Angling brings summer visitors galore to Wood River Valley
BY MARIA PREKEGES
While summer does not officially arrive until June 21, summer activities in the Wood River Valley are already in full swing. A favorite Valley pastime is fishing; however, with high water in many locations, good fishing may have to wait until the water drops and clears. Nonetheless, a love of fishing appeals to both locals and to numerous tourists the activity brings to the area.
Bill Collins, a staffer at the Sun Valley Visitor Information Center in downtown Ketchum, says that nearly half of the people that come in to the center in the summer ask about fishing.
“At least four out of 10 people that come in want to know about fishing,” Collins said. “It’s a lot of families with young kids that really want their kids to catch a fish.”
And that’s where the Idaho Department of Fish and Game helps out, stocking local waters throughout the summer so families can have that experience of catching rainbow trout.
“Fishing is big here, and even though it might not be the hobby that people will do forever, they want to at least try it,” Collins said. “And many will end up loving the sport and coming back year after year to enjoy the waters around our Valley.”
A love of the sport has created a strong economic impact for the Wood River Valley and the state of Idaho.
Mike Keckler, chief of communications for Fish and Game, provided information from a 2011 national survey put together by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the impact of fishing on the state.
“The total retail sales in the state generated by fishing from the survey was $548 million,” Keckler said. “This also accounts for about $229 million in salary and wages, and 7,200 jobs. This includes anybody and everybody in fishing, from people at Fish and Game, to store owners and outfitters, just to name a few.”
Keckler said further that the survey estimated fishing generates $49.5 million in state and local tax revenues, and about $54 million in federal tax revenues.
“It’s been an important part of the Sun Valley history since the founding of the resort,” said Terry Ring, owner of Silver Creek Outfitters in Ketchum. “They founded the resort based on skiing, but the quality of fishing and hunting was a secondary benefit. So, as the resort evolved, and people started visiting the Wood River Valley, they spent a lot of time fishing.
“I came here for the skiing, then I stayed for the summer, and now the summer is much busier for us,” Ring said. “It’s an economic driver for not only the Wood River Valley, but the state of Idaho.”
In addition to economics, there are other more esoteric reasons for fishing, including getting exercise for both body and mind.
“The places fishing takes you are pretty special,” said Frank Smith, manager of Lost River Outfitters in Ketchum. It’s almost like a form of meditation; when you’re on the river, you’re not thinking of anything else. Even tying a fly – you’re concentrating on that, you shut everything else out, you don’t think about appointments or what’s going on in your life. When you’re on the water, you get mesmerized by it all. It’s a way to check out from your hectic life.”