Larry L wrote:
On Nov 3, 7:51 am, Jarmo Hurri wrote:

.
If the risks would be tolerable, for me the Montana / Wyoming / Idaho
(and now Colorado) region would definitely be the #1 choice.



For the last 8 years I've done the retired troutbum thing in
Montahoming each summer. Last season I left home on May 16th got
back home around Oct 10 and fished nearly every day in between

rw, told it like it is ... i.e. the weather is "highly variable" ...
in those 8 ( maybe it's 9 now ) years I've seen August be a hot, hot,
time with poor fishing because of that heat. I've also seen August
be the best fishing month of the year. Last year, I had truly
fabulous fishing in late July and early August then a very weird COLD
spell hit, mid-August, and things got very slow for some time. Then
late in September, when it 'should' have been getting cold and
spurring the baetis and Mahoganies into hatching it proved to be a
very warm Indian Summer and, for me, the slowest period of the
season. Plan on the unplanned.

IF I had to plan a two week Montahoming trip and my life depended on
it providing great fishing ... I'd make sure my will was written and
affairs in order, since it's largely up to the very fickle weather.

MY suggestion is to pick places you want "to see" and then hope for
good conditions, since 'luck' in the weather is part of the fishing
game. That way you get to do the "seeing" regardless and if you
have two weeks you will also find some very good angling at least part
of the time, unless you are very unlucky. A second suggestion,
have backup plans ... a few hours drive, especially with altitude
changes, can make a large difference

One last note, ... much of the fishing you are likely to hear about
might qualify, to you, as 'combat' fishing. Face it, if the fish
are big and easy ... Joe, Martha, and Herman Vacationer are likely to
be there flapping their rods. Only you can define too crowded, for
yourself. I know guys that get upset if they even see another angler
and guys that intentionally travel in "Fishing Gangs" ( aka Claves?),
only you know you. Just be aware that the more likely it is that
fishing will be good, the more likely that you'll share that water
with many others. The Internet has all but eliminated unknown
waters and the periods of plenty, spent alone, before "the news gets
out" about a good hatch, on the known. And, be aware,
Yellowstone is always crowded ( record numbers visited last year ) ...
some of the worst traffic in the world crawls through some of the
greatest natural wonder.

exactly right larry... but, the fact you continue to return to the area
each year says something about it's uniqueness and allure. i don't like
crowds...but, i've never been disappointed during any of my trips to
that area. i've fished the madison amongst lots of others, but always
found stretches and spots to myself, and plenty of willing fish...also,
i have always found other streams that allowed solitary fishing for the
day. one of them held and yielded cutthroats of 16-20 inches that danl
and i caught all day long.

i've no doubt it will be vastly different than the arctic circle trips
roger and jarmo enjoy...but that's probably a good thing. seeing
yellowstone...like the great museums of the world...is well worth the
crowds on the roads. a hike of a few miles leaves the vehicular-bound
way behind and affords a glimpse of an entirely different world. if they
could hit a salmonfly hatch...well...you know.

still, for me, fishing is about chasing the great mystery...and, i
reckon montana/wyoming offers as many clues as a fisherman could hope
for... i know roger would like it, and i know you guys will like roger.
i suspect the same is true about jarmo and his friends.

jeff