Northern Idaho/Western Montana Fly Fishing (Idaho Falls, Sandpoint: airport, snake, park)

[Solere]

I am thinking about flying into Spokane in June and driving to a couple fly fishing areas in Northern Idaho (Coeur D'Elene, Sandpoint, Ponderay) and western Montana (Bigfork, Whitefish). The guides seem to be expensive compared to other ares of the United States but I've heard that these are prime fly fishing areas. What do you all think of the value of the experience of a float trip in these areas compared to others like Southern Idaho, Oregon, Colorado etc? I like catching 10" and above fish.

[banjomike]

Both forks of the Snake are renowned for big fish. The whales are in the South Fork below the Palisades Dam.
You have to catch them from a boat, for sure. There are guiding outfits that float the Snake, but I don't know what their rates are.
The Salmon river is around 3 hours away from Idaho Falls (the Snake's confluence is just north of town a ways), and it is another river for the big ones. There are guides for the Salmon.

The Madison River lies just north of the state boundary from Idaho Falls, about 100 miles. Henry's Lake, another spot renowned for it's big fish, is very close to the border, and there are several lodges on the lake where boats can be rented. Hebgen Lake feeds the Madison just over the border in the same area, as does Cliff and Wade lakes, both smaller. All have big fish and all are within about 30 miles of each other or less. Ennis, MT, has guides for the Madison. Most of the year, the Madison can be fished with waders in parts.

3 Forks, MT, where the Madison goes into the Missouri, is about a 3 hour drive northeast of Ennis. The Gallatin river also ends there, and going down the Gallatin to Bozeman is all good fishing. The Yellowstone river is 35 miles from Bozeman and leads into the Park. Leaving the park at W. Yellowstone puts you onto the Henry's Fork of the Snake, and then back to Idaho Falls, where you can fish right in the middle of town. I.F. has a regional airport that also serves Jackson Hole.

And if you aren't fished out by then, God help you.

[Bigbear2]

Avery idaho