Headed to Idaho

I haven't been able to get out on the yak much for the past two months due to family/holiday pressures, and it looks like my yak will be sitting unused for at least two more months.

In about a week and a half I'll be headed up to Coeur d'Alene, ID for a two month job. I'm really looking forward to it because it's a nice change from my current job, and it should be less stressful, have fewer responsibilities, yet retain the same pay. If things work out I may move there permanently, but it's still way too soon to tell.

I think I may have a chance for one last trip this Sunday, so if I can swing it I'm going to try and hookup with Ravensblack for a sturgeon freeze. If I don't see you all before I leave, take care! I'll be back in a few months and by then I'll be in dire need of a kayak trip! 

what, they don't allow kayaks in idaho?  i know i know...have fun and be safe. i dont think i will be able to get out this weekend.

Good luck out there Jay!  I've never been, but some of the pictures I have seen really make me want to visit!!! 

Jay - look up Joe "Skyboy" in Idaho. You can send him a PM through NCKA or NWKA. I'm sure he's got a couple of kayaks and will be more than happy to hook up with ya. And if you like to Hunt, he's da man to see. (he used to guide)

Thanks guys. I thought about bringing the yak, but it's a bit cold up there to be on the water this time of year without a dry suit. Plus, I expect to be pretty focused on this temp job and learning about the area. If I move up there permanently there will be plenty of time for kayaking.

BUT, I may want to look Skyboy up so I can do some small game hunting. My guns have sat quietly in my house for 5 years now without a single shot. I need to remedy that! 

Well, tentative congrats Jay!
Oddly enough i just watched a film last night that centered on two young guys from the Coeur D'Alene reservation, "smoke signals".

I only visited Idaho one summer with my folks, but even though I was just a tike at 7 or 8 I DO remember the fantastic camping and trout fishing.

Have a great time in Idaho
Being an Idaho native, I sometimes miss the mountains and lakes. Coeur d'Alene is awesome!

Lots of lakes and rivers to fish, .... more than you can hit in a year.
You are just North of the Snake River where it merges with the Columbia, great fishing there. Sturgeon on the Columbia a few hours drive down river.

Steelhead runs are going on on the Salmon River, try the river near Shoup, wet flies on a spinner or a standard fly rod will produce huge steelies! Again a couple days trip.

Have a great time!

Stoggie

Thanks guys. I thought about bringing the yak, but it's a bit cold up there to be on the water this time of year without a dry suit. Plus, I expect to be pretty focused on this temp job and learning about the area. If I move up there permanently there will be plenty of time for kayaking.

BUT, I may want to look Skyboy up so I can do some small game hunting. My guns have sat quietly in my house for 5 years now without a single shot. I need to remedy that!  

A dry suit wouldn't help much, all the lakes are frozen in Idaho this time of year. Welcome to my world, below zero every night. Enjoy your stay and bring your long woolies and an ice auger.

PS:

I believe jackrabbits and coyotes are unprotected in Idaho. Go for it............

Been there many times and love it! Wait havent been there in the winter thought! .... Good luck.. Make sure you were blue and orange youll fit in just fine!!!!

Stayed at the Couer D'Alene resort for work in 2006.  Really beautiful area.  Hotel shuttle driver told me, "We don't get too many coloreds around here", led me to conclude CDA is pretty ethnically homogeneous, lol.  Fresh trout from the snake river was the best trout dinner ever.

Try and ship your bike out with you, J.  it'll come in handy for sure.

Jay,

My in-laws live in Spokane, so we've spent a lot of time in that area.

Great fishing all over Idaho and the Spokane area.

Best of luck!!

And yes, there used to be a white supremacist organization in that area, don't know if its still there..

Hope to fish with you again soon!!

Rich

Jay,

My in-laws live in Spokane, so we've spent a lot of time in that area.

Great fishing all over Idaho and the Spokane area.

Best of luck!!

And yes, there used to be a white supremacist organization in that area, don't know if its still there..

Hope to fish with you again soon!!

Rich

Yeah, the amount of fishing in the area is a bonus, but I'll be coming back to California in mid-March, so I don't know how much fishing I'll get to do in the winter. I'm bringing my trout rods though!

I've heard the Aryan Nation is still around up there. However, I don't expect it to be too bad. Every place has their wackos. My family back east still thinks that every corner in the Bay Area has a Code Pink protester on it and that everyone else in the Bay Area is like the Berkeley freaks that make the news. I've got to imagine that although North Idaho has a reputation for some of the militias and racist freaks, it's unlikely that they are  much more than a minority of the people in the area and that their views are no more prevalent than Code Pink's views are here.

There's a much higher population of survivalists than supremacists, equally weird, but not a threat to man...

Rich

Hotel shuttle driver told me, "We don't get too many coloreds around here", led me to conclude CDA is pretty ethnically homogeneous, lol.  

That's not to say the people weren't cool.  They were all pretty cool to me and I had a good experience, not trying to dog the place at all.  It was just a funny comment to share b/c I can't ever remember anyone ever saying that before or since.

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if CDA gets increasingly more cosmopolitan.  The CDA Ironman is a mid-summer qualifier event for Ironman World Championships, so CDA gets ALL KINDS of national and int'l tourists, all geeked out in Lycra, no body fat, and $10K bikes.  CDA has really put up an int'l quality race so its not an insular little community by any means.  Neat place, i'd like to go back and visit.

make your money and come back to the real world Jay! ......gotta do what the bill collectors say to do.......be safe and we'll be waiting for your return to madness.