I'm thinking about making a 15-18 hour drive (from Victoria, tx) for a fishing trip in the back country somewhere so my problem is: where do I go?

15-18 hours puts me in new Mexico, South Colorado, the apache national forest and white mountains in Az, the ozarks, lastly the smokie mountains.
I'm thinking about hiking to a stream and start to fish my way up for about 4 days or so.�
Ideally I want to be in the back country away from the crouds of the tailwaters and famous rivers.�
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Depends on what you want to catch. I'd do a lot of research about where you want to go. The problem is that people don't write about all the backcountry areas that are worth fishing. I fished West Virginia and wanted brookies but nobody, I mean NOBODY, would tell me which way to head. It was a spur of the moment trip and I didn't have time to try to find the right places. Do the research now to try to figure out where you want your trip.

I would say Colorado. Smokies/ozarks as a second. Topo maps are your friend, check backpacker.com for good info too. Also call fly shops in the general region, thats what I used to do in ca and nv

I'm headed up to Colorado to the Conejos drainage for a 4-5 day backpacking trip this summer myself. I don't plan on running into too many people the places I'm going. I've never done a backpacking trip, but I'm looking forward to it.

Look in to the Durango-Silverton Train that has a fly fishing package. You ride the train to a nearby fishing destination; get off the train and fly fish, flag the train to get back on and go to next destination, etc.

maybe try the headwaters of the pecos river

thanks! for the all the input, The conejos looks like a solid area. will be buying so topo maps and really scout out the area..

with the snow pack where it is now, it may look like the snow melt will be a little early!

don't count on it. its the snow that comes later in the year that will stay. that area gets more snow than anywhere else in the state usually

Pretty hardcore trip for your first. Do lots of research and be careful. Good luck

Runoff in the conejos can last unti. July 4th depending on snow pack
If you have that much time, look at the elk creek trail or the south fork
Both trails are well marked and after a few hours, you probably won't see anyone, we had a house there for 8 years

HaRyan, I never said it would be easy. My dad has been going up there every year for about 8 years now and does a lot of hiking. I've been up there the past 3 years and have done a lot of hiking as well. I started running 3 months ago to get in shape for this, I've lost 15 lbs and can now run 5 miles. Something tells me by the time I hit July I'll be ready. We are also ultralight backpacking with sub 25lb packs.

I haven't hiked Elk Creek yet but I've heard that its a very popular destination these days. I did about 5 miles of the south fork last summer and it was awesome. The plan is to get dropped off at South Fork and hike up the plateau and then back down on the Ruybalid trail which starts 200 yds from the back door of our cabin.

Very cool juke, that ruYbalid trail is awesome
As far as elk creek, we have not ever made third meadows but we have been to the first two
The conejos is a special place, we still have two lots there off 17

Backpacker magazine will sometimes have info on backcountry trout streams. Southwest fly fishing will sometimes as well but most of the articles are easy access areas. Good luck.