A retired Episcopal priest who spent decades performing mission work outside Idaho has returned to southeastern Idaho and taken leadership of a local conservation organization focused on restoring trout habitat in Bannock County waterways.
Coke McClure recently assumed the presidency of the South East Idaho Fly Fishers, the local chapter of Trout Unlimited. McClure, who grew up in the Rexburg area with access to renowned fishing waters like Henry’s Fork, said his time away from Idaho gave him and his wife Tamara a renewed appreciation for the Portneuf Valley.
McClure spent years working for his church in Nebraska and Kentucky before returning to the Pocatello area about six years ago. He said retirement has allowed him to focus on local conservation efforts and enjoy the region’s outdoor recreational opportunities.
Portneuf River Transformation
The new chapter president pointed to the Portneuf River’s restoration as a success story that inspires his conservation work. When McClure first moved to Pocatello from eastern Idaho, he said the Portneuf flowed through concrete channels and offered little as a fishery.
Four decades of cleanup and restoration work by multiple agencies have transformed portions of the river into blue-ribbon trout water, McClure said. The designation recognizes waters that support exceptional trout populations and provide quality fishing experiences.
Despite progress on the Portneuf, McClure said significant restoration work remains for both that river and the Upper Blackfoot. Habitat protection, erosion control and water quality improvements have helped in recent years, but the waterways still need attention.
Organization Goals and Outreach
Under McClure’s leadership, the local fly fishing group plans to maintain its reputation for skilled fly tying while expanding its conservation mission. He said the chapter will continue teaching fly-tying techniques while working more closely with Idaho Fish and Game Department officials on watershed education.
The chapter president said he wants to teach young people about trout and salmon life cycles while advancing restoration projects in the Portneuf Watershed. McClure described himself as still learning about Trout Unlimited’s history, having joined the organization only after returning to the area six years ago.
The national organization formed in Michigan in 1959 and grew rapidly after Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1972. Trout Unlimited expanded westward to protect premier trout fisheries in mountain states.
McClure said the organization has proven effective at securing private funding for stream restoration projects. He cited Silver Creek near Sun Valley as an example, where millions of dollars in private money have funded restoration work. His son works as a landscaper in Swan Valley and has completed hydroseeding projects near Silver Creek paid for through conservation organization funding.
Leadership and Community Use
The fly fishing chapter is recruiting new board members, McClure said. Anyone interested in joining the leadership team can reach out to the organization, which interviews prospective leaders on an ongoing basis.
McClure said he hopes to promote broader use of the Edson Fichter Nature Area south of Pocatello along the Portneuf River. When he was a seminary student, he led meditation walks along the river at that location.
The chapter president suggested hosting community events like barbecues along the Portneuf greenway to highlight the area’s resources and Pocatello’s literary culture.
Broader Conservation Focus
Beyond local watershed work, McClure said the chapter is engaging with larger environmental issues affecting Idaho fisheries. He specifically mentioned steelhead runs to Stanley, which he said have declined due to four dams on the lower Snake River.
McClure recalled watching a ranch hand land a large steelhead at Robinson Bar Ranch in Stanley as a formative fishing memory. He said preserving those steelhead runs for future generations represents an important part of the chapter’s expanded mission.
The local chapter is transitioning from primarily a fly-tying club to an organization more actively involved in conservation policy discussions, McClure said. The group’s strength in traditional fly-tying skills will remain, but members are increasingly focused on environmental preservation issues.
What Comes Next
McClure said the chapter’s location near priority waters identified by regional and national Trout Unlimited leaders creates opportunities to attract outside funding for restoration projects. Some of those regional leaders live in Driggs, he noted.
The chapter president said effective local work could help channel conservation dollars from private sources into Portneuf River and Upper Blackfoot restoration efforts, similar to funding that has supported other Idaho waterways.
Anyone interested in learning more about the South East Idaho Fly Fishers or joining the organization’s leadership can contact the chapter through Trout Unlimited’s national website.