***Top FlyFishing Destinations in the US??***

[cinimod8791]

At one point in my life my inner trout bum would actually put my music on the back burner. I decided to focus on the music so after not fishing much the last 14yrs I'm out of the loop as far as the hot fishing holes in the US.

I plan to get back into it more and more.

I live near the San Juan so I have access to blue ribbon water, but I'm looking for water that has as good as fishing without the crowds.....(keep dreaming right?)

Any suggestions?

[arthur rotfeld]

I think looking to "secondary" locations, or primes in less desirable times, which could be seasonal or even days of the week.

In NY, there are some classic rivers....the Beaverkill and other Catskill rivers. This is where it started. It can get hit pretty hard, but it's possible to fish alone in places and at times.

Ausable, the Delaware, Salmon River, Farmington, Penobscot....we have a bunch of good waters here in the northeast.

I'm sure the west is just amazing, but have never been.


I'm pretty psyched to hit the Pulaski and Salmon River next week. A buddy of mine will be guiding us to those and some other tribs. I think Steelhead, Browns, and Salmon are all running up.

[cinimod8791]

Originally Posted by arthur rotfeld

I think looking to "secondary" locations, or primes in less desirable times, which could be seasonal or even days of the week.

In NY, there are some classic rivers....the Beaverkill and other Catskill rivers. This is where it started. It can get hit pretty hard, but it's possible to fish alone in places and at times.

Ausable, the Delaware, Salmon River, Farmington, Penobscot....we have a bunch of good waters here in the northeast.

I'm sure the west is just amazing, but have never been.


Do you only fish trout?

No, I'll fish for anything using any method, but fly fishing for trout is my favorite. I find the settings more pleasing (thinking mountain streams) and the method of fly fishing more challening and rewarding.

[cinimod8791]

Originally Posted by arthur rotfeld

I'm pretty psyched to hit the Pulaski and Salmon River next week. A buddy of mine will be guiding us to those and some other tribs. I think Steelhead, Browns, and Salmon are all running up.

Sounds like a great time. I'm green with envy

[arthur rotfeld]

I got a 9wt a few years ago to target the big carp we have out here, but also for bass, pike, and muskie. Still no esox on it, but it's worked well for bass. Most of my fishing is in lakes and the fish are spread out. Hard to cover water with the fly rod.

We have some beautiful waters here in NY and the Catskills and Adirondacks have great scenery. Worth looking into. The early spring can be great, but risk of crowds or perhaps even worse, blown out rivers with extremely high water.


I'll post some pics when I get back. It's not likely to be any fly fishing though. My buddy does centerpin. I think it's salmon egg bait fishing. Still looking forward to it.

[arthur rotfeld]

It's good to hear the fishing is great down there. I watch a lot of the shows of guides in the LA area and I often wonder how it's been. That's got to be a great trip, economical too.

[ACfixer]

Nothing rivals Idaho and Montana for fly fishing from what I have seen.

[ACfixer]

Originally Posted by barbarossa

I don't know, from what I hear, fly fishing for shark or tarpon sucks there.

Hmmm I thought we were talking fresh water...

Originally Posted by cinimod8791

At one point in my life my inner trout bum would actually put my music on the back burner.

[250Keith]

This time of year go for Steelhead and Salmon in Oregon, Washington, way northern CA. my old stomping grounds, It don't get much better!

[pedalcr8z]

Ausable River in upstate NY near Lake Placid. One of the best trout streams in the country. Dangerously wadable as the bed is boulders some larger than cars some bowling ball size covered in slippery moss!Also the Ausable River near Gaylord Michigan also a legendary trout stream!

[Bulldog]

San Juan River in New Mexico

Bennett Spring, Montauk and Roaring River in Missouri

[EricPeterson]

Originally Posted by ACfixer

Nothing rivals Idaho and Montana for fly fishing from what I have seen.

Yep. A Little more partial to Montana, just so many good places to go. If we didnt need the tourism for our economy though I would tell you to stay home so we can keep it for ourselves.

[musicman10_1]

Lee's Ferry

[cinimod8791]

Originally Posted by Bulldog

San Juan River in New Mexico

Bennett Spring, Montauk and Roaring River in Missouri

The San Juan is the river I learned to fish on. It's about 45 min from my house and heavily over fished.

Don't get me wrong, you can still go out on the SJ and give yourself a sore shoulder and elbow from pulling in lunkers all day. The problem is that everyone and their monkey knows it and by 9am it's nearly shoulder to shoulder is some places on some days. Most of us locals won't fish there anymore. I haven't in years, but I drive by it all the time. From the top of Navajo Dam you can see all the fisherman wading through the water like ants on a picnic table.

Damn Robert Redford and his River Runs Through it!

[Killcrop]

The Yellowstone, Green, Firehole and Snake River in the Yellowstone region is the best in the country. The trout grow faster in the Golden Triangle than anywhere else in the country.

Some great fishing in Michigan as well but its harder to fish the smaller tree/shrub lined streams compared to the big broad rivers of Wyoming and Montana.

If I was going to spend big money on a fishing trip though I would probably go to Labrador for the big brookies. That is on my bucket list.