Craig MT - Lodging

[Connor Donovan]

Does anyone have any recommendations for lodging in/around/near Craig MT? Or motels/weekend rentals/AirBNB's to avoid? Cheaper is always better but am open to just about anything right now, even camping. 

I'll be in that area October 23-25. 

Thanks!

Connor

[Yambag Nelson]

I camped when I was out there. Can't remember the names of any particular spot, but there are a number of state camping areas in the area. Are you fishing the big hole?

[Connor Donovan]

Awesome.  Thanks. 

We'll be fishing the Missouri for two or three days.  We haven't decided on what sections we'll float quite yet but we've rented a few boats through Headhunters Fly Shop. 

[Yambag Nelson]

Nice, floating the mo was the one thing I wished I could have done while I was out there last. I did OK wading but it was definitely not the ideal way to fish it.

[Brad]

I camped when I was there as well. One night at the boat ramp in Craig, one night up by the dam at Holzer. Neither is fantastic. Both are sort of utilitarian and definitely not backwoods like I prefer. But there is fishing right out of your tent (or truck). I lived out of my truck off and on all over MT this summer for about 6 weeks. Be warned, there are no grocery stores in Craig. There is a gas station with adequate supplies in Wolf Creek, but you will still want to get most of your provisions elsewhere. There is lodging in Wolf Creek as well, but I can't recommend them having never stayed there. There is a bar/restaurant in Wolf Creek. I don't recommend it. Food isn't great and neither is the company. Craig has a great restaurant and bar that is walking distance from the boat ramp/campground. I mean like 200 yards away, across the tracks. It is called Izaaks. Surprising great food. Their steaks are some of the best beef I've had. Not cheap. 

If you have a spare day, float the Land of the Giants above Holzer. Need a jet boat. There are only a few guides. Best. Float. Ever. Sight fished 24" rainbows all day. Lost track of how many I poked. Garrett Blackburn is the guide at Hooked Outfitting. This is prime time up there. Catch him before he leaves for South America for the winter. One of the best guides I've fished with and I've fished with a bunch. He also guides on the Madison. That was another stellar float. And his wife, Melissa, is a chef and makes the best shore lunches you've ever had. Tell 'em I sent you if you call - http://www.hookedoutfitting.com/land-of-the-giants.html

Here is a couple pictures. The first is the average fish. The 2nd is my biggest fish that day. 

Good luck,

Brad

[Greg Feder]

And Brad's a big dude with big hands, so, those are some big fish!  Thanks for the info, Brad.  I'm filing this one away for the future. 

Cheers,

-- Greg

---

From: Brad <br...@gentnergroup.com>
To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 7, 2015 10:55 AM
Subject: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: Craig MT - Lodging

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[Brad]

You know what they say about big hands....gloves are super tough to find.

Put Land of the Giants on your list for sure. Super unique. Gorgeous scenery. Small crowds. Big fish. Checks a lot of boxes.

I'm in Mexico right now. Catching big Toros from the 'yak!

On Wednesday, October 7, 2015 at 8:00:34 AM UTC-7, Gs Feder wrote:

And Brad's a big dude with big hands, so, those are some big fish!  Thanks for the info, Brad.  I'm filing this one away for the future. 

Cheers,

-- Greg

---

From: Brad <br...@gentnergroup.com>
To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 7, 2015 10:55 AM
Subject: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: Craig MT - Lodging

I camped when I was there as well. One night at the boat ramp in Craig, one night up by the dam at Holzer. Neither is fantastic. Both are sort of utilitarian and definitely not backwoods like I prefer. But there is fishing right out of your tent (or truck). I lived out of my truck off and on all over MT this summer for about 6 weeks. Be warned, there are no grocery stores in Craig. There is a gas station with adequate supplies in Wolf Creek, but you will still want to get most of your provisions elsewhere. There is lodging in Wolf Creek as well, but I can't recommend them having never stayed there. There is a bar/restaurant in Wolf Creek. I don't recommend it. Food isn't great and neither is the company. Craig has a great restaurant and bar that is walking distance from the boat ramp/campground. I mean like 200 yards away, across the tracks. It is called Izaaks. Surprising great food. Their steaks are some of the best beef I've had. Not cheap. 

If you have a spare day, float the Land of the Giants above Holzer. Need a jet boat. There are only a few guides. Best. Float. Ever. Sight fished 24" rainbows all day. Lost track of how many I poked. Garrett Blackburn is the guide at Hooked Outfitting. This is prime time up there. Catch him before he leaves for South America for the winter. One of the best guides I've fished with and I've fished with a bunch. He also guides on the Madison. That was another stellar float. And his wife, Melissa, is a chef and makes the best shore lunches you've ever had. Tell 'em I sent you if you call - http://www.hookedoutfitting.com/land-of-the-giants.html

Here is a couple pictures. The first is the average fish. The 2nd is my biggest fish that day. 

Good luck,

Brad

On Monday, October 5, 2015 at 10:48:31 AM UTC-7, Connor Donovan wrote:

Does anyone have any recommendations for lodging in/around/near Craig MT? Or motels/weekend rentals/AirBNB's to avoid? Cheaper is always better but am open to just about anything right now, even camping. 

I'll be in that area October 23-25. 

Thanks!

Connor

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[arthur noglak]

Nice report and nice fish !

[Connor Donovan]

Brad - thanks for all the info and the heads up on lack of food/supply options in Craig. 

Land of Giant's has been added to the bucket list for next year's trip.  I wish that stretch was on my radar 10 months ago when I started planning for this trip.  That second photo is one of the gnarliest rainbow's I've ever seen and I can't stop staring at all it's split fins. 

Thanks again.  I'll report back after the trip.

Connor

[Brad]

You can find beer and morning breakfast burritos at one of the fly shops, but that is about it.  Their beer is expensive too. Do eat dinner at Izaak's one night though.

I totally just stumbled into that Land of the Giant's trip. Fished with a great guide on the Beaverhead and he said if I was flexible and up for a unique trip I should contact Garrett. Never heard of that stretch before. One of the best floats I have had.

Good luck. Have a great trip.

[D. Walker]

The beer may be expensive, but they don't have sales tax.... which was a nice surprise when I was out there.

[Erik Illenseer]

Hi Connor. Following up with what Brad said, re Wolf Creek Angler. On our cross country trip last summer, my wife and I stayed with them for two nights, in their little motel rooms. Really small, and old interior, but very clean and all you need for a fishing trip. Heater works. Showers, too. Beds are ok. Reasonable price. The guys from the fly shop were really helpful, gave good advice, very accommodating. Rented a boat for our float down from the dam. They said to take our time, stay as long as we wanted. They'd pick up the boat the next day. Since they just started their shop and business there and were really good to us, I'd like for them to stay in business and see enough customers.
Sure was an awesome experience, to fish and float that river, even though both of us didn't catch a lot of fish then... Greetings from Germany and good luck in Montana, Erik

[Erik Illenseer]

Just going thru some old pics, stumbled upon this...maybe that helps to have... Cheers! Erik

[Connor Donovan]

This is awesome.  Thank you Erik. 

We float the Missouri this Saturday and Sunday.  I'll make sure to report back on how it went.

Somewhat off topic, but does anyone have experience wading Henry's Fork?  I'm looking for suggestions for access points.  We're staying in West Yellowstone for the six days after floating in Craig and are planning to spend a day in the Island Park area but are undecided on which access points/stretches to hit.  I figure we could hit a combo of Ashton dam area, the ranch stretch, and box canyon.  I'm not looking to book a guide, so it will be all wading and I'm just looking to cut down on wasted time.   I've gotten suggestions from friends who have lived there but I know there are plenty of TPFRers with tons of western trips under the belt.  Any access point suggestions or stretches are welcome. 

Thanks again for all the responses.

[Nick Swingle]

I've waded the ranch. It was fun and felt like quintessential Henry's Fork, with a lot of flat water and looking for risers.