Calling all you BCP fly fishing fools (I know you are out there).

I have an opportunity to load up the 180 and take my Dad and boys on a flying / fishing adventure this summer. I was thinking of Idaho or Montana. I don't have enough time to make it AK (perhaps 2014), only about a week. Also would consider southwestern Canada if there was some killer spots that weren't too far north.

Trip will probably be around midsummer (first of July).

I am pretty familiar with ID, just never fished there. Any thoughts on a good spot with strong fishing and camping prospects???

Thanks in advance, Larry

Idaho!

I'm not sure of the quality of fishing near these strips. But I would think they are good.
Sulphur Creek
Johnson Creek
Landmark - short hike to the Johnson Creek (the river)
Bruce Meadows - short hike to Bear Valley Creek

Anywhere along the Selway is awesome (Shearer, Moose Creek, or any of the private strips if you can get permission). Mid July will be great with large terrestrial patterns. Don't be afraid to hike up or downstream from the LZ but watch for rattlers.

Big Creek is also very good and Cabin Creek airstrip is one of my favorites for camping. It's a bit if a trek down to Big Creek But the fishing can be absolutely amazing. Upper and lower loon can also be good as can the middle fork of the Salmon. On the Montana side my favorites are Schafer meadows on the upper middle fork of the Flathead...again amazing fishing and about as beautiful as anywhere in earth. The strips on the south fork of the flathead offer some great fishing too but like cabin creek it's a jaunt to the river.

In short, there are numerous strips that offer great camping and fishing in Idaho and Montana. You really can't go wrong here. Writing this is making me excited to get out in my new-to-me 180 this next summer.

OK if you do Idaho, I might be able to help... You'll go to Sulphur creek for a breakfast or two... there's a pond there with big trout, averaging 18 -20 inches that hit on anything that's hatching and even some things that aren't... The boys will do well there... a short hike to Sulphur creek itself will produce native cuts in the 12-18 inch range that fight well.. You can stay there all day and have three meals if you want but I don't think you can camp there but you can rent one of their cabins pretty reasonably.. Cabin creek is a good one but a hike to the stream is required.. Big creek is a great fishery and I've never been skunked there... Upper loon and Lower loon are also good fishing but again a hike of a mile or less will put you at good fishing anywhere on the stream..Bruce meadows is just OK... Forget Landmark stream is small and very shallow ....
If you go to Moose creek a long down hill hike on switchback trail to Moose creek is worth the trip.. I've fished Shearer, Cayuse, Elk City, Weatherby, Atlanta, Garden Valley, Warm creek, Graham, Dixie and a few I can't remember off hand.. Most are excellent fishing depending on your expertise...Camping is pretty easy.. Johnson Creek of course is the primo place, but you can camp at others. Get Hanselmans Fly Idaho if you haven't already...

IN Montana, the Beaverhead, the Madison, or most any of the western rivers during the mayfly hatch. You may have to hire a guide and or rent a boat but man o man is it fun when the hatch is on heavy. I like the area around Dillon and three forks.

In Idaho up around Stanley and or Hailey, there is a steelhead hatchery at the head of the Salmon river that dumps lots of fish in the system each year. Not too many people know about it but there are quite a few of these that don't migrate out. They stay in the upper valley and become real nice rainbows instead of steelies. Get off into the brush downstream of the hatchery a few miles and if one of the transplanted "new" residents doesn't give you a ration it can be a lot of fun.

My better half and I spent 2 weeks beginning early July flying/camping/fishing at most of all the places recommended in earlier post. Those are all great recommendations. We are going to make another 2 week trip again this year. However, we will spend more time at the northern or higher elevation strips to avoid the heat. Low elevation canyon strips can get blazing HOT in July. We spent 3 days at Shearer and by mid day all we could do was sit in the river and ride out the heat as it was too hot to do anything else; I visit those strips a lot but more in the spring and fall.

Shaffer Meadows along with Spotted Bear and Meadow Creek in Montana are cooler, generally. Also Stanley, Sulphur Creek, and Chamberlain Basin are all high enough to stay cooler, too. Schafer Meadows would be first my choice if I could choose only one place that time of year. To resupply, it is really convenient to stop at Kalispell City Airport as grocery stores and Scotty's restaurant are only a few blocks walk and only about a 30 minute flight.

Thanks guys!! Schafer Meadows was on my list, but have gotten mixed reports on the fishing there so it is good to know that it can be good.

Hadn't thought too much about temperatures but that makes sense!!

Wish it were JULY!!

Regards, Larry

I've been there for my 2 weeks every summer from mid June to beginning August and haven't had heat problems... You fly in the morning and evening anyway so being on the ground from 11AM to 6 PM isn't all that bad when you're fishing... Johnson Creek is at 5000 feet and it gets down to the low 30's many nights.. the lower strips on the Snake are of course hotter so I avoid them later in the summer.. also later in the summer is more of a fire problem... smoke can ruin your flying...

The summer of 2012 had above normal temps all summer with many fires.

How's the fishing down at Mackay Bar? After having breakfast there a few times, the lodge looks nice. My wife might appreciate a stay there.

If you were to go just for the fishing with a place to camp?

The Flying B Ranch in Idaho has a lodge with cabins, good food and decent fishing. Oh and a nice grass strip.


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fast eddie wrote:If you were to go just for the fishing with a place to camp?

Depends on the time of year. Ice and the other posters have have some really good recommendations.

The quality of stream/river fishing is highly dependent on water levels. It is poor during high-runoff which this year will continue through early to mid July. The exceptions are lakes and rivers below dams when they are not releasing too much water.

So right now for fly in fishing and camping, Henry's Lake (E corner of Idaho near the Wyoming/Montana border) would be really good as would the Hell's Canyon strips, primarily Big and Dug Bars. Later in the year, anyplace near water. Moose Creek is my favorite late-season destination, in like September/October.

Edit:

Looks like you should also check the regulations before planning on Henry's Lake as it doesn't open until late May sometime.

http://www.idfishnhunt.com/henrylke.htm

soyAnarchisto wrote:How's the fishing down at Mackay Bar? After having breakfast there a few times, the lodge looks nice. My wife might appreciate a stay there.

Mackay Bar has OK fishing, better if you walk up the South Fork from there. However, Mackay Bar has been under new ownership for awhile. Best to check with them well in advance. They may not let you land there unless you use their lodge AND guiding services. They have pretty much alienated all the rafters and pilots, I understand. Wilson Bar is a public strip about 1-mile upstream from Mackay Bar.

As Phil mentions above, Flying B on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River would be a great choice and has better fishing, IMHO. Also Sulphur Creek would be great, too.

There is no fishing in Idaho. None. Really bad and boring. Leave the poles at home. /s

The Middle Fork is good in the cooler months. It is fair to less so in the hot months. The tributaries are the place to go. Big Creek is still among the best, although during the hot months, the tributaries to it are better. Most of the best places are a few hours' walk from the strips. Most of the promised lands at Cold Meadows are a 1/2 to a full day of walking away from the strip unless you like to hand line. Leave the silly pack food behind or you'll be hauling most or all of it all back . You won't go hungry.