If you could only have one State to fly fish in?

[Jason]

If you could only have one state to fly fish in for the rest of your life, which would it be?

[thor444]

They would be:

1. Confusion
2. Enebriation

Or a combination of the 2.

[nightfish]

I would go back to the pioneer times, and fish the State of Deseret!

Currently, I haven't fished a single COUNTY for a month!

[Stoney Clarke]

Well I can tell by the results at this time (8:17 AM 6/14) that 7 of you have never fished in Idaho, you guys are just a bunch of homers. While Utah has some great fishing on the Green, the rest of the state is just average. The South Fork for a float can't be beat. Hanging out in Ketchum, fishing Silver Creek in the AM, The Wood in the evening and then hitting Whiskey Jacks or playing pool at The Mint till morning. Then there is Island Park with the tips of the Tetons in the east, The Henry's Fork, Lake, Ranch, Buffalo Creek. Then there is the Middle Fork of the Salmon for some awesome Cutts and a wild ride.

I have fished them all, less crowds, friendly people, an actual night life after fishing, beautiful scenery. Utah is nice but Idaho is my vice.

SC

[chris]

Put your copy of Ski magazine down.

[jdubya]

Montana, no question about it. From east to west, greatest diversity, best rivers, best fish management, and best beer. I'd move to Montana in a split second if there was a job solely for the outdoors/fishing/etc. Home of Ivan Doig, I could go on and on.....

[Grizz]

I'd be quite content living in St. Anthony ID. Good water in all directions, not to far from UT or MT.

peace

[jdubya]

I'd be quite content living in St. Anthony ID. Good water in all directions, not to far from UT or MT.

grizz, thats quite a waffle, picking two states! what are you doing, running for president or something???

[Danny]

Good Call on the St Anthony thing Grizz. I don't think you could list all of the quality waters within 3 hours of St. Anthony.

[cheech]

Why isn't Arizona mentioned? It is the state where huge 40" carp abound. Smallies galore, and in just 1.5 hours, you are in a World Class trout fishery. Arizona gets my vote;)

[Grizz]

Good Call on the St Anthony thing Grizz. I don't think you could list all of the quality waters within 3 hours of St. Anthony.

AMEN!

Trout water heaven..........

peace

[highcountry]

This last week, I had a chance to stay in Jackson, Wyoming. A friend planned the trip(not a fisherman), so it was really my place to bring a rod, but I felt like I was in paradise. That place makes Utah look like a joke. The biggest river I have ever fished is the East Fork of the Sevier! The Snake would probably leave me wondering why I couldn't catch fish. How do you fish a stream that big? Palisade Res was amazing, as well as Jackson Lake and Yellowstone Lake. I laughed at all the "Creeks" that were tributaries to the Snake. Most of those "creeks" were bigger than the Weber River. Every 10 miles a huge tributary dumped in. There was so much water to fish up there that you could never fish it all. And I thought I was in heaven when i fished the santa clara! The thing that impressed me most was that i didn't see one other fiserman at any of these waters. You could fish in solitude. The only fisherman I saw were at the firehole in yellowstone. Amazing place!!! I am definately planning a trip for the area soon. Any advice on where to fish? There is so much water I wouldn't know where to start. I just spent 2 weeks in the Boulders and thought that that experience couldn't be beat, but I think that the Jackson area fisheries would provide a lot more fun. If anyone hasn't seen that country, I highly recomend it. So...my vote for best state that I have seen so far goes to Wyoming.

[Sedge]

Can I vote for Wydatana? Montidoming?

[fishin' idaho]

Guess.

:)

[Cary]

None listed. Florida and California kick ass on any rocky mountain state. even Montana. *gasp*

If I had to pick a state, I'd guess I'd pick Quintana Roo

[lance smith]

I choose Idaho but I would not want to spend the winter. I remember way tooooo many -30 days in Idaho Falls. Plus I am to old to ski.

[Trout4x]

I would stay with Utah.

[Fred]

Dude...what if you could...like...only fish...in like...one pond...dude...and the pond only had one fish...dude. And...you had to fish for that one fish all the time...dude.

Would that be harsh...dude.

Every day you would have to find the fish and figure out what he's eating dude...and try to catch and release him...dude...

Then...dude...one day...dude...you foul hook him and he dies...dude...

Would that be a bummer or what...dude.

[Jason]

Classic Fred, once again. We may have to enshrine that post in the all time Top 10.

[Larry S.]

That is known as Fly Fishing Hell where all the elitist, dry fly purist snobs that practice strict catch and release go.

That's why I use an occasional dropper now and then.............. ;o)

[Crawdad'n]

I'd like to try the state of conciousness, but I'll settle for Montana. Sure would be nice to get rid of those damned "Private Property - No Tresspassing" or "Private Property - Survivors will be Prosecuted" so on and so forth....

[Minivan]

New Mexico. Great undiscovered Stillwaters such as those on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation. Whiskey Lake on the Navajo Reservation southwest of Shiprock. Cabresto Lake, Latir Lakes, Mcallister Lake, I could go on and on. Also fantastic stream fishing, Los Pinos, Cimmaron. Pure strains of cutts. Valle Vidal. Even the Red River has its moments, the Taos Box. For yuppy tailwater types there is the San Juan. It is truly an undiscovered area. Also a nightlife afterwards. A bowl of kick ass green chile, chased with a 'rita on the rocks. New Mexico man. It is a slow pace and laid back. Good backpacking opportunities around Wheeler Peak. Also good backpacking for rare Gila Trout in the Gila Mountains. My favorite destination when I have a bunch of time. You need about 10 days to do it right.

[PowerBaitHeppy]

Pure strains of cutts.

coming from you, isn't this a bad thing?

fished LWB and RWB a couple weeks ago...nice looking fish. Still a few finless fish, but they'll slowly disapear in the next couple years...

[Mike A]

You're missing some good, close options by limiting it to states.

Alberta - Like Montana, but cheaper, taller and less crowded with anglers. I have a hard enough time deciding where to fish within a couple of hours of my house, let alone the rest of the province. Not a lot of lakes like other provinces, but lots of nice streams.

British Columbia - Where is there not water and fishing in B.C? It's huge and covered with lakes and rivers. The salmon and steelhead fishing may not be what it once was, but compare it to the states.

And hey, they're both a whole lot closer to Utah than Pennsylvania.

[Ouzel]

Sate of Grace. :-)

The question is which state would you limit yourself to for fly fishing. Which is good because Montana is real cold in the winter and Stoney would likely turn to stone after mid Oct.

I'm with Grizz about St. Anthony as I have enjoyed the area and where you can get to for some time.

I choose Idaho as within its boundries lies a great latitude of fly fishing in many parts of the state as most of the state is well watered. Montana is good but the eastern half is pretty dry. Washington has plenty of water in most of the state even with the Sierra rain shadow. I will stick with Idaho as it has the longest trout season due to the length (N/S) of the state and elevation. Plus I've bought some land there to build on.

Mike is right about not leaving out parts of Canada. BC is great.

[Juke]

If we are going to change this poll to debate the State/Province that is not included, yet has some of the best fishing I give my vote for Oregon. It beats Washington and Idaho hands down. How can you go wrong with the numerous Salmon and steelhead runs in the costal rivers, and the tribs of the Columbia and Umpqua. Great trout fishing on the Williamson, Deschutes, Metolius, and MacKenzie(birth place of the drift boat), etc. Hog farming for big stillwater trout on Klamath Lake, and the Maupin area. World class smallies on the John Day and the North Umpqua. Then there are the Indian Reservations, wow! Plus, half the people of Washington, and its proximity to the Pacific trumps Idaho.

I love Idaho, but Oregon has it all.

I agree with Cary, Quintana Roo can be special, and Fanatic is also correct where is the State of Inhibreation?

[RAW]

Jdub,

I went with Idaho. I think Ivan Doig moved out of Montana and now lives in Washington or Oregon. It is his birthplace, however, which does score it points.

Lets see, "English Creek," "The House of Sky," "Bucking the Sun," "Dancing at the Rascal Fair," Ride With Me Mariah Montana," so many good ones to choose from.

[Sedge]

I like to fish in a slightly drunken state. Why was that not an option?

Are you in that place when you are stalking carp at dawn?