When planning a fishing trip, there are obviously a lot of different skills and/or experiential levels everyone comes with. With that, some folks have their own rods and gear and prefer using it over something else they're not as comfortable with. If you want to haul it, bring it. If you're not sure; here's the deal.
The Missouri River is a big river and it's often pretty breezy. Ideally, you want to have a 5 or a 6wt rod. A 4wt is usually too light for the size of fish and the conditions but I do have a Hardy Zenith 4wt that I love and use for dry fly fishing all the time. It's very fast for a 4 but incredibly light so if you have something you really like, bring it. (I'd assume if you're to that level where you know what I'm talking about, you probably know what gear you want to bring.)
If you are a beginner and you don't really know what to purchase as far as rods and gear go, this is what I would say; don't buy anything just yet. You could go into your local fly shop and have them suggest something but more often than not, they are stocked with gear that's appropriate for their home waters but might be completely different than what we use out here. When you spend the day on the water with a guide, you will get to ask a lot of questions and you will figure out what you like by using their gear. Every guide and every outfitter is well equipped and they want you to be successful so they will set you up for with what's appropriate for the conditions and for each angler. If you spend the money on something that's not up to the task, it's easy to get trapped in that mode of feeling like you just dumped all this money on gear so you should probably use it. All that does is puts you in a position to become frustrated and your guide in a position where he/she can't help.
As for flies...I was fishing with a guy a few years back who really thought he had the one fly that would work on every river and in every condition. He called it the Miller Light. When I asked him why it was called that he said it was because his buddy was drunk on Miller Light when he invented it...sweet.
We were fishing up at the dam and it was getting pretty techy. Fish were on tiny little midgie stuff so we were throwing size 22's and even 24's. If you even tried to put something else in front of them they would spook. So after catching a few fish, he asked if he could try his secret fly.
I'm always good with people wanting to try their own stuff because I think that's what fly fishing is all about. It has a lot to do with putting your own stamp on things and that only happens by experimenting. So I asked him what it was and he pulled it out--the Miller Light.
This thing was not only the most hideous thing I'd ever seen but it was also tied on a hook that was like a size 00? The thing was huge and had all this tinsel and crap tied onto it. It was actually blue and gold and looked a hell of a lot like a Miller Light can. Unbelievable. But he was so convinced that this was the fly that would work on any river, I had to let him try it...
We floated through a run about 150 yards long and although his dad in the back was hooking fish after fish, he didn't move a thing. Not one looker. Nothing. So I dragged the boat back up stream to fish the run again but before we did, I asked if he wanted me to change it and he said, "Nope, let's try it again."
"Ok," I said, "so go ahead and throw it to the left."
He did but his dad said, "I'm going to sit this one out."
"Really" I asked, "So I just dragged this boat back up stream 150 yards and you're going to sit this one out (to the old man) and you're going to fish with a fly that won't work (to the son)?"
"Yep," the son said.
"Perfect..."
Like I said, I'm good with people that want to try to figure things out on their own or try their own flies; especially if they've tied something and they want to put it to the test. That's a pretty cool feeling to catch a fish on something you created and I would never want to prevent that feeling for folks. However, most people don't have the experience on the rivers out here to make that call so don't be afraid to leave the box at home and let the guide pick the poison. And if you're one of those people that feels a little guilty about using all the guides gear there are a couple things you can do. One would be to go into the fly shop with the guide and pay for a selection of flies he/she picks out or two, include it in the tip at the end of the day.
As for leaders and tippet material, and gink, etc., we have it all. Again, if you feel like you want to help out with those things, your guide will really appreciate that but it's not common practice. And again, it usually works out with the tip. The harder the guide works and the more of his/her gear they use, the tip should reflect that.
There are non-fishing related items you definitely want to bring with you on the boat that could help make the day a lot more comfortable. The first thing is the appropriate clothing. The boats you'll fish out of have plenty of storage so we always error on the side caution. You can always take it off if you have it but you can't put it on if you don't bring it. I can't tell you how many times I've heard someone say how glad they were they put that extra layer in the boat and no matter what the weather looks like at eight am, always bring a rain jacket and rain pants unless you're in waders.
Waders aren't all that important if you have rain pants because we don't get out of the boat all that often. However, if you like to get out and wade fish from time to time, bring the waders and make sure you tell your guide that you'd prefer to do that. In cold weather, I'd always choose waders over rain pants because you will stay drier and waders help insulate better.
Other things you should always bring is a good sun-hat, (we aren't in a fashion show so don't worry about how it looks,) sun screen, bug spray, sun gloves, and any other sun protection you prefer like a buff or bandana. If it's cold, mittens and a stocking cap can be day changers and hand warmers for some are key. Your guide might have hand warmers but it's better to be safe than sorry.
Out here, we always provide lunches. In some areas that lunch can be pretty elaborate. (Honestly, the fishing on the Missouri is usually so good that we've gotten into the habit of eating quick so we can get back to catching fish. We usually pack a good sandwich, chips, fruit and dessert unless it's cold and then we might bust out the hot soup.) If you have special dietary needs, you might want to bring something for yourself or let your outfitter know and they will be happy to accommodate.
As for beverages, it's not a common practice for your guide to provide alcoholic drinks. We have plenty of water and soft drinks but unless you're staying at a lodge that is all inclusive, you are on the hook for beer and wine. And don't be shy, it's perfectly fine to bring it and your guide will make room in the cooler for you, we just can't provide it without the appropriate license.
Most phones now-a-days have cameras but they also run out of batteries pretty quick out here because you're constantly going in and out of service. If you're the kind of person that likes to photo-document your experiences, bring a small digital camera. Don't forget your charger and maybe an extra SD card.
Our goal is to have fun so if you have questions about bringing things that would make you more comfortable, don't hesitate to ask. I've even had folks bring books and sit in the back of the boat and read. It's your trip so do what makes you happy.
Keep 'em where they live...
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