Hey ya'lingoing for great places to fly to then go flyfishing in the backcountry. Any ideas of places I should add to my bucket list?

I got a subscription to NW Flyangler (or something like that) for Christmas. Just recently 2 back issues showed up in the mail and one of them spotlights Johnson Creek, Idaho. Seems like there is some really great fishing there according to the article and few people.

I usually fish in AK. There, opportunities are limitless with the right plane. However,there are some mining camps (near the Susitna just north of Talkeentna) that have gravel runways where most any tri gear can land without incident.

Marble canyon AZ is a fantastic place to spend a day on the Colorado river with a guide catching trout. Hard to say what is the best part, amazing
redrock canyons and the fishing is hard to beat.
Dale

Madpilot:

Love to combine fishing and flying too!!

Notice your from CO. Are you familiar with Marble Canyon, CO (versus AZ). Beautiful spot and Crystal River is adjacent to the airstrip. Some pretty good trout guides nearby will pick you up and take you to even better spots in the general vicinity (near the West Elks Wilderness). However, if you want to just stay there and fish the Crystal, it can be pretty good (pretty close to the road though and so it does get pressure). If you haven't been there before, there is good info on Marble Canyon on the Colorado Pilot's Association website. Read carefully. It is at 7 or 8 thousand feet elevation and can be a tight go around if you don't make it in. I think there has been some info recently on getting permission before going in. Do a search on Marble Canyon.

I second the vote on Marble Canyon, AZ. A lot like the San Juan, if you are familiar with that.

Speaking of the San Juan, there is a strip in Northern NM, just above the San Juan. Don't know if you are familiar with it? Navajo Dam (1V0). If you haven't experienced the San Juan, you need to. I read an article once on the # of trout below the Navajo Dam in the quality water. I don't remember exactly, but it was in the neighborhood of 2 to 3 thousand fish per mile. The strip is not the greatest camping spot, but you can camp there (about 1 mile above the river at about 300 in elevation above canyon floor). There are a lot of guides working the San Juan and they will pick you up at the strip and take you to the river. Or it is possible to hike or bike to the river from the strip (just a long hump out of the canyon).

In the winter, the San Juan is my FAVORITE fishing destination. It fishes all year and is an amazing microclimate. I was there a few years ago on Thanksgiving Day (forget watching Football) with my sons, and in the morning there was snow, and in the afternoon there was a hatch. I have caught many hogs over 20 inches and few over 30.

It gets lots of pressure in the summer, but a lot of times in the winter there is almost no one there and the fishing is really unbelievable. Especially if you are there on a day other than the weekend. If you haven't fished it before, suggest you get a guide. The water is just loaded with food and they get a lot of pressure, so if you aren't fishing it right, you will have less than stellar success.

Good Luck, Larry

Keep in mind that he is talking about the upper San Juan. Not much fly fishing in the Utah portion

Dutch John, UT....then float the Green from the bottom of the dam to Little Hole (about 7 miles). They have rental rafts (or use your float tube) and a shuttle service at the airport.

JM:

Great tip. I have fished Flaming Gorge before, but never below the dam on the Green. Bet it would be good.

Is the getout spot pretty well marked?

Is the shuttle service associated with guide services or can it be separately arranged? Are there better times than others to float it? Is the river within walking distance of the airport.

Thanks for the idea!

Regards, Larry

The getout area is very well marked. Has a paved parking lot. Shuttle is not affliiated with guides. Call the airport for current shuttle service info. Can't walk to river. Airport is about 1/2 mile from river, but 1500' cliff down to river. Big water level changes due to dam releases on a dailey basis. Spring/Fall is best.
Jim

Call Trout Creek Flies in Dutch John for shuttle 435-885-3355.

you asked about Johnson creek... well I have tried JC every year in the last 12 years I spend 2 weeks up there. I've only done well on Johnson Creek one year... I was coming back from town in the van when I noticed a trout jump in the slow water below the bridge.. I got my fly rod and got trout on almost every cast.. Maybe they were juvenile salmon I don't know but I haven't had the same luck since... Cabin creek has always been a hot one each year. and Upper loon is also one of my fav's..

madpilot wrote:Hey ya'll loping for great places to fly to then go flyfishing in the backcountry. Any ideas of places I should add to my bucket list?

Thanks to everyone. Great advice!! I frackin' love this forum.

If you get to California try the Kern River, it's one of the best. It's only 100-yards from "L05".

madpilot wrote:Hey ya'll loping for great places to fly to then go flyfishing in the backcountry. Any ideas of places I should add to my bucket list?

Alaska.

once&futr_alaskaflyer wrote:

madpilot wrote:Hey ya'll loping for great places to fly to then go flyfishing in the backcountry. Any ideas of places I should add to my bucket list?

Alaska.

Alaska is defiantly on the list. I've been there but didn't personally fly a plane did get to land on a glacier.

madpilot wrote:Hey ya'll loping for great places to fly to then go flyfishing in the backcountry. Any ideas of places I should add to my bucket list?

Well I don't get to fly there but going fishing this weekend.

This place has an airstrip and is just East of Salt Lake. Maybe a little more civilized than what your looking for but looks like a nice place for a weekend getaway.

http://www.lcranch.com/

once&futr_alaskaflyer wrote:Keep in mind that he is talking about the upper San Juan. Not much fly fishing in the Utah portion

Actually he is not... nor the Utah portion, but NM. The 'quality waters' of this portion of the San Juan is a Blue Ribbon fishery. Single hook (don't confuse this with single fly), barbed only, catch and release, and really,really, good. The quality waters stretch from Navajo Dam to the campground. After the campground it becomes 'baitfishing' and while the fishing is still good, the quality of the 2 week life expectancy here shows...

The fish in the quality waters have been caught over and over again, and are pretty wise... a person would do real well to get a guide and float it the first time you fish it, the hatches are continuously changing, and what works at 7am will not at 10 am etc, nor will the depths be the same. Midges, Beatis, etc and tiny 22-24...

The strip has been improved recently, but camping at it to fish only works if you are an iron man contestant. Call Fisheads for a shuttle. They have a lodge, flyshop, and offer guide services. They also have an amazing chef that is way under priced for the meal...

Take care, Rob

Moose Creek and the Selway River can be accessed from Moose Creek airstrip. If you can get into Shearer and fish the Selway up higher, that is even better. If you go in late July or early August you can fish large terrestrials (hoppers and the like) and kill 'em.

Schafer Meadows and fish the upper middle fork of the Flat head.

Another or civilized fly-in would be Ravalli County (6S5) and take the courtesy car or find a guide to take you down the Bitterroot.

I have had incredible fishing on all these rivers but the Selway has been the best. I have floated it twice from Paradise to the Falls and the fishing has be other-worldly both times.

Rob wrote:

once&futr_alaskaflyer wrote:Keep in mind that he is talking about the upper San Juan. Not much fly fishing in the Utah portion

Single hook (don't confuse this with single fly), barbed only, catch and release, and really,really,

Thanks rob. Great info. Although I've never fished water where they make you use a barbed hook . You'd think they'd let you fish barbless as it's easier on the fish.

madpilot wrote:Thanks rob. Great info. Although I've never fished water where they make you use a barbed hook . You'd think they'd let you fish barbless as it's easier on the fish.

when my fingers start listening to the rest of me I will see if they can type barbless

I see your signature line says 'The Mormon Pilot' I have heard mine should read 'the moron pilot'...

anyways... my missed points were that a) you can rig multiple flies and b) it actually isn't flies only, provided you spinning gear consists of barbless single hook types...

Another point to keep in mind is that the quality waters don't stretch all that long, so while it won't be 'combat fishing' you aren't likely to be alone...

Take care, Rob