David Gale - Mike Marsh

David Gale

My name is David Gale and I live in Eastern Idaho .  I have been fishing for over 40 years and fly fishing and fly tying for nearly 30 years.  My folks gave me an old Berkley Cherry wood Glass fly rod and a fly tying kit for Christmas when I was 12 years old.  Before that, I used to clamped a bait hook in a pair of vice grips from my Dad's toolbox, I used my Mom's sewing thread and feathers from pheasants my Dad had hunted for and used fur that fell out of our cats and dogs for tying materials.  I guess my folks thought I should have a proper fly tying kit after witnessing my will to fish.

We had a couple stock ponds on the farm that I grew up on and they were stocked with Bluegills, sunfish, bullhead catfish and carp.  I fished for them all.  I grew up for a love and appreciation for fly fishing for warm water fish.  Living in Eastern Idaho now, I don't have the opportunities to cast a fly to bass, gills or carp as I did as a kid.  There are a few waters close by that are great for Smallmouth Bass and I pursue them with great enthusiasm through the early summer.  I fish for them exclusively from a pontoon boat using sinking and sinking tip fly lines and various crawfish and streamer patterns.

The South Fork of the Snake River is just minutes away and I fish it as often as I can.  It is such a diverse river, offering opportunity to fish size #22 midges spring and fall with 2 or 3wt fly rods, to pitching #4 streamers and buggers with a 7wt fly rod for 2 foot Browns, to incredible caddis, stonefly and mayfly hatches to give your 4 or 5wt fly rod and you casting arm plenty of exercise on Cutthroat Trout..  The river offers year around fly angling.  While more drift boat friendly, the South Fork offers wading fly casters like me plenty of opportunity.

The Henry's Fork of the Snake River , is equally special to fly anglers but more seasonal in opportunity and regulation.  The famous Railroad Ranch is just over an hour away and draws anglers from all over the world.  These are 'professional' trout and challenge the fly rodder to every extent.

As much as I like to spend time on these rivers, I believe my all time favorite trout fishing is on tiny streams throughout the region.  Late Summer, into Fall, these streams run 'gin' clear and can be quite challenging to sneak up on pools.  Brook Trout, Bows, Bull Trout and Browns call these waters home.  In the Fall, both tree leaves and brook trout turn amazing in color.  Combine stunning scenery, beautiful trout and truly wilderness tracts of land where you might hear the howl of a wolf and a Grizzly track in the trail (carry pepper spray) can make for an unforgettable fly fishing experience.

In addition to the regions moving water, I am also drawn to area lakes.  Still water fly fishing from a float tube or pontoon is just plain fun and some lakes such as Henry's Lake , produce some pretty big trout.  Put in enough time and you will find yourself doing battle with a fish that might be as much as 30 inches long and 20-24 inch trout being really common.  I fish both float lines with midge patterns and sinking lines with various leeches and nymphs.

Eastern Idaho is a wonderful place to fly fish.

If you need more info than that, let me know.  If anyone is planning a trip to Eastern Idaho , let me know.  I love to fly fish, I love to tie flies and I love to talk about fishing.

Mike Marsh

I'm Mike Marsh, owner of Marsh Ridge River Guide Service , I grew up in the town of West Olive, Michigan, along the banks of Pigeon Creek that flows into Lake Michigan just north of Holland. From a very early age, I was always in the creek looking for fish, nymphs, frogs, turtles, any thing that would catch my eye in the water. As I reached the age of 10, I would ride my bike miles from home, to fish the Grand River for walleye, catfish, bass, pike, and huge carp.

As a teenager, I fished local bass and catfish tournaments. Our family would travel all over the state for my father's job as a bridge builder, so I got many chances to perfect my fishing skills on the rivers and lakes in northern Michigan. We often vacationed at my uncle's cabin on the main branch of the Pere Marquette River in the spring, summer, fall, and the winter. at the age of 12 it was all I had ever dreamed it would be. Since those days, I have enjoyed 20 years of Lake Michigan salmon fishing and 9 years of guiding fly fishing excursions on Michigan's, Pere Marquette River, Manistee River, Muskegon River, and Pine River.

I am now a licensed Michigan, U.S. Forest Service Permitted River Guide. Guiding fly Fishing adventures on the Pere Marquette River Pine River, Upper Manistte River, Big Manistee River, Little Manistee River, Muskegon River, White River, Grand River and the Kalamazoo River Fly fishing for Brown trout, rainbow trout steelhead and silver/king salmon catfish, and pike, small mouth bass and many other Michigan fish. I have a lifetime of fishing knowledge and experience to pass on to anyone fishing with me. I take pride in the dry flies and streamers that I tie. I have learned a lot from my fellow guides and paid close attention to their detail. This has made me a better fly fisherman, enabling my clients to learn from me. In addition, I am now setting lines on Lake Michigan, for Captain Roger Haynor, and I am a investor in Evolution Sport Fishing Charters, a Lake Michigan, fishing charter service. I love what I do, fly fishing Michigan's trout streams and fishing on Lake Michigan, on the Evolution charter boat. Fishing is what I am. I always let my fishing do the talking.