The 10 BEST Trout Rivers for Fly Fishing in America | Ep. 83 

I am sorry, if a river is crowded , I am all set . I would rather catch one trout on a peaceful river, than fifteen with people spread out every 10 yards. The best is combining hiking and fishing. Most people are lazy and won’t walk more than a mile.

Great list and I'm especially pleased that none of my favorite rivers were on the list! I was praying the whole time that none would be listed.

You completely left out the superb trout waters of the Southern Appalachia area from Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia. My personal favorites are the Oconolufte, Ocoee, Little Tennessee, Tuckaseegee, Little Pigeon, West Prong Little Pigeon, Laurel River, Clinch, Nantahala, Hiawassee and Watauga. Yes most of these are in East Tennessee or Western North Carolina but they definitely are great for Rainbow, Brown and Brook Trout with an occasional Golden and Tiger in the mix. Wonderful hatches, good for streamer and nymphs and lots of access for wading and plenty of water.

You obviously have never fished the lower (below Shasta dam) Sacramento River. Here you can catch rainbows up to 20" YEAR ROUND. You also have a good runs of steelhead along with stripers, salmon (in good years), and small mouth bass. I know more anglers that retired to Redding , CA than any other locale. Did I mention that the fishing is great YEAR ROUND. How many of your picks have fairly short fishing seasons???

On my way to Idaho next week! Sooo looking forward to fly fishing!

Honorable Mentions: 1. MISSOULA! Rock Creek, Bitterroot, Blackfoot and Clark Fork. 2. COLORADO! Arkansas, Eagle, Roaring Fork, Rio Grande, Upper San Juan and Colorado Rivers! 3. Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone from Cooke City MT to Clark WY. 4 San Juan River, NM 5. The entire North Platte River... from the upper freestone at the Colorado -Wyoming border... all the way to the Grayrocks tailwater.

Dry dropper rig double surgeons knot and use the main leader line tag end to tie your dry to and tie the dropper to the long end of the thinner tippet. Works great! I love dry dropper too!

First time listening to you! Enjoyed this list very much! Fished many of those rivers and agree completely with what you had to say about them!

Hey Spencer, piggybacking off the question about tying off the bend vs the eye of the hook. I listened to Tom Rosenbauer’s podcast titled 7 deadly sins of nymph fishing with Josh Nugent, and they talk about this exact question. It’s at the 50 minute mark exactly where Josh talks about why he ties both knots to the eye of the hook for a dry stopper rig. He actually uses a non mono slip knot to tie both flys from the eye as he believe the knot strength of a clinch knot off the bend loses a lot fish. He also claims the bend of the hook acts as a rutter, and doesn’t allow the dry fly to spin or drift more naturally. I did try this out and was pleasantly surprised that the point fly seems to drift okay with eye to eye. But, I’m not sold on the idea of tying two non slip mono loop knots when I’m in the river. I still find myself tying off the bend of the hook as it’s much faster for me, and seems to work just as well. Thought I would share this if you wanted to listen to the timestamp for his perspective.

This was an amazing video to tie flies too!

You guys are awesome!! One note of constructive criticism, if you added in "Untangled" in with the EP number it would make finding these much much easier.

I fished the green for the first time last week. My new brother in law lives about 40 minutes from the dam. I caught my personal best brown and then one upped it within 30 minutes. It was a lot of fun, he is very new to fly fishing so he struggled. However he brought his spin caster and did really well with some hard lures. Really cool to see huge fish within feet of you. The water was a bit fast for my skill level but if I got my fly on the line I wanted I caught a fish nearly every time.

Great info, thanks for posting.

Just an FYI...the drive to the Deschutes is worth it! Also, fishing outside of May/June's Salmonfly hatch is fabulous too. i used to fish it at the wading access upstream of the Warm Springs bridge until enough steelhead came into the North Umpqua that we'd head over there typically in late June. You will probably never see so many different mayflies and caddisflies coming off anywhere else as twilight approaches than on the Deschutes. Just clouds of them. So many you can't keep the bugs off your sunglasses! These are all native rainbows by the way. Been around since the last ice age. They used to plant the Deschutes until the found out there is a disease fatal to non-native trout in the river that the Redsides are immune to. It's killed every planter in the river within 2 to 3-weeks. However, they do still plant "The Blue Hole" on the Deschutes for the wheelchair access fishing derby once a year. **Note** Do NOT fish from the west bank of the Deschutes without a Tribal Fishing Permit from the Confederated tribes of the Warm Springs Indian reservation (the river flows north). They enforce it enthusiastically and will arrest you! It's a wide river and not really a river you can wade across. But if you float it, either make sure you have a tribal permit for the west bank or just stay away from it. They are happy to sell you a permit either daily or annual license.

The Esopus, the Beaverkill, the Willowemak. Where trout fishing in America began. The Catskills.

Great episode. I’ve fished some of the rivers you listed and look forward to adding some of the other ones you listed to my list of rivers fished. I enjoy the Q&A segment too. I learn something new with each episode. Thanks!

Thank you for your explanation of water temperature relative to fish recovery. I had a general idea of water temperature having an impact on fish activity, but your detailed answer was very educational. I learned something new. Thank you.

Thank you for the list. My left arm is paralyzed so I no longer fly-fish, but I hope to fish (ultralight spinning gear) on every one of these rivers at some point.

North platte Gunnison Wind river Green river above flaming gorge And that’s not even the top 5 on my list #1 big horn Montana #2 Shoshone #3 Clark fork #4 big horn thermopolis Wyoming #5 bull river This is a real list of amazing rivers

Fun episode! I'll be on the Green next week, and I can't wait. I was surprised you didn't mention the San Juan. I live in NM, so I am definitely biased. But it is truly a great river.

Loved the list Spencer!

I like your list for the most part. I am a Midwest guy that retired and moved to Wyoming. I have fished the South Platte quite a bit, and don’t anymore. Since Covid it has gotten too crowded and stream etiquette is nonexistent there. I think there should be a river in Michigan. I think you picked the wrong one there. I do like the Au Sable it is a wonderful place, but in my experience the Pere Marquette is way better. I like in Casper and understand why you leave Wyoming rivers off the list. I don’t fish the North Platte much in the summer. I don’t like crowds and the trespassing laws suck. In the winter it fishes awesome, without the crowds. I haven’t been to every river on the list yet, but I have fished most of them. I need to get to a couple on there, thanks for your list.

one of my favorite rivers to fish is the truckee. it is notoriously one of the tougher rivers to fish, but it produces some of the largest trout ive seen

I do love you guys, and value your influence and knowledge you have fly fishing, but the San Juan not being top three is madness!

That’s a hard list to make for sure! I think you were real fair in it. I think a good segment along these lines would be the best 3-5 in each state or at least regional. Glad I live just a few miles from that #2 spot. Just started fly fishing last week so I’ll have to check out the south fork. Right now it’s flowing high so good luck wading in it. It’s a float river for sure.

Awesome episode, really enjoyed it! - Superfly Trent

Henry’s Fork should be on the list.

If we are talking east coast, gotta replace #10 with Penn's Creek, same relative area of the Delaware. But it matches your chosen specifications a lot more than the Delaware. I could rant off but take a look.

Thanks for the Video. Off subject, I took a brave step today and instead of changing out my fly (which I normally would have done when I am not getting any strikes) I changed my dropper length, (think that's right) and had many successful strikes/hooks/sets! Lesson learned from one of your other videos!

Come float the San Juan with me this fall. We will target large fish on 6x tippet with size 22-24 dry flies. Not arguing for a specific rating but you need to experience the “juan” one day!

Loved this episode. Maybe do some top 10 rivers for individual states in future episodes. I live in SE Wyoming and typically fish Rock Creek, Douglas Creek, Laramie river and North Platte rivers and been to the Miracle Mile a time or two. I have been to the White river in Arkansas but unfortunately I did not get to fish it. It was beautiful though and I’d like to go back and fish it. I’m originally from Northern California and fish rivers like the Trinity and Klamath. Although these river are more popular with salmon and steelhead, they hold some great rainbows too. Did not catch my first brown til I moved to Wyoming. Was hooked ever since. Was always a lure fisherman till I moved here and still new to fly fishing. Hooked again. Look forward to next episodes. Tight line as always.

I live in the West and have fished 6 of these 10...I agree with you mostly. Don't sleep on the Bighorn in Wyoming!

Sweet, heading to the middle fork of the S. Platte tomorrow!

Maybe do some top 10 rivers per different states. Maybe 10 in California, Washington, Oregon, etc?

White River reppin’ 🤙

I cannot find your link to #livereellife. I would like to submit a picture and story.

I was totally impressed by the Green River. I've never seen more big trout. As good as it was, if you are really into fishing, check out the Soca River in Slovenia. It's possibly better. The average fish size is much bigger and the trip is better.

2 GREAT rivers in Michigan to fly fish, that are not talked about, are the N. Branch of the Manistee (just W of the Au Sable) and The Pere Marquete River out of Baldwin MI.

I love the White River. I am actually from Arkansas.

Ausable river in Grayling Michigan where I grew up fly fishing with my dad many, many years ago.

I fish the Delaware River, mostly west branch.There is no stocking of fish so they are all wild unless the stockies slip in from a feeder stream. It is the kind of place where you cannot catch a fish all day and then a 20 inch brown slams your fly ( good luck landing it) lol I always say that you should never bring anyone to the Delaware who is learning to fly fish! It is technical, no sloppy casts, you need to read the water where there may be multiple currents, and use at least a 12-15 foot leader. But I can have a day that makes my 130 mile drive up there for the day worth while. I do it every week!- and during the week it is not crowded and there is more than enough water to get away from people if you are willing to walk on the weekends-

How could you leave out the Big Hole River? The salmon fly hatch on the Big Hole is outstanding (25-30 big fish days) and it also has Artic Grayling that you can catch which none of the other rivers have that. I have to disagree on putting the Yellowstone over the Madison. Live in Montana and fished both extensively, have caught bigger browns and rainbows on the Madison, plus the Yellowstone has wading access but you really need a boat to fish it because of it's size. The mother's day caddis hatch on the Madison is legendary as well. Had 30 fish days with some big ones on caddis. Another great river is the Gunnison in Colorado, if you can do the hike, it is fantastic fishing for sheer volume and size of fish.

I spend 5 to 6 months a year in southwest Montana. The Yellowstone is a great river. The Madison is the iconic river that you need to fish once, but that is about it. There is nothing better than swinging soft hackles on the Firehole. However, I would prefer to keep it a secret but the Big Hole is the best. I have caught browns, rainbows, brookies, cutthroats, grayling, and whitefish all in one day. You can't do that anywhere else. Then throw in the mountains and wildlife with very few people make it spectacular.

I'm adding several of these rivers to my bucket list!! The green has been on there for a while now! Good list!

I live in California was hoping to see a California River on the list.

I fish the White River all the time. Gear is defendant on flow, but the big ones are deeper and better caught on the White River Zig Jig!

reading the comments, I think you should do the 10 best rivers out east, in the mid-west, and out west.

I live in Rangely Colorado. An hour and forty-five minutes from the Flaming Gorge reservoir (The stretch of the Green River in Utah everyone talks about) and have only fished it from the bank. Need a raft.

Going to the Green next month first time

I'm surprised the Arkansas River that flows through Colorado wasn't at least honorable mention. I understand you can't include every river. Thanks for some fishing destinations. Looking forward to my August Wyoming trip.

On the Southfork now and live in Utah, fished the Green a ton i would argue the SF is by far a better river. IMHO. Good show and good list.

au sable and little manistee in michigan are so awesome. biased of course im a michigander never been to the rockies

I don't know if there's a forum or if this is the place to do it, but I am just getting into fly fishing, my wife got me a cheap combo from Walmart for father's day just so I can see if I like it or not. Long story short, I'm completely hooked and it's all I want to do. I'm just looking for someone that knows what they're doing to be able to take me out and show me the ropes. Also, I'm in a great area: Provo, Utah.

I spent the whole month of June through Michigan and Montana... and I can concur with your entire list and cant wait to fish 1,2 &4 haha.. However.. I would say the Big Hole... is probably better or at least was during my time on it than the Big Horn.. mainly because you have Browns, bows, Cuts, Brooks and grayling.. and they eat Dries like the world was ending... lol.

I caught a 20 inch bow in downtown Denver off the south platte behind a Starbucks

Spencer when are you going to host a VFC meetup on the green? Let’s take that river over baby! 😉

If you're going to put the (#4) Deschutes River on your bucket list, you better not leave the area without fly fishing the (#4A) Metolius River. I live in Deschutes County, and I may be a novice angler, but just standing in the Metolius is absolutely amazing; so beautiful... It's so worth it, even if you don't catch anything.

Headed to the little red river right now. The white is a few hours away might I should change my plans😂

You seem to have never gotten to the Eastern Sierras. Just of the top of my head I would mention the Truckee River out of Lake Tahoe, the Upper and Lower Owens river around Mammoth and Bishop, the East and West Walker rivers around Bridgeport.

The Dream Stream/Eleven Mile canyon in Colorado, skip the lower portion of the South Platte near Deckers, it's over crowded and over fished. Also the Gunnison, specifically the Black Canyon portion is unreal, the fish are great and the scenery is unreal. A real bucket list river is the McKenzie River in Canada, the brookies up there are ridiculous in size up to 10 lbs.

Gotta come to the driftless! We have tons of underrated rivers out here

Rock creek missoula is my second favorite in the area (;

Well Spencer try the south island of New Zealand trout and salmon fishing

Henrys Fork and South Fork of the Snake should be on this list.

Interesting, but missing some critical rivers...such as....Frying Pan, Roaring Fork and Colorado...San Juan.....

Should have vegetation for aquatic insects to develop. Like the BOW RIVER in Calgary Alberta Canada.

Do you recommend one River over another in the Missoula area?

How about top ten states or areas next?

The best is the one I'm fishing at the moment.

Criteria for a Great Trout Stream 1- Native trout 2- wild trout 3- no rubber raft hatches between May and September 4- public, dirt road access 5- no vehicle traffic or airline traffic noise 6- no kings grant bullshit

You’re crazy! No North Platte!!!!!

How can Wyoming pass a trespass law like that? I always thought it was a federal land thing as far as being able to be within the high water line.

In America?, you have to include the state of Alaska rivers, at least 1 if not more need to be on the list

A lot of the SW Montana rivers get hammered by guides anymore. Couple that with quite a few low snowpack years recently and the quality of the fishing has diminished.

If the white river offers the biggest brown trout in the country why was it so high was it because of the accessibility?

I have three right where I live. Imho the Trinity, Sacramento, and the McCloud rivers in Northern California are the best in the world.. but I live here so it’s totally biased😂

fished the provo all my life! its amazing

Thank you for letting me know where NOT to go!

Spot burning is getting pretty trendy

Metolius in America. But….BC, hands down, no competition. Best steelhead, best rainbows, best westslope cutthroat, best bullies. Uncrowded, some in true wilderness which does not exist in the lower contiguous states.

Bro…. No San Juan River?

kenai didnt make the cut? are you high?

So quick question, the last time I went fishing I caught two really small ones. Are we aloud to keep the small ones?

first

So I guided on the Deschutes for a brief period out of mopin. The metolius, the rogue, and the Mackenzie actually are my favorites for trout fishing in Oregon. The Grande Ronde is also awesome for Smallmouth, but probably one of the best Waters in all of Oregon is the Owyhee river which is now combat fishing.. you can catch 25 inch Browns on stimulators all day. I'm an Idaho got though! I just caught a 26" on a size 22 pmd on 7x here on the main Fork of the Boise River. It's funny you talk about tiny flies on the Platte because here in my spot you have to use size 22 to 24 either biot spinners or tiny pmds and bwo's . The worst part of that is you cannot use anything bigger than 6X tippit and you will absolutely get way less looks using 6X then you will 7X .. so it's great when you go to do a trout set and the tip it just snaps like nothing .... They can be the hardest fish to catch on earth here in the main Fork of the Boise... you see 20-30" coming up to pick off midges all day. And 30" browns allthough not common they are absolutely not rare You see absolutely massive trout slurping dry and emergers. But your fly is 1 of 100k flies drifting and in the calm water they can see in an instant if it's real or not... I'm half convinced I just get lucky and one makes a mistake being the only reason I catch anything at my spot. But never anywhere have I seen the amount of 20" plus fish come up every second in my life... and again you will see more fish Rising than you've ever seen cast a thousand times and you will be absolutely ecstatic if you catch one.. especially Wade fishing and not drifting with the fly on a cat, or drift boat.. there are rivers here in Idaho I feel that are every bit as good as Swan valley. The Yankee fork of the salmon is amazing. The South Fork of the Boise is also one of the best Fisheries in the country...

I’m glad you didn’t list my favorite totally road accessible river in Alaska. I get to fish by myself in the late fall and catch monsters!

So you have fished all these rivers?

Okay so yes the majority of fish live off of small bugs but the big ones they don't get big eating those little bugs all the time they're eating crawdads other fish mice all that stuff the only fish that are growing giant off of a tiny bug r the mysis eaters

Can’t float and drop anchor? Can’t wade? Water is private - I would move for sure. One of the great things about most of America is the freedom to navigate water - how much privacy do we allow the one percent? The rich suck… Cowboy state is no longer for cowboys.

I live in Utah and I can name 3 rivers in Montana and 1 River in Idaho that are much better than the Green. Imagine if you ever had the chance to fish one of those. Until then you are just another fisherman who wants to express your lack of knowledge.

You need to fish the bighorn before you numbered this…..

Less talk,too wordy, get to it man.

You lost me at White River. Sorry man, basically any healthy trout stream from the Rockies is better than that ditch. Honestly, I'd even rather fish the Red in Arkansas than the White.

New Zelend has the best rivers

Brother the Henry Fork isn't even the best River in Idaho... overrated overfished especially by the ranch section. If that's your idea of good fishing in Idaho to touch base with me and I'll show you some good fishing..

Yep thanks for not listing my local. 🫡