STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Fly fishing certainly provides its challenges. But Idaho Basecamp is offering yet another challenge—a unique fly-fishing competition titled the Sun Valley Single Fly.
The event will be kick off with a Fly Crawl the evening of Friday, July 29. The actual fishing will be done Saturday, July 30, on the Big Wood River, one of Idaho’s famous Blue Ribbon trout streams.
The rules are simple: Pick a single fly to fish with for two hours. Once your fly is gone, you’re done. Scoring is based on the number of fish you’ve caught with that fly with bonus points for length.
Funds raised by the event will benefit outdoor education at Idaho Basecamp, a non-profit based in Bellevue and near Mackay that offers outdoor education to youth in order to cultivate the leaders of today and tomorrow. The funds from this event will benefit 450 students taking part in The Sahm 5th Grade Outdoor Adventure Program, which offers a free three-day, two-night outdoor adventures for fifth-graders in public schools in Blaine, Custer, Lemhi, Butte and Ada counties.
“The Big Wood River is a touchstone for our community’s connection to nature,” said Mat Gershater, executive director and founder of Idaho Basecamp. “Its pristine beauty has inspired generations of land stewards. Fishing the Wood is always an amazing experience. Fly fishing for a cause makes a day on the river event sweeter.”
A Fly Crawl will kick off the event. Sort of like a gallery walk for anglers, fishermen may walk a route of local outfitters, guides and shops that will offer refreshments and local expertise on what fish are biting on.
Following registration and the Fly Crawl, participants are invited to join veteran angers and tune up their knot-tying skills at a Nosh and Knots table that will be set up in Ketchum Town Square.
Fishing will begin the morning of Saturday, July 30, and the event will wrap up with lunch, a silent auction and raffle and an awards ceremony.
Awards will be bestowed to first-place winners in several categories: Flights, Solo Flights, Sun Valley Open for all anglers, Senior Flights for those over 60, Junior Flights for those 18 and under, Duo Flights for an adult/child tea, Duo Open Flight for any two anglers over 18, Team Flights, Corporate Flights for business-sponsored teams with four anglers and Family Open for any four anglers with one under 19 or over 60.
To learn more, visit https://idahobasecamp.org/one-fly-fishing-tournament