Montana 2010!

Jm,

Not to pry, but how much does a trip out like that run ya? I would like to set up a bank account for a fishing trip like that whether it be Alaska, or Montana. Lodging, Food etc.

With airfare, lodging, rental car, licenses/fees and food and beverage, I think I had about $2000 in the trip.  I keep trying to save a buck here and there, and can pull it off a little cheaper, but I did fish for 11 days.  The biggest expense this year was lodging....I usually have some built  up freebees from travel throughout the year, and this year that wasn't the case.

I did some really simple calculations about air travel vs. driving.....  If you are flying by yourself, it is about even to fly and rent a car.  Add a second or third angler, and starts looking better to drive. (If you have 5-6 days to travel and not fish that is.....)
JM

Looking to do the same trip as this past year, but I am thinking I will look to fish either the Beaverhead or Ruby rivers in addition to the other places I like to go.  If I drove, I think I would try and fish my out there......
JM

I think driving would be cool...  a true DFP roadtrip.  We would need to rent a minivan.  Lotsa room for gear, we could take naps on one of the benchseats.  Usually DVD player in the back for some entertainment?   On the way back we fill every remaining inch of space with cases of Fat Tire beer.  This could be fun!  I'm going to try and save up my PTO for this trip.

Hey, I ran into three guys from State College in the parking lot of the Three Dollar Bridge on the Madison a couple years ago.  Three of them took three weeks vacation, and were on what they called an "Odyessey".  I looked in their minivan........rods and tackle, coolers, a stove, most of their stuff seemed to be in either duffle bags, or empty beer cases.  They were fishing their way through Montana, and stopping in South Dakota on the way home.....it looked like they were having a hell of a trip........   I think a lesson could be taken from them! DFP Roadtrip!

Actually, it is entirely possible to rent a small house for a week out there.  Split three of four ways, it could be done on the cheap.

I would much rather spend my time (and money) fishing than eating in restaurants.  My room requirements....clean, with a shower, although a refrigerator and microwave are nice as well.  Even the cabins in Gardiner could be cost effective with a couple people!

.........Plenty of time to get this together.
JM

.......Plenty of time to get this together.  For me it means... plenty of time for me to convince my wife to let me out of the house that long!  Or to build up "fishing equity" by doing chores, lavishing her with "quality time" and the like.

You gotta do what you gotta do.........
JM

Ahh to be single...I am going to start saving for something like this? Any of you guys ever fished alaska or known anyone who has? Is it all its cracked up to be?

I had the chance to go the last couple years.  It is expensive.......  My thought is that I can go to Montana about 2.5 - 3 times for the same price.  Folks I know that have gone really liked it, but I just can't seem to get past the money part.

If you are serious about Alaska, let me make some inquiries for you about a trip and the cost.  The trip I was invited on was a 6-7 day affair that cost about $5000 plus airfare to Alaska.  Plus license and incidentals.  I am sure there are cheaper trips out there, but this included lodging, most meals, guides and fly  out.

JM

Id appreciate that. I have seen pics of peoples trips at the FFF meetings   it looks simply amazing. Its def a once in a life time trip. Also want to hit Montana too.

I have fished Alaska in the mid 1990's for the King and Dolly runs when I was stationed at Elmendorf AFB.  I'm not going to tell you what you should do or not do...  since it's been 14 years since I've been there.  My info is seriously out-dated.  All I can say is that I hit the tail end of the King Run and got a few fish on hotbeads/bare hook.  I was in the prime of the Dolly Run and they would hit bright "stocked brookie" patterns either streamers or wets.  It was intense fishing and we were on one side of the river and the Bears where on the other...  I was happy that it stayed that way.  The guides all were packing heat along with .30-.06 rifles laying nearby.  I think to make us feel better.  They commented that the bears usually leave them alone since they are more concentrated on pawing in fish.

When I fished there it wasn't the "take a float plane in" extreme flyfishing kind of trip.  It was all within 25 miles of Anchorage.  What I can definately say is that you need to get with a travel agency that specializes in FF'ing trips and works with lodge owners.  This is not a do-it yourself trip like Montana or the PNW Steel Rivers.  I was lucky to get 60 days Temporary Duty in Alaska to do this.  I wouldn't  have spent my own dime to take this trip.  Thank You Un'ca Sam and the US Chair Force!  

If you do go to Alaska Matt...  I recommend one stop in particular:  The Alaskian Bush Company!  (I think it's still open??)

I would rather take two trips to Montana in one year than go to Alaska once. Just my opinion, but I haven't gotten tired of fishing there yet, and quite honestly I have only scratched the surface of the water that if fishable.

I have fished in South Dakota.  I wouldn't make a trip there just to fish, but if I was passing through....that would be another story.  With the exception of the YNP water that is actually in Wyoming, I haven't fished there or Idaho.  Both states have tremendous fishing opportunities.....I plan to get there eventually!

JM

It's like all the great places we dream about... we know where good fishing is... but it's just getting there is the problem!

Agreed.

I would like to get to Chile or Argentina as well, but I don't see that happening anytime soon..........
JM

Argentina is $$$$$$$$

I can't exactly remember where you fished in Montana JM.  If I recall it was down Rte 89? from like Emigrant to Gardiner?

I was curious, did you ever fish the area in the I-90/181 area of the Shields River to Big Timber, MT?  Or did you focus your time near Gardiner?

I haven't fished near Big Timber.  I know if I head out the Cooke Cty entrance to the park, I can out to that area, but I've almost always stayed in the park on that leg of the tour.  I stay in Gardiner, where it is a pretty quick trip to the Lamar, Pebble and Soda Butte in Yellowstone itself.  This year, I went there on week one, and then to West Yellowstone the second week, where I fished the Madison almost exclusively....both in and out of the park.  The last two days I fished were on the lower Gallatin near Bozeman.  I am thinking this year that I might try and get to the Beaverhead for a day or two and extend my stay in Bozeman.  I had the best fishing on the Madison I've ever had, so between that and the Gallatin, I hardly fished in the park on the West side.

If you  look at this month's Fly Fisherman magazine, there is an article about the Soda Butte and the cutthroats there.  In the pciture there is a view looking down at the creek with a large log along the bank.  I am pretty certain that the fish I stocked and caught on an ant pattern last year (I wrote about it) was from under the bank above that log.....it looks pretty familiar to me.)

Planning on 5 September to fly out and 18 September to fly back this year if anyone wants to make the trip (or part of it).  It  is about the same cost to drive or fly, so saving the time by flying seems like the obivous choice.  I am starting to watch airfares right now....

JM

BTW....Big Timber had some fires three years ago.  I don't think that it has hosed the fishing, but in some cases, it makes access difficult or even dangerous.  The snags all end up in the river, and to fish around the fallen dead trees requires cat-like agility I don't have when I am in a pair of waders (or any other time for that matter.)  The Gibbon river in YNP has gotten that way, and those trees are from the fires of '88.  It is regenerating, and the fallen trees provide great cover, but it is a bitch to fish......

JM

Well, the games with the airlines have already started for Montana 2010....  I am trying to figure out how to maximize the amount of time fishing and minimize the amount of time in an airport.  What a screwed up mess air travel has become.  I started looking at flights out of Pittsburgh...the sure thing, but it requires me to go down the night before, leave my car at a hotel and ride their shuttle (strange experience last year), and leave fairly early in the morning.  The highlight out of Pittsburgh is one stop in either Denver or Chicago, and then on to Bozeman.

I got thinking...I live about 3 miles from an airport that is serviced by United Airlines codeshare partners...so I started looking there.  Add about $100 to the ticket price and up to 4-5 more hours hanging around in one of two airports.  Plus, as I am finding out, unless I really want to drop some cash, I won't be getting back into Pa., until after 11pm....no wonder people don't fly out of there too often.  I would love to support this airport, but they sure make it hard to want to.....

Looked at State College......all of their flights either go to Philly or Detroit before the next step.  Still early AM, but University Park Airport parking charges rival Pittsburgh...what a joke.  Flew out of there once, and not sure I would again. 

BWI....don't know too much about Baltimore, but the airfares are a little cheaper and it is about the same drive time to get to Pittsburgh.  I would still need to go the night before, which really at this point is something I am trying to avoid.  But, admittedly I might have to look into this airport a little more.

Harrisburg...same as State College or Baltimore for connecting flights, plus the drive to get there the night before and yet another hotel room that is not in Montana....

Even looked at Dubois....small airport and even higher prices than Altoona.  The upshot...I  have family that could help me shuttle my car around. Continental Airlines is the codeshare....never did any business with the, but it seems like they like make several connections anywhere they fly as well.

After flying Delta (not real happy with them) I switched to Northwest a few years ago.  Their service was good, and the Pittsburgh to Minneapolis to Bozeman flight was great....just enough time in a plane before you get the chance to stretch your legs.  But, Delta couldn't leave well enough alone and bought them out.  So, unless you really like Atlanta or Salt Lake City (I don't) plan on stopping by on anyf flight to just about anywhere they fly......

Whatever happened to getting people where they want to go when they wanted to go there?  I just want to get on a plane, go to Montana and fish for two weeks.  Hell, I'd even put my own luggage on the plane and bring my own coffee if that would make it any easier.  I guess it is OK to dream.........

JM