C. J. Strike Reservoir

Today ends this four day speaking tour/fishing trip. Originally Erick Moncada and I planned to chase some carp around the lower Snake River near Mountain Home, Idaho; however, we received an invite to be part of the maiden voyage of my friend Andy Anderson’s new jet boat. Andy is a superb photographer and he and I worked together on various fly fishing photo projects back in the late 80’s and early 90’s. (Photo – one of many magazine cover photos we shot together.) It didn’t take him long to realize there were much bigger sports and subjects to photograph than fly fishing and he moved on to become a top advertising photographer for big time companies.

Andy’s success would explain why his boat is the nicest jet boat I’ve ever fished out of. This is a boat most hard core angler’s dream of owning. Erik and I met Andy at around 10 this morning on C. J. Strike Reservoir a few miles from Bruneau, Idaho. C. J. is a well known smallmouth bass and black crappie fishery, yet it’s about three weeks too early. Instead, for us today was mostly a boat ride and when we did fish, it was all about struggling with the wind. Not so much the fly casting, but rather handling a big boat to keep us where the fish might be.

C. J. Strike Reservoir is a gorgeous expansion of the Snake River. Fishing today however wasn’t so hot. I began the day hooking a huge rainbow that fought stronger than the norm. I forgot we had an anchor holding us and the feisty bow rapped me up in the anchor rope and busted me off. I had two other hook ups, and landed one small pale stocky trout.


I walked into my house late tonight exhausted as I can remember. 2012 has been a full one for me so far. Tomorrow I’ll unpack and start packing again. Thursday it’s back up to Bozeman, Montana. This time for the Simms Ice Out Guide Event where I’ll be speaking about fly fishing the world at 10:30 on Saturday. This is my last show of the season. As long as I get caught up and rested this week, Ice Out should be a fun get together with many old friends.


Then I’m going to enjoy doing a bunch of art at home and mix it with a heck of a lot of fishing from now till fall!

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing