Looking For A Trip For 2015

[Al Agnew]

Very good advice from Mark. A lot depends upon what kind of water year it is, but typically, mid-July water levels on Montana and Wyoming streams are like spring water levels on Ozark streams; fishable but high and swift. The lowest fishable water levels with decent weather are from mid-April to sometime in May when the snowmelt gets going, and September-October. The springtime fishing is usually the best, because the fish are coming off a long winter with few bugs hatching, and they're hungry and a little dumber. Fall is my favorite time to be in Montana, but the fish on the major rivers have seen a lot of flies all summer long, the water is very clear, and they are wary.

But Mark is right, wading mountain streams is not like wading Ozark streams. Long stretches of boulder-strewn water where every step is on a rock the size of your head and slick. It's tiring even on small creeks, and fighting current on the medium size streams is REALLY tiring. A wading staff is almost a must.

However, there are streams that are somewhat easier wading. The Boulder River near Big Timber is my favorite wading stream, about halfway in size between the trout section of Current River and the trout section of the Meramec. Some stretches even have more gravel than rocks, although other stretches are nothing but boulder gardens. The Shields River east of Livingston is even easier wading, though not really a "destination" stream--the fishing is mostly mediocre.

By late summer, one can actually wade enough of the Yellowstone to make it worthwhile hopping from access to access. Some accesses have more reachable water than others, but the best accesses have islands and split channels where you can spend a lot of time exploring the different channels, and spend as much as a half day wading around a single access. And you can often walk upstream or downstream along the banks and get into good fishing as well; and it's perfectly legal as long as you don't get up atop the higher banks with grass growing on them. Even on the Missouri River, there are quite a few places where you can wade and fish in good water for hours. Just don't get too greedy and try to reach spots that are really sketchy to wade to, because it's no fun to be swept into deep water by strong current, and on these rivers, anything over knee deep is too deep when the current is strong.

As I noted above, the small creeks can be terrific fishing, but it's usually a matter of brush-busting, log-climbing, and rock hopping, with seldom any room for backcasts. It's guerilla fishing at it's best.

[Jim Elam]

All good advice. IMO, if fishing is the highest priority you would be better off doing something closer to home. Lot of really good trout fishing and lots less $$$ close to home, and you can have a great time with a group.

If the priority is the location, scenery, and a new adventure, MT/WY or CO all have great fishing opportunities. Each has its own learning curve and potential issues. Not unlike the local fisheries, which all have their own quirks.

JE

[FishTastic]

Dubois, Wyoming offers great trout fishing. I stayed on a cabin right on the banks of the Wind River. At the time I was just really beginning fly fishing and I was able to land quite a few trout. You can get on YouTube and look at videos from the man who runs Marlow's Fly Shop in Dubois. It's a great area and I would highly recommend it. If you were to got to the fly shop, he will direct you to other great locations to fish in the area.

[Clay Goforth]

Togiak River, Togiak Alaska. There is only one true outfitter on the whole River, the Togiak River Lodge. I have gotten to know the owners and they are incredibly nice people who even let my wife and I stay at their house on the coast in Oregon for vacation one year. The fishing is just ridiculous. I'd go in early September and fish for the big silver salmon that run. We went and caught 15lb silvers all day. Some were up to 20lbs. They also have big rainbows, char, dollies and you might tie into a late season king.

If you want more info, let me know.

[joeD]

Nick, what are your odds of taking this trip?

My take is 0%.

Tell me I'm wrong, so we can get to the nitty gritty of your trip.

[ozark trout fisher]

You may consider Michigan if you're interested in sheer variety of species/water type. NW lower Michigan is something of an anglers paradise. You've got the Pere Marquette, Little Manistee, and Pine Rivers all in close proximity, all among the best wild trout streams anywhere. And you've got the Big Manistee, Tippy Dam Pond, Muskegon River, and of course the big lake for everything ranging fro smallmouth to pike to steelhead. Lovely country too, if you're into the aspen/pine North Woods thing.

I just can't recommend it enough.

[ozark trout fisher]

You may consider Michigan if you're interested in sheer variety of species/water type. NW lower Michigan is something of an anglers paradise. You've got the Pere Marquette, Little Manistee, and Pine Rivers all in close proximity, all among the best wild trout streams anywhere. And you've got the Big Manistee, Tippy Dam Pond, Muskegon River, and of course the big lake for everything ranging fro smallmouth to pike to steelhead. Lovely country too, if you're into the aspen/pine North Woods thing.

I just can't recommend it enough.

Oops, didn't realize this was an age-old thread that got back from the dead...

[redbird]

Jackson Wyoming offers a lot of fly fishing opportunities in a relatively small area (by western standards). If camping is in the cards Gros Ventre Campground on the Gros Ventre river could serve as a base of operations, and you avoid the added fees and crowds of camping in the national park. But with the added fees of the national park you can add to the fishing opportunities so you may want to camp in Grand Teton. There are some campgrounds with absolutely breathtaking views. Not that Gros Ventre is lacking in that department either. If you go in August (late August is a really good time as flows are down and kids are going back to school and temps are downright nice) you can take advantage of a couple of areas that are only open in the fall to fish. Flat Creek on the National Elk Refuge offers some really good sight casting to very wary cutthroat, and Blacktail ponds offers the same in one of the most scenic areas I've ever fished. You could stop at the world famous Jack Dennis High Country Outfitters in downtown Jackson. Jackson is pretty touristy, but its a neat place to get a hat, and the guys at the shop are very knowledgeable. Remember sometimes in fly shops and bait shops you need to listen to what isn't said as much as what is said. The whole area is very researchable on the web and there are so many places to fish there, I think a week wouldn't cover half of them. Lots of good water with good public access. Guides are also available, and floats on the famous Snake River a possibility too. Its one of my favorite places to visit.

If you go the Duboise route be sure to check out Double Cabin Campground. It is an hour or so drive on gravel road and switchbacks from Duboise. There are 2 mountain creeks there and they are full of cutthroat, and brook trout, and a few rainbow. They have been having a heck of a time with the Pine bark beetle there, so the trees aren't so pretty right now, but the mountains are beautiful. The wading is pretty easy, and the fish are pretty eager. They aren't huge, but the last time I was there I was pleasantly surprised with the size of some of my catches, so there are some nice ones in there. Classic Mountain dry fly fishing at its best!