While many Maine anglers take their fishing vacations in Quebec, Labrador, New Brunswick, Alaska or New York, when it comes my turn to get away, I head west! While Canada offers "Maine" fishing as it once was (a topic for another day), Alaska offers one of the last true wilderness experiences, and New York offers salmon and steelhead at budget prices, the west offers unsurpassed variety in regard to species, types of water, and amenities.

With rainbow, brown, brook, bull, lake, golden, and several species of native cutthroat trout, the angler heading west can fish for a variety of salmonids unmatched anywhere else. In addition, although best known for its big rivers such as the Madison, Bighorn, Yellowstone, etc., unlike here in Maine where many of our small streams and large lakes have been decimated through poor management, western streams (called "Creeks") and large lakes are prospering.

It is also important to note that the western states cater to fishermen and as such, they are "fisherman friendly". For example, while it can sometimes be near impossible to get a meal after 8:00 pm in many Maine towns, it is rare that I cannot find a good meal out west when I get off the water (often as late as 10:00 pm). Additionally, every town has at least one (and up to five) well-stocked fly shop with qualified fishing guides available for hire.

As for accommodations, most western towns offer options such as tent sites for the budget-minded anglers, fully-furnished cabins for groups of anglers, affordable motels for families, and upscale lodges for couples looking for that special place to stay. The same can be said in regard to fishing, where one can wade public water for free, private water for a fee, hire a driftboat guide, or rent a raft, pontoon boat, driftboat or float tube.

On our most recent trip out west in late August of this year, we fished for 12 days in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming (including Yellowstone Park). While there, we floated three large rivers, waded four small streams, one medium river, and one large river, and watched helplessly as fish rose readily in a number of small ponds and large lakes - we did not bring our float tubes which will not happen again!

As for lodging, we stayed in two fully furnished cabins with kitchens and bathrooms in Heise, ID and Cameron, MT for $80 per night, a hotel in Dillon, MT for $33 per night, an efficiency cabin with shared bathroom in Yellowstone Park for $55 per night, and a hotel in Jackson Hole for $100 per night (cheap by Jackson standards). In addition, during twelve days of fishing we hired only three guides (2 drift boat and one horsepack) for $390, $380 and $400 respectively.

During our trip we caught fish regardless of whether we were 20 miles down a canyon in a drift boat, 8 miles up a meadow on horseback, or wading within site of our rental truck. Each trip out we caught 3 to 10 fish between 12" and 22" in relative solitude. Even while in Yellowstone during Labor Day weekend, we never felt crowded. Most importantly, the fishing was never disappointing, even when we were just a stones throw from a major road.

For those who haven't tried it, while I would love to see you stay in Maine for your vacation, if you insist on leaving consider going west. While you are at it, take a look at how things are done out there and think about what a similar approach to fisheries management could do for Maine from both a recreational and economic standpoint. I have often said that what our leaders need is a fieldtrip out west to see how a real fishery-based tourism economy is managed.

Bob Mallard has been a flyfisherman and fly tyer for over 25 years and is the owner of Kennebec River Outfitters on Route 201 in Madison, ME. He can be reached at (207) 474-2500 or www.kennebecriveroutfitters.com.