Best Fly Fishing Trips

Kenai River (AK) – The Kenai River in Alaska is one of the most famous rivers for good numbers of salmon & trout with some giants mixed in. This is a popular area, so you should be able to find plenty of guides to go along with a variety of different lodging. The towns that are close to or along this river are Cooper Landing, Kenai, Moose Pass and Soldotna.

Bahamas – The Bahamas are one of the best fly fishing destinations in the world. There are so many fly fishing guides available here to help you target bonefish and other fish on the flats.

Florida Keys – The Florida Keys are arguably the best fishing destination on the planet.
There are so many different species of fish to target here with a fly rod. There are numerous flats to fish with all kinds of different fish. Some of the popular fish to catch in this area are snook, bonefish, tarpon, redfish and many others.

The Copper Valley region is located just northeast of the Prince William Sound. The scenery is beautiful and there is plenty of wildlife in this region. Fishing is excellent for salmon and trout. Fishing Guides are available to take you out on the popular rivers like the Gulkana River, Klutina River and Copper River. If you are looking for some excellent river fishing away from the crowds, the Copper River Valley might just be the place for you. There are a number of towns in this region such as Gakona, Chitina, Copper Center and others that offer accommodations as well as fishing guides to help you plan a successful fishing vacation.

The Mat-Su Valley area is located just north of Anchorage. The summer and winter provide many activities, attractions and adventure in this region. Experience golfing, rafting, sight-seeing, skiing and of course, the fishing. There are numerous rivers to fish in the area. Clear Creek, the Yentna River drainage, Little Susitna River and Fish Creek are probably the most popular rivers to fish, but there are many others to choose from. Fishing is excellent for all 5 species of Pacific Salmon, which are king (chinook), silver (coho), reds (sockeye), humpbacks (pinks), and chum salmon. The salmon will run in July and August starting with the king salmon. You can also catch rainbow trout, dolly varden, and grayling in some of the rivers. If you want to take a break from the salmon, try out some of the stocked lakes in the area. Pike up to 30 pounds are common in these lakes. As far as lodging goes, you will find plenty of cabins, vacation homes, resorts and lodges to accommodate you on your fishing trip.

Bend, OR was ranked #8 out of the 20 best fishing towns in America by Field and Stream in 2008. Bend is central Oregon’s largest city and it is now known as a gateway for many outdoor activities such as camping, rock climbing, white-water rafting, mountain biking, hiking and fishing. Most anglers fish the Deschutes River for rainbow trout, brown trout, steelhead and even smallmouth bass.

Asheville, NC is a very popular summer vacation destination. The city is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains at the confluence of the Swannanoa River and the French Broad River. There are an abundance of things to do from river rafting adventures, hiking on mountain trails, taking in the beautiful scenery and experiencing some excellent fishing. Fly fishing for trout is very good here in the nearby streams. There is plenty of water to fish and there are numerous fishing guides that can help you find the local hot spots.

Jackson Hole, WY is a valley located in the state of Wyoming. This valley is a major year-round tourist destination with ski resorts, the Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Lake and the Snake River. The town of Jackson Hole is located at the southern end of this valley. The area rivers, streams and lakes provide summer recreational activities such as fishing, boating, river rafting and more. The area rivers and streams provide some excellent fly fishing opportunities for trout and Jackson Lake has some very good fishing for lake trout and you catch other species such as cutthroat trout, brook trout and brown trout.

Glenwood Springs is a wonderful vacation destination for the outdoors enthusiast. This town is located about 45 miles north of Aspen and 60 miles west of Vail. Some of the best ski resorts in the country are located within 60 miles of Glenwood Springs. From spring through fall, fly fishermen take advantage of the Gold Medal waters that flow through this town. Two rivers, the Colorado River and Roaring Fork River, converge in Glenwood Springs. The Frying Pan River and Gunnison River are close enough to plan a day trip to.

*In the February 2008 issue of Field and Stream, they ranked Glenwood Springs as the #1 fishing town in the country.

Steamboat Springs is one of the top ski destinations in the country. There are many nice resorts here as well as many other types of lodging to go along with the nice restaurants and many shops. Even though Steamboat Springs is known more as a winter vacation destination, there is plenty to do here in the summer also. Fly fishing is excellent and there are quite a few fishing guides that can help you find some of the better fishing spots. Fly shops are also available with all of the tackle you need and the local knowledge to help you catch more fish on your trip.

Boulder – The city of Boulder is located in Boulder Valley where the Rocky Mountains meet up with the Great Plains. To the west of Boulder, you can see slabs of sedimentary stone tilted up on the foothills and these are called Flatirons, which are a recognizable symbol of Boulder. Many anglers come to Boulder, Colorado to experience the fly fishing in the nearby rivers. It can be outstanding. Get set up with one of the local guides and you should have a blast fishing the area rivers.

Redding, CA is a very popular vacation destination in northern California. With mountains all around, miles of trails for hiking and biking, a river running through it, and national parks nearby and awesome weather, Redding is one of the better outdoor vacation destinations in the country. Cradled by Mount Shasta and Mount Lassen, Redding is considered by many to be the trout fishing capital of California.

White River – (AR) Visitors come here for a chance at landing brown trout in the double digits. 15 – 20 pound brown trout are caught every year. Rainbow trout fishing is fast and exciting with stocked fish averaging 12 inches. Some bigger rainbow trout do exist with quite a few fish in the 2 to 5 pound range and some are even bigger. Anglers that target rainbow trout can have 30 – 80 fish days because they are so abundant.