WFS 336 – Fly Fishing Idaho with Ed Anderson – McCall Angler, Smallmouth Bass, Fish Art

Show Notes: wetflyswing.com/336

Presented By: Trxstle, Reyr Gear, Bearvault, LakeLady Custom Rods

Sponsors: wetflyswing.com/sponsors

In today’s episode, we talk about fly fishing Idaho with Ed Anderson. He takes us to the McCall area in West Idaho where we touch on the Payette, Boise, and Snake rivers for rainbows, browns, and bass fishing. Find out why McCall was described as “the place of windows” and why you “have to be there to know when the windows open”. We won’t reveal those secret fishing spots but Ed tells us the best times to fish up there and some more useful tips.

We also dig into Ed’s artwork – his role being the Creative Director of West Mountain Drifters, and how he got picked up by Gray’s Sporting Journal for multiple cover projects.

Fly Fishing Idaho Show Notes with Ed Anderson

03:30 – Ed used to work for Jackson Kayaks – James McBeath from Jackson Kayaks was on the podcast at WFS 248

04:00 – McCall is located in Southwestern Idaho, 2 hours North of Boise, pinned between the Hells Canyon and Frank Church Wilderness of No Return – Frank Church is the largest wilderness area in the Lower 48 and Hells Canyon is the deepest Canyon in America

09:10 – The Payette and Boise rivers are Ed’s home water

10:30 – The Payette and Cascade reservoirs are gigantic reservoirs – people go wakeboarding there

11:55 – Boise is now the fastest growing place in America

12:30 – Boise gets about 300 days of sunshine

13:50 – Summer is not a good fishing time in Idaho because the water level is low. Ed’s favorite time to fish is when the snow is still on the ground – end of March going April.

17:05 – In Snake River, people go bass, carp, and sturgeon fishing. The largest sturgeon that was ever caught in America was in the Snake River at 117 inches

18:20 – Ed prefers the Boise over the Payette river, he says it’s a more consistent cool-water fishery. August and September are Ed’s preferred times to fish the Boise river because the water level stays the same for a number of days.

22:15 – On the Boise river, they get a little of the caddis hatch and primarily they’re euro nymphing or streamer fishing

24:50 – Fish and Game Idaho plant steelheads in the Boise river from time to time

31:50 – Ed used to use a Coosa by Jackson Kayak

34:40 – Ed’s got an Adipose skiff

35:10 – NRS Raft is a raft company from Moscow. They’re coming out with a whole new line of rafts this year.

35:25 – Ed also loves Link Jackson’s Stream Tech Rafts. It’s a Maravia boat too.

39:50 – Ed talks about carp fishing

41:00 – Bass fishing is consistent in McCall fisheries, especially in the summer. There are some tiger muskies there too. Ed chooses bass over trout because he wants to get away from the crowd.

45:55 – Ray Troll, who is also a fish artist, was on the podcast at WFS 299

46:30 – We dig into Ed’s art. You can check out his artwork on his Instagram at @edandersonart

48:20 – Ed created multiple cover artwork for Gray’s Sporting Journal 

49:30 – Ed and I met through Nick Torres of Waterworks Lamson. Nick had been on the podcast twice at WFS 304 and WFS 213

52:20 – Ed works with West Mountain Drifter as the Creative Director

59:30 – McCall Angler also works with Drift West 

1:01:08 – Ed’s go-to fly is a Yellow Sally.

Fly Fishing Idaho Conclusion with Ed Anderson

So there you go..

If you are from Idaho or near that area and want to enjoy some great fishing spots, you can reach out to Ed and the McCall Anglers crew. They’re committed to making your experience on the water 10 out of 10.

You can also reach out to Ed about artwork projects. If you need a cover art or a logo, he’s the guy for you. Check out his work on Instagram at @edandersonart and send him a DM there to connect with him.

Show Notes: wetflyswing.com/336