Thread: July MT/WY/ID roadtrip: polite request for advice

Crystal Mtn Dreamin is in the house. Prepare for fun!

The new fork has been treating us very well the last couple of days. Grey drakes, some stones, etc. And we've seen one boat in two days.


Transmitted through the ether solely via will power.

I would love to get on the New Fork! Pictures would be kick ass when you emerge...

Not much pressure on the New Fork. The length of the float and access steers most toward the Green. Great river. Fish big junk for the monsters. They are there.

Yup, the new fork is all that for sure. Based on my experience just now, I mean.

We saw over a dozen drift boats headed south out of Jackson while we were headed north out of pinedale - great time to split I guess.

The Yellowstone today was stellar, with great action on big dries: perfect. Quite possibly my best salmonfly day ever - I'd begun to think they're semi mythical honestly. We took out just above Yankee jim and saw two boats on the float I think.

I'll post pics on return, though I'll warn that they're kind of scattered so far.


Transmitted through the ether solely via monkeys.

Yellowstone was outstanding again yesterday, and we're headed for more today. Its hard to beat chucking big dries and pulling consistent fish. The cuts are beautiful, gently sipping the flies from below.

We'll probably move on tomorrow so as to mix it up and any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thinking of the madison, though fearing the bumper boat scene. We're pretty much on a floating program but may put in a wading day later in the week.

I hope that the Jackson based crew is getting into 'em too. And happy 4th to all.



Transmitted through the ether solely via will power.

Originally Posted by Ignatius

We'll probably move on tomorrow so as to mix it up and any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thinking of the madison, though fearing the bumper boat scene. .

Jimmy's Anglers reports salmonflies on madison reached 3 dollar bridge yesterday. Henry's Fork is going through it's prime mayfly cycle. Recent pics posted from the Harriman state park's drake hatches show dozens of old farts with RVs packed in side by side at the Ranch. Looks crowded.

I heard the lower Madison is open, after having been closed for ten days or so. Might be strange floating through a recently burned area, but the fish have seen zero boats or tubers in that time. Go early or late to avoid the splash and giggle crew.

Or the Missouri. Yeah you should really just go there, you can thank me later.

Thanks a bunch fellas, that's great info. LoMa is tempting and may be enough to draw us out of the Yellowstone splendor.

It got even better today with caddis and golden stones adding to the trout buffet. We got great joy from shaking willows to drop the accumulated fauna into the crik creating feeding frenzies, and then chucking in any big dry and pulling out a cutty. Good clean fun right there.


Transmitted through the ether solely via will power.

It is getting good down here too. The snake is decent but not in its prime. Great reports from the Pinedale area!

I haven't checked the flows or heard or looked for any reports but you may want to inquire about the Beaverhead. The crowds have prolly dissipated from the June frenzy??? Mid summer is usually a dredging game but if the flows are right, big fish can be picked off. They may have opened up the flood gates though, so check before you go.

The road trip reached its conclusion yesterday, after a highly successful two weeks of trout, beer, beef, and good friends.

We floated/fished the Salt, South Fork, New Fork, Yellowstone, Madison, and Green with generally excellent fishing all along the way. Also caught some remarkably large fish in the not-so-big Big Creek that flows into the Yellowstone.

I floated 11 out of 12 days and am now lost and confused in my office. My thanks to everyone for the advice in advance and along the way. I'll get a TR up before too long.

i know where ur at. got home from a 5 day float and camp in MT a couple weeks ago and have been a bumbling mess ever since. constantly looking up used drift boats online that i cant afford.

Coming back with the 1000 yard stare to the office, fingers split open, mystery wounds from drinking around the campfire...