HELLS CANYON, Idaho (CBS 2) — This week's Idaho Adventure takes us exploring a vast and remote region that has dramatic changes in elevation, terrain, and climate; Hells Canyon.
It's the deepest river gorge in North America with its highest peak sitting at over 9,000 feet.
Recreation in the area can come in many forms, we teamed up with River Adventures of Riggins to try our hand at fishing on the Snake River.
But we weren't hoping to hook just any fish. We were looking for some of the largest and oldest freshwater fish in North America, the white sturgeon.
"These fish have been in here a long time, I remember my great grandma telling that when she was little over here working, they would catch them, and once they dam came in, these fish used to migrate to the ocean so once the dams came in, they pretty much got locked in here," said Rich Friend, Owner of River Adventures.
Idaho Fish and Game says sturgeon can grow up to 1500 pounds and can live to be more than 100 years old.
"The biggest fish I’ve ever caught was 10 foot 4 inches,” said Friend, “I’ve never caught that fish again, but the fish that have the most power are in the 7 to 9-foot range that really have a serious pull."
We didn't catch anything close to 10 feet but, between two boats, we managed to reel in some decent sized sturgeon.
The biggest was close to 5 feet long, the one on our boat was just a baby.
Catching sturgeon means reaching deep down to the bottom of the river.
"A sturgeon has literally no eyesight, so everything they do is sensed through their four whiskers underneath their nose,” says Friend, “Anything that they can smell, anything from trout to bass, I've had people bring squid, anything, chicken, if it's dead on the bottom they're going to pick it up."
With help from a fellow angler, I also managed to reel in my first bass. And plenty of other fish were ready to bite.
If you’re not into fishing, the boat ride was an adventure itself. From exciting whitewater rapids to calm pools of water, Hells Canyon is an adventure no matter what you reel in.
Fishing trips are available with River Adventures on both the Snake and Salmon rivers, depending on the time of year.
Hells Canyon jet boat tours are also starting up now that school is wrapping up.
More information about a Hells Canyon adventure can be found here.
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