By Kirk Deeter

If you want to plan a fly-fishing vacation that involves the rest of the family, or perhaps a not-so-dyed-in-the-wool angler companion, my advice is to consider ski towns and resorts. The best ones are close to prime trout waters, and they offer great amenities and recreational opportunities like hiking, biking, top-notch restaurants, live music events and more. In many cases, the scene is as good (or better) in summer or fall than it is when the chairlifts are running.  

Having spent more than my fair share of time camping (or crashing in no-frills motels) in places where fly fishing is the only attraction, I've come to appreciate the opportunities when I can chase big trout on dry flies all afternoon, then soak in a hot tub. Of course, resort vacations can be more spendy than the DIY fishing trip, but it's often worth it to find a place where everyone can find their own adventure for a few hours, and regroup to share stories at day's end. 

While the fishing can be great anywhere, the skiing in the Rockies tops my chart, so I've focused on that region. Here's the best of the West:

1. Jackson, Wyo. and Big Sky, Mont.
It's a tie in my book because both Jackson Hole and Big Sky offer easy access to Yellowstone National Park from the south and north, respectively. If you haven't fished Yellowstone, you need to put that on your list. Of course, you have to go past the Tetons and up the Snake River from Jackson. Flat Creek is one of the most technical and interesting cutthroat streams in the world. And don't ignore the South Fork or the Greys River. The Gallatin runs right out the front door at Big Sky, which is also a decent jumping off point to fish the fabled Madison. I think the Gallatin might be the most underrated river in the West, offering a range of conditions — from meadow creek to boulder-strewn plunge pools, all within a half-hour's drive of Big Sky.
Contacts: Jackson Dennis Sports and Big Sky Resort

2. Aspen, Colo. (and Snowmass and all the others)
You can pretty much do it all here, from fishing the legendary freestone Roaring Fork River, to working the Frying Pan tailwater, to exploring any number of high country creeks and lakes. You can catch a grand slam — a cutthroat (Colorado River strain), rainbow, brown, and a brookie — before lunch if you know where to hop around.
Contact: Alpine Angling

3. Sun Valley, Idaho 
This is classic country, in both the skiing culture and fishing (Hemingway) contexts. The Big Wood River often plays second fiddle to the more famous (deservedly so) Silver Creek, but both rivers can be absolutely magical. The Big Wood is more forgiving, allowing novices opportunities to catch trout on dries, especially in grasshopper season. Silver Creek is a grad school. If you think you have the game to catch notoriously spooky (but large) fish on callibaetis dries in the "S Curves," by all means, go for it.  
Contact: Silver Creek Outfitters

4. Telluride, Colo.
I won't promise you massive trout (though you may surprise yourself on the lower stretches of the San Miguel or Dolores Rivers), but I will promise massive landscapes. Fishing the Ilium Valley in the shadow of the Mount Wilson, or the upper valleys of the Dolores River, is something you will not soon forget. This is one of those places where you'll make a cast, then only hear the trout eat your Humpy dry fly because your eyes have wandered off toward the peaks. And Telluride is the most gorgeous Old West mountain town in America, period.  The music scene, from Bluegrass (June) to the Blues & Brews Festival (September) also is a cut above.
Contact: Telluride Outside

5. Beaver Creek, Colo.
This is the place to go if you want to fish the Eagle or the Colorado Rivers. But don't forget the alpine lakes and creeks. You can pay extra to fish on private water, but with even a little bit of insight, a map and a willingness to drive or hike off the beaten path, you can find more quality public water in a week than you can literally shake a stick at.
Contact: Gore Creek Fly Fisherman

Comments (8)

from WyomingTexan wrote 44 weeks 5 days ago

Kirk,

I'm not sure why you continue to spread false information to your loyal readers, but I think you should clarify what those of us who live in Wyoming already know - Wyoming most certainly does not have phenomenal fishing opportunities across the state, the Jackson Hole area is not the most beautiful area in the lower 48, the Tetons are ugly, the big game hunting is poor to downright miserable and the skiing/snowboarding is probably better in Florida. You should also probably mention that out of state hunting and fishing licenses cost one million dollars each, so the opportunity to experience this sub-par state is cost prohibitive anyway. Don't bother looking it up, it's true.

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from kirkdeeter wrote 44 weeks 4 days ago

I deeply apologize. I realized that I also forgot to mention how lonely one can get fishing in certain parts of Wyoming.

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from redfishunter wrote 44 weeks 4 days ago

I'm currently in Park City Utah for some fly fishing. I've traveled all over north and central America. I've never met a ruder population of people in my life. Needless to say, i will never return. Although, Jackson Hole Wyoming was a close second. But I will still go back to Jackson Hole at the drop of a hat.

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from Sage Sam wrote 44 weeks 3 days ago

Kirk, sorry but I would take Steamboat over all of the places listed if you're looking for big fish and a variety of water. It's not as jaw dropping gorgeous as Jackson or as tony as Aspen, but it has some ridiculous fishing in close proximity (some literally in town) on the Yampa and Elk rivers plus close access to the best stillwater fishing in Colorado.

Also, Steamboat is still an actual honest-to-god town and the locals appreciate the tourists and the dollars they bring in.

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from Sage Sam wrote 44 weeks 3 days ago

Oh, and if you're one of them types that actually cares about skiing, Steamboat trademarked (yes, they really did) the term "champagne powder" and they get some insane powder days.

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from seanhellwig wrote 44 weeks 2 days ago

How does Bend, OR not make the list?

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from Bill Byrd wrote 44 weeks 2 days ago

I would put the Upper Arkansas River near Salida, CO above or on par with several of the venues mentioned. Its a great Rainbow and Brown trout fishery and the nearby Monarch Ski Area has wonderful snow and plenty of runs. The pressure on both is low.

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from Wayne McLemore wrote 44 weeks 23 hours ago

While serving a hitch in the Army in Germany, I decided to correct a birth defect: the fact that I was born in the East. I studied the Rocky Mt. chain, composing a list of places to check out. They were mostly ski resorts, since my interests (in no particular order) were skiing, fly fishing, hunting, backpacking, and athletic, suntanned girls.

When I was free again, I toured from Telluride to Big Mountain, Montana. I settled in Sun Valley for a four year idyl that provided an abundance of all of the above. I thin moved on to the Pacific Northwest for college education and steelhead. I'm still here, but I keep returning to Sun Valley. Best life choice I ever made.

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from kirkdeeter wrote 44 weeks 4 days ago

I deeply apologize. I realized that I also forgot to mention how lonely one can get fishing in certain parts of Wyoming.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from redfishunter wrote 44 weeks 4 days ago

I'm currently in Park City Utah for some fly fishing. I've traveled all over north and central America. I've never met a ruder population of people in my life. Needless to say, i will never return. Although, Jackson Hole Wyoming was a close second. But I will still go back to Jackson Hole at the drop of a hat.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Sage Sam wrote 44 weeks 3 days ago

Kirk, sorry but I would take Steamboat over all of the places listed if you're looking for big fish and a variety of water. It's not as jaw dropping gorgeous as Jackson or as tony as Aspen, but it has some ridiculous fishing in close proximity (some literally in town) on the Yampa and Elk rivers plus close access to the best stillwater fishing in Colorado.

Also, Steamboat is still an actual honest-to-god town and the locals appreciate the tourists and the dollars they bring in.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from seanhellwig wrote 44 weeks 2 days ago

How does Bend, OR not make the list?

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from WyomingTexan wrote 44 weeks 5 days ago

Kirk,

I'm not sure why you continue to spread false information to your loyal readers, but I think you should clarify what those of us who live in Wyoming already know - Wyoming most certainly does not have phenomenal fishing opportunities across the state, the Jackson Hole area is not the most beautiful area in the lower 48, the Tetons are ugly, the big game hunting is poor to downright miserable and the skiing/snowboarding is probably better in Florida. You should also probably mention that out of state hunting and fishing licenses cost one million dollars each, so the opportunity to experience this sub-par state is cost prohibitive anyway. Don't bother looking it up, it's true.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Sage Sam wrote 44 weeks 3 days ago

Oh, and if you're one of them types that actually cares about skiing, Steamboat trademarked (yes, they really did) the term "champagne powder" and they get some insane powder days.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Bill Byrd wrote 44 weeks 2 days ago

I would put the Upper Arkansas River near Salida, CO above or on par with several of the venues mentioned. Its a great Rainbow and Brown trout fishery and the nearby Monarch Ski Area has wonderful snow and plenty of runs. The pressure on both is low.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Wayne McLemore wrote 44 weeks 23 hours ago

While serving a hitch in the Army in Germany, I decided to correct a birth defect: the fact that I was born in the East. I studied the Rocky Mt. chain, composing a list of places to check out. They were mostly ski resorts, since my interests (in no particular order) were skiing, fly fishing, hunting, backpacking, and athletic, suntanned girls.

When I was free again, I toured from Telluride to Big Mountain, Montana. I settled in Sun Valley for a four year idyl that provided an abundance of all of the above. I thin moved on to the Pacific Northwest for college education and steelhead. I'm still here, but I keep returning to Sun Valley. Best life choice I ever made.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.