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Month: March 2020

Spinning Rods Vs Baitcasting Rods

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You might be thinking that every fishing rod is basically the same except for materials but there are actually two distinct types of fishing rods; spinning rods and casting rods. How to choose between one or the other really depends on what kind of fishing you’ll be doing and how experienced of an angler you are.

In this article we’ll look at the fundamental differences between these two types of fishing rods and make sure you can easily make the right choice for your fishing style. 

The Specifications and Features of a Spinning Rod

The spinning rod comes in a different variety of lengths, materials, and weights which can be quite overwhelming for a beginner angler. One of the key differences is that eyelets that feed the fishing line from the spinning reel to the end of the rod are all pointed downwards towards the water. The reel itself is also positioned differently than a casting rod, sitting underneath the rod instead of on top. 

Spinning Rod Materials

Almost all modern spinning rods you will see in a store today are made out of fiberglass or carbon fiber, but it is still possible to find an old school wood or bamboo rod. The great thing about both a carbon fiber or fiberglass spinning rod is they will both be very lightweight and easy to handle. 

Fiberglass spinning rods are a little stiffer than a carbon fiber rod, and therefor less sensitive to the fish hitting your bait. The one advantage is they are typically stronger and can handle bigger fish and a stronger line. Carbon fiber spinning rods on the other hand are very sensitive and sometimes you’ll even feel the fish just nibbling at your bait before he latches on. These rods are designed for a higher flex, so won’t be able to handle huge fish or a really heavy duty line. 

Spinning Rod Length

Choosing the right spinning rod length is really dependent on how you’ll be fishing and not so much what you’ll be fishing for. If you’re going to be casting from a boat or shoreline, a longer rod will help you get more distance on your cast and increase your chances of catching a fish. When using a longer spinning rod, it is more important to consider where the rod is designed to bend, near the middle or towards the tip. A rod designed to bend at the middle will be able to handle bigger fish, while a rod designed to bend at the tip is better for smaller fish. 

A shorter spinning rod is great for fishing from a dock or smaller ponds / rivers. With a shorter spinning rod, where the rod bends isn’t as much of a factor with the shorter length. You will have more accuracy on your casts but less length, and these are designed for smaller fish. 

Spinning Rod Weight

When you think of spinning rod weight, you should really be thinking of the strength of the rod itself. Weight is definitely something to consider when thinking about who is going to be using the rod for ease of use, especially if it is for a child. Lighter rods will be easier to handle and are especially good for beginner fisherman, but a heavier rod will be able to cast further and handle bigger fish. If you’re buying your first fishing rod, we definitely recommend going for something lighter as you will learn the fundamentals of casting and landing fish a lot quicker!

Why Should You Choose A Spinning Rod

Spinning Rod Image

The best part about going with a spinning rod when you’re new to fishing, is they’re extremely easy and simple to use. They are built to prevent line tangling, and making casting quicker and easier. The spinning reel works by holding a fixed reel for your line, with a wheeling that spins your line perfectly around when you’re bringing in a fish. To cast your line out, you flip the wheel off the line and allow your lure or bait to take your line out!

Advantages of Spinning Rods

  • Perfect for kids or beginner anglers
  • Best choice for lightweight lures or smaller fish
  • Less line tangling
  • Better for precision casting and is ideal for freshwater fishing

The Specifications and Features of a Casting Rod

To know more about a casting rod, you need to transform everything you know about spinning rods. When the fish bites, the rod is bent while the eyelets are facing up. For novices, this can be quite confusing and 

When looking at a casting rod, the key difference from a spinning rod is the eyelets for the fishing line are facing up. For anglers that are new to the sport or looking for their first casting rod, this can be a confusing thing to wrap your head around. One of the reasons the eyelets face upwards is casting rods are generally used for bigger fish, so when you have one on the hook the force of the fishing line pushes down on the eyelets and the rod. This helps ensure a big fish with a lot of fight will not pull the eyelets right off the rod. The connection of the eyelet to the rod is the weakest point, so it is more likely to break than the fishing rod or line itself.

Casting Rod Materials

There is really nothing different about the materials used in a casting rod that wasn’t discussed above with spinning rods. The one thing to consider is the type of fishing you’ll be doing, is you plan on casting a more sensitive carbon fiber rod might be idea, but if you’re trolling or fishing over the side of the boat a fiberglass rod is a solid choice. 

Casting Rod Length

Casting rods come in a variety of lengths, and the longer casting rods are typically longer than the longest spinning rods. The longer a rod, the bigger the fish it will typically be able to handle which is why these are the choice of saltwater fisherman or professionals. If you’re looking to do more casting, a shorter ride might be ideal if you require more accuracy. 

Casting Rod Weight

Similar to spinning rods, instead of thinking of how heavy is the rod you want to think about how strong the rod is. If you’re looking to bring in a monster blue fin tuna, a light rod just isn’t going to cut it. If you’re looking to do a lot of saltwater fishing for things like tuna, halibut, and even salmon its recommended to go with a heavier rod. If you’re just using your casting rod for bass or lake trout, a lighter rod should do just fine!

Why Should You Choose A Casting Rod

If you’re planning on doing a lot of saltwater fishing or landing some bigger lake fish, this is definitely the rod and reel combination for you. Casting rods are commonly used by professional anglers or experienced anglers that do a lot of boat fishing in the ocean for fish line Tuna, Salmon, Catfish, and sometimes even Striped Bass. If you prefer fishing with heavier lines or lures, a casting rod might also offer better control than a spinning rod would as they are designed to handle bigger tackle. 

Advantages of Casting Rods

  • Great for saltwater fishing and catching bigger fish
  • Casting Reels have a more extensive range of gear ratios for every situation
  • Supports higher line capacities and better overall strength
  • A must have for experienced anglers looking to level up their gear

Wrapping Up Spinning Rods vs Casting Rods

There isn’t going to be just one fishing rod for every angler, almost any you talk to will have an arsenal of different rod and reel combinations. This is because a spinning rod is good for some situations, while a casting rod has advantages in others. A lot of this is dependent on the skill of the angler and what type of fish you are looking to catch. 

The biggest takeaway from this article is that a spinning rod and reel combination is best for beginner anglers or smaller fish with precision casting. A casting rod on the other hand, is perfect for saltwater fishing and commonly used by experienced and professional anglers. We hope this article was everything you’d hope for in breaking down the differences in casting and spinning rods, feel free to drop us a comment with your thoughts!

Best Fishing In Illinois – 10 Spots You Must Fish

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Why Illinois is a Top Fishing Destination

If you’re really looking to scratch your angling itch it is time to start planning your exciting fishing getaway to Illinois. The landlocked state of Illinois may not come to mind as a top fishing destination so you might be asking yourself, why fish in Illinois? Illinois offers a ton of variety in terms of pleasant lakes, calm rivers, breath-taking resorts, and excellent weather conditions. There are places for beginners and expert level anglers and no matter what your experience level is, you’ll have an unforgettable fishing trip in Illinois!

The best fishing season can be both spring and fall, if you’re going ice fishing one critical fishing tip is plan for the weather, as Illinois can be prone to extreme winter storms. In summer, early mornings are the best time to fish, whereas, in spring and fall, you’ll have better luck going around dusk.

In the following article, you’ll get our thoughts on the top 10 best locations to fish in Illinois. This article will prove to be your thorough guide of what sites can offer great fish and will not disappoint you. Fasten your seat belts! Here we go.

Mississippi River Image
Mississippi River, Illinois
Lake Michigan Image
Lake Michigan, Illinois

List Of The Top 10 Places To Fish In Illinois

  1. Lake Michigan
  2. Rend Lake
  3. Mississippi River
  4. Lake Springfield
  5. Lake Shelbyville
  6. Devils Kitchen Lake
  7. Lake of Egypt
  8. Little Grassy Lake
  9. Fox Chain of Lakes
  10. The Kankakee River

10 Best Rivers and Lakes To Fish In Illinois

1. Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan Image
Lake Michigan is one of the great lakes and is shared by US states such as Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan. Lake Michigan is known to have the coldest water of all lakes in Illinois. Summers around Lake Michigan are short, lasting for just over three months starting from June to September. In July, the temperature gets as high as 82°F and is definitely the most popular time of the year to fish out on Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan is famous for ice fishing, fly fishing, boat fishing, and even fishing from piers. The endless amount of fishing opportunities on this lake alone make Illinois a great spot to check out on your next fishing trip. Bluegill and perch are angler’s main target through ice fishing, while trout and bass are a popular choice for fly fisherman.

Lake Michigan Fishing Tips

  • The best months for fishing Lake Michigan are mid-April to the end of June. There is a ton of fish activity around this time and it is the perfect opportunity to spend a day landing a ton of fish
  • With the size of Lake Michigan, there are a bunch of places to fish from piers, and can be a great activity with the family

Types of Fish in Lake Michigan

Lake Trout, Yellow Perch, Largemouth Bass, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Bowfin, Smallmouth Bass

2. Rend Lake

Rend Lake is one of the largest lakes of the state of Illinois being 13 miles long and just over 3 miles long, with an average depth around 10 ft. Rend Lake is home for a significant number of amazing opportunities to land some trophy sized fish with over 37,000 acres of fishing waters! The temperature in summer ranges from 50-63°F, whereas the temperature gets as low as 16°F in the winters. 

One of the things that makes fishing Rend Lake so great, is the hard fighting fish you’ll get to try and land. There is everything from huge bass to catfish and fishing here will open to your eyes to how good the fishing is in Illinois. Since this lake is located in southern Illinois, the fish tend to grow faster in Rend Lake making it almost a sure thing to land a picture worthy fish here!

Rend Lake Fishing Tips

  • It is a good idea to consult with locals and people that know the lake before fishing here, as there is some underwater hazards around the lake that should be avoided
  • Spinner baits and other surface baits have given anglers some huge bass catches from the shores 
  • Leeches in moving water have had huge success catching some monster catfish, including in some of the creeks around Rend Lake

Types of Fish in Rend Lake

Catfish, Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, White Bass

3. Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is the fourth largest river in the world and it shares its boundaries with Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Kentucky. The best time to go fishing in the Mississippi river is the summer months as the fish are way more active than trying to fish in the winter. 

The length along the border of Illinois is massive, at 593 miles it is impossible for us to break down one spot to fish, as there are literally an endless amount of opportunities in this river. Depending where you decide to fish on the Mississippi River, that will impact what you’re fishing for in a big way as there is a huge variety of different fish in this river. There is even the possibility of landing a massive sturgeon, although these aren’t typically fished in the Mississippi river for sport. 

Mississippi River Fishing Tips

  • In the upper sections of the river, anglers are able to troll and catch a ton of walley, especially in the spring and fall months
  • The southern section of the river in Illinois offers your best shot at landing a trophy sized catfish, as there is over 150 miles where you can typically find them
  • The northern pike are caught almost everywhere on this river, so if you’re looking for a pike you’ll have a shot no matter where you choose to drop your line

Types of Fish in the Mississippi River

Walleye, White Bass, Catfish, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Sauger

4. Lake Springfield

Lake Springfield, Illinois image

Lake Springfield is located on the southeastern edge of the city of Springfield. This lake is known for warm water fish and is a great destination for anglers with its availability for shore fishing, pier fishing, and boat fishing!

People prefer visiting this lake from June till September when some of the top-ranked Channel Catfish are present and biting especially well! With an average depth of 13.6 feet this isn’t a super deep lake, but the shallow and warm waters of Lake Springfield are perfect for breeding massive catfish. Anglers also talk about lake Springfield as a top fishing spot in Illinois because it offers a wide span of different fish like redear sunfish, white bass, crappie, flathead catfish, and rich species of bluegill.

Lake Springfield Fishing Tips

  • If your fishing for Channel Catfish in Lake Springfield, night crawlers combined with bottom fishing techniques are your best bet
  • Blue Catfish are best caught in Lake Springfield using stinkbait, crayfish, or shrimp along the edges of lake near submerged logs or along grassy areas
  • If you’re looking for largemouth bass in Lake Springfield, you’ll have a ton of luck with any of the following; spinners, crankbaits, crayfish, jigs, worms

Types of Fish in Lake Springfield

Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Fathead Catfish

5. Lake Shelbyville

Lake Shelbyville Fishing

Lake Shelbyville is another renowned reservoir situated in Illinois and is a famous lake among tourists and travelers as it offers marinas, resorts, and parks, and unreal fishing! A recreational atmosphere for the family and anglers alike give this a high rating for our best fishing spots in Illinois!

Weather is always an important factor that you must look at before booking your tickets, the temperature all over the year varies from 30°F to 89°F. Summers are warm and humid, whereas winters are chilly and wet so it all depends if you’re looking to get out on the boat or do some ice fishing! Crappie fishing is the most popular in May and June and is the time you’ll find the lake busiest with people fishing at all hours of the day and night.

Ice fishing is very famous in this location and anglers from all over the world visit Lake Shelbyville for ice fishing the Crappie and Bass. Boat fishing and fishing from piers are also a popular choice among anglers in the summer at Lake Shelbyville.

Lake Shelbyville Fishing Tips

  • If you’re looking to load up on Walleye or Crappie, using a spinner with a minnow so you’ll catch less perch and yellow bass

Types of Fish in Lake Shelbyville

White Bass, Catfish, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Muskie

6. Devils Kitchen Lake

Devils Kitchen Lake Fishing

Devils Kitchen Lake is a reservoir in the south of Illinois and it covers an area of 810 acres. Devils Kitchen Lake is famous for fishing Rainbow Trout this draws anglers from all around the world to one of the best spots in Illinois for fishing trout!

The weather conditions in this lake are extreme. The winter season makes the water freeze and is easily cold enough to sustain a long ice fishing season. Ice fishing is extremely popular here and you can usually catch a ton of perch and crappie without a ton of effort. There is also a lot of shoreline and creeks around the lake that are perfect for fly fisherman looking to land some trophy sized largemouth bass!

Devils Kitchen lake is also up to 90 feet deep, so you can catch some beast rainbow trout that you’ll be able to brag about to all your friends. 

Devils Kitchen Lake Fishing Tips

  • Unlike normal, the best bass are caught in the deeper waters at Devils Kitchen lake and act similar to the rainbow trout
  • Crappies respond well to using minnows that are jigged a foot or two below surface

Types of Fish in Devils Kitchen Lake

Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Yellow Perch

7. Lake of Egypt

Lake of Egypt Fishing Illinois

Lake of Egypt is a reservoir located on the southern side of Illinois about 5 miles south of Marion, Illinois. This is a super popular place among anglers in Illinois as there are a ton of different fishing expeditions and resorts to stay in the area!

Summers at Lake of Egypt are hot, and winters are cold and ugly with the coldest month of the year being January, with a temperature of 48°F. The best fishing months are mid-October to the end of January unless you’re looking to do some intense ice fishing and brave the winter storms!

Fly Fishing Lake of Egypt is a great opportunity to target the Nile Perch and land some of these hard fighting, monsters of the lake. If you’re looking to cruise around with the family in the boat or even fish off a pier, Lake of Egypt offers some great spots to do both of these with a high probability of catching a fish!

Lake of Egypt Fishing Tips

  • The best strategy in this lake is to fish parrallel to the grassy areas to land bass, spinners work the best and jerkbait has also been known to land bass with high success rates
  • Carolina rigs with green pumpkins lures are great for bass in shallow water, and have been known to yield trophy fish without needing to go into deep water

Types of Fish in Lake of Egypt

Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Nile Perch

8. Little Grassy Lake

Little Grassy Lake is a huge reservoir on the southern edge of Illinois covering an area of 1200 acres! Summers at Little Grassy Lake are warm and muggy, with July being the hottest month of the year. The best fishing months are from April to May to fish the hard fighting Northern Pike, Walleye and Sauger.

Fly fishing is excellent here when compared to ice fishing, just because of the endless shoreline and the ease of catching some nice bass hiding in the weeds. If you plan on boat fishing in Little Grassy Lake, there are a ton of amenities including numerous boat launches, and places to gas up for a day on the water. This is a top lake to fish in Illinois because year round the fishing are constantly biting, doesn’t matter if you’re fishing from the shore, on a boat, or on the ice!

Little Grassy Lake Fishing Tips

  • The best strategy in this lake is to fish parrallel to the grassy areas to land bass, spinners work the best and jerkbait has also been known to land bass with high success rates
  • Carolina rigs with green pumpkins lures are great for bass in shallow water, and have been known to yield trophy fish without needing to go into deep water

Types of Fish in Little Grassy Lake

Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Northern Pike, Walleye, Sauger

9. Fox Chain of Lakes

This group of lakes is situated on the northeastern side of Illinois and it constitutes 15 different lakes that are all connected by the Fox River. Why is it such a great fishing spot, because it gives you a ton of variety on different spots to fish. You can pick your spot on a dock, shoreline, or take the boat out and troll for some walleye!

Fox Chain of Lakes in Illinois is a great place for a family fishing trip, as there are tons of campgrounds and recreational activities around if they aren’t as interested in going hard catching fish. This is a really ideal location for fly fishing as well, with all the cool shoreline to wander and different waterways you can always find a great spot to drop a lure in. Be warned, being so close to Chicago this lake draws almost 30,000 visitors in the summer months.

Fox Chain of Lakes Fishing Tips

  • The ice usually thaws around March, and the best walley and crappie fishing taking place early spring with a small jig and minnow, combined with a float as the preferred tackle
  • As the water starts to warm, you can catch walleye along the shoreline in the shallower water, and during the summer they’ll like to hang out in the deeper water around 15-20 feet. 

Types of Fish in Fox Chain of Lakes

Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Northern Pike, Walleye, Bluegill, Catfish

10. The Kankakee River

Kankanee River Fishing

The Kankakee River is a tributary of the Illinois River and covers a massive amount of distance with a length of 133 miles. Anglers can fish this river is a bunch of different ways from wading in, shore fishing, or even launching a boat in one of the many towns along this waterway. 

So whats the main reason anglers love fishing in the Kankakee River? It is teeming with smallmouth bass to catch, and the fishing season is quite long here as there are opportunities to fish into the winter months as well! A lot of angler love to fly fish, but there is something about floating a boat down a river and catching fish all day that is really appealing and popular on the Kankakee River. This is a truly underrated fishing spot in Illinois and one that you should definitely check out if you’re in the area.

Kankanee River Fishing Tips

  • The best smallmouth bass fishing season is early in the spring or fall, with spinners, crank baits, and jigs are a great choice to increase your odds
  • If you’re looking to fish for a hard fighting pike, look for tributaries or islands that create quiet spots in the river and target these for fishing northern pike

Types of Fish in Kankanee River

Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Rock Bass, Northern Pike

Wrapping Up Our Best Fishing in Illinois Article

The first word that pops in our mind when hearing the state of Illinois is Fishing! It will never let you down by offering a wide span of fishing opportunities and amenities to its visitors. If you feel messed up by your daily grind, you can home here and blow off some steam. It not only offers fishing but swimming, sports, and all types of fun that you are looking for in one state that can do it all!

This article has covered the top 10 best locations for fishing in Illinois. These lakes and rivers will never disappoint you with the heavy load of fish that are carrying in their depths. Trout, Crappie, Bass, Catfish, and Yellow Perch are found abundantly. Make sure to visit these lakes and have the best fishing experience of your life.

Best Fishing In Arizona – 10 Spots You Can’t Miss

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Why Fish in Arizona?

When you think of Arizona you probably think of golfing in the desert, but the abundance of lakes and rivers throughout the state make this a can’t miss fishing destination! The landscape is truly breathtaking and the opportunities for fishing are endless, and this is a place commonly overlooked but we’re going to lay out how good the fishing can be in the amazing state of Arizona!

Arizona is a great spot for fishing as it offers you pleasant lakes, calm rivers, breath-taking resorts, and excellent weather conditions both in the summer and winter. Fishing in Arizona will give you a lasting memory as there is something truly special about fishing along a river deep in the red rock canyons!

Since Arizona is located in a desert, there are only a few spots you can go Ice fishing such as Lake of the Woods, Devil’s Lake, Lake Michigan, and Chambers Lake. You can catch the following fish while you are out ice fishing: Walleye, Perch, Kokanee salmon, trout, and plenty of other cold-water fish.

The best fishing season in Arizona can be both spring and fall. An important fishing tip is to avoid it during extreme weather conditions. In summer, early mornings are the best time to fish, whereas, in spring and fall, it is preferred to go around dusk.

Best Fishing in Arizona image

Best Lakes and Rivers to Fish In Arizona

Arizona has over 120 different lakes and multiple huge rivers that offer a wide range of fishing opportunities and will be sure to never leave you empty-handed. We’ve rounded up the top fishing spots in Arizona so you can easily plan your next fishing trip to Arizona!

1. Alamo Lake Fishing

Alamo Lake Fishing

Alamo Lake is located in the Alamo State Park, on the western edge of Arizona. Alamo Lake is fed by the Colorado River and Bill Williams River and is about 308 miles from the capital of Arizona, Phoenix. You can find a great variety of following fish species in Alamo Lake. It includes Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, and Tilapia.

The weather conditions here are mostly sunny throughout the year. January is the coldest month of the year, with the temperature getting as low as 43°F. July is the hottest month of the year, with the temperature getting as high as 100°F. You can fish this lake year round, and the conditions and views make this some of the best fishing in Arizona!

The big draw to this lake is definitely the largemouth Bass, with a teeming population in the lake it isn’t uncommon to see Bass fishing tournaments going on almost every weekend in the summer. This just tells you how good the fishing really is in Lake Alamo, and the chances of catching a trophy Bass are high!

Fishing for crappie is also very popular, as there are huge schools and you can use bait to get these bad boys on your hook! This is a great choice for beginner anglers as they give quite the fight and you can catch them in huge numbers if you find the right fishing spot!

Alamo Lake Fishing Tips

  • For those anglers looking to hook largemouth Bass, Crankbaits, Spinnerbaits, and flip Senkos have been known to have a high chance of success in this lake
  • If you’re fishing from a boat for Crappie, roadrunners and minnows while slow trolling in 30ft of water gives you great odds of catching 5+ crappie per day!
  • Night fishing is popular at this lake especially for Crappie, and works great with underwater fishing lights!

Types of Fish in Alamo Lake

Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Bluegill, Sunfish, Crappie

2. Marble Canyon Fishing

Marble Canyon Fishing

In the northern region of Arizona you will find a great place to quench your thirst for fishing, Marble Canyon. It is the only place that offers access to the Colorado River on both sides and fishing in this deep canyon is an experience of a lifetime. There are a ton of fish to go after including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, rainbow trout, bluegill, and striped bass. There are a ton of different trout species as well, and this is top of the list for best fishing in Arizona as the landscape of the canyons is truly remarkable! You won’t know whether to pay attention to the water or look around at the jaw dropping scenery!

Weather conditions around Marble Canyon gets really hot in the summers because well, its in the desert. During the summer fishing season, its really your best bet to do the majority of your fishing in early in the mornings or evenings. Winters are surprisingly cold with below-freezing temperatures, and in December and January it can drop down to 0°F. Both early spring and late fall offer some of the best times to go fishing in Marble Canyon on the Colorado River because of the nice and mild temperatures. 

Marble Canyon Fishing Tips

  • There is no closed season for fishing in Marble Canyon, but anglers are only allowed to keep up to four trout, under 12 inches long
  • The best bet for tackle is to bring a combination of black and red jigs
  • Wading in this area is the best bet to really take in the scenery while still land a few huge trout fishing in Marble Canyon

Types of Fish in Marble Canyon

Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Bluegill, Striped Bass

3. Big Lake Fishing

Big Lake Fishing Arizona

Big Lake is situated on the northern edge of the White Mountains in Arizona. As far as this mountain range goes, Big Lake is considered one of the best spots to fish in Arizona. You get prolific trout fishing at an astounding 9,000 ft. 

In Big Lake, the summers are long and humid, with the temperature getting as high as 70 degrees. Being so high in the mountains, the winters get quite cold with the temperature dropping as low as 6°F. The one positive to this is that Big Lake is one of the top ice fishing spots in Arizona! Summers last for 4-5 months while winters last for 3 months, so its quite a short ice fishing season.

Trout fishing is the particular thing that grasps the attention of anglers from all parts of the United States to come fish at Big Lake. The scenary being surrounded by mountains at over 9,000 ft elevation is something that not many places can offer, and you’ll get to experience some of the best trout fishing in Arizona!

Big Lake Fishing Tips

  • Trolling lures in the thermoclines show a lot of success as this lake is quite cold
  • Fish in this lake tend to be a bit deeper than your average lake trout, typically 10 ft deep you’ll find bigger trout that are 12-16 inches
  • A 9.5′ fly fishing rod with a 9 foot leader will work perfectly to fish the shores around Big Lake

Types of Fish in Big Lake

Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Brook Trout, Brown Trout – It’s Trout Central!

4. Salt River Fishing

Salt River Fishing

Salt River is located in Mesa, Arizona about 19 miles west to the capital Phoenix. Salt River is the largest tributary to the Gila River. Lower Salt River in particular is home to a ton of different fish species including Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Sunfish Channel catfish. The fishing is at its peak during the summers as the temperature reaches 100°F, and you can often find the fish swimming just below the surface of the water.

Salt river is over 200 miles long and offers some great fishing close to the city in Arizona, and a ton of other recreational activities such as tubing. One of the reasons it is considered some of the best fishing in Arizona is the seemingly infinite amount of shoreline you can fly fish from. There are endless opportunities to catch trout just standing on the shore or even wading in some spots. 

Salt River Fishing Tips

  • Fishing with bait is your best bet in this stocked river, worms are the best but you can use corn to try and get a few carp on the hook as well
  • The green pumpkin color is a popular choice and the majority of fisherman have the best luck using this in Salt River

Types of Fish in Salt River

Largemouth Bass, Roundtail Chub, Rainbow Trout, Sunfish, Catfish

5. Parker Canyon Lake Fishing

On the southeastern edge of Arizona, you will find the Parker Canyon Lake which is a tributary to the Santa Cruz River. Parker Canyon Lake is 28 miles to the southwest of Sierra Vista, which is a city in Cochise County, Arizona. One thing that makes this lake unique for Arizona is the 

Parker Canyon Lake is filled with largemouth bass, rainbow trout, green sunfish, bluegill, black bullhead, yellow bullhead, black bullhead, and mosquito fish. Another fish, the Northern Pike, was in abundance here but in the past couple of years the Pike has literally vanished. 

 

Parker Canyon Lake Fishing Tips

  • If you’re fishing for Kokanee salmon, the best tactic to land these beauties is trolling from a boat with a down-rigger, and testing out colorful lures
  • Lake trout can be caught in abundance with a number of methods, casting from shore or trolling the deep parts of the lakes all give you a great shot at landing a big lake trout
  • If you’re looking to do some fly fishing at Blue Mesa reservoir, the Gunnison river gives you a great shot at landing rainbow or brown trout 

Types of Fish in Parker Canyon Lake

Rainbow Trout, Bass Sunfish, Catfish

Best Cities for Fishing in Arizona

Arizona has a ton of cities that serve as a great jumping point to hit a ton of different fishing locations in Arizona! All the cities we’re going to talk about will be perfect for a family fishing trip or a trip with a group of hardcore anglers looking for some of the best fishing in Arizona.

1. Phoenix, Arizona Fishing

Pheonix Arizona

Phoenix is the capital city of the state of Arizona and is located on the southwestern edge of Arizona. It is the largest city in the state and offers a ton of activities that don’t involve fishing such as professional sports, museums, and hiking. There is also a booming food and fine arts culture in Phoenix with world class restaurants and performances.

The great place about staying in Phoenix for your next fishing trip is the access to Tonto National forest, its to the North of the city so it offers an advantage over places like Scottsdale or Mesa. This is a must visit fishing spot in Arizona, as it has some breathtaking scenary as well as a ton of fishing lakes that have a huge variety of fish to chase! Everything from small / large mouth bass, trout, catfish, crappie, and even more! The city of Phoenix itself doesn’t come up often as a fishing spot, but with its access to ton of fishing locations and excellent amenities its a perfect spot for a few day fishing trips in Arizona!

Fishing Spots near Phoenix, Arizona

  • Apache Lake
  • Encanto River
  • Saguaro Lake
  • Horseshoe Lake

2. Tuscon, Arizona Fishing

Tucson Arizona

Tucson is another famous city in the state of Arizona, located just over 100 miles south of Phoenix and second in the state with a population of 520,116. Tucson is the second most populated city in the state and offers a diverse amount of fishing opportunities in and around the city. You probably don’t think about Tucson being a spot for fishing, but it has great access to a ton of amazing rivers, lakes, and canyons that are perfect for an Arizona fishing trip!

Tucson has also done a great job of setting up urban fishing lakes and parks that are perfect for getting the kids into fishing! There are many places around Tucson where you can camp out and fish for a whole weekend, or just pack a picnic and hit up one of the many city parks that offer fishing for the day! This is a place you don’t want to leave off the list when considering your next fishing trip to Arizona!

Fishing Spots near Tucson, Arizona

  • Parker Canyon Lake
  • Silverbell Lake
  • Rose Canyon Lake
  • East Verde River
  • Pena Blanca Lake

3. Mesa, Arizona Fishing

Mesa is south of Phoenix and Scottsdale, and is essentially considered a suburb of Phoenix but offers some better access to some of the best fishing spots in Arizona just to the south! There is also a plethora of lakes and fishing areas within the city itself, which is a truly progressive move that more Arizona cities are starting to follow. This really opens up fishing as a family friendly activity, since you don’t have to drives hours if you’re just looking for a day activity. 

For the hardcore anglers looking to do some serious fishing, there are a ton of different rivers and lakes that offer some epic fishing opportunities in Arizona! There are some great opportunities to fly fish in the Salt River or if you’re looking to get on a boat and do some trolling, Roosevelt lake is a perfect place to launch a boat and go for some trophy bass or catfish!

Fishing Spots near Mesa, Arizona

  • Salt River
  • Canyon Lake
  • Granite Reef
  • Dobson Ranch Park
  • Roosevelt Lake

4. Page, Arizona Fishing

Page is located in Coconino County and is basically on the shoreline of Glen Canyon Lake. This isn’t a huge city by any means, but offers some of the best fishing in Arizona with fast access to Glen Canyon National Park. If you’re looking to do some serious fly fishing, there are a ton of spots along the Colorado River that are only minutes drive from Page. This is one of the premier rivers to fish in the United States, so its not a surprise this is one of the top cities to visit for your fishing trip in Arizona!

The city of Page is also right beside Powell Lake, which offers ton of boating recreational activities and beaches for the whole family! Fishing Lake Powell gives you some of the top trout fishing in the state and has enough shoreline to keep any fly fisherman busy for weeks. This is a great city for fishing as there are a ton of different fishing guide services and excursions that basically guarantee you’ll be landing fish all day long.

5. Scottsdale, Arizona Fishing

Scottsdale is a city in Arizona just on the east of Phoenix and is known as the desert city of Arizona. Scottsdale stretches to about 31 miles long and one of the top fishing spots in Arizona, the Salt River basically runs right through Scottsdale. It’s safe to say the there are a ton of different fishing opportunities near Scottsdale, and the nightlight and culture are a great reason to set up camp here for your fishing trip in Arizona!

One thing that makes it super easy to fish in Scottsdale, there are an endless list of fishing tours that are based out of Scottsdale so you don’t even have to drive to get the best fishing in Arizona, they’ll do all the work for you! You can also do overnight trips and camp to really get your fill of fishing! You may be thinking that Scottsdale, Phoenix, and Mesa are all in such close proximity to each other what difference does it make where you stay for a better fishing trip? The only real answer is that it can save you driving time depending on where you’re planning to fish, so picking the fishing spots is key on deciding where you want to stay!

Fishing Spots near Scottsdale, Arizona

  • Lake Pleasant
  • Chaparral Lake
  • Eldorado North Lake
  • Lake Pleasant

Wrapping Up The Best Fishing in Arizona

The first word the pops in our mind on hearing the state of Arizona is Fishing! It will never let you down by offering a wide span of fishing opportunities and amenities to its visitors. If you feel messed up by your daily grind, you can come here and blow off some steam. It not only offers exotic fishing locations but swimming, sports, and all types of fun that you are looking for under one roof.

For all types of Bass, be sure to visit Alamo Lake! For the fondness of Fish trout, visit Lee’s Ferry at Grand Canyon, have a glance at Big Lake for Rainbow and Apache trout, for the love of Catfish and Sunfish don’t forget to visit Salt River and be sure to go to Parker Canyon Lake for yellow perch and bluegill.

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Best Fishing In California – 10 Spots You Have To See!

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Fishing is one of the few activities that can provide almost anything someone is searching for in a hobby – Peace, and Tranquility, but also Excitement and Thrills!  Getting out on the lake with family and friends, having a beer and casting a line, there’s really nothing better. However, if you pick the wrong area to fish, you might miss out on all those aforementioned experiences!  A lake that is too busy, low on fish, or is a bit of an eyesore can really toss a wrench in your fishing experience.

With that in mind, you need to be in the know about the best fishing spots in a region prior to embarking on a fishing trip. If you are living in the area of California, or are planning a fishing trip there then you don’t have to worry one bit – California is home to many unique species of fish, found in amazing locations all across the state!

There are many fishing spots in California but some stand out, so we have broken some of our favorites down into an easy to digest list to make planning your next trip a breeze.  So, without further ado, let’s dive in:

Photo of the Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica Pier
Photo of Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park

1. Clear Lake

Photo of Clear Lake California

If you are looking for an excellent fishing and vacation spot within California, then Clear Lake is the spot for you. This is a terrific fishing and vacationing destination and is located within the North-Central region of California. More specifically, it is located within Lake County and is the largest freshwater lake in California. It is serene, beautiful and totally moving. You can really lose yourself in the environment here when you are surrounded and immersed in its natural beauty. 

Clear Lake is a great spot for those of you who are looking for freshwater fishing in this region. We honestly don’t think we are exaggerating when we say that Clear Lake is one of the best spots for fishing in California, which is why it is #1 on our list.

Clear Lake is also a real hot spot if you are fishing for bass. The weather here is warm and there are plenty of baitfish to be found. The weather and abundance of baitfish make it the ideal spot for the breeding of large fish including bass, so if you are a big bass fisher, this is your place!

Types of Fish in Clear Lake: Rainbow Trout, Sacramento Blackfish, Clear Lake Hitch, Clear Lake Tule Perch, Sacramento Perch

2. Santa Monica Pier

Photo of the Santa Monica Pier

Another marvelous spot for fishing that you can take full advantage of when you are in California is the Santa Monica Pier. This is an excellent spot for fishing and hosts many avid fishers each year. The weather is pleasant, the wind is typically light, and the fish bite all day long. If you know what you are doing, the odds of you catching here are really in your favor.  You will be presented with the opportunity of exploring and being privy to the wonders that exist within the waters of the Pacific Ocean when you come to Santa Monica Pier.  

You can also engage in sports fishing and surf fishing as well. The variety of fish species that can be found in this area is quite diverse, offering a lot of different challenges! You will be able to find different species like croaker, leopard shark halibut, mackerel, surfperch, and white seabass when you fish at the Santa Monica Pier.  As an added bonus there are also plenty of other activities available here as well that can be engaged in such as surfing, walking,  people watching, and of course the ferris wheel located on the pier itself is a must do!

Types of Fish at the Santa Monica Pier: Croaker, Halibut, Mackerel, White Seabass, Surf Perch

3. Yosemite National Park

No fishing roundup of California hot spots would be complete without a mention of Yosemite National Park. Yosemite boasts extremely lush and fertile lakes for fishing which is one of the many reasons it receives hordes of visitors each year. Despite the volume of people coming in and out of the park, it is still pretty spacious and filled with tranquility and serenity if you look off the beaten path a little bit.  You should have a truly memorable fishing experience here due to the combination of natural beauty, how untouched by humanity it is, and of course, the geysers!  The Yosemite National Park is located roughly 150 miles East of San Francisco – trust us: this journey is well worth it! 

Yosemite is a fantastic spot for fishing as it has many fishing locations and also offers the opportunity to fish for different varieties of fish species as well.  Fans of fishing will be able to find Bluegill, trout and Smallmouth Bass when they fish in Yosemite National Park. Also, if you want to take a break from fishing then you can spend it adventuring around this gorgeous park. There are waterfalls to see, mountains to climb and wildlife to photograph. You can also participate in other fun-filled activities like rock climbing, backpacking, rafting in the river, sightseeing, hiking, etc!  Yosemite will bring you for the fishing, but keep you here for the plethora of activities and sights it offers!

Types of Fish in Yosemite National Park: Crappie, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Sunfish

4. Bodega Bay

Photo of Bodega Bay California

Bodega Bay is another excellent spot for fishing that can be found within the region of California. One thing that really attracts visitors to this spot is the scenic views and absolutely amazing weather.  Being right on the ocean keeps the bay temperate all year round, never getting unbearably hot or cold. Bodega Bay should check all the boxes when it comes to scoping out an area for a fishing trip as well . Bodega Bay is located in the Northern part of California about 50 miles north of San Fran and is definitely worth checking out. The best aspect of this spot is that you will not have to fret about a shortage of fishing opportunities as it is full to the brim with fishing spots that are literally teeming with fish.

Bodega Bay makes our list as it is one of the best spots in California for engaging in saltwater fishing. There are various species of fish available in this region such as Pacific Mackerel, Surfperch, and Rockfish. Amazing view, tons of locations to fish, great fish to go after, and decent proximity to San Francisco are a few of the reasons we think Bodega Bay should definitely be on your California fishing trip list!

Types of Fish in Bodega Bay: Salmon, Rockfish, Ling Cod, Albacore Tuna, Trout, Crabs, Squids, and even Sharks!

5. Lake Shasta

Photo of Shasta Lake California

Lake Shasta is a very prominent fishing destination for the fish in its lake and a unique and attractive bridge in its midst. This is a favorite spot for the locals and receives many visitors from all across the country each year. This is one of the best places in all of California to fish and enjoy.  The fish in Lake Shasta are plentiful and there is a wide variety of species as well. Lake Shasta is found in Northern California about 80 miles south of the California Oregon border. The Lake is home to many different species of fish but is especially famous for Bass fishing. If you are looking to catch Bass, then this is a must visit spot, however you can still catch fish such as Salmon, King Salmon, Catfish, Sunfish, and Rainbow trout.

Another important factor that sets Lake Shasta apart from other fishing spots is its ease of accessibility.  As it is a bit more remote it is not exceedingly busy, and is conveniently located right along the #5 interstate.  Lake Shasta offers fishing all year long so you can choose whichever season suits you best!

Fun Fact: Lake Shasta is actually a reservoir that was created when the river was dammed in 1944, and is the ninth tallest dam in the USA!

Types of Fish in Lake Shasta Reservoir: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Chinook Salmon, Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, White Sturgeon

6. Smith River

Photo of Smith River California

Smith River is located in the northwestern area of California and is a great spot for Steelhead fishing.  It is located on the northern reaches of Route 101, just south of Oregon. You can potentially catch 20lb Steelhead fish when you fish in this area. If you want to up your chance of catching Steelhead then make sure you go between December and April as this is when the fish enter the water system after the Salmons fall run is complete.  

If you prefer to go for Salmon, visit the area in the fall or during the first big rain storms in the spring. The largest recorded Smith River salmon caught to date is a massive 86 pounds, so make sure to do some weightlifting in the offseason!  

Must Do: If you want to take your fishing experience to the next level, find one of Smith River’s many clear waters and deep pools and swim with the fish!  You might want a wet suit as the river is rather cold even in the summer, but this gives you a deep sea snorkeling like experience inland!

Types of Fish in Smith River: Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat, Steelhead Trout, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon

7. McCloud River

Photo of the McCloud River

This is one of the best fisheries that can be found in California. It runs off the renowned Mount Shasta, is located in the Shasta Trinity National Forest, and is one of the best spots for trout fishing in California. You can find Brook Trout, Brown trout, and the areas of Hat creek, and Burney falls in this area.

The McCloud River originates from the highest elevation point in Mount Shasta’s glaciers. The turquoise color of this river is due to these glacial waters. There are miles of trout accessible water available in the lower McCloud River. Fishing enthusiasts will be able to fish for browns and rainbows. These fish usually weigh around 10 pounds and measure at 14 inches minimum! 

You can fish in this river from April to November 15th. The best conditions for fishing start in spring when the river is flowing and at its highest point. The summer months in the area start from July to September. These days are bright, illuminated and hot. The river experiences a large scale caddis hatching which brings big browns searching for a buffet of sorts. 

Take your fishing experience to the next level by hiring the services of a local guide.  There are several available in the area and they will update you about the best spots and flies to be used for fishing.

Types of Fish in the McCloud River: Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat, Steelhead Trout, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon

Best Cities for Fishing in California

If you are planning to visit California for a few days, you’ll want to stay in a city that gives you good access to these great fishing spots!  The following three cities are tourist hubs with tons of things to do on top of fishing, so you will never run out of activities!


1. San Diego, California

San Diego California

San Diego Bay is a large port city located in Southern California, or SoCal. It is one of the best harbors within the state of California. There are plenty of fishing spots in San Diego that affords visitors the chance to partake in freshwater, saltwater, and pier fishing. Fishing enthusiasts will be able to fish for leopard sharks, bonito, halibut, barracuda and more when they cast a line off the pier in San Diego bay. If you are more of a saltwater fishing fan then you will be able to fish by boat and have a shot at halibut, croaker, yellowfin, calico bass, or even a massive marlin!

There are also several spots spread around San Diego for freshwater fishing. Fish that can be found in lakes and rivers around Sand Diego are catfish, crappie, carp, bluegill, and trout. 

In short, San Diego is a fantastic spot for fishing whether it be fresh or saltwater. It is full of various fish species and numerous fishing opportunities as well.  If you have a specific fish in mind, there is a good chance you can find it in and around San Diego! Our top spots to head to fish in and around San Diego are Coronado Island, South Bay, and the Sweetwater Channel.

Fishing Spots near San Diego California

  • Santee Lakes
  • Ocean Beach Municipal Pier
  • Lake Murray Reservoir
  • Lake Cuyamaca
  • Harbor Island Park


2. San Francisco California

San Francisco California

San Francisco is a city located in Northern California and is admirably referred to as San Fran by locals and visitors. It is a bustling and beautiful city that has had a serious cultural revival in the last decade due to the tech boom and its proximity to silicon valley.  Major offices of Google, Facebook, Pinterest, and Mozilla can all be found here! Of course the reason you are here – It is also a terrific spots for fishing in its harbors and lakes outside of the city. Perhaps the most prominent and visited of spots when it comes to San Francisco is the San Francisco Bay. This bay is situated adjacent to the city of San Francisco and ranges in depth from roughly 10 to 35 feet.  The muddy bay floor is a perfect breeding spot for Halibut, and you have a great shot at catching one in the bay area!

Fishing season around here starts from May and then carries on throughout the entire summer. visitors will be able to take full benefit of Halibut fishing. Outside of spring and summer, the winds can really pick up in the bay, making fishing trips a little less ideal, but if you are a bit tougher and some cold doesn’t bother you, there is really no bad time to get out there!

Fishing Spots near San Francisco California

  • Oyster Point Pier
  • China Beach
  • San Francisco Bay
  • Bon Tempe lake
  • Candlestick Park


3. Santa Monica California

Santa Monica California

Santa Monica is a coastal city located within the metropolis of Los Angeles. It is a beautiful beachfront city with outdoor gyms, bike paths, and beaches as far as the eye can see.  Santa Monica offers great fishing opportunities either from the pier, or by taking a boat out into the ocean. Don’t get distracted when you are out there though! The amount of wealth in the area is sure to have you seeing some amazing yachts during your trip.  Santa Monica is also a terrific tourist spot with plenty of hotels, attractions, and activities. So, if you want to enjoy fishing and have a great time, add Santa Monica to your list of cities to visit and cast a line in!

Fishing Spots near Estes Park, Colorado

  • Echo Park Lake
  • Venice Fishing Pier
  • Dockweiler State Park
  • Legg Lake
  • Lincoln Park Lake

Wrapping Up Our Best Fishing in California Article

If you are a fan of fishing (We assume you are if you are in this page) and want have the trip of a lifetime, opt for California as your next fishing trip destination. The State of California has a large number of exceptional spots for fishing. Beaches, Piers, Lakes, and Glacier Fed Rivers mean the only limit here is your imagination!  As California is a worldwide tourist hub, you can get your fishing fix all while being offered some of the food and entertainment the USA has to offer. So treat yourself and make California your next destination for fishing and vacationing in general.

Best Fishing In Colorado – 10 Spots You Can’t Miss

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Fishing is an outdoor sport that is easily accessible, fun and can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of their experience level. All you need is some fishing gear and a good place to fish, and Colorado has an endless supply of epic fishing spots. That’s all you need and you are good to relax your mind and enjoy th great outdoors and landscape of Colorado!

Fatty fishes like salmon and trout are considered some of the healthiest fishes to eat, they’re also some of best fish to catch because of the fight they both put up. And in Colorado you can find both types of fish, including bass in an abundance of lakes and rivers! There are 8000 miles of rivers and approximately 2000 lakes which gives anglers, fly-fishers, pure rod-and-reelers, and ice-fisherman alike a massive variety of fishing opportunities. The western state of Colorado is a terrific place to fly fish, shore fish, or fish from a  boat and enjoy a wonderful evening with friends or family.

If you want to know some of the best places to visit in Colorado to fish, then read on below!

Best Fishing In Colorado

To fish in Colorado, you need a fishing license. One day and five-day passes are also permitted through purchase from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Some of the fish that you will find in the ever-blue water of Colorado’s lakes, rivers and streams are Cutthroat Trout, Brown Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Quillback, Razorback Suck Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, and Lake Trout. And this isn’t even half of the fishes you will find dropping your hook into Colorado fishing!

1. Rocky Mountain National Park Fishing

Residing in Northern Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park is known for its Trail Ridge Road, The Old Fall River Road and exuberant drives through the aspen trees and the rivers. The park contains not only the protected mountains but also Alpine Tundra and forests. With exceptional views and landscape, this is truly one of the can’t miss places to fish in Colorado. I know its hard to call this one fishing “spot”, but there are so many amazing places to fish in Colorado we needed to group this into one!

The Cutthroat Trout is one of the most popular fish caught by anglers fishing in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain park. Other than that, you will find Greenback Cutthroat, Suckers, Sculpins and Colorado River Cutthroat which are considered as native species to the park. Rocky Mountain National park yields some of the best trout fishing in Colorado and is a place that has to be at the top of your bucket list!

The park is open for a visit throughout the year. Though, due to warm sunny days and chilly nights, summers have frequent visitors as compared to other seasons. In winter, tourists come to the park for cross-country skiing and snow. Spring brings with it loads of wildflower blooms which make the whole park vibrant and colorful.

Top Trout Fishing Spots in Rocky Mountain National Park

Spirit Lake

If you’re a hardcore angler and you’re looking for a remote spot that you need to hike into, this is a great place to check out. You’ll have to make an overnight trip out of it, but this lake off the East Inlet Trail is an epic place for trout fishing.

Onahu Creek

This is a favorite river to fish in Colorado among anglers due to its accessibility and stunning views you get. This is well known in Colorado as a river you can easily fish for Brown, Brook, and Colorado River trout. 

Lock Lake

A protected lake with a ton of coves that give you a little bit of shelter from the elements, Loch Lake is a perfect fly fishing spot for all skill levels and it is loaded with greenback trout and brook trout so your hook will stay busy!

Roaring River

A fast moving lake with plenty of challenges for experienced fly fisherman, this gives way to some of the great spots to wade in and catch a huge variety of trout including rainbow, greenback, brook, and brown!

Types of Fish in Rocky Mountain Park

Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Colorado River Trout, Greenback Trout

2. Grand Lake Fishing

Grand Lake Fishing Colorado

Grand Lake is the deepest and largest lake in the state of Colorado. It is situated on the North shore of the statutory town of Grand Lake in Grand County. Grand Lake has a surface water length of over sixty miles, with a ton of amazing boat or shore fishing spots along the shoreline! The lake is the end result of runoff from the Pinedale Glaciations, the lake also has another name –The Spirit Lake, given to it by the Ute Tribe. They believe that the cold water of the lake is the resting place of many departed souls.

When it comes to having fun, Grand Lake offers a number of fun activities like boating and hiking to its visitors in addition to the countless fishing opportunities. The lake is near to restaurants that serve delicious food and shops that offer many aritisan and hand crafted products! Grand Lake is an ideal fishing spot in Colorado and a must visit if you’re looking for a great family trip!

The lake gives its visitors the best fishing experiences in Colorado one could ask for. You will be able to find a number of fish in the deep waters of the lake. Some of the fishes include Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Mackinaw, and the German Brown Trout.

Winters are particularly popular for the world class ice fishing Grand Lake offers, with tons of opportunities to do it yourself or find a fishing company. Spirit Lake Outfitters is a company that gives guided fishing trips on the lake from fly-fishing to ice-fishing, they have the experience and the equipment to help you get a big, juicy trout.

Grand Lake Fishing Tips

  • With the depths of Grand Lake, it is a great opportunity to troll with down riggers and lures to land some monster lake trout over 20 lbs!
  • For anglers looking to fish from the shore, crank baits are hugely successful especially if you’re looking to land Brown Trout
  • Fishing with spinners near the east inlet of Grand Lake is a highly touted spot to catch rainbows in abundance

Types of Fish in Grand Lake

Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Mackinaw

Lake San Cristobal Fishing

The second largest lake in the state of Colorado, Lake San Cristobal is located in the San Juan Mountains at the height of 9,003 feet above sea level. The freshwater lake is close to 90 feet deep in some spots and only 2.1 miles long, giving you a nice, isolated fishing experience high up in the mountains! The lake was formed as a result of a natural landslide around 700 years ago.

Lake San Cristobal gives you fishing opportunities year round with ice fishing in the winter and fly fishing or casting in the summer! Fishing, boating, and last but not the least camping are some of the most popular activities people enjoy at this amazing mountain lake. The abundance of trout and the breathtaking views of lake San Cristobal make this one of the best fishing spots in Colorado!

Some of the fish you will find in lake San Cristobal are rainbow trout, brook trout, lake trout, cutthroat trout, kokanee salmon and brown trout. You can catch these fish from any of the publicly accessible areas on the shore or you can take a boat out and try to land a nice 20 lb trophy trout!

The best time to fish according to the veteran anglers is late April or early May. Thus, if you are planning a spring fishing trip in Colorado, lake San Cristobal should definitely be considered in your options!

Lake San Cristobal Fishing Tips

  • There are tons of opportunities for baitcasting, fly fishing, or trolling on this lake so anglers can pick their favorite technique and let fly in lake San Cristobal
  • There are tons of small creeks and rivers that drain into lake San Cristobal that are perfect for fly fishing, make sure to check for public access as there is quite a bit of private property around the area

Types of Fish in Lake San Cristobal

Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Lake Trout, Cutthroat Trout

Dillon Reservoir Fishing

Fishing in Lake San Cristobal

Dillon Reservoir resides in Summit County, Colorado and it is a freshwater reservoir that is also known as Lake Dillon. Some of the activities that will make your visit a memorable one include hiking trails, kite-surfing, windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing, skiing and some of the best fishing in Colorado. Therefore, if you are looking for a small getaway from the daily stresses of city life, Lake Dillon is the perfect place to embrace the natural beauty that Colorado has to offer. 

The lake homes the mighty Kokanee Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Arctic Char, and Brown Trout along with ome smallmouth bass. Typically, trout love the cold and clear waters and their presence in the Dillon reservoir has been the major reason this place tops some of the best fishing spots to visit in Colorado. The Dillon Reservoir is one of only two lakes in the lower 48 that you can fish Arctic Char!

The fishing ecosystem has gradually improved over the years which has contributed to the growing popularity of the Dillon Reservoir as a fishing and vacation destination. The most popular time to come and fish is definitely the summer due to the numerous other outdoor activities you can take in, but ice fishing is still a great time to catch some fish!

Dillon Reservoir Fishing Tips

  • Lake Dillon is stocked annually with rainbow trout, and the chances of catching one of these glorious fish are really high
  • If you want to try and catch an Arctic char, fishing from a boat is the best option as your lures need to be quite deep to attract some bites
  • Using Brown or Rainbow trout imitation lures have been found effective to landing trout on this lake

Types of Fish in Dillon Reservoir

Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Arctic Char, Smallmouth Bass

Blue Mesa Reservoir Fishing

The upper reaches of the Gunnison River which is in Gunnison County in Colorado is home to an artificial reservoir named Blue Mesa Reservoir. Holding the title of being the largest lake completely in the state, the Reservoir came into being as a result of the construction of the Blue Mesa Dam which is a 390-feet tall and a great sight to check out.

It also holds the title of being the largest fishery particularly for Kokanee Salmon and the Lake Trout in the state of Colorado. Apart from being an exceptional fishing paradise for anglers, it offers a number of activities such as boating, hunting, hiking, horseback riding, camping, and boating.

The lake has Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Kokanee Salmon, and the Yellow Perch swimming in its clear blue water. It has a 96 miles long shoreline and runs 20 miles long with many access points to some of the best fishing spots in Colorado!

Blue Mesa Reservoir is frozen during the winter season till late spring which is considered the best time for ice-fishing. Furthermore, Rainbow and Brown Trouts can be fished throughout the year but the best time to catch them is mid-April till early June and then again, in October till November.

If you are an angler and want an action-filled adventure, you will love fishing the Blue Mesa reservoir, especially in December till March when you won’t be able to keep up with the bites you’re getting!

Blue Mesa Reservoir Fishing Tips

  • If you’re fishing for Kokanee salmon, the best tactic to land these beauties is trolling from a boat with a down-rigger, and testing out colorful lures
  • Lake trout can be caught in abundance with a number of methods, casting from shore or trolling the deep parts of the lakes all give you a great shot at landing a big lake trout
  • If you’re looking to do some fly fishing at Blue Mesa reservoir, the Gunnison river gives you a great shot at landing rainbow or brown trout 

Types of Fish in Blue Mesa Reservoir

Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Lake Trout, Yellow Perch

Best Cities for Fishing in Colorado

If you are planning to visit Colorado for a few days, you need to stay at places that give you close access to some of the best fishing spots in Colorado. The following five places offer good fishing sites, ample recreation activities, and an array of restaurants with mouth-watering food!

1. Gunnison, Colorado Fishing

Gunnison city currently has a population of 5854 people and is a very popular fishing destination due to the easy access to tons of different rivers and lakes. The Crystal Mill, Gunnison National Forest, Pioneer Museum, Blue Mesa Fishing, and the Curecanti National Recreation Area are some of the most renowned places in the municipality when it comes to tourists and visitors.

The Gunnison Valley has beautiful brown trout, rainbow trout, lake trout, and the kokanee salmon. The valley has many lakes, river, and streams which offer some of the best fishing opportunities in Colorado. The biggest water body in the state, the Blue Mesa Reservoir, resides just 10 minutes from this particular city and hence, is one of the most visited places by anglers from all around the world. The Taylor River and the East River are also close by which gives you abundant opportunities for fly fishing and landing some huge trout!

The residents of the city experience cold, chilly winds at night while the days are moderately hot. This is due to the fact that the city resides at the bottom of a valley which also makes it one of the coldest places in the U.S, perfect for trout! Gunnison also has moderate snowfalls per year even in early autumn and late spring and can remain on the ground from November till April.

Fishing Spots near Gunnison, Colorado

  • Blue Mesa Reservoir
  • Taylor River
  • East River
  • Crystal Reservoir
  • Cochetopa Creek

2. Durango, Colorado Fishing

Durango is a city located in the Southwest part of the Colorado state, near the border of New Mexico. The city is famous for its 19th-century heritage railroad steam train that passes through the canyons and the mountains. The city also homes a railroad museum that displays many kinds of locomotives and aircraft. 

Some other attractions in the city include the Animas River Valley which offers fly fishing, whitewater rafting, kayaking, boating and canoeing. The Purgatory Resort is also a great option for lodging, ski rentals, dining, shopping, and the Music in the Mountains festival in the summers.

You can find rainbow trout, Walleye, Brown Trout, Kokanee Salmon and the Cutthroat Trout in the many rivers, lakes, and streams of Durango. If you’re looking to catch some monster Norther Pike, the spot to fish is Vallecito Lake. One of the best fly fishing opportunities in Colorado is only accessible from Durango in the summer, High-Country streams has a ton of different options and is widely considered some of the best trout fly fishing in Colorado. 

The most frequent time to visit the city is the summers when the weather is warm and pleasant whereas early springs are famous for skiing opportunities.

Fishing Spots near Durango, Colorado

  • Animas River
  • Electra Lake
  • Pine River
  • Piedra River
  • Vallecito Lake

3. Estes Park, Colorado Fishing

The Este Park is a town in the Northern portion of Colorado and it is famous for its easy access to Rocky Mountain National Park and its many trails with scenic views and exotic wildlife. The Trail Ridge Road of the park passes through many mountainous peaks, tundra, and forests which makes it an ideal location for hiking and camping.

The city only has a population of 6339 but offers literally millions of outdoor activities that will keep your vacation as lively and fun as possible. In the city of Este Park, you can take a ride on the Aerial Tramway, visit the famous Stanley Hotel, or take a kayak out on Lake Estes to catch a ton of trout! If you’re looking for some of the best fly fishing in Colorado, Estes Park has tons of options for fishing in rivers or streams at different altitudes. There are a lot of opportunities to hike to rivers and streams, but the higher you go the fish typically get smaller in size!

Fishes like the brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, Greenback Cutthroat, and Colorado River Cutthroat are common in the area.

Fishing Spots near Estes Park, Colorado

  • Mills Lake
  • Clacier Creek
  • Dream Lake
  • Roaring River
  • Upper Thompson River

4. Vail, Colorado Fishing

The city of Vail is famous for different events throughout the year. In summers, it is the perfect getaway for hiking, fishing, golfing and various cultural festivals whereas in the winter, people come from all over to experience the world class skiing. Gore Creek, a tributary of the Eagle River, runs through the town’s center and offers some of the best opportunities to do some fly fishing in Colorado. 

Vail is a small town that is present at the bottom of the great Vail Mountain with a population of only 5450 people. The economy of the town depends heavily upon tourism and more particularly on winter sports. Though it offers an array of recreational activities to its visitors, it is also evolving as a cultural center and culinary center of Colorado. 

When it comes to fishing in Vail, you will find natural lakes and rivers surrounded by mountains providing you with not only an amazing fishing spot but also a beautiful view that relaxes your mind as well as your eyes. This is widely considered one of the best cities for fishing in Colorado, with two of the most popular places being the Dillon Reservoir and the Colorado River. Some of the fish you will find are a huge variety of trout like the brook, rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout but also the extremely rare Arctic Char. 

The most popular season estimated by the influx of tourists is the cold, chilly and snow-filled winters till March. Summers are also quite busy as it provides many opportunities for rafting, hiking, fishing, and boating.

Fishing Spots near Vail, Colorado

  • Blue River
  • Colorado River
  • Eagle River
  • Ten Mile Creek
  • Dillon Reservoir

5. Basalt, Colorado Fishing

The town of Basalt began as a railroad town and has now become one of the best spots for fly fishing in Colorado, due to its close access to three amazing gold medal streams! Located between the Aspen and the Glenwood Springs, Basalt offers a myriad of recreational and fun activities all the while maintaining its quintessential charm. It is widely considered as a ‘Fishing Paradise’, especially for experienced anglers. 

Basalt is famous for its Gold Medal Trout Fishing in the rivers of ‘Frying Pan’ and ‘Roaring Fork’. The town also has a number of trails which makes it a perfect place for a hiking or a camping trip with the whole family, when you’re taking a break from the epic Colorado fishing.

You will find an endless number of fish depending on the location and river you choose to fish in. In warm waters, you will find largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and channel catfish whereas the coldwater accommodate the cutthroat, brown, lake and the rainbow trout and as well as the kokanee salmon. This is a can’t miss fishing destination, and if you’re a hardcore fly fisherman this offers some of the best rivers and fishing in Colorado. 

Fishing Spots near Basalt, Colorado

  • Roaring Fork River
  • Frying Pan River
  • Colorado River
  • Crystal River

Wrapping Up The Best Fishing in Colorado

Fishing is one of the most tranquil yet exhilarating sports out there, there is something about being in the middle of the wilderness catching wild fish that is really enhanced when fishing in Colorado. If you talk to any angler, Colorado will come up as one of the top states for fishing in the US and especially fly fishing, due to its abundance of mountain lakes teeming with trout and kokanee salmon. It is also has one of two lakes in the lower 48 of the United States that you can fish Arctic Char, which attracts anglers from all over the world to fish the Dillon Reservoir. 

We hope this article was insightful in providing you some of the top locations and cities in the state, to give you the best fishing spots in Colorado!

Best Fishing In New Mexico – 10 Places You Can’t Miss

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New Mexico is a haven for anglers of all experience levels and, particularly for ice fishers because of its abundance of lakes, reservoirs, and slow flowing rivers! This is a hidden gem of a spot for your fishing experience and home to some of the best quality waters in the United States. 

The fishing experience and breathtaking views New Mexico offers really puts it in contention for one of the best states for fishing. During the spring season when all the ice melts and fish stocks of those lakes and ponds are through the skies, the odds of you catching multiple fish each and every day are remarkable. We are going to convince you in this article that New Mexico is a fishing spot that should be at the top of your bucket list, as there is no better alternative place that offers such diverse layout of lakes and landscape for one person to experience.

Best Fishing in New Mexico

We scoured the internet to provide you a list of the best of the best places to fish in New Mexico, with the top cities to give you a base camp if you’re not camping alongside the lake. Fishing in New Mexico is truly a hidden gem of all the amazing places you can fish in the United States, but it is not one to be overlooked!

San Juan River Fishing

Located northwest in New Mexico, the San Juan River directly below the Navajo Dam in the Navajo Lake State Park. This river is not only appreciated locally but also is a world-wide recognized fishing spot for the brown and Rainbow Trout that are found in plenty along the river.

It is the most major tributary of the Colorado River and has connections to four corners of the region, i.e.; it receives drainage from Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona. The San Juan river has topped our list of best locations to fish in New Mexico because of the quality of fish and experience it offers to new and young anglers.

It has maintained its position on top because of the consistent and clean water given off by the Navajo Dam that boosts the production of flora, which attracts insects and, in turn, supports the best trout populations in the northwest region both in terms of quantity and quality. The San Juan river expands from rocky-mountains, so apart from being a great fishing spot is also a very beautiful sight for people just looking to take in the amazing views. 

San Juan River Fishing Tips

  • Fishing fluorocarbon tippets when you are nymph fishing has been found to get you more strikes even when the river is cloudy
  • When fly fishing in the evening, streamers are a great choice and have seen a lot of success with trout in the San Jaun

Types of Fish in San Juan River

Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout

Santa Cruz Lake Fishing

Santa Cruz Lake

Santa Cruz Lake is located in the northcentral region in Chimayo, New Mexico. It is one of the many recreational lakes founded for fly fishing, anglers, and ice fishing.

Its riparian habitat is solely responsible for conserving the lake by protecting against excessive sedimentation and providing a source of nutrition for fishes to feed on and flourish. This 90 feet deep lake is second on our list because of its diverse aquatic habitat, anglers can find not only brown, and rainbow trout here, but tons of other species of fish. You can easily fish from a small boat or float tubes in this incredibly eye catching lake, and there is plenty of shoreline to do some casing as well!

Santa Cruz Lake Fishing Tips

  • The Santa Cruz wharf is a great place to cast a baited line in the water and just relax, spinning lures are the perfect choice for this kind of fishing
  • The Loch Lomond recreational area offers boat rentals and plenty of shoreline to fish, the waters are calm and great for fly fishing nymphs

Types of Fish in Santa Cruz Lake

Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Walley

Rio Grande Fishing

Rio Grande River Picture

The Rio Grande river flows from the Southwest US through New Mexico along the US-Mexican border. It is the fifth-longest river in North America and provides water and life to approximately six million people. It is also known as Rio Bravo in Mexican, and more informally, it is known to host some of the best fishing in New Mexico.

This 1800-mile-long river crosses the Sangre de Cristo mountains to Rio Grande Rift in New Mexico and cuts through the canyons at higher altitudes. Enough with geography, the Rio Bravo del Norte is home to fishermen’s favorite ‘Truchas Grandes’ id est large trout.

The 20 mile stretch between del Norte and south fork is the sweetest spot for anglers to find a hit, but Pass creek, La Garita Creel, and Carnero creek work just as well for fishing. Due to its vast coverage, the fish it holds varies from place to place, but brown and rainbow trout are consistent finds for anglers all along the river!

Rio Grande River Fishing Tips

  • For fly fishing, the upper parts of the Rio Grande river offer great wading opportunities and the dry fly fishing in the summer is some of the best in New Mexico
  • When fishing for Brown trout, they typically lie close to cut banks in the river and also tend to like the faster moving waters around these areas
  • Since 2001, bait fishing on the Rio Grande river has been removed so you must be prepared to fish with lures and flies 

Types of Fish in Rio Grande River

Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Walley, Small / Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Bluegill

Bill Evans Lake Fishing

Bill Evans Lake Image

The Bill Evans Lake lies three hundred feet above the river that supplies it, and since it is at such a high altitude the temperature around here usually remains colder. This lake harbors cold temperature and clear waters, which, although are perfect for trout to proliferate, the largemouth bass do not have as high of a population in this lake comparatively. 

Believe it or not, the trout is not the biggest attraction for fishermen at this spot; the channel catfish and bluegill are the true presents of this lake. This southwest New Mexico lake is a prolific haven for anglers and offers some of the best fishing in New Mexico. The lake offers opportunities to fish from the shore or in a boat and have tons of success using either method!

Bill Evans Lake Fishing Tips

  • With the variety of fish you can catch in this lake, you’ll want to keep stocked with both flies and lures in case you have better luck with one or the other
  • This lake has some steep drop offs, and trolling or fishing with a down rigger along these ledges offer a great chance to grab one of the bigger fish in the lake

Types of Fish in Bill Evans Lake

Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout

Tingley Beach Fishing

The Tingley beach is actually a series of ponds in Albuquerque’s’ biological park complex; they were created by diverting water from river Rio Bravo del Norte to create a friendly space for everyone to have a chance at fishing, and is extremely popular with families and younger children. The fish limit for these particular lakes are four trout per day and two catfish per day. 

The ponds vary in-depth and the types and sizes of fishes to cater to different needs of anglers. These ponds supplied by river Rio Grande are filled with trout in the winter and if you are lucky enough you can even enjoy ice fishing here under the right circumstances, through the course of the summer season the ponds are stocked with channel catfish as well!

Tingley Beach Fishing Tips

  • There is bait fishing allowed at the central pond at Tingley Beach so you must be prepared to fish with lures and flies if you’re at the other ponds
  • There are designated age ranges for each pond, for example the northern pond is for anglers 12 and under only and adults are not allowed to fish this pond. This is to keep the easier fishing opportunities available to the younger children to further grow the sport!
  • The south most pond is purposed for catch and release only, so you must use barbless hooks and ensure to release any fish you catch humanely back into the pond

Types of Fish at Tingley Beach

Lake Trout, Yellow Perch, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Kokanee Salmon

Best Cities for Fishing in New Mexico

1. Sante Fe, New Mexico Fishing

Sante Fe is the capital of New Mexico and is one of the largest cities at just under 100,000 people. Tourism is a massive element of the city, as skiing is very popular in the winter and summer sports such as fishing, hiking, and biking draw people from all over the world. The landscape around Sante Fe and the quick access to multiple national parks make this a great spot to start your trip, or base your trip around. 

New Mexico is home to some of the best fishing in the western United States, and there are some great options for guided tours to take you to the top spots and increase your chances of getting a ton of action!

Fishing Spots near Sante Fe

  • Rio Grande River
  • Chama River
  • Vallecitos River

2. Albuquerque, New Mexico Fishing

Albuquerque is New Mexico’s most populous city and is perfectly located in the high desert. Its most unique trait is the contrast between the old town Albuquerque representing the Spanish culture dating back to 1706 and the modern downtown, which resonates with the modern age and its needs. And for all the breaking bad fans out there, it gives you a chance to check out some of the popular Walter White sites when your taking some time off enjoying the best fishing in New Mexico. 

Some of its main tourist attractions are; Petroglyph National Monument- which is a volcanic basalt escarpment that lies in the western horizon of the Albuquerque, the Sandia peak tramway is the worlds third-longest aerial tramway that spans from northeast edge of the city to Sandia mountains and San Felipe de Neri Church which is proven to date back to Spanish colonial times is located in old town Albuquerque.

The main fishing spot around the city that attract the most anglers is Tingley Beach because the accommodation of different level of fishing experience it offers through its different ponds. This is a huge family attraction, and if you’re looking to introduce your young kids to fishing this is a great place to start. Other places to fish are Shady Lakes Trout Fishing and Isleta Lakes.

Fishing Spots near Albuquerque

  • Tingley Beach
  • Shady Lakes
  • Isleta Lakes

3. Silver City, New Mexico Fishing

The beautiful silver city lies in the foothills of Pinos Altos Range of the Mogollon Mountains near the center of Grant county. Silver city is famous around the world for its silver, ivory, and brass filigree works, and this is where it gets its name from.

Silver city was founded as a mining town in the 1860s when silver ore deposits were found in the land, but it has grown tremendously since then to prove that it entails more than silver mining. Now, the city boasts a ton of outfitters for making all your outdoor dreams come true to fishing and hunting. 

Silver City, by far, offers the most versatile options for fishing ranging from lakes to rivers and creeks in and around the city. The most famous for fishing brown trout and rainbow trout are Bill Evans Lake and Lake Roberts, but the options don’t end there as Snow lake, Wall lake and Bear Canyon Dam are all viable options for fishing. The Gila River, San Francisco River, and Willow Creek are also famous for attracting brown and rainbow trout with largemouth bass also being present.

Fishing Spots near Silver City

  • Lake Clayton
  • Lake Roberts
  • Bill Evans Lake
  • Rio Grande River
  • Bear Canyon Dam

4. Bloomfield, New Mexico Fishing

Bloom Field is most famous for its connections to past cultures in many forms; the ruins of the 12th-century village of Anasazi are a major attraction as well as Aztec ruins, which depict a story on their own. The story now, is fishing and Bloom Field offers a great spot to start if you’re looking to take in some of the best fishing in New Mexico. 

Moreover, the Chaco Culture National Historical Park contains the remains of past native American people and historically represent the Pueblo culture in its true essence. Diving into the topic of fishing, if you are looking for trophy brown trout, the best time to catch it in this place is throughout the fall season.

The Navajo state park takes a hit over every spot here offering the best quality Trout; the Navajo Dam creates the most favorable circumstances in the San Juan River for trout proliferation even in the offseason.

Fishing Spots near Loa, Utah

  • Tiger Park
  • Cutter Reservoir
  • Navajo Lake State Park
  • Heron Lake State Park

5. Taos, New Mexico Fishing

Taos is a smaller, more remote location in northern New Mexico with a population of only 5,000. This may not be your usual fishing town recommendation but it offers a great chance to take in some of the fascinating culture that is New Mexico! The landscape of the Sangre de Cristo mountains hugging the valley will literally take your breath away, not to mention the flowing Rio Grande river right below. The fishing in this river is unparalleled to anything else in New Mexico, and offers some of the best opportunities to fish catfish in New Mexico!

There is a vibrant art culture in Taos and also some authentic old school pubs and pool halls for those that want a bit more liveliness in their nightlife. Taos also offers world class skiing in the winter and gets an average snowfall of 305 inches per year! For the anglers, this is some of the best fishing in new mexico with access to a number of world class rivers including the Rio Grande!

Fishing Spots near Taos

  • Rio Grande River
  • Rio Hondo River
  • Cimarron River
  • Red River

Wrapping Up The Best Fishing in New Mexico

We have given you all the basics you need to know when going fishing in New Mexico, for young and ambitious anglers and for the pro fishermen. New Mexico not only offers a world class fishing experience, but it will also provide you an opportunity to learn about the diverse and amazing Hispanic and Native American culture that is incorporated in every bit of it, let it be food, language, or architecture.

New Mexico attracts anglers from all over to experience the fast flowing rivers in the deep canyons cut throughout the state. A truly remarkable landscape that mimicks Utah and Nevada, fishing in New Mexico is something you need to look into! All in all, New Mexico is one of the best places in the country to fish for Brown and Rainbow trout as well as multiple species of bass.

Best Fishing In Utah – 10 Places Anglers Can’t Miss

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Are you an angler looking to fish in a new and exotic destination? Take a look at Utah, the amazing fishing locations and gorgeous landscape make this one of the most sought after locations to fish in the United States! The western state of Utah is the perfect vacation spot for people that love outdoor activities with an endless amount of places and things to see, but the fishing is why we’re here. This heavenly US state is a great spot for fishing because of the immense biodiversity it offers in terms of rivers, lakes, and the quality of food sources offer all four seasons for every kind of fish to prosper in. After fishing in Utah, you’ll think fishing will never be that easy again as a ton of spots have no catch limits!

This western state of the United States offers a wide range of options for anglers in every season to choose a fishing spot, Utah is filled with lakes, rivers, creeks, and reservoirs. And a bonus point for visitors as well as locals, in winter the lakes and reservoirs perfectly preserve the diverse amount of fish under a perfect layer of ice for the most exotic experience of ice fishing. There is just something about Utah in the winter and ice fishing on a lake deep in the red rock valleys that is truly surreal.

With its small population, it is a fine place where you can take a break from the metropolitan rush life and really enjoy your surroundings. Combine this with the rich heritage and loads of fishing spots, Utah is should the next stop on your fishing trip. In this article we’ve broken down the spots and cities so you have the best fishing in Utah!

Best Fishing In Utah Image

We understand that looking for the best location with the perfect view and high quality fishing can be a stressful task, especially if you’re the one planning the trip! We’ve done the work for you and read all the reviews, and found out the best five fishing spots in Utah and top five cities for you to choose from. Let’s take a look!

Lake Powell Fishing

Lake Powell Fishing

In the Glen Canyon National recreational area is a small lake, essentially a reservoir of the Colorado river known as Lake Powell. The Colorado River and its tributaries are very famous among anglers in the United States for the diverse amount of fish and picturesque fishing locations, and it gives way to some of the best fishing in Utah!

Lake Powell in particular is very well known for its high fish population density and is said to be the perfect spot for new anglers to start fishing and get the best experience! Don’t get me wrong, no matter how experienced you’ll love landing a ton of fish at Lake Powell!

The best strategy is to hook anchovies and go into the lake on a boat if you are interested in the big fish, such as bullhead catfish. If you are only looking to relax and not worry about which fish you catch, then just get you to hook ready and throw it out in the water from the shore and relax you will find a nice catch in this densely populated lake. Fishing for bass is easily done from the shoreline or on a boat! Utah is a hot spot for ice fishing, and Lake Powell offers a ton of this! But if you’re looking to land a big catfish you will find here will be in the spring season.

Lake Powell Fishing Tips

  • Catfish are typically caught in shallower waters, using anchovies from shore or a Drop Shot / Carolina rig when fishing from a boat
  • Striped Bass can be caught using almost any type of surface lure, and the optimal time to catch a “Striper Boil” is later summer to early fall
  • Largemouth Bass are mainly caught around the brush areas of the lake while Smallmouth Bass are more common and found along rocky shore lines 

Types of Fish in Lake Powell

Striped Bass, Smallmouth / Largemouth Bass, Bullhead Catfish, Panfish, Walley

Provo River Fishing

Provo River Fishing

The Provo river gets its name from Provo city in southwestern Utah and the river rises from the Uinta Mountains at Wall lake and flows towards south from Utah county into Wasatch county. The Provo River offers a blue ribbon stream that is home to all-natural brown trout. There are multiple spots and areas specifically built and maintained specifically for fishing, but there is no stocking going on in this river! The perfect spot is no doubt the upper and middle part of river Provo which give anglers a stunning yet calming view of Mount Timpanogos and abundant brown trout as well as rainbow trout population!

If you’re looking for high density fishing, the Provo river averages 3,000 trout per mile, and is considered some of the best fishing in Utah! There are a ton of places to fish along the river, with some of the more coveted spots being on private land and only accessible through a guided fishing tour. These tours are no joke, and will cover your costs if you don’t catch any fish, so its literally a guarantee!

The middle part of the Provo River flows into the Heber valley following lush green meadows and farm pastures, allowing streams of lower pressure waters and truly amazing experience of fishing. The lower Provo River emerges from the Deer Creek reservoir and offers the largest and dense population of rainbow trout up to 18 inches, even in the offseason.

Provo River Fishing Tips

  • On the Lower Provo, dry flies can work really well in select areas during hatches but nymphs and streamers are used with a ton of success as well
  • The Upper Provo river has a much smaller fish population and a lot of private property, so it isn’t as popular for fishing
  • The Lower Provo river is more difficult due to its tougher access, but is still a popular place to check out and try your luck

Types of Fish in Provo River

Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Carp, Walley, White Bass, Cutthroat Trout

Strawberry Reservoir Fishing

Arguably the most popular fishing spot in Utah is the Strawberry Reservoir receiving up to 1.5 million anglers annually, both locals and visitors from around the world. This reservoir is located in the Uintah and Ouray Indian reservations and is recognized for being a Blue-Ribbon Fishery, which basically means it has the highest quality waters with perfect conditions fishing in Utah.

The closest city to the Strawberry Reservoir is Heber City, which in itself is a culturally rich and excellent place to stay while on vacation. The Strawberry Reservoir, in addition for being one of the best spots for fly fishing in Utah, also allows has perfect conditions from January till march for ice fishing.

This deep reservoir is a perfect place to catch fish on a boat if you’re not looking to fly fish, especially if you are hoping to catch rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and even Kokanee salmon. Apart from fishing, the Strawberry Reservoir also offers water skiing and canoeing for people looking for an adventure in the water. The campground have some amazing beaches for people to just relax in and enjoy a picnic with friends and family, while you’re out on the water fishing!

Strawberry Reservoir Fishing Tips

  • If you’re looking for the big fish, a great place to start is Indian Creek bay due to the underwater springs in the area that attract a ton of the bigger fish in the reservoir
  • Fly fishing in the Strawberry Reservoir is done best with black or olive colored wolley buggers
  • If you’re doing some casting, spinning lures are a great choice for fishing here, and they work especially well in lower light in the morning or evening

Types of Fish in Strawberry Reservoir

Kokanee Salmon, Red Shiner, Rainbow Trout, Utah Chub, Utah Sucker

Flaming Gorge Reservoir Fishing

Located in Sweet Water County and Dagget County in Utah, the Green river has beautiful emerald green water and also has amazing views with the surrounding Ruby Red Canyon Walls. The river has plenty of fish such as trophy trout, crappie, walleye, and a lot more. All of this lures the fishermen from around the world who are looking for a exhilarating experience, and want to get the best fishing in Utah! This Green river flows from Wyoming but the reservoir is mainly located on the Utah side of the states!

The green river passes through high desert sandstone of the flaming gorge and has 40-60-degree Celsius water all year round. The river’s ample water flow creates perfect conditions fish and the most popular technique is fly fishing. Around the Flaming Gorge reservoir it is not uncommon to land a 30+ lb trophy trout!

The Flaming Gorge Reservoir waters hold some of the groundbreaking varieties of fishes out of which most famous are trout and Kokanee salmon. On top of being angler’s favorite destination, the flaming gorge reservoir also hosts water sports and activities like canoeing and water skiing.

Flaming Gorge Reservoir Fishing Tips

  • With the abundance of fish in the Flaming Gorge reservoir, almost any technique is going to get you some bites but the most popular are trolling and casting
  • If you’re fishing further up or down from the reservoir on the river, fly fishing with streamers tend to be very effective
  • When trolling, fishing with a down rigger or vertical jigging on top of the fish are the two most common techniques used to land the trophy sized trout!

Types of Fish in Flaming Gorge

Striped Bass, Smallmouth / Largemouth Bass, Bullhead Catfish, Panfish, Walley

Fish Lake Fishing

Fish Lake Utah Fishing

Located in the Southern Wasatch Plateau region of south-central Utah, Fish Lake is a high alpine lake with a elevation of 8,800 ft! It is famously located in a place known as Graben Valley, and is located within the Fishlake National Foreast. The surrounding forest with pine trees and oaks give off a look of serenity over this crystal blue lake creating an amazing spot for fishing in Utah. 

As the name depicts, the Fish Lake is host to every kind of fish an angler would want to catch. With an average depth of 85 ft and a max depth of 175 ft, you can easily fish from the shore or a boat! The yellow perch come in droves are there is no limit on the amount you can catch, as they are considered an invasive species here. The lake is also stocked by Utah so you can guarantee you’ll be landing a ton of fish on your Utah fishing trip to this gorgeous lake!

Fish Lake Fishing Tips

  • With the depth of this lake, this is a great place for trolling with shallow lures, going deep with a down rigger, or baiting a heavy jig to get those big lake trout
  • The thick weeds near the shore are perfect to jig a small, baited hook or nightcrawler 
  • Ice fishing is extremely lucrative at this high altitude lake and it is one of the best times to catch Splake, a cross between a brook trout and lake trout

Types of Fish in Fish Lake

Lake Trout, Yellow Perch, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Kokanee Salmon

Best Cities for Fishing in Utah

When you ultimately decide to choose to go fishing in your vacation, you should not worry about deciding a city to stay at. Since we have explained how Utah is an anglers haven, here is the break down of five cities in Utah ranked the best for a fishing holiday.

1. Park City, Utah Fishing

Park City is just outside of Salt Lake city and on average, the number of tourists in this city always exceeds the number of full time residents. Park city is named the best city to stay in for anglers as it is closest to 2 blue ribbon water bodies, the Provo river through Heber Valley and also down in the Provo Canyon. The Weber River between Rock Port and Echo Reservoirs are also amazing fishing spots near Park City, making it all the more perfect. The Uinta Mountains to the east of the city are not only perfect for hiking but also have many small lakes that are perfect for fishing. This is one of the tops choices for a base camp location to start off your trip to hit the best fishing spots in Utah!

Fishing Spots near Park City

  • Provo River
  • Jordanelle Reservoir
  • Weber River
  • Strawberry River
  • Green River

2. Bullfrog, Utah Fishing

Bullfrog is a small community that is right on Lake Powell, which is understandably why we’re talking about this quaint town that hosts tons of outdoor enthusiasts every year. The tourist population here comes mainly for the world class fishing you get at lake Powell, and is a experience you certainly don’t want to pass up. This lake hosts everything from Salmon, Bass, and trophy sized trout!

Apart from fishing, you can discover the beauty of the Natural Bridges National Monument and the Rainbow Bridge National Monument. You can also go hiking into the foothills of Glenn Canyon in the National Recreation Park, which is also a cool skiing spot in the winters.

Fishing Spots near Bullfrog

  • LAKE POWELL – No other spots needed

3. Heber, Utah Fishing

Heber city is located in the northwestern part of Utah in Wasatch County and has connections with the Uinta Mountains range and the Provo River. For fishing fanatics, the Heber city has countless attractions that are perfect for spending a fun-filled weekend out on the water landing fish! A few of them are Jordanelle State Park, Wasatch Mountain State Park, Deer Creek state park, and the countless lakes in the Uinta mountains.

The city of Heber offers multiple tourist attractions apart from fishing, such as Heber Valley Historic Railroad, CAF Utah Wing Aviation Museum, Historic Heber City Amusement Hall. The state parks such as Wasatch county and Deer Creek offer multiple activities apart from fishing for tourists to enjoy making it an ideal vacation spot for fisherman and outdoor enthusiasts alike!

Fishing Spots near Heber, Utah

  • Provo River
  • Jordanelle Reservoir
  • Deer Creek Reservoir
  • Strawberry River
  • Lakes in the Uinta Mountains

4. Loa, Utah Fishing

Loa is found in south-central Utah in Wayne county along state route 24. It was named Loa because it has one of the highest elevations, about 7045 feet, of all the county seats in Utah. The weather drops to -2 degrees Celsius in winters and creates the perfect layer of ice on the lakes for ice fishing.

There are many towns where you can go for fly fishing and plan a day of peace and catching up on nature, but they are not like Loa. The Fish Lake Located in the High Alpine Forests of Graben Valley is the best spot for throwing the hook into the water, and simply sit back to relax and enjoy the view of the beautiful forest.

Fishing Spots near Loa, Utah

  • Fish Lake
  • Capital Reef National Park
  • Goblin Valley State Park
  • Bryce Canyon National Park

5. Salt Lake City, Utah Fishing

Salt Lake City is the capital, as well as the most populous city of the gorgeous state of Utah! The top sights to see in this central city of Utah are the Temple Square, Red Butte Garden, Hogle Zoo, National History Museum, and Salt Lake Temple. The city, aside from fishing as a huge draw is worth visiting for all of its tourist sites as well as a planetarium and several historical sites.

The fishing spots are plentiful but there are some super famous lakes including Secret Lake, Bountiful Pond, and Silver lake. They are the favorite fishing spots of anglers from all around the world due to its proximity to Provo River, a favorite for fly fishing!

Fishing Spots near Salt Lake City

  • Secret Lake
  • Bountiful Pond
  • Silver Lake
  • Provo River
  • Green River

Wrapping Up The Best Fishing in Utah

Wrapping up this informative article about the best fishing spots in Utah, I have to say that Utah is the perfect vacation destination for anyone that loves getting outdoors and soaking up some of the natural beauty in this country. There is a ton of activities for the whole family and excluding fishing you can go skiing, canoeing, horse back riding, and hiking that you can do there. 

Dedicated anglers from all around the world come to fish the waters of Provo River and Lake Powell for world-class pure Brown Trout. The scenic views of the Uinta Mountain Range and the Strawberry Reservoir bridge the gap created between you and nature and slides you into a world of serenity. What else can one need when planning your next family vacation, or fishing trip with your favorite group of anglers! Utah offers some of the best fishing spots in the United States, especially if you’re looking to catch trophy sized trout.

Happy Fishing, Folks!

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