Summertime driving tour of Idaho/Montana/Wyoming

[chapmag]

This is the summer that I'm loading up the RAV4 with my Lab and my switch rods, a 5 weight, and tenkara rods and heading to the upper states for some trout.

I'll go for two weeks between the end of May and mid-August.

Happy to camp if there is not a motel near the good water.

I've fished in Utah, Western Nevada, and Colorado but never in the upper states. My brother lives in Salt Lake City and would like to join me for a few days.

I'd like to fish mostly on foot. So I'm looking for:

Water with sufficient public access.

A time when rivers have settled down after runoff.

Opportunities to catch fish on dries either during hatches or with a dry/dropper rig. (I don't get a lot of that in California, maybe it's just me.)

What rivers/lakes would you suggest? When?

Thanks all.

[Bob G]

Hi Greg -

As a starter, since you list "after runoff", I would call the major fly shops in the general areas that you will be traveling and inquire regarding when they project the runoff will end.

Your trip sounds glorious!

Best, Bob

[Idadon]

Henry's Fork below Ashton dam down to St Anthony is bug city in May. Can get muddied up below the Fall River for awhile. My favorite stretch is just below Chester diversion dam down to the Fun Farm. Easy water and OK access. Drakes and very thick Caddis, big fish too. Call Jimmy's All Season Anglers in Idaho Falls. The South Fork of the Snake is usually running hard till June but even when at normal summertime flows you need a drift boat.

[yubaman]

As far as Montana and wade fishing, for me these are must rivers . . . In the Dillon area both the Ruby and the Big Hole. Also Wise River can be very good. In the St. Regis area, the St. Regis River. In the Missoula area, absolutely, absolutely Rock Creek. About an hour away, the Little Blackfoot can be very good wading.

Runoff can usually go into late June or early July. Their snowpack is a little under normal, and they have had a bit of a warm spring, so runoff should be lighter than usual this year. If you can, I would give Rock Creek, and the Upper Forks of Rock Creek 2-3 days. There is 50 miles of prime wading in this river. The big hatch, their Salmonfly hatch usually pops in June. If you can hit this, it's a ball. Good Luck.

[Garrett S]

Our big rivers have been in runoff for about a week now, they should be good by the end of the May. I would suggest coming in June, time it right and you can fish some incredible salmonfly hatches.

[JayDubP]

SE Idaho is one of the most popular fly fishing meccas of the world. You can easily spend 2 weeks just from Idaho-Utah border to and inside Yellowstone. All the areas Idahon listed are great, plus consider Bitch Creek, Badger Creek and Teton River midweek days, as long as you don't mind lots of walking and being on guard for snakes.

4 hours or so to the northwest, you could be in the Yellow Pine, ID area fishing on border of and inside the Frank Church Wilderness: Johnson Creek; East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon River and maybe the best cutt fishing in Idaho on Big Creek (2-3 day wilderness hike) where you will probably hook some salmon and bull trout also. (you could hit the Big Wood River in Sun Valley area and the upper Salmon on your way to/from)

It will take more than 2 weeks to properly cover Montana and Northern Idaho. So, plan another trip next year to fish Montana and northern Idaho...and then there is the Boise area with the South Fork of the Boise and the Owyhee Rivers or even the Boise River right in town.

[chapmag]

Thanks all. Now I've got something to plan around.

[whatnext]

Grab a copy of "Flyfisher's Guide to Idaho". Not nearly as nice as the California guide since it's missing all the great photography. Nonetheless, it will give you maps, hatch info and general times of year. Sounds like an epic trip.

[aaron]

While May can be good here on the lower Henry's, it's normally pretty prime runoff elsewhere. I would opt toward June, the lower Hank will be on its way out, but the ranch will be prime time, South Fork may have settled in to summer flows, and the smaller streams will be in good shape. The Park will be open as well. Public access is abundant and easy to come by.

Feel free to PM as you get closer for conditions and a point in the right direction.

[chapmag]

Thanks Aaron. I will PM you as I get closer to going.

[HSano]

One place that no one has mentioned is Silver Creek (30 miles S of Sun Valley). My brother and I used to go to Idaho/Montana every year for over 25 years. We'd leave the Bay Area and stay the first night in Elko (Twin Falls if you don't mind the extra three hours of driving) and then fish Silver by the mid-afternoon of the second day. Great dry fly fishing and you have a choice of walking or float tubing. After a couple of days on Silver we'd head up to Yellowstone and hit the Henry's Fork (either Last Chance or Railroad Ranch) on the way. Once in West Yellowstone there are so many places to fish; I'd go to the local shops and get their suggestions. Then, on the way back you can again hit the Henry's Fork and Silver. As you can tell, there are just SO many options, but I thought I'd add to your confusion (LOL).

[johnsquires]

I agree with Nohackle. Some places are just special - and Silver Creek is one of those places. And Sun Valley has some amazing restaurants.

[JohnO]

the St Joe river in northern Idaho is also a special place to catch lots of cutts.

[NoahSondgroth]

Hit up Prune Creek campground in Wyoming, it is a good sized stream with pretty large browns and a few brookies

[Magic]

If I remember right, Rock Creek closes last day in June. I'm fishing that this year and the Big Black Foot. The Ruby is crowded and has restrictions for out-of-staters. Check the regs. Big Hole has plenty of White Fish, less trout last time I fished it. Sounds like a great trip and plenty of rivers to choose. BTW, St. Joes out of CDA is not bad too.

[yubaman]

Check your information, as it is incorrect. Rock Creek closes to COMMERCIAL ( i.e. guided) float on June 30th. It is wide open for private floats and wading all year long. There are excellent wade fishing opportunities all along the river. The Microburst is a great area to start, good fishing downstream, excellent fishing upstream, with lots of braids. Check the regs for any questions. As well, the Ruby has no out-of -state restrictions, nor does any river in Montana. It all depends on where you fish the Ruby. Down in the valley near Twin Bridges, the access is pretty limited, Below the dam, more access. more fishermen. Above the reservoir, Forest Service land, plenty of access and light crowds with very good fishing. Hope this helps.

[Magic]

Thanks for the correction and update. You are right, I am fishing with a guide on Rock Creek and they told me the last day they could fish was end of June, of course they didn't mention it was still open to private individuals. I hear it is an amazing River. Regarding the Ruby, I fished with a guide there several times and they had limited days they could fish due to the guide permits available to float. Beautiful water, but it was a bit busy the times I floated. However, after reading some sites...there seems to be plenty of public wade -walk in access. Thanks again.

[chapmag]

Wow, more thanks to all. Now I've got even more ideas on where to go. Too bad I don't have four weeks this summer...