Out & About: Idaho fly fishers cast for students
OUTDO – Fly Fishing 101, an annual fishing school offered by the North Idaho Fly Casters, starts May 7.
Classes will continue on Tuesday evenings May 14 and 21 followed by a casting clinic on June 22 and the on-the-river session and barbecue June 29 on the Coeur d’Alene River.
The course covers still-water strategies, basic equipment, safety, etiquette, knot tying, entomology, water reading, fly selection, locations to fly fish and includes fly-tying demonstrations. Cost: $75. Preregister: (208) 946-6631 or Northidahoflycasters.org.
Raise pheasant chicks
OUTBROOD – The Inland Northwest Wildlife Council will distribute pheasant chicks to people who can raise 25 or more birds six weeks before releasing them into the wild.
The council provides the day-old birds in lots of 25 for 40 cents a hen, $2.25 a rooster or $1.50 for a mixed batch.
Shipments start April 23 and continue Tuesdays until orders are filled.
Reserve chicks, (509) 328-6429.
Glacier hiker in Spokane
OUTWALK – During one short season in 2011, Jake Bramante of Kalispell explored all 734 miles of trails in Glacier National Park, hiking 1,200 miles in the effort. Now he’s here to tell you about it.
Bramante, 34, will show slides and videos of his odyssey in a free program in Spokane at 6 p.m. on Thursday at Mountain Gear retail, 2002 N. Division.
RSVP: paul@gnpconservancy.org.
On the Web: hike734.com
Fly films hit Sandpoint
OUTFISH – The Fly Fishing Film Tour is coming to Sandpoint April 19 at 7 p.m. at the Panida Theater followed by a different show – The International Fly Fishing Film Festival – on April 20.
Get info and discounted tickets at Sandpoint’s Big R Fly Shop, (208) 255-5757.
Proceeds go to the Panhandle Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Pend Oreille Water Festival.
Bamboo rod for charity
OUTSTANDING – An elegant bamboo fly rod that fits into a handcrafted walking-stick case with leather work is being raffled as a fundraiser for Spokane’s Parkinson’s Resource Center.
The 3-to-4 weight two-piece rod and eight-sided bamboo shaft walking stick, valued at $2,400, was specially made by high-end rod-builders at Sweetgrass Rods of Twin Bridges, Mont.
Tickets, $25, are available through April 30. Call (509) 473-2490.
Fishers aid cancer effort
OUTHELP – A fundraising dinner benefitting “Casting for Recovery” is set for April 27 at the Coeur d’Alene Inn, 506 W. Apple Way Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Tickets: (208) 683-1759.
The program benefits cancer survivors, who can apply at CastingforRecovery.org for this year’s retreat at Shoshone Base Camp along the Coeur d’Alene River.