West Wyoming Fly Fishing & Free Camping

[purman]

This sounds like a great trip, will have to hit it next summer for some good water and good fishing...

[wbrownrr]

Great information! We hope to make our first trip to the area in mid-August.

[GAS_Wyo]

Living in Sheridan now, and having lived in both Cody and Gillette, I can tell you that the information provided by Ecklund is excellent and accurate. This is the main reason I moved to Wyoming from southern Ohio and I've enjoyed every minute traveling and fly fishing this wonderful state.

My wife and I own a 2009 23' Flying Cloud. Our AS is our basecamp for fly fishing as well as photography, enjoying open fires and conversation. I hope I never stop enjoying these simple pleasures!

Thanks for all the great information!

[hipsters]

My wife and I are about to embark on our first lengthy trip in the AS, and we are headed to Montana and Wyoming, so I can work on my rookie casting skills and do a little hiking and biking. All of these posts are making my casting arm twitch!

I'll have all of this info tucked in the AS for reference.

Thanks!

Gary

[Ray Eklund]

For anyone who has driven through DuBois and Riverton, Wyoming, you would not expect this true gem of a camping site. For tent, tent trailer, Airstream or RV Bus. I should have provided some photographs of the area earlier, but find the directions from DuBois in an earlier post. You might think you are in the Canadian Rockies with the snow on the highest ridges.

When you come into the camping area, the camp host is usually sitting to your left (trailer with the propane tanks) for any questions you might have. Trailer and RV's... keep following the gravel road that goes to the right (southeast) and you will find acres of green grass and willows and pine trees in clusters to camp near. Just pick a spot. The US Forest Service restroom is well kept, modern and for your use. Many horse packers go to the northwest towards Yellowstone for extended camping into the back country. The hiking/horse trails go to Yellowstone. And yes... there are bear in the area, but not the problem they are in Yellowstone, so just practice safe Rockdocking habits in this remote area.

You can pick your river crossings in the Fall. In the Spring melt, you might have trouble finding a shallow crossing of the meandering stream bed. The best time to be in this high country is July to September. It can get below freezing in July and be hot in October, so the weather is unpredictable. I picked four photographs that give a general overview of the fishing, camping and hiking available. This is NOT a two night camp site. This area can keep a family busy for a week or longer and just use the camp site as the center of a large area to explore. Across the two small rivers and you are in Wilderness area. There is NO FEE outside the formal tent camping area, but we always leave a "donation" in the Forest Service drop.

[elfirebob]

Ray,
What a great area! Thanks for posting, maybe next season, we were just on the Madison.

[Idaho Vandal]

My first post as a new member on an excellent topic. Growing up in Idaho, fly fishing is like brushing your teeth, you just do it. Wyoming is everything you said and I've barely scratched its surface. My wife likes to play that she doesn't understand why I catch and release. She knows, but it's what makes some of my secret places so authentic, wild and thus become pilgrimages. Our 31' worked great when our kids were little, but I want to downsize now. Easier access to the stream right?

[Ray Eklund]

I became a catch and release fly fisherman, myself. And when I say fly fisherman, I say it in jest. I stop at the town's fly shop, see what flies are on the list, that trout are hitting and the hatches, buy some flies and up into the mountains. Oh sure, I can turn over some boulders in the stream, or swat some insects, but I am pure amateur. My wife reads a book under the AS awning, while I slap the water, which I am good at. I can catch the fish hatchery fish with ease, it's those smart ones that have lasted a few years that have bit into some steel where I can test my true, lack of skill.

Those fisherman in the Northwest USA, know how to fish and have the streams, ponds and lakes to practice. I find Colorado fishing different than western Montana, where there still are some places, with minimal difficulty, that have NON this seasons' hatchery fish, thriving. I still haul my fly rods, reels and flies in my travels, but am now spending my time hunting rocks and metal detecting. Like fly fishing... frustrating, moments of excitement and thrill, but have been spending less time pulling leaves off my fly and changing flies, midstream, with toe nail clippers tied to my shirt. I have tried to fish off shore on those big wide, Idaho Rivers, but everyone seems to be using boats to be successful...

You will enjoy following these discussions and the variety of people who are brave enough to add their comments, as well! Welcome.

[Bigcgar]

Folks I too claim to be a fly fisherman (catch and release only unless we decide to have a meal, while camping, which has been 2 in 5 years). Thank god I don't have to make a living from it or my family may have starved all these years. I am a four season FF so it is a passion (last week it was -1 (f) degrees when I entered the river) . I've posted some photos from locations around the rocky mountain region since I live in Colorado. We all are very lucky to be surrounded by some beautiful scenery. I've included some of my recent trips to WY, MT and from my home state of CO. I hope to see you on the road or river sometime in the future.

Tight lines!

Bigcgar
Larkspur, CO