Thanks for all the advice and I will take even more. I do have some flexibility in the time that I go. It sounds like maybe I should consider postponing the trip until July or August. If so, what month would be best? With regards to gear, I always fish with single barbless hooks in rivers no matter what I am fishing for and even when I am not required to pinch the barb. However, I have only done a limited amount of flyfishing and neither of my buddies have ever flyfished or even own a fly rod. This is one of the reasons I was asking about alternatives to flyfishing. Any additional advice is appreciated.

Thanks