Watercolor Paintings of Fly Fishing

There is a certain feel and motion to fly fishing which appeals to me. It is an activity where one can simply get lost in the beauty of nature and the challenge of fooling a fish and landing it on a light tippet. There is pleasure in the process and accomplishment in the result. Most fly fishing in Idaho is for trout and there are an abundance of excellent streams to choose from in southwest Idaho.

One of my favorites is the South Fork of the Boise River, which is about 40 miles from Boise. It is an area that offers excellent rainbow fishing in a spectacular canyon setting. The canyon shadows, cottonwood colors in the fall and value contrasts of rock and water provide endless watercolor compositions. The Sun Valley area also offers great fishing and subject matter. The Wood river valley and Cooper Basin have clear streams in wooded, alpine settings. Silver Creek is world renown for spring creek fishing and is an oasis in the high prairie south of Sun Valley. Each area possesses a unique package of shapes, color and mood that is fun to paint. The next best thing to being there, wading in the stream is trying to capture the experience with paint and paper.