Fishing in the U.S. West is defined primarily by wild trout, with dry fly fishing, nymphing, and streamer fishing depending on season and conditions. Weather can vary significantly throughout the day and across elevations, so preparation is key when it comes to packing. Many lodges in the U.S. West (but not all) offer rental rods, reels, waders, and boots, and may provide terminal tackle and flies. However, most traveling anglers prefer to bring their own gear. All to say, there are nuances to understand when packing your bags for the U.S. West, including layering systems, appropriate wading setups, sun/rain protection, and selecting the right rods, reels, fly lines, and tackle for trout-focused fishing. One of the most important things to understand is if you are wade fishing or primarily fishing out of a drift boat or raft.
Our U.S. West collection of gear, flies, tackle, clothing, bags, and accessories is curated by our team of professionals that have fished across multiple lodges and dozens of fisheries in Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and more. Whether it is in-store, online, or through a virtual outfitting appointment, we would love to lend a hand getting your gear organized for a trip to the U.S. West.
MANDATORY ITEMS
- High quality rain jacket (The most important, always!)
- Layered clothing & fleece (NO COTTON)
- Waterproof bag, hip pack, and/or backpack
- Polarized sunglasses
MANDATORY ITEMS IF NOT USING LODGE GEAR
- Waders (determine if necessary)
- Wading boots with rubber soles (check local regulations—felt soles are allowed in some states like Montana but banned in others like Idaho)
- Fly assortment
- Leaders & tippet
- Tools, gadgets & accessories
- 4, 5, or 6 weight rod and high-quality reel for trout (primary setup)
- Optional 6 or 7 weight rod for streamer fishing, windy conditions, or larger rivers
- Floating fly line (primary), with optional sink tip or streamer-specific line for certain scenarios