How to Plan a Fly Fishing Trip for Beginners
Planning a group fly fishing trip? Learn how to organize a successful weekend getaway with friends, including fly selection, locations, lodging, and more.
How to Plan a Big Fly Fishing Trip With Your Friends
Tips From Over a Decade of Annual Adventures
So, you’ve decided to rally the crew and hit the water for a big fishing trip—but now you're wondering:
Where do we go? Who do we invite? Is there trout nearby?
I’ve been planning these kinds of trips with my buddies for over a decade—12 or 13 seasons deep—and I’ve learned a lot from our adventures across Missouri (and sometimes beyond). Whether it’s your first trip or you're looking to level up the annual tradition, here’s a look into my process and what’s worked for us.
1. Start Local
It’s tempting to dream big—Montana rivers, Wyoming backcountry—but those trips can be a logistical beast. My advice? Start small. Wherever you live, there’s probably a trout stream or state park within a couple hours.
For us in Missouri, there are plenty of great spots within driving range. Even Arkansas's White River is just over four hours away, making it doable for a long weekend. But if you're just getting started, find something closer—2 to 3 hours away is perfect for a two-night trip.
2. Fish Where You’ve Already Been
Scouting ahead is a game-changer. I like to take a solo trip or quick day run a few months out to check the water, test flies, and figure out what’s working. That intel not only boosts your success rate—it helps get your friends fired up when you invite them. You can say, “I was just there. The fish were biting, and I know exactly where we need to go.”
3. Line Up a Good Fly Tier
If you’ve got a big group, you’re going to need a lot of flies. I like working with a local fly tier—someone I can count on to crank out bulk orders of patterns I know work (like 40 Pat’s Rubber Legs, for example). Your local fly shop is a great place to find someone.
4. Match the Spot to the Group Size
Small creeks like Crane Creek (near us) are beautiful but can’t handle 11 guys stomping through. You’ll spook every trout in sight. For big groups, opt for large rivers or trout parks where you can spread out—like Missouri’s Current River, which has plenty of drop-in spots so you can split into smaller teams.
5. Find the Right Lodging
With four to six guys, you might score a solid house on Airbnb. With 10 or more, you may need to find cabins near each other. This year, I booked a few near Montauk State Park that hold 2–3 people each. Ideally, stay within 30 minutes of your fishing spot—you don’t want a long early-morning drive standing between you and the river.
6. Plan Way Ahead
Dudes are hard to nail down on plans. Life gets busy—sports, kids, other vacations—so I start early. In February, I send out an email for our late April trip. I don’t ask what weekend works for everyone—I tell them:
“April 25–27. Who’s in?”
It’s way easier for people to commit when you get on their calendar early.
7. Leave Early, Ride Together
We hit the road around 6 a.m. Yes, it’s early—but that ride is gold. Grab coffee, settle in, and catch up. Those road trip conversations are half the fun. Carpooling with your group builds the energy before you even hit the water.
8. Galvanize the Group
Getting guys to commit is a challenge. Everyone's tired from work, they want to sit on their porch, admire their freshly mowed lawn, and chill. That’s why I plant seeds early.
“Remember that trip last year? Wanna run it back?”
Or if someone new comes into your life and shows interest in fishing, invite them. You never know who might turn into a regular.
Not everyone’s a fly angler, so ease newbies in. Offer to teach them, practice casting together beforehand, even go catch some bluegill at a local park. Building confidence helps get people on board.
Planning a trip like this takes some effort, but it pays off in a big way. Each year, the group solidifies a little more, the stories stack up, and it becomes something everyone looks forward to.
So get to planning. Rally your crew. Find your spot.
And as always—rise and fly.
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