I am taking a week and driving out to Cody Wyoming the week before July 4. No plans yet as to route, and want to spend the week car camping and trout/fly fishing on the drive out to Wyoming. Going to bomb it back on 90 in on Sunday July 5.

I have a real cheap spinner setup for trout that I use for backpacking/alpine lake fishing, but otherwise have no gear, and have no experience with fly fishing. I'm eager to give it a try and would love suggestions for places to fish, and what gear to get myself.
What is going to be an ideal setup for this? Where are places that I should not miss along the way?

As I have a week, I am open to pretty much any route on my way to Wyoming.

Thank you so much for your advice!
KH

Normally, that's probably too early for good stream fishing due to runoff. Need to do some checking for public access. The Hoback, south of Jackson, and the Green towards Pinedale both might work, as well as the Grays (also south of Jackson).

Browse the web and check out what the flyshops are guiding to.

Yep - good chance the rivers will be blown so I'd focus on finding still water like Hebgen. Bozeman, West Y.S. and Jackson all have numerous flyshops - call em' for advice and good flies to use. For gear, a 9' 5 wt medium action setup. Floating line with lots of leaders (2 - 5x 7-9 ft.). Bring casting bubbles for your spin rod and run a 6' leader to a Wooly Bugger. Cast as far out into the lake as you can and reel so slowly the bubble doesn't leave a wake. PM me if you more and deeper details.

If you want to camp on the way, try the St Joe in Idaho. Recommend using a guide to get started if you're new to flyfishing. Don't think water conditions will be an issue due to low snow pack this year.

Assuming you'll have waders that you'll need for the rivers anyway, bring a float tube. I bet you can find a used one with fins on Craigslist for $50. If you've never fly fished before (and plan on doing it this trip), getting yourself IN the lakes will help a lot. Then just stop by a fly shop and figure out what pattern(s) are working for the week.

47 Degrees,

I second the recommendation for a 9' 5 wt fly rod; it's the most popular rod length and line wt for trout fishing in N. America for a reason. For mid-price point rods, check out Echo and TFO, also Allen on the web. The cheapest rod I would suggest that I know to be OK is Cabela's Three Forks at $59 or $69. A reel at any price point will do. Get a good fly line. You can spend more, but you can't do any better than a Cortland 444 (peach) WF5F. You probably shouldn't spend less without better than average advice.

If you go through Jackson, check out the Gros Ventre River well upstream of the SF Snake. Or Flat Creek if you want a lesson in sophisticated trout, but probably not a good idea for a newbie. Hit West Bank Anglers or a shop in Jackson for advice. If you go through Yellowstone, don't pass up Slough Creek, if it's open - be sure to check first. Actually, practically any creek or river you pass will offer decent fishing if it's not blown out with spring runoff. And if it is, you can often still catch fish on salmonfly patterns.

Have fun and give us a report when you return.

Sg

+1 on fly fishing in the park. You can hit up Rock Creek in Missoula on the way as well as the Gallitan from Bozeman down to West Yellowstone. Yellowstone lake itself can be good if rivers are blown.

Thank you all so much for the advice. I'll call some shops and hope to get an idea for a rough itinerary/plan soon, and will let you all know what gear I end up going with. I will also keep notes and give everyone an update when I get back.

Thanks again
KH