planning a summer fly fishing trip

Question
Hi Mason,

My fly fishing partner and I are currently planning our biannual trip for this summer and we're looking for a place to go.  We are limited with dates due to getting our schedules together so our two options include the 1st week of august or the very end of June and beginning of July.  A bit about our goals: we want to fish a few different situations/waters during a 4 or 5 day trip.  We want to start with a guide for the first 2 or 3 days and then fish on our own for a few days.  We've been to Livingston (Yellowstone R, Armstrong Spring Creek, small lake), British Columbia (Elk Creek, St. Marys, Crowsnest), and Missoula (Clark Fork, Rock Creek, Blackfoot, Bitterroot) and loved all those places.  We both agree we like dry fly fishing, particularly while wading, the best.  Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Francis  

Answer
Hey Francis,
Three suggestions for you:
1. Go stay in West Yellowstone and fish the rivers around there.  Tons of dry fly action on Slough Ck, Lamar R., Yellowstone, Madison R., Henry's Fork in Idaho.  Slough Ck and the Lamar are a pretty long drive from West Yellowstone, but well worth it.  There are also various options for staying in the park to keep you a little closer.  All terrestrials, caddis, mayflies, etc.  Awesome.  If you wanted to get a guide, I'd get one on the Henry's fork.  Mike Lawson's fly shop in Last Chance, Idaho (called Henry's Fork Anglers).  They'll take you down the Box canyon, then probably a wade on the classic railroad ranch.  Going to Yellowstone will mean a bit more driving daily, probably less need for guides, tons of variety, etc.  My dad and I have done that trip 5 or 6 times.  We stayed at the Sleepy Hollow Motel in West Yellow.  
2.  Go back to Montana and float the Smith River with Lewis & Clark expeditions (www.lcexp.com). The head guy is named Mike Geary who can be reached at the following:
Phone: (406)-449-4632
Email: [email protected]
That is a 5 day float trip down 60 miles of the Smith River canyon.  Fly into Helena.  Widely regarded as the best extended float in the lower 48.  Great guides, tons of big brown trout, great food, company, etc.  Did this with my dad last year.  Might not be running trips in August, so you may have to keep it for a future year.
3.  Talk to Leland's Flyfishing Outfitters in San Francisco about where to go.  They run great trip all over the US and the world. Did a great trip on the Deschutes in Oregon through them a few years ago.  4 day float, but you can't fish from the boat due to regs. So they float down, drop you off in choice spots, and you fish to redside rainbows on big attractors, etc.  Also inexpensive.  Josh Frazier owns the San Fran shop, so he can set you up with his travel guy and a few good trip options.  415-781-FISH

All good options.  You could also go to Jackson Hole and arrange a couple days on the South Fork, the Snake, Flat Ck, etc.  Talk to High Country Flies in Jackson if you want to go there.

Good luck with your trip.  If you go to West Yellow, which fits your goals pretty well if you can deal with the driving, I can tell you some good spots as time approaches.  Definitely try to fit that Smith River trip in at some point too.  

The only other destination I can think of would be Dillon, MT for awesome fishing, but unfortunately I've never been there.

Best of luck,
Mason