hayden lake

Being an Alaska kid, the idea of bass or spiny ray fish other than pike was just something I read about growing up.  Moving to North Idaho and learning about the diversity of the fisheries here was really overwhelming. From native Westslope cutthroat to wild steelhead to all the different warm water species we have in our lakes and streams, the smallmouth is one of the most underrated species, I think, in the fly-fishing realm.  Not only are they aggressive and downright greedy, but they also fight just as hard as a dime bright rainbow in cold water.  If you are a big numbers person and need a constant tug on the line, these are the fish for you.  For our area, Hayden Lake is a great place to start out chasing these fish. Hayden Lake in Comparison Hayden is one of the smaller lakes ...