The Three Best Overnight Floating and Fishing Trips in the United States

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September 23, 2024
7 min read
Fishing
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The Three Best Overnight Floating and Fishing Trips in the United States

By
September 23, 2024
7 min read
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The western United States is home to some of the best rivers for fishing and camping in the world. If you are looking for a few nights to a few weeks of floating, camping, and great fishing then onWater Fish can help you find your next great fishing and camping adventure. With hundreds of thousands of waters to fish in the United States finding places to fish near you can seem intimidating, but when it comes to finding the best waters in the western United States for an overnight fishing, floating, and camping trip, three rivers constantly rise to the top of the list. They are Montana's Smith River, Idaho's Middle Fork of the Salmon, and the Green River in Utah. A few notables that didn't make the list, but are worth checking out: Oregon's John Day, Deschutes, and Grande Ronde; Montana's South Fork of the Flathead, and Colorado's Gunnison River.

Here are the Three Best Overnight Floating and Fishing Trips in the United States:

Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho. One of the most famous wilderness float trips in the U.S., the Middle Fork of the Salmon offers a 100-mile journey through the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. This multi-day trip takes 5-7 days to complete and offers breathtaking scenery and excellent fishing. Anglers target wild Westslope cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. Fishing is productive throughout the trip, with excellent dry fly action in the summer. June to September, with lower water levels and good fishing conditions in July and August. This trip is best done with a guide service due to the remote nature of the river and the complexity of logistics, including permits and rafting gear.

Smith River, Montana. The Smith River is a premier multi-day floating trip through stunning limestone canyons, accessible only by boat. This 59-mile float trip typically takes 4-5 days and offers world-class fly fishing for brown trout and rainbow trout. The river is known for its large brown trout, with opportunities for dry fly fishing, nymphing, and streamer fishing. The best times to do a Smith River fishing trip are late spring and early summer in late April and through June when water levels are optimal. A permit is required, and the river has limited access. It’s recommended to plan a year in advance or hire a guide service.

Green River, Utah. Flowing out of Flaming Gorge Dam, the Green River offers a 7-mile to 21-mile float trip through deep red canyons with excellent trout fishing along the way. Overnight trips can extend from the A section (7 miles) into the B section (additional 9 miles), with primitive camping available. The Green River is renowned for its large populations of rainbow and brown trout. Anglers can fish with dry flies, nymphs, and streamers. Spring and fall provide the best conditions, with manageable flows and cooler temperatures. Numerous guide services offer float trips, making it easier to access camping and fishing spots along the river.

By taking a multi-day fishing and camping trip on any of these great rivers you can enjoy beautiful and remote landscapes paired with fishing opportunities. These are not the only overnight fishing and camping trips in the United States, but they are indeed the top choices for anglers seeking overnight floating adventures.

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