Carey, Idaho

Below are two images from today. For years now I have been intrigued with homes in small towns. The image below is of an old single story apartment row in Carey, Idaho.

Another place I have been fascinated by is Craters of the Moon. It's really quite close to where I live yet I have never been really satisfied with any one image I have taken there. It's a hostile environment in so many ways. Windy. It's almost always windy there and today was no exception. The bottom image was taken today at Craters of the Moon.

Apartments. Carey, Idaho.

Craters of the Moon.

Used Sage Fly Rods Plus a Few Others

I am helping someone sell her collection of used factory built fly rods. Below is a listing of what is available. All rods come with a tube and sock. I'm happy to ship to USA addresses. Buyer would pay for shipping. Email nickpricephotography@gmail.com for inquiries:

  • Sage 790-4 RPL+ (9 foot 7 weight 4 piece)  $125 SOLD
  • Orvis 107-4 Tip Flex Zero Gravity (10 foot 7 weight 4 piece) $100 -- Original owner's name is on this rod.
  • Sage 896-4 RPL (9 foot 6 inch 8 weight 4 piece) $125
  • Powell Tiburon 908-4 (9 foot 8 weight 4 piece) $125 SOLD
  • Sage SLT 389-4 (8 foot 9 inch 3 weight 4 piece) $150 SOLD
  • Sage 589-5 SP (8 foot 9 inch 5 weight 5 piece) $300 -- This rod comes with an extra tip section. Also, it comes with a rod tube and sock but the label on the Sage Rod tube is for a slightly different Sage model. SOLD
  • Thomas & Thomas VE 905-6 Vector (9 foot 5 weight 6 piece) $200 SOLD
  • Sage 490-4 RPL+ (9 foot 4 weight 4 piece) $125 SOLD
  • Sage 690-5 SP (9 foot 6 weight 5 piece) $250 -- This rod comes with an extra tip section. SOLD
  • Scott G904 (9 foot 4 weight 2 piece) $100 -- Original owner's name is on this rod
  • Scott G2 885/4 (8 foot 8 inch 5 weight 4 piece) $225 -- This rod is brand new. Plastic is still on the cork handle. Trout Unlimited is also written on the rod as are measuring points up to 20". SOLD
  • Scott G956/4A (9 foot 6 inch 6 weight 4 piece) $150
  • Sage 690-4 XP (9 foot 6 weight 4 piece) $200 SOLD
  • Orvis 9' #5 ZG Helios (9 foot 5 weight 4 piece Zero Gravity Helios) $175 -- Rod comes with leather over the aluminum tube and Trout Unlimited is inscribed on the rod. SOLD
  • Winston BIIX 9'6" #7 (9 foot 6 inch 7 weight 4 piece) $395 -- TU is inscribed on the rod.

Also:

  • G.H Howells Rod Co.  8 1/2' #5 Line, 2 piece, Split Bamboo Fly Rod. Comes with two tip sections. Serial #4824. This serial number implies this was his 24th rod made at 48 years old. Gary Howell built rods for Winston Rod Co. in his early and mid-thirties. This rod is in the original tube with the original sock. It is in immaculate condition with both tip sections as they were originally built.

Price $3,200

Click on any of the images below to enlarge

Carey Pradis

I said it and it was a slip. Maybe it was midnight and it was still warm and elk were bugling in the distance and coyotes were yapping their victory song. Headlights adorned our foreheads. The moon was half full and starlight reflected of off Silver Creek. John and I shared a rod and skated a mouse pattern over the slow moving current, each time trying to cast to a new spot. Most fishermen were asleep or reading in bed. We caught fish too. I meant to say, "prairie caddis," and out came, "Carey Pradis." It's Runny Babbit sort of talk...

I feel pretty lucky to spend an entire day guiding Silver Creek and then take a quick break and then head out mouse fishing for another five or so hours.

John Huber lets a cast run after sunset.

Starlight on Silver Creek.

A nice brown fooled by a one-eyed tailless mouse pattern.

The FlyFish Journal Feature Story

I have a feature story in the new issue of The FlyFish Journal. I wrote the piece along with doing the photography. The story is on South Island, Kiwi guide, Scott Murray, who I had the pleasure of spending a bunch of time with last March in Murchison, New Zealand at his beautiful lodge, River Haven, that he co-owns and operates with his wife Leya.

First, the South Island blew me away and the icing on the cake was getting to spend many consecutive days on the water with Scott. He's a passionate, skilled and great guide to spend a day with (or more).

My last day with Scott was actually a day off for him and my deal with him was that he fishes, not me, and we could go to any river of his choosing. In other words, I was fortunate enough to hang with him on his day off on the water. He's got a witty sense of humor and from the time spent driving in the left lane to the time on the water and even time spent at the breakfast table with his monster load of toast, he's a guide who I truly admire and respect. He's a hard working and genuine person. 

I'll be hosting a trip back to River Haven Lodge in January of 2017 (that's two January's from now). Contact: nickpricephotography@gmail.com for info.

Mountain Standard

Below are a few images appearing on the opening web site pages for Mountain Standard, a new clothing company out of Boulder, CO.

Silver Creek Mouse Fishing

It's been a big mouse year on Silver Creek and it takes a little more than small talk to head out to Silver Creek and fish from sunset until it's so late you give in and fold. Below are a few images from a recent trip down to the creek for a late-into-the-night mouse session.

Sunset. Silver creek.

Sunset. Silver creek.

Moon Rise. Silver Creek

West Yellowstone, Montana

I was recently sent over to West Yellowstone on assignment for a couple of days. West has 7 fly shops and is centrally located near many great Western streams including the Madison River. It's a funky tourist town that has a core population of guides and outdoor professionals. Two Chinese restaurants were just cited for selling illegal wild game. Smoke from four western states filled the air like a fog bank off the coast of California with a surreal yellow light that cast its glow on the neon motel signs that have prevailed from the 60's. Before the roads were paved in the late 1970's, there was a crazy 4th of July party that spilled to the streets, and biker gangs and young guides and college kids, took to the streets and Craig Matthews, the original owner of Blue Ribbon Flies, was the sheriff in town. He told me of the time he arrested such a big dude during the 4th of July craziness he had to have another deputy stand on the big guy's wrists to get him cuffed as the cuffs were way too small for the dude's wrists. Matthews couldn't bring someone in without being cuffed... Below are just a few shots of West. 

Craig Matthews at the fly tying bench. Blue Ribbon Flies. West Yellowstone, MT.

Dude Motel

Free Heel & Wheel. Justin Spence and his daughter get in a little time on a rare guide's day off for Justin. Justin is a fly fishing guide in West and owns West Yellowstone Fly Shop. The Free Heel & Wheel sells arguably the best espresso in town and has created a relaxed community vibe where people are welcome to sit and hang out.