[wannafish]

I'm starting to plan for a trip east (somewhere anyways) for next fall. Most likely I'll be going to Montana. I haven't really ventured out of Washington much for fishing so far so it's time to broaden my horizons! I prefer rivers a bit on the smaller side (banking it) and with public land as much as possible. I like to camp primitive style, so any where I can get away from being in campgrounds will get top priority. GPS coordinates accepted by PM

 

[Guest]

Ask OMJ. He'd probably have the best advice.

 

[Richard Olmstead]

After labor day, you don't have to worry about crowded campgrounds in Idaho or Montana, so grab a map, cover your eyes and throw the dice and see where they land!
D

 

[Old Man]

All Montana Cg's are primitive. All they have is a shitter in them. No running water unless it's a stream near by.

 

[SteveA]

It'd be pretty hard to go wrong. Follow your nose east and you will find great fishing.

 

[Canoe Rider]

I'll add to the question. I've been scoping out the same type of trip and was considering the St. Joe in ID. I hear it gets crowded up there but is it possible to drive to road's end and then hike in? And if so is the fishing still good that high up?

Thanks,

CR

 

[Tsar Bulba]

I'll add to the question. I've been scoping out the same type of trip and was considering the St. Joe in ID. I hear it gets crowded up there but is it possible to drive to road's end and then hike in? And if so is the fishing still good that high up?

Thanks,

CR

I wrote the Wild & Scenic River management plan for the St. Joe way back in 1978. Walked every inch of the Wild & Scenic River section from St. Joe Lake to Avery.

At the request of Idaho Fish and Game I deleted the section on the migratory behavior of cutts in the St. Joe drainage. However, the secret has been out for many years now. The hike up-river is easy with good access to many fishing spots.

It looks like St. Joe Lodge is still operating. They have a nice spot on the river. I would fish above the lodge in summer.

 

[Mark Conner]

Check out what Rich Osthoff has to say in his "Fly Fishing the Rocky Mountain Back Country" Lots of info on the St. Joe and its neighbor Kelly Creek. Also, Big Creek in Idaho. Cover Montana and Wyoming as well as all the Rocky Mountain states.

 

[Tsar Bulba]

Check out what Rich Osthoff has to say in his "Fly Fishing the Rocky Mountain Back Country" Lots of info on the St. Joe and its neighbor Kelly Creek. Also, Big Creek in Idaho. Cover Montana and Wyoming as well as all the Rocky Mountain states.

Which Big Creek is he talking about. The one near Avery or the one in the Idaho Primitive Area....sorry the Frank Church Wilderness.

 

[Dead Drift]

I go over to the St. Joe multiple times each fall and it is always amazing. and not too crowded at all. I have always been able to find a productive run or two to have to myself, and even on the really crowded weekends i have gone into a run after someone and still gotten consistent action. Whenever i go over there in the fall i usually just take some size 14 caddis dries and some size 12 caddis nymphs... thats really all you need.

If you are looking for a cheap, productive, wilderness trip, go to the Joe...

-Connor

 

[Mark Conner]

...the Big Creek in the Frank Church Wilderness, the largest tributary of the Middle Fork Salmon, a tad difficult to get to on about 50 miles of gravel. Here's what Osthoff has to say, albeit a little dated: "Biologists report that catches of twenty to forty fish a day are common and that half the trout exceed 14 inches - an outstanding ratio by westslope cutthroat standards." Catch and release of course. Not a rodside or floatable stream but easy gradient all along the river trail...

 

[7919]

The St. Joe is not a wilderness river.

 

[pcknshvl]

Check out the Clearwater drainage--everything from big steelhead to big cutthroat. Fall is the perfect time. You'll find a ton of info on this site if you search!

 

[Mayfly Aviator]

Make sure you bring a fresh can of bear spray.

 

[wannafish]

Thanks for the great replies! I really want to go to all those places...

Looks like the trip is going to be the last week of September, 6 days off. Seems like it's generally a pretty nice time of year most years.

Does big creek have drive-up access? I like the 50 miles of gravel road... All about relaxation on this trip!