Fishing Forum

Thanks, everyone on the fishing advice. Good specific advice. I have printed and saved for my group to read on our trip.
Now, we are only staying in cabins a couple of days. Most of the trip we are camping. We love camping right on the streams/rivers, build a campfire at night, and be able to fish when we crawl out of our tents in the morning.
Fortunately in Missouri, many streams are protected government ground and we can camp about anywhere, preferring to get off the beaten path areas. What can we expect in the southeastern Idaho area in the Snake River/Henry's Fork region? Will we be limited to the big public campgrounds? Will we be able to camp on gravel bars right on the river? Since we are mainly wade fishermen, can anyone suggest any smaller tributaries and streams that would be ideal with public access?
Also, the scenery where we camp will be important. Two out of the four in our group have never been to the mountains and we definitely want to be in the mountains instead of spacious wide open valleys.
Any and all camping advice would be appreciated, such as all glass containers are banned on Missouri streams, can we build campfires, accessability, etc.
We also like to float, but not dangerous floats, (a couple of us have done the whitewater trips). We are fairly adept at handling canoes in the ripples and shoals of Ozark streams, but not interested in death defying trips. Are canoe rentals available? Are there several safe streams anyone could suggest? We prefer 8-10 mile trips with an overnight stop along the way on a gravel bar.
I know I am asking for lots on info, and I am printing all suggestions for my group to read. My first request for fishing tips was great. I'm hoping any of you can help us out in regards to camping and floating advice.
Thanks in advance,
Missouri Mark
Ste. Genevieve, MO
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Camping, there are many options for that around the area including campgrounds that are developed w/ RV pads and on down to widened areas that are nothing more than just that, a wide area off the road. There are options throughout that are on the water. For the Idaho side I would recomend Riverside campground in Island park for a developed campground on the river. However if I remember correctly there are rapids through that area. I would also recomend Coffee pot campground as well. It's a little more rustic, but still developed. Buffalo campground is a popular family campground as well on the river with a lot of people liking to float it in innertubes. You can also try some of the unmarked roads in the area to try and get near the water. That is how you would find the more rustic areas that are just wide areas along the road. You may want to check with the forest service about their thoughts on that kind of camping though. Don't forget to not keep food in your tent d/t bears in the area. There usually aren't problems, but they have been known to occur, and the more remote or rustic the camping site the more careful you have to be. As for open fires it depends on how dry the season is. But as long as you don't get into August you should be ok.

As for floats, most people use drift boats around this area. I wouldn't recomend canoes for much of the Henries fork or the S. Fork if you aren't familiar with them. The flows can be just too high for it to be safe. We about lost a family on the S. Fork this year in a canoe when they went through a diversion and then 2 other people we did closer to Idaho Falls. However those 2 had been drinking and skipped the life jackets. You can rent canoes at Macks in in Island park and they will take you up stream near big springs (can't fish there) and then you can float down. Most of it's shallow enough you can wade it though. Once you get downstream far enough you can fish though. It takes a couple hours just floating. As for camping on sandbars, there really aren't that many along the way that I'm aware of. But as mentioned there are campgrounds along the way.

Some small tribs to try, the Henries lake outlet. I gets worked over pretty much, but follow the instructions about getting away from view of the road you'll be fine. Fish may be small though (8-12"). Also I would recomend Warm River east of Ashton ID. It has a nice campground on the river. I've often parked at the bottom, walked to the top and waded down fishing. It's mostly stocked trout there, but upstream a ways I've heard can have some decent fish in the 16"+range. Past there you could try Robison creek. Also along Fish Creek (lots of fish, almost none >6") there are nice spots to pull out and camp. It's a short drive to Robison Cr. In the end I would recomend getting a map like a forest service map that shows all the roads in the area.

If you use google earth I can point out some of these areas to try. Just send me a PM with your email. As for areas of MT and WY I'm not as familiar, but I'm sure others can fill you in more. I know there are good areas between Jackson Hole and Palies in about any direction.
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Jackson Hole Whitewater offers a variety of trips. They float the Snake River. They are located in Jackson Hole. They are rated the #1 tour company by locals. (Stay away from the Charlie Waters company in J.H.) These are not fishing tours, however. Those are also offered in Jackson. If you are looking for mountains, you will find them in Jackson, guaranteed!! The Grand Tetons are spectacular. Worth the short trip south from Yellowstone just to see them. Since Jacksonlaker offered to take you lake trout fishing in Jackson Lake, I would go that route, and the scenery there is pretty much the same. Mike
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