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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Out & About: Idaho hooks kids on steelheading

Sophia Boson, 11, shows off the steelhead she caught while fishing on the Snake River during the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Kids Steelhead Fishing Clinic in October 2013.
 (Eric Barker / Lewiston Tribune)

Idaho hooks kids on steelheading

OUTFISH – A youth steelhead clinic held on the Snake River recently accomplished its goal by netting more than just fish.

The daylong angling trip sponsored by Idaho Fish and Game also set the hook on a new generation of steelheaders, which is the point of the program, the Lewiston Tribune reports.

Sophia Boson (pictured) of Lewiston caught her first steelhead, an A-run keeper, and also landed and released a 30-inch wild fish during the trip.

“She had a really good time,” said her mother.

Tena Boson said the family doesn’t fish and Sophia was introduced to the sport during a Fish and Game-sponsored “Take Me Fishing” day at Winchester Lake. That was followed by a trip to Elk Creek Reservoir last summer, where she caught several fish. When she saw a notice about the youth steelhead clinic, she begged to sign up.

The clinic included a week-night classroom session on the steelhead life cycle, their habitat needs and angling techniques. On a Saturday, Sophia and 15 other kids hit the water with several employees of the department, two from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and outfitter Butch Odegaard of River Quest Excursions.

“I felt like I succeeded in one of my goals in life, to catch a steelhead,” she said. “I think it’s really fun and other people should try it.”

The outing is supported by a foundation in memory of Larry Barrett, the Idaho Fish and Game biologist killed while doing a helicopter fisheries survey in 2010.

Cindy Barrett said her husband loved introducing kids to fishing.

Backcountry film fest coming to Sandpoint

OUTGO – A collection of films featuring human-powered adventures from the Winter Wildlands Allianace’s Backcountry Film Festival will be screened Nov. 22, at 7 p.m., at the Panida Theater in Sandpoint.

The event and pre-events are fundraisers for the Selkirk Outdoor Leadership School.

Info: (208) 946-6960, soleexperiences.org.

Outdoors programs set

OUTSEE – Inland Northwest outdoors groups are sponsoring a wide range of free programs this week:

Bicycling the TransAmerica Trail, second of two programs, this one featuring the journey from Pueblo, Colo., to Florence, Ore., by Garry Kehr, 6:30 p.m., Monday, at Riverview Retirement Center, for Spokane Bicycle Club.

(Directions to the Riverview Retirement Center site for programs by several groups are on the Spokane Audubon website, spokaneaudubon.org.)

Clark Fork Delta Restoration, by Susan Drumheller of the Idaho Conservation League, 7 p.m., Tuesday at Lutheran Church of the Master, 4800 N. Ramsey Road in Coeur d’Alene, for CdA Audubon.

Fly Auction fundraiser, 7 p.m., Wednesday at St. Francis School, 1104 W. Heroy, for Spokane Fly Fishers.

• Hanford and the Columbia River, by Theresa Labriola of the Columbia Riverkeeper, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, at Riverview Retirement Center, for Spokane Audubon.