First Longer Trip advice appreciated!

[ski3pin]

So basically, I'm going to leave Arizona, get up to Wy and MT, and stay there for a couple of weeks, before running down to Valley of the Gods gathering?

Might catch some very nice high country Autumn colors up that way! We are wishing we could go right now.

 

[Cayuse]

So basically, I'm going to leave Arizona, get up to Wy and MT, and stay there for a couple of weeks, before running down to Valley of the Gods gathering?

There are worse ways to spend a couple weeks! Might be a good time to take up fly fishing

 

[Stalking Light]

The Red Desert in Wyoming is supposed to be pretty cool and is on my list to visit.

 

[hoyden]

True! I'd love to learn how to fly fish!!

Anyone on here live in Wy or Mt available to teach me fly fishing in a couplea weeks?!

 

[Stalking Light]

http://www.sexyloops.com/index.php/ps/secrets-of-fly-casting


This is pretty good

 

[hoyden]

http://www.sexyloops.com/index.php/ps/secrets-of-fly-casting


This is pretty good

I'll check it out after work! Thanks!

 

[Stalking Light]

Get in some casting practice and then get a guide for half a day, they'll generally give you pointers and put you on some fish. Make sure you let them know your skill level so they will be patient.

 

[Foy]

True! I'd love to learn how to fly fish!!

Anyone on here live in Wy or Mt available to teach me fly fishing in a couplea weeks?!

For what it's worth, Rock Creek (the Rock Creek mentioned above) is a Blue Ribbon trout stream in Montana. The road up its canyon runs 41 miles upstream, which is southerly from I-90 about 20 miles east of Missoula, and it follows the stream the whole way. Upriver of about Milepost 10, the pavement and most of the private property ends and first the Lolo NF then the Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF begins. There are a half-dozen or so NF campgrounds, at least one of which is small and free (Siria-prounounced Sir-EE-ah, is OK, but no water there--fill up at Bitterroot Flats 5 miles north of there), and all are on Rock Creek (including two a very short distance up a tributary stream). Disbursed campsites abound, especially above about Milepost 20, some are streamside, but all disbursed sites are marked, meaning one cannot camp away from a CG except at marked disbursed sites. There are some particularly nice designated streamside disbursed sites upstream of about Milepost 31, at Wyman Creek and above there for another couple or three miles towards the Concrete Bridge. Best of all, Rock Creek is big water (few backcast problems), easily waded late in the season after the runoff is gone, and it's plumb loaded up with cutthroats, rainbows, cutbows, browns, and the occasional bull trout.

Go gitchasome!

Foy

 

[Stalking Light]

I fished Rock Creek a few years ago and agree, it's a great area to fish and camp. I remember one pool that had a cliff face on the far side and I was casting a hopper up against the cliff and letting it drop in the water and caught a brown on every cast. A good place to try for a trout grand slam.

 

[hoyden]

You guys are way ahead of me! I haven't been fishing since I was a kid with my grandpa, don't have any fishing gear, and don't even know how to clean fish (though I have been watching some youtube vids on how to clean/prep bluegill)

 

[Foy]

While not necessarily required by regulations, catch and release is most often practiced by Montana anglers. Some species, like bull trout, must be released, period.

And while it tends to draw a few sidewise glances from fly fishermen, Rock Creek is a fine place to take a light spinning combo and a dozen single-hook spinners and spoons. Those, a net, a pair of waders, and small hook removing pliers, and you can jump right in there and catch & release to your heart's content.

Foy

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

While not necessarily required by regulations, catch and release is most often practiced by Montana anglers. Some species, like bull trout, must be released, period.

And while it tends to draw a few sidewise glances from fly fishermen, Rock Creek is a fine place to take a light spinning combo and a dozen single-hook spinners and spoons. Those, a net, a pair of waders, and small hook removing pliers, and you can jump right in there and catch & release to your heart's content.

Foy

Barbless hooks are also a good practice for catch and release fishing.

 

[Foy]

Barbless hooks are also a good practice for catch and release fishing.

Absolutely.

Not previously mentioned is the need to modify off-the-shelf spinners and spoons by snipping off 2 of the 3 treble hooks they normally come with. Mashing down the barb on the remaining hook while you've got the lure in hand takes only a moment longer and is a very good way to minimize catch and release mortality.

Foy

 

[hoyden]

Quarter roll? Who needs a quarter roll?

Someone recommended a quarter roll in case needed for camp showers.
I went through my "piggy bank" (a Laphroaig container) instead.

 

[GroovyDad]

Those ought to be enough to keep you clean for a while...

I hope you were able to enjoy the scotch before getting the free piggy bank.

 

[hoyden]

Hi!

Where I prefer to go, there are no showers.... But a person hasta go in to 'civilization' at some point or another.
Altho, I do have an external shower on my camper.... Quarters are for emergency shower!

I might hafta rinse off after hot springs!

Laphroaig! I found a really good single-malt that doesn't break the (piggy) bank!
Sadly, I'm all out.

 

[Wallowa]

Try "Bowmore" a great peaty single-malt from Islay.....just sayin'..

 

[hoyden]

Thanks, Wallowa! I'll check it out! I do like the peaty ones.

 

[clikrf8]

We just returned from a 4 week exploration to NE Washington, Idaho, Very western part of Montana and returned home via eastern Oregon and the coast. We avoid interstates period. Some random info for you:

OREGON coast has few boondocking spots except in national and state forests. IIRC, most pullouts and overviews, day use places had no camping posted. However, for $2, you can take as long and as hot a shower as you want at Oregon state parks. Most pullovers for views or parks on on the west side so heading south is better than north. Exceptions are Beverly Beach, Fogerty Creek, Devils Lake campground and several others I can't remember.

My favorite road because I am a photographer and waterfall fanatic is 138. You can take it east from Roseburg over to 97 and detour to Crater Lake. A week ago near Diamond Lake we got a smidgeon of wet snow. Fall color is gorgeous there now.

Idaho is spectacular and boondock friendly. Our favorite areas were around Challis, Salmon and Pahsimeroi Valley areas. Lots of passes involved. Lolo Pass highway is a beautiful drive and a detour to the Selway River is rewarding. Our favorite USFS road was Moon Pass from Wallace (off 90 or 84?) to the St Joe River. In Idaho, Montana and Eastern Oregon we met lots of ranchers, loggers and hunters who were very helpful and friendly.

As others have said, most small towns offer fuel and food, just pricier. We usually stock up on dried goods and canned/boxed soups. And, hard to find items as the small town stores have limited supplies of the more esoteric foods. I am vegetarian so bring those non refrigerated soy milks and packaged Asian rice meals.

Hope you have a great time and looking forward to meeting you and other WTW folks in VotG. Happy trails.

 

[clikrf8]

You can message me for a link to my Facebook account to friend me and you can see iPhone photos of our travels. We leave again this Thursday for our SW trip and we just returned Thursday. I am trying to figure out a route that we haven't taken before with an eye on the weather for passes. We may run into you somewhere. Our interests are ghost towns, rockhounding, photography and history/geology. And, meeting interesting locals. Have fun.