Clark Lucas' Angling Biography

I've been fly fishing since 1974 while working as a Forestry Aid for a Rail Road Company in Idaho on the St Joe River. I didn't get serious into it until I moved to Island Park, Idaho on the Henry's fork of the Snake River, living there for 10 years working as a Forester for the US Forest Service!

You talk about some beautiful country where after work you can go down to the Henry's fork and fly fish for Rainbow Trout from pan size to 18 lbs, which I've seen! The States Eastern Brook Trout record is approximately 8 lbs caught out of Henry's Lake which was 10 minutes ride from my house! I caught a 9 lb trout on a spinning rod and then all my co-workers worked on me and I started tying flies and fly fishing! I fished with 5-6 guys, we called ourselves "The He-man - Woman haters" and that is all we talked, fly tying and fly fishing, each season waiting for the snow to melt in June and "hit the river with the Winter's supply of new flies. I yearly tossed all flies out of my box to start over during the winter! Got married and life changed, and living 150-200 miles from a large city became unbearable for my wife, so I applied for promotion and got it!

Moved to the Salmon River country on the Payette National Forest in 1989 and became addicted to Steelhead fly fishing. I got "Over my Head" into Steelhead fly tying after meeting a Dr. Dave Burns, Champion Fly Tier, who turned me onto Spey, Dee-Winged, and Atlantic Salmon flies where I currently reside. I primarily fish a Scott 10' 9wgt and a 91/2' 9wgt Diamondback rod which I built from blanks. I like my 8/9 Hardy Marquis and I'm currently looking at Orvis 9/10 reel with Spare Spool.

I recently turned my heated well house into a fly tying and rod building sanctuary where I tie my flies on a Regal Pedestal Vise in a peaceful environment! I've spent a lot of time on the Little and Main Salmon River plus occasionally fishing the Clearwater River when the Steelhead are "Running" spring, fall, and winter. Currently I have increased my Fly Tying Library, enjoying just about all current literature on Steelhead and their rivers! Completing my material/supplies in Steelhead fly tying occupies most of my free time, committing me to several fly swaps. The Spey fly swaps are a better alternative to the "Rock Gods" that deplete my fly boxes! Fly fishing for Steelhead in 33.7 degrees F tells you my commitment to this addiction and I can't stop thinking and talking fly patterns to my fishing partners.

Every time on the River is a learning experience! There is nothing like the swing of a fly and the possible excitement of a "Take" and the "Scream" of the reel when a 30+" fish in the current!