This adventure took me across the country from my home in North Carolina all the way to the panhandle of Idaho. The mission? To fish the legendary St. Joe River with my buddy Mike from NRS, chasing Cutthroat Trout and maybe even a few bonus bass along the way.
I’ve heard about the St. Joe for years. It’s a blue-ribbon trout fishery, and only a handful of rivers earn that designation. The cutthroat here are wild, plentiful, and absolutely stunning. But what makes this place even more exciting is the water itself. The St. Joe river is fast, clear, and technical. You don’t just stroll in with a fly rod and wade fish every bend. This is big, powerful water, and having the right boat is the only way to unlock it.
The Journey to the St. Joe River
The trip started with a long drive. Through deserts, mountains, and miles of open road. Mike had a boat waiting for us: the Approach 138, a three-person fishing raft designed for rivers just like the St. Joe. We loaded up and drove deep into the mountains north of Moscow, Idaho. The drive itself was worth the trip—snowcapped peaks, pine-covered valleys, and Lake Coeur d’Alene glistening along the way.
By the time we got to the river, it was clear we weren’t in for a casual float. Spring snowmelt had the St. Joe running high and rowdy. Mike, who’s spent decades fishing this river, kept saying, “Let’s go higher, let’s go higher.” My thought was, “Higher means sketchier,” but his logic was that fewer anglers meant less-pressured fish. And, honestly, he wasn’t wrong.
Learning the Water
Day one was more of a scouting mission. We watched insects hatching, checked the color and clarity of the water, and tried to make sense of where fish might hold. The St. Joe was loud, fast, and intimidating—like it had an attitude. But that’s what made it exciting.
When we finally hit the water, it was all about precision. The current didn’t allow for second chances. You’d spot a seam or an eddy, make your cast, and hope the fly landed where it needed to—because once we floated past, there was no going back. As I joked on the river, “It’s like speed dating, but for fishing.” Every little pocket of water was an opportunity, and you had to move quick.
Wild Cutthroat Trout
It didn’t take long before everything clicked. Using my Batson Rain Shadow Eternity 2 nine-foot, five-weight paired with Seaguar Grandmax fluorocarbon tippet, I tied on a simple rabbit-strip sculpin pattern. That’s when the St. Joe came alive.
Hooking into a Westslope Cutthroat in fast water is something special. They’re gorgeous fish with a bright orange slash under the jaw, buttery sides, and a fight that’s all power and current. Landing that first fish was one of those moments where everything comes together: the travel, the boat, the scouting, the teamwork with Mike on the oars.
St. Joe River in Idaho Demands Respect
Over the course of two days, we floated 25-plus miles of river. Up high, the water was splashy and technical, with constant rapids that kept us on edge. Downstream, the St. Joe opened up, slowing its pace and revealing wider runs and gentle bends. It was a river of two personalities—wild and intimidating up high, graceful and forgiving down low.
Mike might’ve tried to kill us a few times with his “sketchy water = better fishing” theory, but in the end, the St. Joe delivered. We caught cutthroat after cutthroat, and even got to test the limits of the Approach 138 in some pretty gnarly current.
Westslope Cutthroat Trout Fishing the St. Joe River
Fishing the St. Joe River is an adventure in every sense. It’s not just about catching an amazing fish like the Westslope Cutthroat Trout, it’s about embracing the river’s power, learning its moods, and trusting your team on the boat. For me, it was also about stepping out of my comfort zone. I’ve fished a lot of water across the country, but the St. Joe was unlike anything else.
If you ever get the chance to fish this river, do it. Bring a good boat, a solid buddy on the oars, and be ready for non-stop action. The St. Joe will challenge you, thrill you, and reward you with some of the most beautiful trout you’ll ever hold in your hands.
