commentary
Fishing R epoRt The “Weekly” Fishing RepoRT FoR ocTobeR 21 FRom picabo angleR
T
rue fall came in with the weekend and it looks like it plans to stay until winter takes over. We have heard many an angler frustrated by the lack of consistent hatches, but that should all have changed by now. Not to sound like a broken record, but the fall Baetis hatches should be significant as we head toward November, and Mahogany Duns continue to both frustrate and inspire anglers on a day-to-day basis. The angler numbers in the past week have dropped to a season low, meaning you can fish to your heart’s content while still experiencing the last hatches and spinner falls of the year. Spawning brown and brook trout are dropping eggs into almost all the river systems, often making nymphing a better choice than fishing the dry, even when the hatches are on! When this happens, it becomes an angler’s personal choice if you are going to fish the top or the bottom. Some great opportunities also exist this week a bit farther from Sun Valley, as low flows make for some exciting fishing and easy access on the Lower Lost River and the South Fork of the Boise. Both are great places to fish Baetis this time of year, and on a pretty fall day the drive is worth it as much as the fishing. If you are headed to the South Fork of the Boise and you are an upland game bird hunter, don’t forget your shotgun and your bird dog, as the chukar population in areas above the river seems to be coming back strong since the fires of a few years ago. This is a great cast-and-blast opportunity. We like to go early and hunt while it’s cool, and once it’s warm enough for the Baetis, normally about 1 p.m., we drop to the river corridor and start looking at our favorite runs for rising fish. Fishing windows are short these days, so try to maximize your time by arriving early and staying late. The afternoon and early evenings will be more productive than the mornings as the nighttime temperatures reach the freezing mark in many places. So, by early, we mean sometime around 10 a.m. and by late we mean fish until sunset. If things get too cold out there, come into Picabo Angler and check out the new fingerless KAST gloves. They are a local Idaho Falls company and are producing some of the finest cold-weather gear in the industry. We are proud to sell their gear in our store. Happy fishing and hunting, everyone!
Hwy 20 in Picabo info@picaboangler.com (208)788.3536 www.picaboangler.com 12
pets no bones about it
Long-range planning for your dog BY FRAN JEWELL
T
his is a topic most people never talk about or never think about when getting a dog. We tend to look at how cute the dog is and how much we want a dog in our lives. It’s hard to think about our dog outliving us. As a responsible dog owner, long-range planning really is a part of getting a dog in the first place. When contemplating getting a new dog, there are many considerations, such as how old we are, what our health is, and what our living circumstances are. We should also consider if our living circumstances are likely to change before our dog reaches old age. It is easy to say to ourselves, “Gosh, I can afford a dog right now, and look at the nice yard I have!” But, as we all know, things can happen to us in the blink of an eye, such as the loss of a job that causes our financial situation to change and we can no longer afford veterinary care or food for our beloved pet. We can also lose our life in a car accident or on the ski slopes. Sometimes illness forces us to be disabled and no longer able to care for our dog. If you are approaching your golden years, it’s entirely possible that your dog may outlive you, or you could lose your spouse, who may have been the primary caregiver for your dog. The point of this discussion is not to say, “Don’t get a dog!” The point is to look at providing for your dog if something unexpected should happen to you. No matter what your current circumstances, it is critical to think about what would happen
Photo by Fran Jewell
“My Mavis is now 13 1/2! It looks like she will spend the rest of her life with me. But, what if something happened to me and I couldn’t care for her?”
to your dog in the event of something unforeseen. It’s possible that your dog could end up in a shelter, where its fate would be unknown. Put your wishes in writing. Then make sure that a trusted friend knows you have a written “will” for your dog. Ahead of time, ask someone to be your dog’s caretaker. Detail complete care instructions, including food, when you feed your dog, which veterinarian has your dog’s records, commands your dog knows, and so on, so that the change is comfortable for your dog. If possible, you can even leave a trust fund for your dog so that the new caretaker has financ-
es available to care for your dog. Include enough to pay for food and veterinary bills for the anticipated remainder of your dog’s natural life. Finances for a yearly premium for a health insurance policy for your dog might be something to consider, so that in the event you develop a dramatic illness, your designated caretaker has the finances to provide the best care for your dog. One last thing to include in your “will” would be what you would like for your dog upon the completion of its life. Do you wish for your dog to be cremated? Talking to your veterinarian about those options is another good idea. While it can be hard to think
about these things when you and your dog are healthy, it’s responsible to think about these things and designate your wishes ahead of time so that your dog will always be cared for in the event of an unforeseen change in your life circumstances. Fran Jewell is an IAABC-certified dog behavior consultant, NADOI-certified instructor #1096 and the owner of Positive Puppy Dog Training, LLC, in Sun Valley. For more information, visit www.positivepuppy. com or call 208-578-1565.
active art Sketchbook Hiking
AUTUMN POND REFLECTIONS BY LESLIE REGO
T
here is something so peaceful about sitting beside a pond with a soft breeze in the air, gentle ripples on the water’s surface and the slightly distorted reflections. The pond is only a couple of feet deep, but the reflections seem to travel much deeper. The reflection of the blue sky looks particularly vivid as it descends down and down into the depths of the water. The autumn leaves float gently onto the surface of the pond, interrupting the reflections and adding an abstract quality to the images. The leaves form into groups and gently drift in the slight breeze, the more yellow leaves catching the sunlight and reflecting it back over the surface of the water. The groups of leaves create organic shapes, some overlapping, others just barely touching. The breeze pushes the leaves to one side of the pond until they cluster together and form a wondrous carpet over the water. Some of the edges of the leaves curl upwards, creating landing pads for dragonflies. Many of the leaves have sunk to the bottom of the pond, Leslie Rego, “Reed Reflections”, nib pen, brush and sumi ink, watercolor the vibrant yellow ones catching the light and and the wavy. glinting from beneath the surface. A fish jumps and circles erupt over the Leslie Rego is an artist and Blaine CounThe grasses and reeds along the edge of the water are straight and tall, but the reflections surface of the water, pushing the ripples into ty resident. To view more of Rego’s art, visit are wavy, with a multitude of interruptions interesting rhythms. The light shimmers www.leslierego.com. caused by the undulations in the water. It is and sparkles as if there were a million stars odd to see the contrast between the straight suspended over the water. T h e W e e k ly S u n • o c t o b e r 21, 2015
com me n tary
pets no bones about it
I DON’T WANT MY DOG TO BE AN OBEDIENCE CHAMPION! BY FRAN JEWELL
I think many times people think that since I have a lot of working “titles” on my own dogs, from AKC, UKC and the SV, that I expect my clients to work toward that goal as well with their dogs. That simply is not the case. Originally, the AKC title called a “CD,” or “Companion Dog,” was developed because the skills needed in that were basic for a good companion. I do think that these skills to accomplish titles are very helpful in terms of teaching a dog how to be a nice dog to live with. But, getting a “title” is not the end-all. Recently, someone asked me what I expected from my own dogs. I thought this was a GREAT question. It’s one we should
Photo by Fran Jewell
Happy Holidays!
all think about. I do NOT expect them to be obedience champions; however, I do expect them to have manners. There are several skills that are very important to me for my dogs to have so that I can live a peaceful life with them and they can be safe from everyday dangers.
This is my response: I want nice manners. No jumping on anything – the counters or people or other dogs. Imagine a dog that jumps on the counter and grabs a knife with meat juice on it? The results could be devastating. I want my dogs to be aware of my space and move so they don’t knock me over or that I trip on them. They should never knock anyone over! I want them to bark at the door, but stop when my hand reaches the doorknob. I want them to sit and wait before going through doors or coming out of the van. What if one of them jumped from the van into the street! I want them to come when they are called on walks. I do want a dog that can stay no matter what because sometimes that’s a lifeand-death thing. I want them to allow being handled by anyone – the veterinarian or vet tech without fuss or aggression, even if my dog is in pain. I want to be able to put food on the coffee table and know that I can walk back into the kitchen and no dog will touch my food. I want my dogs to be invited on the bed and understand that it is MY bed, not theirs. It is a privilege to sleep on the bed, not their right. And I expect them to be well-mannered about eating with each other. They can all eat together without any possession aggression and they wait nicely for their food before they eat. Whining, spinning, barking is not acceptable while I make their dinner or mine. I expect them to have good manners and speak well to other dogs. I expect them to not wreck my house when I am gone because of separation anxiety.
Photo by Fran Jewell
Kalidor is a joy to live with because he learned manners at an early age. It also allows him to have more freedom, responsibly.
The other thing to remember is that when you have multiple dogs, the dogs that are in your home will teach the newcomer. If the existing dogs have bad manners, bad manners will go on and on and on. If your existing dog is well-mannered, it will help you tremendously. Manners are taught. It is not the result of a “mellow” dog, although that helps. It takes time and effort to have a dog with good manners! And I want a dog that can look at the camera when I take photos! Fran Jewell is an IAABC-certified dog behavior consultant, NADOI-certified instructor #1096 and the owner of Positive Puppy Dog Training, LLC, in Sun Valley. For more information, visit www.positivepuppy.com or call 208-578-1565.
active art Sketchbook Hiking
NATURAL HOLIDAY STARS
BY LESLIE REGO
W
snow. As I watch, I can see a lot of natural stars topping the trees and softly glimmering in the yard. During this holiday season I hope you can find your own natural snow-laden stars as you explore the outdoors and may these stars guide and beckon you through many peace-filled days.
e have a Weeping Larch tree in our backyard and every year it loses its needles. This year it did not really lose the needles as much as they turned a gentle ochre yellow. In the past few days, with all of the snowfall, snow and ice crystals have been clinging to the Leslie Rego is an artist and branches. Most of the branches Blaine County resident. To view weep downward but a few ex- more of Rego’s art, visit www. tend upward. There are several leslierego.com. short branches right at the top of Publisher’s Note the tree that spike outward into a natural star formation. I think Leslie Rego at Lipton Fine Arts of this star as our natural holiday Leslie Rego’s textiles and star. Because most of the pine sketches are currently on exhibit needles are still on the tree, the at Lipton Fine Arts, located snow fills in and around these at 411 N. Leadville Avenue in stubby points, filling in the spac- Ketchum (next to the Coffee es. Early in the day, the snow Grinder). The show, titled “Natglistens with the morning sun ural Elegance” includes several and the star twinkles. new tapestries accompanied by I have been nursing a broken botanical sketches. Rego will be toe the past few weeks and have in attendance for Gallery Walk been able to do very little out- on Tuesday, Dec. 29, from 5-8:30 doors, but I have had fun watch- p.m. at the gallery. For more ing the snow fall. I am amazed information, see the Lipton Fine Arts insert in this issue of The by all of the interesting config- Weekly Sun, urations created by newly fallen Leslie Rego, “Natural Holiday Star,” nib pen and brush, sumi ink, watercolor.
T h e W e e k ly S u n •
december 23, 2015
Fishing R epoRt The “Weekly” Fishing RepoRT FoR decembeR 23 FRom picabo angleR
E
xcellent fishing continues after one low-pressure system after another moves across the Sun Valley area. Get your Brassies and Zebra Midges out, as well as your favorite Midge dry flies and all your olive-colored Streamers. Fish all our local rivers, but also put a lot of your focus on the Big Wood – our best winter fishery. With the combination of snowy days and the occasional icy-cold temps brought in by high-pressure systems, let’s talk about things you can do to stay warm on the river. After all, the longer you can stay and play, the more fun you will have. The first obvious thing to take with you is fingerless gloves. You will be able to fish and manipulate your line while keeping your hands warm. I always take mine off for releasing fish, so my hands stay toasty and warm when I start casting again. The second most obvious warm thing to take with you for a day of winter fishing is hand and toe warmers. These air-activated heat packets are great to keep in your coat pockets, under the backs of your fingerless gloves, in your boots or in your buff. One thing we use quite a bit down here in Picabo, especially when we are duck hunting, is the giant, disposable, heated back warmers. They work on the same air-activation concept, except you can wrap these around your torso and keep your body warm for hours! I can’t say enough how much comfort one of these can add to a day on the water in the winter. The next bit of advice may be counterintuitive, but fish with oversized boots, boot-foot waders or, at the very least, lace up your everyday fishing boot very lightly. This loose posture will keep the blood flowing into your feet. Tight boots and water pressure work together quickly to squeeze the blood from your feet and make them cold. Allowing the blood to flow without restriction goes a long way toward providing warmth on the one part of your body that is in the water more than the rest. Finally, be able to layer up and be active with those layers. If you know you will be breaking trail and heating up, strip off layers beforehand. This will prevent sweating and the subsequent chilling that happens when you finally stop to fish. With the layering system, you can stop, reapply your layers before you cool completely, and fish in comfort. Happy fishing, everyone!
Hwy 20 in Picabo info@picaboangler.com (208)788.3536 www.picaboangler.com 15
movie review JON RATED THIS MOVIE
‘Foxcatcher’ Brothers In Arms
BY JONATHAN KANE
Photo by Jewell Reflections
‘Go Red’ With Kalidor
KALIDOR: “I’m wearing RED for GO RED FOR WOMEN DAY! I am glad my owner is heart healthy! She got an EKG today! What’s an EKG?” More women die from heart disease than breast cancer. Celebrate the American Heart Association, Idaho and GO RED! Photo by Jewell Reflections
We Have Plenty of Healthy Choices in Stock for Your Pet!
• Victor • Pulsar • Holistic Blend • Paragon
• • • •
Legacy Bixbi Bark Worthies Evangers
brother Dave, as well. In the end, Dave relents and joins the academy as its coach. It’s a fatal decision. Miller, as he did in his two previous films, has taken an excellent true story and brought it to remarkable life. tws
Jonathan Kane is a graduate of the University of Michigan.
no bones about it
Pleasure Or Pressure?
Some dogs are simply more social than others. It’s okay if they are not. They don’t have to have dog-to-dog interactions to be happy. Photo by Fran Jewell
Now offering FREE DELIVERY to Bellevue, Hailey, Ketchum, & Sun Valley! Call 309-0615 for details Mon- Fri, 11-6 • Sat 11-4 • The Valley’s Destination for All Things Dog & Cat!
PET OF THE WEEK
20
I
n the beginning of the excellent new drama, “Foxcatcher,” which is really a tragedy of the highest order, we meet the two brothers—Olympic wrestlers Mark and Dave Schultz—at the heart of the story, as they go to war on the mats in a training session as only brothers can. It’s a brilliant scene and sets the tone for this first-rate character study of madness and privilege. Directed by Bennett Miller (“Capote,” “Moneyball”) off a great script by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman, the film boasts three of the best performances of the year at its center. Steve Carell has garnered most of the praise for his amazing transformation into the twisted billionaire John E. du Pont who, in a true story, murdered Dave Schultz
with three shots from a gun in 1996. Du Pont later died in prison in 2010. Mark Ruffalo is excellent, as always, as the older and wiser brother, Dave. But it is Channing Tatum who really stands out as the brooding and troubled younger brother that won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. As the movie shows, Mark, down on his luck and in the shadow of his brother, is seduced by du Pont to take a position at his wrestling academy on the sprawling 800-acre family horse estate in Pennsylvania called Foxcatcher. What du Pont hopes to achieve through the academy is one of the questions that the film capably explores, as well as his descent into madness. He also introduces Mark to cocaine, which eventually leads to Mark’s athletic downfall, and tries unsuccessfully to buy his
I
BY FRAN JEWELL
t’s okay if your dog does not get along with other dogs! Let me say that again: It’s okay if your dog does not get along with other dogs! For some reason, everyone has come to believe that their dog must be social and needs to spend time with other dogs. This simply is not true and this belief has put our dogs into situations that they feel uncomfortable with and, subsequently, where they feel enormous pressure, too. This can ultimately lead our dogs to respond aggressively to other dogs to protect themselves. When I was a kid, we had one dog. We didn’t take her anywhere but to our cabin on the lake where she fished for minnows that swam along the shore. There were no other dogs for her to play with. She came with us in the car everywhere or in the boat when we went out on the lake. She slept on the floor next to my bed and waited for me by the front door when I came
T H E W E E K LY S U N •
FEBRUARY
home from school. Just how did she know what time it was? Susie bonded with my family instead of with other dogs, and we were bonded with her. She didn’t go to play dates with other dogs. We didn’t even know what doggie daycare or dog parks were. She lived a lovely life and we adored her endlessly. Dogs can live completely enriched lives without other dogs. I hear over and over, “I really want my dog to get along with any dog we meet on the trail” or some other place. So many times we pressure our dogs into being social even if they may not be. Yes, there are some dogs that thrive on playing with other dogs. But, many, many times dogs are not comfortable with other dogs and we miss their signals telling us they are uncomfortable until finally, one day, they can’t take it anymore and start a fight. We are stunned. And hurt and totally confused. Dogs are, in some ways, like people. Some of us thrive on large parties and gatherings, or love big families. Others like to live 11, 2015
alone and only go out when necessary. Dogs are the same way. And, dogs will get along with some dogs, but not others, just like we get along with some folks, but not others. Many times, they are not genetically capable of such social behavior. It’s just who that dog is. What is important is that we realize that if our dog is uncomfortable, we should not force those interactions and instead focus on the bond our dog has with us. Doing enriching games at home, even doing obedience training with your dog for fun, will truly help you create a closer bond with your dog. The short of this is, be sensitive to what your dog is telling you. Respecting who your dog is can make a huge difference in the quality of your relationship together. Fran Jewell is an IAABC Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, NADOI Certified Instructor #1096 and the owner of Positive Puppy Dog Training, LLC in Sun Valley. For more information, visit www.positivepuppy.com or call 208-578-1565.