Visitor numbers at Silver Creek Preserve last season weren't as high as the early 1990s when, fueled by the release of the novel "A River Runs Through It," fly fishing's popularity reached unprecedented levels.
But over 7,000 visitors in just six months isn't bad.
Between opening day on May 27 and closing day on Nov. 30, 7,301 people from every state and 13 countries visited the preserve, which is owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy.
"That's pretty close to last year's (numbers)," said Dayna Smith, manager of Silver Creek Preserve, which celebrated its 30th anniversary this season.
Smith said visitor numbers were up in the late 1990s but dropped off in 2001 and 2002 due to drought and low water levels.
"Usage started going up again in 2004 and 2005," Smith said. "After 'A River Runs Through It' came out in 1992 we had a couple years of like 10,000 visitors. Now we're pretty steady at around 7,000."
Half of all visitors in 2007 were from out of state. International guests came from Austria, England, Japan, France, Switzerland, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Argentina, Germany, Turkey, New Zealand and Peru.
Almost 90 percent of all visitors in 2006 came for the preserve's fly-fishing, which with its prolific hatches and trophy rainbow and brown trout is world-renowned.
The 2006 fishing season got off to either a hot or cold start—depending on who you talk with. Massive spring flooding altered the face of the creek, stirring up and depositing silt in new areas and skewing hatches. But by mid-summer the fishing was as good as ever. According to Matt Miller, spokesman for The Nature Conservancy, the flooding will recharge the aquatic vegetation and produce better fishing in the coming years.
"It takes awhile to establish, but the fishing is only going to get better," Miller said in August.
With the fishing season closed, the preserve has entered its annual quiet phase, and the bird watching, which according to Smith is becoming increasingly popular, is exceptional.
"It's truly a beautiful time of year to be here," Smith said. "Waterfowl have congregated in the wetlands. Bald eagles fly overhead, and the winter light is stunning."
And once more snow falls the preserve will offer unique snowshoeing and classic Nordic skiing opportunities.
Silver Creek Preserve was created 30 years ago when The Nature Conservancy purchased the 479-acre property, known then as Sun Valley Ranch. It was the conservancy's first preserve in Idaho.
Ernest Hemingway's son Jack Hemingway led the charge to preserve the property for future generations. In the last 30 years, 22 landowners have donated nearly 10,000 acres of easements to protect nearly the entire main stem of the creek from future development.
"The number of visitors that enjoy Silver Creek each year is a great testament to the conservationists who worked so hard to make this preserve possible," Smith said. "They have created a tremendous conservation legacy in this valley. Future generations from all over the globe will be able to enjoy world-class fishing, abundant wildlife and a rural setting due to their hard work and vision."
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