Some people are lucky enough to live close to some great places to fly fish. Others, though, must travel to these places when they want to fly fish. This can be a great travel opportunity and a way to bond over a fishing expedition with fellow fishermen.
Where are the best destinations for fly fishing? Here are a few places recommended along with some highlights of what these destinations have to offer. These are in no particular order.
Not only is Jackson Hole one of the most beautiful fly fishing destinations in the world, it is home to their very own unique sub-species of trout, known as the Snake River Fine-Spotted Cutthroat trout. These wild and indigenous trout are renowned for their fondness of the dry fly.
Jackson Hole is also centrally located in the heart of trout country. Within a two hour driving radius of Jackson Hole is perhaps the most diverse fly fishing region in the world for trout. Opportunities abound, ranging from swift and rugged freestone rivers to glassy spring creeks.
From the vastness of Yellowstone Lake to the intimate alpine lakes of the Wind River Range, still water fisheries are everywhere, providing the solitude not found on the more popular rivers. Easily accessible rivers and lakes are intermingled with remote and rarely fished locations for the adventurous angler. One could easily say that Jackson Hole is the Mecca of fly fishing.
Along the Texas coast, there are seven major bay systems that punctuate the coastline. This makes Rockport, Texas one of the most popular salt water fly fishing destinations. These bays are referred to as the Aransas Bay System.
Sea grass carpets much of the shallows in the bay system providing an ideal hiding place for fish as well as acting as an incubator for new fish. It also acts as a filter draining out impurities and making the living environment perfect for fish like speckled trout, red fish, black drum, and flounder.
This area, while warm, is windy most of the year. If you are planning to fish in Rockport, make sure your casting technique is suitable for windy conditions as well as your equipment. Experts suggest an 8 wt. rod with 10-12 # leaders.
There is plenty of water to fish in the Aransas Bay complex. Some of the better known areas that fly fishermen frequent include the Brown and Root Flats (close to the ferry landing near Aransas Pass), the Lighthouse Lakes (just off the Lydia Ann channel), and the backsides of Mustang and St. Joseph Islands. Some of these locations require a boat or kayak to get to; others afford drive-up fishing.
The Frying Pan River is among the best known and loved trout streams in the nation. It is a must for anyone fly fishing in Colorado. The river is located in Basalt, Colorado, which is about a thirty-minute drive from Aspen.
The river is managed to maximize recreation and to grow large, wild trout. Types of Fish: Brook, brown, cutthroat and rainbow, with browns and rainbows most common.
Recommended flies are emergers, midges, and dry flies.
Lodging is plentiful for the fly fishing expedition with rustic cabins and hotels dotting the area. This place is well known for fly fishing, so during the busy times, expect to see a lot of other anglers on the river with you.
Some people consider the Rapid River one of the best trout rivers in the United States – even in the world. Fishermen report you can catch brook trout weighing about 5 pounds which is virtually unheard of. Some attribute the size to genetics, while others think it’s the amount of smelt fed into the river from nearby Richardson Lake.
This is a short river at 3.2 miles long, but it has some of the best fishing around. You will have to walk about a mile to get to fishable waters, but it’s certainly going to be worth it! This is a catch and release river and supports only fly fishing. Species that can be found in the river include brook trout and some salmon.
This is a perennial favorite for many experienced anglers. It boasts the highest trout density, the most consistent action, the best dry fly fishing, and the best scenery among its attributes. Located in southwestern Montana, it is also the most fished river growing in popularity every year.
What you will find on the Madison is a straight, clear running pool of water with very few boulders, logs, or tumbling runs. This is a great river for beginners to start with because of its lack of obstacles. The river is easily accessible, easy to wade, and easily drifted.
Species that can be found in the Madison include rainbow trout, brown trout, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, and whitefish. Because this is such a popular destination, lodging and amenities are plentiful.
Washington is well-known for its amazing salmon fishing. Neah Bay is the perfect place to intercept millions of salmon as they return to rivers from Oregon, Canada, and Washington. The strong currents concentrate the fish as they feed on baitfish and shrimp.
It is possible to catch 10 to 30 fish per day when fly fishing here. Most of the salmon run between 4 and 6 pounds, but every year, there are several reports of salmon weighing in the teens.
It is not uncommon to see fish jump as the bait hits the water, but sink line is recommended.
This river is a tributary of Lake Michigan and boasts a plentiful supply of trout, steelhead, and salmon. It is a medium sized trout stream in its upper reaches and a large dynamic steelhead and salmon fishery below Tippy Dam. When the trout fishing slows in late fall steel head pick up the pace and vise versa.
The best trout water is found in its upper reaches from the vicinity of Mancelona Road (M-38) downstream over thirty miles to M-66. This stretch of river is small at first (approximately 15-25 feet wide) and gradually gets larger and swifter as it nears the M-66 bridge (approximately 100-120 feet wide).
The upper reaches of this stretch is home to beautiful brook trout. The farther downstream you venture the more brown trout you will find. There is also a healthy population of rainbow trout in the lower reaches of this section. The size of the fish can vary greatly. The overall consensus is that the farther downstream you venture the larger the fish (There are very large trout found in the mid to lower reaches of this section).
The river consists of a sand, silt, and gravel bottom with fallen logs, undercut banks, deep runs, beautiful pools, and sharp bends all creating good holding habitat for trout. In the upper reaches you will find a lot of over-hanging brush and good cover to provide shelter for the trout.
The Manistee River is most famous for its steelhead and salmon fishing. Trout fishing is also excellent and provides anglers with exciting action on both the surface and subsurface for a wide size variety of trout from little brookies to large shouldered brown and rainbow trout. Hatches are prolific stirring the surface with hungry trout during the spring and summer. Streamers and nymphs will produce at almost any time. Steelhead and salmon can be caught on the usual Great Lake fly patterns; egg flies, woolly buggers, wet flies, spey flies, nymphs, etc. If your looking for an excellent Lake Michigan tributary for exciting steelhead and salmon or for a great trout fishery take a look at the Manistee River.
Expert fly fishermen say that the tail waters of this famous river have some of the best trout fishing in the deep south. Late autumn and winter are a great time to hit the “Hooch” – as it is commonly known. River flows are more predictable. During this cool period there is less demand for hydropower and with the reservoir low from summer releases, the river flows are less volatile.
The flora and fauna are abundant along the banks of the "Hooch". Conspicuous prehistoric fish weirs (traps) that were originally constructed by Cherokee and Creek Indians out of cobble, and later maintained by white settlers, reveal this area's rich human and natural history. Even an angler doesn't need to catch fish to escape the daily grind of the modern world in this treasure we call the "Hooch".
Located in the beautiful Catskill mountains, the Delaware is located in the south central part of New York state and has a rich fly fishing history with a reputation of being one of the best wild trout fisheries in the world. The cold water from the Cannonsville and Pepacton reservoirs, accompanied by the abundance of insects and wild trout, make this river a "must visit" for all fly fishermen.
The greatest reward in fishing the main stem is the opportunity to catch large wild trout. You won't catch enormous quantities of fish in the main stem, but the quality of the fish here is unbelievable. Most fish average from 15 to 18 inches long and weigh between one and two pounds. Fish more than 20 inches long are not uncommon. And these fish are like rocket ships. Most fish you hook will run you into backing. The chance of fooling one or two of these fish into taking a dry fly is worth its weight in gold.
The biggest problem in fishing the Big "D" is access to the river. Most of the river is public, but the land bordering the river is private, so, fishermen must gain permission from the land owners in order to gain access. Once on the river, you can walk up and down the river because that land is public, up to the river's high-water mark. The river does, however, have some public access points
When fishing this river system, don't get frustrated. There's many a night on this river when fish are rising everywhere and the fishermen can't touch them. This river can humble some of the finest fisherman. These wild fish are well educated and very selective when feeding.
However, when you are fly fishing, you want a challenge, so that is what makes the Delaware so special, and it's what keeps fishermen coming back. Once you've experienced an evening on this river, you will come to appreciate the Delaware trout and look forward to return time and again.
There are, of course, many, many places where you can enjoy fly fishing throughout the world. Alaska, Canada, Belize, and Mexico are all popular destinations and great vacation spots as well!
Just as with any sport, there are certain “rules” that all participants are expected to follow. Fly fishing is no different.
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