Fly Fishing Trip Out West

[mr89ia]

Guys and Gals-

Let me preface this saying I am a die hard outdoorsman, so I am not asking for spots on streams or lakes, just general ideas of areas to target and stay. No GPS coordinates requested!

This year will be the first year in my life, 22 years, I will miss whatever the "family vacation" for the year is. Some years they are big, some years they were a weekend to KC or Chitown or what not. Long story short, I am starting to conceptualize a trip for next year out west for my dad, brother, and I to do some camping/hiking and a lot of fly fishing. Looking for areas that have the best fishing with the least amount of people. I don't want the Estes Park/National Park atmosphere where people are crawling all over each other. Also, not interested in GPS cordinates on streams or rivers, mainly just ideas for somewhere to stay or target. I will figure out streams from there, to me, thats the fun part. I just have no clue where to start...

Thanks in advance.

 

[mr89ia]

bump... maybe try again later tonight if if falls off again

 

[isukendall]

In Colorado, there are a lot of places you can go that aren't RMNP-type. Good fly fishing on the Poudre River. Some of the places up higher, you can hike into and really get away from people. Lots of hike-in lakes. Upper Arkansas River. I don't fly fish personally, but know a lot who do and those are some of the places they go.

 

[Cybone]

Sent you a PM with ideas....

 

[bringmagicback]

In Colorado, there are a lot of places you can go that aren't RMNP-type. Good fly fishing on the Poudre River. Some of the places up higher, you can hike into and really get away from people. Lots of hike-in lakes. Upper Arkansas River. I don't fly fish personally, but know a lot who do and those are some of the places they go.

I nearly lost my life on the Poudre so I reccomend that.

 

[ajk4st8]

Fly fishing this weekend north of Decorah and then fly fishing Northern Arkansas next week!!!\


Fly fished North Lake, Blue Lake, Bear Lake last year in Colorado west if Trinidad. I had several lakes all to myself multiple days. It was unreal.

 

[isukendall]

I nearly lost my life on the Poudre so I reccomend that.

Worthless w/o pics.

 

[jbclone10]

Around Glenwood Springs CO. We go camping/hiking/fishing around Basalt/Marble/Rifle etc. Plus Glenwood Canyon is very scenic.

 

[Colorado]

Given the choice, I would go somewhere along the corridor between Glenwood Springs and the Twin Lakes area of Colorado. The area around the Maroon Bells is the most beautiful place I have ever visited in this state.

 

[oldman]

Guys and Gals-

Let me preface this saying I am a die hard outdoorsman, so I am not asking for spots on streams or lakes, just general ideas of areas to target and stay. No GPS coordinates requested!

This year will be the first year in my life, 22 years, I will miss whatever the "family vacation" for the year is. Some years they are big, some years they were a weekend to KC or Chitown or what not. Long story short, I am starting to conceptualize a trip for next year out west for my dad, brother, and I to do some camping/hiking and a lot of fly fishing. Looking for areas that have the best fishing with the least amount of people. I don't want the Estes Park/National Park atmosphere where people are crawling all over each other. Also, not interested in GPS cordinates on streams or rivers, mainly just ideas for somewhere to stay or target. I will figure out streams from there, to me, thats the fun part. I just have no clue where to start...

Thanks in advance.

We always had a lot of luck in the Bridger wilderness area, out of Pinedale Wyoming. We stayed at Titcomb Basin (15-20 mi from trailhead),after a couple days hiking, and caught a lot of fish at the Upper and Lower Jean Lakes. Here is a website you might take a look at.
http://search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0oG7nPyWM5PQwQAdipXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE1dGdjaXY5BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMwRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkA01TWTAwM18xMTk-/SIG=12i7a3np5/EXP=1338952050/**http%3a//www.uplandidaho.com/Fishing/Jason09/WindRiversPart1.pdf

We were more into mountain climbing at the time (my college years) but did have a couple collapsible poles along. We ate trout for supper a couple evenings. Camped right below Mistake Lake (which was so named because it got stocked by mistake (they thought it would freeze too hard in the winter for fish survival. Looks like they were wrong.)

 

[DurangoCy]

This will be SW CO skewed, but here are some thoughts from an amatuer fisherman...

- In NM south of Navajo dam on the San Juan has some huge brown's in it. It'll be busy there though as everyone and thier brother knows about it.
- Dolores River east of town towards Telluride is ok. The about 10 miles out of town is the West Fork, that section is better.
-The Animas River in town and south of town has some big fish in it, but they're smarter than me. South of town is awesome, but it's on tribe land so you'll need a raft/guide.
-The Piedra River between Bayfield and Pagosa is also good and it's right off the highway.
-If you want middle of nowhere, the Rio Grande headwaters east of Silverton is a cool spot with brookies. It's a minimally maintained 4wd road with a 12,000 pass though. I've never fished the lower section, but I've heard where is comes out of the mountains at Southfork (town) is good too.
-Arkansas in and around Salida is good too. Rafting in this section of CO is huge, so you might have to fight with them for space.

Have fun.

 

[mr89ia]

thanks for the help fanatics! some great ideas, checking them all out. i have time to search, and trying to make this his fathers day present!

 

[simply1]

Lot of places in utah as well, not sure how far west you're looking. Also Idaho and Montana has some great rivers/lakes.

 

[VAClonefan]

Check out the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. It's a pretty good hike in, but very remote and offers excellent trout fishing and incredible views. I went with a group of guys a few years ago. Our trip was 5 days, and we only came across 4 other people the entire time. If you have the $, you can hire the local indians to carry some/all of your gear in on horses. Supposedly there are bears around, but we didn't see any. There are a few logistical hurdles such as getting a pass to hike/fish on the reservation and scheduling the trip if you are going to use the indians to carry gear, but I think it is worth it. Can't wait to go back. Have a good trip, wherever you decide to go.