Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

Imagine that you are me, it is June 21st, you are in Flagstaff, Arizona, you
just secured a solid SUV, Pickup truck or Van, you have all your camping
gear, your fishing gear, your boating gear, and enough cash to go where you
want and do what you want, (within reason, of course) for about 14 months if
you are careful. Your only stipulation is that you will be in Sweden for the
Lapland Clave, you want to be in New England for the fall colors, and you
have a potential place to stay in Maine for the winter, if you choose. Other
than that, you can go where you want, you'll sleep in the rig (or in a
tent), and you like to drive so mileage is not a problem.

Where would you go during the year (June 2003-August 2004) to get the best
fishing areas at the best time? What would be the perfect road trip plan to
hit the best streams at the best season, to be available for some claves,
meet some Roffians, and to get a change to really enjoy a year off from
work?

Remember, you are me, so you don't know which rivers in America are good
fishing rivers. You'd be likely to drive right past XXX Stream on the best
day of the year for sea run Salmon, and not even know it. BTW: This doenn't
mean I'm committing to a year off, but I sure am leaning towards it, and
some good info like this would make all the difference... :-)

TIA, TL
--riverman

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 15:16:13 +0100, "riverman"
wrote:

Where would you go during the year (June 2003-August 2004) to get the best
fishing areas at the best time?

You could stop by the Western clave on the Madison in July and then
fish Rock Creek the week after.
--
Charlie...

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

Charlie Choc wrote:

On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 15:16:13 +0100, "riverman"
wrote:


Where would you go during the year (June 2003-August 2004) to get the best
fishing areas at the best time?


You could stop by the Western clave on the Madison in July and then
fish Rock Creek the week after.


Riverman,

I'm envious! you're going to have a blast! You can see lots of country
and get in some GREAT! fishing during that time span. You'll be able to
follow the good fishing around.

Charlie's suggestion is a great one. They'll be people there from all
over and everyone should be able to point you to some good water. (I've
got a few places to pass on) And you'll probably also end up with some
free guiding on some peoples' home waters.

Send me your email addy and I'll give you a start.



Willi

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

"Charlie Choc" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 15:16:13 +0100, "riverman"
wrote:

Where would you go during the year (June 2003-August 2004) to get the
best
fishing areas at the best time?

You could stop by the Western clave on the Madison in July and then
fish Rock Creek the week after.
--
Charlie...

Remember that while you're on Rock Creek you're an hour's drive or less from
the Clearwater, Blackfoot, Bitterroot, and Clark Fork. There are also many
streams in the whole Clark Fork drainage that are not so famous but still
have great fishing.

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

um..i don't understand your dates. june 2003?? i'm assuming you mean
june 2004...but lapland is august 2004, isn't it. anyway, if your jaunt
allows, plug north carolina into your travel plans for the period
between april and november. we can fish year round, fresh and salt,
mountains to seashore, so if you see nc in your travel plans, send a
note and we'll give you a tour.

jeff

riverman wrote:
Imagine that you are me, it is June 21st, you are in Flagstaff, Arizona, you
just secured a solid SUV, Pickup truck or Van, you have all your camping
gear, your fishing gear, your boating gear, and enough cash to go where you
want and do what you want, (within reason, of course) for about 14 months if
you are careful. Your only stipulation is that you will be in Sweden for the
Lapland Clave, you want to be in New England for the fall colors, and you
have a potential place to stay in Maine for the winter, if you choose. Other
than that, you can go where you want, you'll sleep in the rig (or in a
tent), and you like to drive so mileage is not a problem.

Where would you go during the year (June 2003-August 2004) to get the best
fishing areas at the best time? What would be the perfect road trip plan to
hit the best streams at the best season, to be available for some claves,
meet some Roffians, and to get a change to really enjoy a year off from
work?

Remember, you are me, so you don't know which rivers in America are good
fishing rivers. You'd be likely to drive right past XXX Stream on the best
day of the year for sea run Salmon, and not even know it. BTW: This doenn't
mean I'm committing to a year off, but I sure am leaning towards it, and
some good info like this would make all the difference... :-)

TIA, TL
--riverman

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

"Jeff Miller" wrote in message
news:qnlFb.41865$hf1.38598@lakeread06...
um..i don't understand your dates. june 2003?? i'm assuming you mean
june 2004...but lapland is august 2004, isn't it. anyway, if your jaunt
allows, plug north carolina into your travel plans for the period
between april and november. we can fish year round, fresh and salt,
mountains to seashore, so if you see nc in your travel plans, send a
note and we'll give you a tour.

jeff


DITTO

Op

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

"riverman" wrote Where would you go during the year
(June 2003-August 2004) to get the best
fishing areas at the best time?

i would suggest you come to the smokies (nc) as a first stop. early
june, in the early mornings and late afternoons, is wonderful dry fly time,
with elk hair caddis or stimulators floating a little prince nymph dropper.
wading wet is a great feeling around that time, and the drives through the
high country on the cherahola skyway are unreal.
then maybe up to tlitt's homegrounds for a couple days on penn's, and
straight on north to the pirate on the rapid. that may be the best
all-round fishery i have yet to experience. lakefront camp, your "clave
central" is idyllic, and the big water lake gives you the opportunity for
canoeing during down times with the fish. besides, you won't find a more
gracious couple to spend time with than louie laplac and that goddess he has
drugged.
then, out west for the rest of your time, colorado in july was unreal
for me. big fish on seeable sized flys, and miles of little known jewels
that i can describe to you, around dillon, colo. of course, willi and
barnard and bruiser can point you to resources i could never dream of
matching.\

i would love to do this thing you describe, but only with a good woman,
lots of stoli, a thirty year old nikon, and a few maudlin novels.

go for it, myron. thirty years from now, it will warm your mind if the
winds blow cold.

yfitons
wayno

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

Where's Rock Creek?

Lou T

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

Wayno writes:

snip good advice

go for it, myron. thirty years from now, it will warm your mind if the
winds blow cold.

I would correct that to "when the wind blows cold." Good advice, counselor. I
would, however, start in late May/first week in June on the Rapid, hit Penns on
the way to the Smokies, and then onto Montana/Idaho where Willi, Warren,
Bannard can show you some wonderful waters.

You say you will be in Maine later in the year? Again, the Rapid is wonderful
in September. While the regular seasons closes in Maine on the last day of
September, the East Outlet of Moosehead is open until October 31. Great
brookie and landlocked salmon fishing.

Ahhhh, to be young.......

Dave

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/myhomepage/index.html

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

Much like picking somebody else's mate ... hard to do successfully

I dislike "a few days here, a day there, a few more someplace else" road
trips and find I far prefer stays in one locations of, bare minimum, a week,
sometimes a month isn't enough. This probably is because I did a lot of
the first style of blitz traveling/ fishing when younger.

So much depends on the kind of fishing you prefer. But, I'd find time,
early in the year, for some small, high country, streams that take a good
long walk to get to. To me, they represent the roots of the sport. Without
a background of time, alone or with very carefully chosen company, chasing
wild trout in wild places the "name waters" will never "make a 'real' fly
fisher outta ya" ... maybe they will do just the opposite ( I don't mean
'real' in a numbers and size of fish sense ).

And, believe me, the years zip by and the ability to take those long walks
dwindles, don't get old without a lot of them to remember.

Oh, where? ... that is a kind of Catch22 ... the exploring is a big part of
what you will find ... start with topos, find the big tracks of public land,
trails to year round water and go have a look see ... regardless of what you
catch it will be worth it.

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

On 21 Dec 2003 22:44:33 GMT, (Lat705) wrote:

Where's Rock Creek?

Montana, where last year's Western clave was held.
--
Charlie...

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

"Jeff Miller" wrote in message
news:qnlFb.41865$hf1.38598@lakeread06...
send a
note and we'll give you a tour.

jeff

and some ribs!

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

In article ,
lid says...
On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 15:16:13 +0100, "riverman"
wrote:

Where would you go during the year (June 2003-August 2004) to get the best
fishing areas at the best time?

You could stop by the Western clave on the Madison in July and then
fish Rock Creek the week after.


And if you aren't bankrupt or in jail after the Western Clave,
I usually head out to Montana at the end of July, and I know my
way around a few rivers.

If you pass near North Dakota on your travels, get in touch
with me. May, June, and later in October are prime times for
pike fishing on the prairie. In October there are also ducks
and pheasants to chase.

Kevin

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

Were it me, I would try to stop by and see everyone that I have encountered
on this group.

Not only would you find some of the best rivers to fish this way, er, rivers
for the best fishing, ..anyhow, you would get to see the places folks like
to fish the most. Which may not be the best fishing as fish are measured.

Those private places that fishermen are reluctant to share.

Now, if it is fall colors you want, I would start in New England. Way north.
As the temperature drops, just head south along the eastern mountain chain
and you would meet a lot of roffians, see a lot of water, and stay in the
changing leaves for maybe two months....

john
"riverman" wrote in message
...
Imagine that you are me, it is June 21st, you are in Flagstaff, Arizona,
you
just secured a solid SUV, Pickup truck or Van, you have all your camping
gear, your fishing gear, your boating gear, and enough cash to go where
you
want and do what you want, (within reason, of course) for about 14 months
if
you are careful. Your only stipulation is that you will be in Sweden for
the
Lapland Clave, you want to be in New England for the fall colors, and you
have a potential place to stay in Maine for the winter, if you choose.
Other
than that, you can go where you want, you'll sleep in the rig (or in a
tent), and you like to drive so mileage is not a problem.

Where would you go during the year (June 2003-August 2004) to get the best
fishing areas at the best time? What would be the perfect road trip plan
to
hit the best streams at the best season, to be available for some claves,
meet some Roffians, and to get a change to really enjoy a year off from
work?

Remember, you are me, so you don't know which rivers in America are good
fishing rivers. You'd be likely to drive right past XXX Stream on the best
day of the year for sea run Salmon, and not even know it. BTW: This
doenn't
mean I'm committing to a year off, but I sure am leaning towards it, and
some good info like this would make all the difference... :-)

TIA, TL
--riverman

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 20:11:43 -0600, Kevin Vang
wrote:

And if you aren't bankrupt or in jail after the Western Clave,
I usually head out to Montana at the end of July, and I know my
way around a few rivers.

I'll probably stay out west for a while after the clave. When in July
will you be going to Montana?
--
Charlie...

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

"Charlie Choc" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 15:16:13 +0100, "riverman"
wrote:

Where would you go during the year (June 2003-August 2004) to get the
best
fishing areas at the best time?

You could stop by the Western clave on the Madison in July and then
fish Rock Creek the week after.
--


Mmmm, sounds like thats a great place to start. What are the dates of the
Western Clave? In any case (year off or not), I'll be in Flag for the winter
so I think, unless the dates clash with the Lapland clave, I want to make
the Western Clave, for sure.

--riverman

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

"Larry L" wrote in message
...
Much like picking somebody else's mate ... hard to do successfully

I dislike "a few days here, a day there, a few more someplace else" road
trips and find I far prefer stays in one locations of, bare minimum, a
week,
sometimes a month isn't enough. This probably is because I did a lot of
the first style of blitz traveling/ fishing when younger.


I agree wholeheartedly, Larry. If folks haven't guessed, I've been an
addicted rambler since I was in my early teens, and between exploring the
nooks and crannies of the lower 48 for river trips, and just poking around,
I've blitzed most of the 'off the beaten track' US already (more than 20
cross-country trips by thumb or by wheel by the time I was 30). I have no
interest in racking up miles and miles, and spending a day here, a day
there, getting that schizophrenia that comes from being terminally uprooted
and always 'leaving town'. My idea would be to estanlish a base area for at
least a week or two at a time, and explore the region, get to know some
folks.. If it means I only fish two or three regions in 8 months, I can live
with that. I appreciate your reminder of how easy it is to get caught up in
the 'forever on the move' type of travelling...been there, done that.

--riverman

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

"Jeff Miller" wrote in message
news:qnlFb.41865$hf1.38598@lakeread06...
um..i don't understand your dates. june 2003?? i'm assuming you mean
june 2004...but lapland is august 2004, isn't it. anyway, if your jaunt
allows, plug north carolina into your travel plans for the period
between april and november. we can fish year round, fresh and salt,
mountains to seashore, so if you see nc in your travel plans, send a
note and we'll give you a tour.

jeff


Thanks, Jeff! You Sudden Boys also offered a nice fishing and ribs tour last
time I was in the US, but I couldn't make it fit my schedule, and I still
regret it. I think the first draft of my 'perfect year' is shaping up to be
like this:
June: Flagstaff, do some errands, fish the Juan, raft the Canyon
July: the Western Clave, after that a quick flight over the pond (thanks to
frequent flier miles) to the Lapland clave.
August/ Early September: still open. Maybe some european stuff, maybe some
Colorado/Wyoming fishing...maybe some Nothern Canada fishing...work my way
to the eastern US, Larry L-style (staying in each area more than just a few
days)
Late Sept/ Early October: Maine for the colors and fall fishing on the East
Outlet (beloved old stomping grounds of mine.)
Late Oct/November: Come down to the southlands to fish and meet some
fiton(as)s.

This is sounding great. Several folks have mentioned that they would love to
do something like this someday...I can't see why this can't be another
'rolling clave' once I get the itinerary together. Different folks could
hook up and come along for a week here, a week there. It would make for a
really good time, and be a lot more interesting. Hmm?

--riverman

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

"riverman" wrote in message
...

"Charlie Choc" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 15:16:13 +0100, "riverman"
wrote:

Where would you go during the year (June 2003-August 2004) to get the
best
fishing areas at the best time?

You could stop by the Western clave on the Madison in July and then
fish Rock Creek the week after.
--


Mmmm, sounds like thats a great place to start. What are the dates of the
Western Clave? In any case (year off or not), I'll be in Flag for the
winter
so I think, unless the dates clash with the Lapland clave, I want to make
the Western Clave, for sure.


D'oH! I meant "for the summer"..

--riverman

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

riverman wrote:


This is sounding great. Several folks have mentioned that they would love to
do something like this someday...I can't see why this can't be another
'rolling clave' once I get the itinerary together. Different folks could
hook up and come along for a week here, a week there. It would make for a
really good time, and be a lot more interesting. Hmm?

--riverman

judging solely from the little essay of a traveling clave i enjoyed with
wolfgang, sounds like you might be preparing for a novel experience.
looking forward to helping you write the carolina chapter.

jeff

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

On Mon, 22 Dec 2003 13:47:16 +0100, "riverman"
wrote:

Mmmm, sounds like thats a great place to start. What are the dates of the
Western Clave?

July 10-17. I'm planning on being around there for at least the next
week too, FWIW.
--
Charlie...

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

"riverman" wrote in message
...

"Jeff Miller" wrote in message
news:qnlFb.41865$hf1.38598@lakeread06...
um..i don't understand your dates. june 2003?? i'm assuming you mean
june 2004...but lapland is august 2004, isn't it. anyway, if your jaunt
allows, plug north carolina into your travel plans for the period
between april and november. we can fish year round, fresh and salt,
mountains to seashore, so if you see nc in your travel plans, send a
note and we'll give you a tour.

jeff


Thanks, Jeff! You Sudden Boys also offered a nice fishing and ribs tour
last
time I was in the US, but I couldn't make it fit my schedule, and I still
regret it. I think the first draft of my 'perfect year' is shaping up to
be
like this:
June: Flagstaff, do some errands, fish the Juan, raft the Canyon
July: the Western Clave, after that a quick flight over the pond (thanks
to
frequent flier miles) to the Lapland clave.
August/ Early September: still open. Maybe some european stuff,

You can have the list of waters that I have planned on fishing before I'm to
old to cast a fly line. That list should easily keep you occupied here in
northern Europe until the snow sets in.
In any case, Vaughan and I will probably stay longer than the rest of the
Clavers and you're welcome to join us (still looking into that canoe idea of
yours).
If I'm still unemployed (read: if my company is doing fine) I could even be
available to guide you around for a week.
Also, Vaughan asked me if I'd be up to another trip to the mountain region.
I think it was week 30/31.

/Roger

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

In article ,
lid says...

I'll probably stay out west for a while after the clave. When in July
will you be going to Montana?


I will probably arrive in Butte on July 28, give or take a day
or two. We will probably set up camp somewhere on the Big Hole
to start out. If you want, I can probably get you a gig as a
volunteer instructor at the Kids' Day on the Big Hole, which
theoretically would make your travel expenses tax-deductible. ;)

Kevin

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

On Mon, 22 Dec 2003 12:16:15 -0600, Kevin Vang
wrote:

I will probably arrive in Butte on July 28, give or take a day
or two. We will probably set up camp somewhere on the Big Hole
to start out.

I'll probably be back home, or on my way, by then - but who knows.

If you want, I can probably get you a gig as a
volunteer instructor at the Kids' Day on the Big Hole, which
theoretically would make your travel expenses tax-deductible. ;)

If it looks like I will still be out that way I might just take you up
on that.
--
Charlie...

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

"asadi" wrote in
:

Were it me, I would try to stop by and see everyone that I have
encountered on this group.


At the risk of sounding too maudlin.

Good post. Many would agree.

Steve

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

"asadi" wrote in
:

Were it me, I would try to stop by and see everyone that I have
encountered on this group.

And the survey says.........................GOOD ANSWER, Good Answer!

Op --host: ROFF Feud--

Dreaming of The Perfect Year...
 

"riverman" wrote

I've blitzed most of the 'off the beaten track' US already (more than 20
cross-country trips by thumb or by wheel by the time I was 30).

Cool, then you're well past wanting to "see" the "gotta see" places, and
probably are past the need to collect famous river names for your "been
there, done that" trophy list too. At least in my own case, I had to get
over those hurdles before I started to really find the "best" parts of what
traveling for fly fishing has to offer. I still fish a lot of "big name"
places, but for very different reasons.

Slowing down to Nature's pace is one of THE reasons to fly fish, and having,
or stealing ( actually preferred), the time to sit and wait for the bugs is
a valuable reward in itself. Coming back to try the same fish with
something new tomorrow after getting skunked today is one too. I enjoy the
occasional "bad day" because it reminds me to slow down, look, and then look
harder, not just whip a stick around. Blitzkrieg fishing really ain't
fishing, something I see now, even though I have been there in the past.

A specific fishing suggestion, that isn't often mentioned ... Hebgen Lake in
August. Trico and Callibaetis hatches and imho, the best dry fly, hatch
matching, fishing around at that time.

You do need some sort of craft ( your post mentioned boating gear ), but a
float tube is enough, if you look me up I'll loan you a kickboat, I'm likely
to be in the area.

Most fly fishers have heard of the "gulpers" on Hebgen, but far fewer have
actually fished over them. It does get some fishing pressure, but I've
never felt "crowded" there, unlike many streams in that same area. And, for
some reason, a much higher percentage of "locals" are usually out instead of
"visiting anglers" such as on the Madison or Henry's Fork. That and
returnees, I know several that travel thousands of miles every year just to
chase gulpers. Plus 90% of the fishers go to the Madison Arm ( we seem to
be flock animals ), but there are miles of lake in other arms and bays that
are very good and often deserted.

Some fly fisher's noses automatically tilt up at snob angle when stillwaters
are mentioned, but I've talked to many Hebgen anglers and never met one that
did well, fishing dries to Hebgen gulpers, without some serious learning
and effort ... this is not kicking around and trolling. It requires
excellent imitations ( if you tie your own flies, the place is a delightful
challenge to those skills, these fish are picky ) and precise presentations,
..... other famous "proving grounds" for FF skill such as the Railroad Ranch,
are not any more demanding, ime.

And the fish average well over 16" and ... fish over 20" common enough to
not draw comment.

but, like any truly bug dependant fishing, each day is different, the
weather is important, and you need to plan several attempts to be certain of
hitting a great hatch ... if you do, you will remember it, my personal
guarantee