop at Stanley, we continued our drive down river toward Challis. We reached our rendezvous point with Scott an hour after dusk. Ted and I hastily made camp, ate a bite then hit the rack. We awoke Saturday morning with great anticipation; then the bone-chilling temperature hit us. According to our fishing thermometer, the air temperature was 23 degrees! Fingers and zippers fail to function well and threading a fly rod with gloves becomes problematic. Sweet Jesus, what the hell was I thinking, tent camping in April at 5,500 feet? Winter steelhead fishing (December to April) involves somewhat unorthodox techniques. Ted and Scott, both seasoned steelhead anglers, hoped to educate me on the finer points of catching these sea-run trout. Two principal angling methods exist: 1) spot-and-stalk, whereby the angler carefully walks the shoreline attempting to spot steelhead holding in the shallower currents, or 2) dredging, which involves using weighted sink-tip lines and “fishing blind” through the deeper holding pools. The former is the preferred method given that the angler targets visible steelhead. It’s important, however, to avoid fish actively spawning or guarding their redd (fish nest). Scott successfully utilized both methods landing three steelhead (the largest, a 32-inch male) over the course of the day. Ted managed to catch a lone male he spotted from shore, carefully working his weighted fly near the fish to entice a solid take. My efforts were met with less stellar results. To paraphrase author David James Duncan, “I couldn’t catch my own ass in a fish hatchery!” While trying both techniques, I had particular difficulty spotting fish. I did, however, learn several important points regarding spring steelhead fishing. For one, fly pattern is the least important consideration. You aren’t trying to match any particular hatch. In fact, the techniques, while effective, are somewhat unsophisticated, relying more upon triggering a fish’s territorial nature than imitating a food source. Secondly, a quality pair of polarized sunglasses is paramount to success. In the end, we toasted the river with bourbon. If nothing else, like the wild Salmon River, it washed away any regrets. —Jeff Barney WWW. B O I S E WE E KLY. C O M