Best Rivers for Brown Trout in the West
The best brown trout rivers in the American West offer trophy potential exceeding 24 inches, with Montana's Bighorn and Missouri rivers leading the pack. Colorado's Gunnison and Frying Pan, Oregon's Owyhee, and Wyoming's North Platte also produce exceptional brown trout fishing with fish regularly exceeding 20 inches.
Last updated: February 2025
| Rank | River | State | Water Type | Trout/Mile | Record/Trophy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Colorado River at Lees Ferry | AZ | Tailwater | 5,000-8,000 rainbow trout per mile | 24-pound rainbow trout (Arizona state record, 2015); 20+ inch fish caught regularly |
| #2 | Deschutes River | Oregon | Tailwater | 1,700-3,500+ (varies by section; best reaches near Warm Springs exceed 3,500/mile) | 28-lb steelhead (1946); redsides commonly reach 18-20 inches with occasional fish over 22 inches |
| #3 | San Juan River | NM | Tailwater | 15,000+ in Special Trout Water section; among the highest trout densities in North America | Rainbows and browns regularly exceeding 20 inches; fish over 24 inches documented annually in the quality waters |
| #4 | Gunnison River | Colorado | Tailwater | ~7,000 in the Gunnison Gorge, highest density in Colorado | Rainbow trout exceeding 28 inches documented; brown trout over 10 lbs caught in the Gorge |
| #5 | Missouri River | Montana | Tailwater | 5,000-7,000 (Holter Dam to Craig section; among the highest densities in North America) | 30" rainbow trout (multiple fish exceeding 10 lbs documented; brown trout to 28" reported regularly) |
| #6 | Arkansas River | Colorado | Freestone | 3,000-5,000 (Buena Vista to Canon City stretch); up to 5,000+ in best sections | Brown trout exceeding 26 inches; fish over 8 lbs documented in Brown's Canyon section |
| #7 | South Platte River | Colorado | Tailwater | 3,000-5,000 in Gold Medal sections | Brown trout exceeding 10 lbs reported in Dream Stream; 24"+ rainbows documented in Cheesman Canyon |
| #8 | Spring Creek | PA | Limestone Spring Creek | 3,000-5,000 wild brown trout in catch-and-release section | Brown trout exceeding 24 inches documented; fish over 6 lbs have been caught in the catch-and-release section |
| #9 | Hot Creek | CA | Spring Creek | 3,000-5,000 (exceptionally high density) | Brown trout exceeding 22 inches documented; rainbows to 20 inches |
| #10 | Madison River | Montana | Freestone | 3,000-4,000 (upper river between Quake Lake and Ennis Lake) | 28" brown trout (multiple fish exceeding 10 lbs documented in lower sections and Bear Trap Canyon) |
| #11 | Frying Pan River | Colorado | Tailwater | 2,500-4,000 (Gold Medal section) | Brown trout exceeding 20 inches regularly caught; fish over 24 inches documented in the upper dam section |
| #12 | Hat Creek | CA | Spring Creek | 2,500-4,000 in Wild Trout Section | Brown trout exceeding 24 inches documented; rainbows to 22 inches |
| #13 | East Walker River | NV | Tailwater | 2,500-4,000 in upper catch-and-release section | Brown trout exceeding 24 inches documented in deeper pools; occasional fish over 6 lbs |
| #14 | North Platte River | Wyoming | Tailwater | 5,200+ (upper Grey Reef section); 1,500-2,500 (Miracle Mile) | 28" brown trout (Miracle Mile); rainbow trout exceeding 26" documented at Grey Reef |
| #15 | South Fork Snake River | Idaho | Tailwater / Canyon Freestone | 3,000-5,000+ (upper canyon); 1,500-2,500 (lower valley sections) | 27" brown trout (upper canyon); Yellowstone cutthroat exceeding 22" documented regularly |
| #16 | Colorado River | Colorado | Freestone | 2,000-3,500 in Gold Medal section | Brown trout exceeding 24 inches caught regularly; occasional fish over 8 lbs reported |
| #17 | Upper Connecticut River | NH | Tailwater | 2,000-3,500 in Trophy Stretch | Brown trout exceeding 22 inches; landlocked salmon to 24 inches |
| #18 | Bighorn River | Montana | Tailwater | 3,000-5,000 (upper 3 miles closest to dam hold highest densities; fluctuates with dam release patterns) | 29" brown trout (rainbow trout to 26" documented; fish exceeding 8 lbs caught annually) |
| #19 | Henry's Fork | Idaho | Spring Creek / Tailwater / Freestone | 2,000-4,000+ (Railroad Ranch); 1,500-2,500 (Box Canyon) | 28" rainbow trout (Railroad Ranch); multiple fish exceeding 24" documented annually |
| #20 | Spruce Creek | PA | Limestone Spring Creek | 2,000-3,000 wild brown trout; exceptional average size | Brown trout exceeding 26 inches documented; fish over 8 lbs have been caught |
| #21 | Big Spring Creek | PA | Limestone Spring Creek | 2,000-3,000 wild brown trout; exceptional average size | Brown trout exceeding 24 inches documented; fish over 6 lbs have been caught in the catch-and-release section |
| #22 | South Fork Boise River | Idaho | Tailwater | 3,000+ (upper canyon); 1,500-2,500 (lower canyon sections) | 26" brown trout (upper canyon); rainbow trout exceeding 22" documented regularly |
| #23 | Yellowstone River | Montana | Freestone | 1,500-3,000 (Paradise Valley section; higher densities in park meadow stretches) | 29" brown trout (Paradise Valley section; Yellowstone cutthroat to 22" documented in park waters) |
| #24 | Rio Chama | NM | Tailwater / Freestone | 2,000-3,000 in El Vado tailwater; 1,500-2,500 in Wildlife Area and canyon sections | State record brown trout (over 20 lbs) caught below El Vado Dam; fish exceeding 24 inches caught annually |
| #25 | Silver Creek | Idaho | Spring Creek | 1,500-2,500 (predominantly rainbow trout; brown trout in lower sections) | 26" rainbow trout; brown trout exceeding 24" documented in the lower creek |
| #26 | Snake River | Wyoming | Freestone (dam-influenced in upper section) | 1,500-2,500 (Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat dominant; browns and whitefish in lower sections) | 24" Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout; brown trout exceeding 26" documented in lower canyon sections |
| #27 | Rio Grande | NM | Freestone | 1,500-2,500 (fewer fish but larger average size than most NM streams) | Brown trout exceeding 20 inches caught annually; 24-inch fish documented in the gorge sections |
| #28 | Gallatin River | Montana | Freestone | 1,500-2,500 (canyon section; lower densities but larger fish below canyon) | 24" brown trout (lower Gallatin; canyon fish rarely exceed 18") |
| #29 | Androscoggin River | NH | Freestone | 1,500-2,500 in prime sections | Rainbow trout to 18 inches; landlocked salmon to 20 inches near Errol |
| #30 | Yellow Breeches Creek | PA | Limestone Spring Creek | 1,500-2,500 in catch-and-release section (wild and stocked combined) | Brown trout exceeding 20 inches caught in catch-and-release section; rainbow trout to 18 inches |
| #31 | Bighorn River (Wyoming) | Wyoming | Freestone (warm-spring influenced) | 3,000+ (Thermopolis section); 1,000-1,500 (Wind River Canyon) | 26" brown trout (Thermopolis section); rainbow trout exceeding 24" documented |
| #32 | Green River | Wyoming | Tailwater (Seedskadee) / Freestone (Upper) | 1,500-2,500 (Seedskadee section); 800-1,500 (Upper Green near Pinedale) | 28" brown trout (Seedskadee section); multiple fish exceeding 24" documented annually |
| #33 | Pecos River | NM | Freestone | 1,200-2,000 (mix of stocked rainbows and wild browns) | Brown trout to 18 inches documented in the deeper canyon pools; cutthroat to 14 inches in wilderness headwaters |
| #34 | Metolius River | Oregon | Spring Creek | Estimated 1,000-2,000 wild fish per mile in best sections | Bull trout to 15+ lbs documented; rainbow trout to 24 inches; brown trout occasionally exceed 20 inches |
| #35 | Penns Creek | PA | Limestone Freestone | 1,000-2,000 wild brown trout in prime sections | Brown trout exceeding 20 inches caught regularly; fish over 5 lbs documented in the gorge section |
| #36 | Slate Run | PA | Freestone | 1,000-2,000 wild brook trout | Brook trout exceeding 12 inches caught in the deeper pools; most fish 6-10 inches |
| #37 | Tulpehocken Creek | PA | Tailwater | 1,000-1,800 (stocked and wild combined) | Brown trout exceeding 20 inches caught below the dam; rainbow trout to 18 inches |
| #38 | New Fork River | Wyoming | Freestone | 1,000-2,000 (upper river near Pinedale); 800-1,200 (middle sections) | 24" brown trout (multiple fish exceeding 20" documented annually); rainbow trout to 22" |
| #39 | Saco River | NH | Freestone | 800-1,500 (wild and stocked combined) | Brown trout exceeding 24 inches caught regularly; fish over 6 lbs documented |
| #40 | Fall River | CA | Spring Creek | 800-1,500 (wild fish population) | Rainbow and brown trout exceeding 24 inches documented; fish over 6 lbs caught regularly |
| #41 | Truckee River | NV | Freestone | 800-1,500 (varies by section) | Brown trout exceeding 22 inches documented; occasional rainbows over 18 inches |
| #42 | Davidson River | NC | Freestone | 800-1,500 in Delayed Harvest sections during DH season | Rainbow trout exceeding 18 inches; brown trout over 20 inches documented in the lower Delayed Harvest section |
| #43 | Upper Sacramento River | CA | Freestone | 800-1,500 (wild fish population) | Brown trout to 20 inches; rainbows to 18 inches documented |
| #44 | Truckee River | CA | Freestone/Tailwater | 800-1,500 (varies by section) | Brown trout to 20 inches; rainbows to 18 inches in special regulation areas |
| #45 | Big Fishing Creek | PA | Limestone Freestone | 800-1,500 wild trout in quality sections | Brown trout exceeding 18 inches caught in deeper pools; brook trout to 12 inches in headwaters |
| #46 | Pemigewasset River | NH | Freestone | 800-1,500 (mix of wild, stocked, and holdover fish) | Brown trout to 18 inches; Atlantic salmon to 16 inches |
| #47 | Little Juniata River | PA | Limestone Freestone | 800-1,200 wild brown trout in quality sections | Brown trout exceeding 18 inches caught regularly in deeper pools |
| #48 | Pit River | CA | Tailwater/Freestone | 600-1,200 (wild fish, large average size) | Rainbow and brown trout exceeding 22 inches; fish over 5 lbs documented |
| #49 | East Fork Carson River | NV | Freestone | 600-1,200 (varies by section) | Brown trout exceeding 18 inches in deeper pools; rainbows to 16 inches |
| #50 | East Walker River | CA | Tailwater | 600-1,000 (wild brown trout) | Brown trout exceeding 26 inches documented; fish over 7 lbs caught annually |
| #51 | McCloud River | CA | Freestone | 500-1,200 (wild fish population) | McCloud redbands typically 8-14 inches; occasional fish to 16 inches |
| #52 | Oak Creek | AZ | Freestone | 500-1,200 wild trout per mile in prime sections | Brown trout exceeding 16 inches documented; most fish 8-12 inches |
| #53 | Tuckasegee River | NC | Tailwater | 600-1,000 in Delayed Harvest section during DH season | Rainbow trout exceeding 20 inches; brown trout over 18 inches caught in the deeper pools |
| #54 | Souhegan River | NH | Freestone | 800-1,500 in Delayed Harvest section; 300-600 elsewhere | Stocked brown trout to 18 inches; holdover fish to 16 inches in Delayed Harvest section |
| #55 | Kettle Creek | PA | Freestone | 600-1,000 wild trout in quality sections | Brown trout exceeding 16 inches in deeper pools; brook trout to 12 inches in headwaters |
| #56 | Nantahala River | NC | Tailwater/Freestone | 500-900 in the upper tailwater section | Rainbow trout exceeding 18 inches; brown trout over 16 inches in the deeper pools |
| #57 | Ammonoosuc River | NH | Freestone | 500-1,200 in upper sections; 300-600 in middle and lower sections | Brown trout to 18 inches in middle sections; brook trout to 12 inches in upper water |
| #58 | South Toe River | NC | Freestone | 500-800 in Delayed Harvest section during DH season | Rainbow trout exceeding 16 inches; brown trout over 18 inches documented in the deeper pools |
| #59 | Baker River | NH | Freestone | 400-900 (primarily stocked with some holdover fish) | Stocked rainbow and brown trout to 16 inches near Warren Hatchery; brook trout to 10 inches in upper sections |
| #60 | Deerfield River (Upper) | VT | Tailwater | 500-800 below dam | Brown trout over 16 inches |
| #61 | Battenkill River | VT | Freestone | 400-800 in prime sections; wild brown trout and brook trout populations | Brown trout exceeding 20 inches documented; fish over 3 lbs caught annually |
| #62 | Upper Klamath River | CA | Freestone | Variable; resident trout 400-800 per mile in upper sections; steelhead runs rebuilding | Steelhead to 15 lbs documented; half-pounders 14-18 inches; resident rainbows to 18 inches |
| #63 | Swift River | NH | Freestone | 500-1,000 wild brook trout in upper sections; 300-600 mixed species lower | Wild brook trout to 10 inches in upper sections; stocked rainbows to 14 inches lower |
| #64 | Ellis River | NH | Freestone | 400-800 (mix of wild brook trout and stocked fish) | Brook trout to 10 inches in upper sections; stocked rainbows to 14 inches in Jackson area |
| #65 | Watauga River | NC | Freestone | 400-700 wild trout | Brown trout exceeding 18 inches; rainbow trout over 14 inches common in the best pools |
| #66 | East Fork Black River | AZ | Freestone | 400-800 wild trout per mile in prime sections | Apache trout rarely exceed 14 inches; brown trout to 16 inches occasionally caught |
| #67 | Upper Kennebec River | ME | Tailwater | 300-600 in the gorge section; mixed species including brown trout, brook trout, and landlocked salmon | Brown trout exceeding 24 inches documented; brook trout over 20 inches and 5 lbs reported in the gorge |
| #68 | Mascoma River | NH | Freestone | 400-800 in fly fishing only section; 200-500 elsewhere | Brown trout to 20 inches; landlocked salmon to 18 inches during spring runs from Mascoma Lake |
| #69 | New Haven River | VT | Freestone | 400-600; wild brook trout and stocked rainbows/browns | Rainbow trout over 14 inches; brook trout over 11 inches |
| #70 | White River | VT | Freestone | 300-600 in prime sections; abundant wild rainbow trout | Rainbow trout exceeding 18 inches reported; brown trout over 16 inches |
| #71 | French Broad River | NC | Freestone | 300-600 in upper Delayed Harvest sections; excellent smallmouth bass density in warmwater sections | Brown trout exceeding 18 inches in upper sections; smallmouth bass over 20 inches documented in Asheville corridor |
| #72 | Chevelon Creek | AZ | Freestone | 300-600 wild brown trout per mile; lower density but larger average size | Brown trout exceeding 20 inches documented; most fish 10-14 inches with occasional 16-18 inch specimens |
| #73 | Magalloway River | ME | Tailwater | 300-500 combined species in the tailwater section; strong populations of rainbow, brown, and brook trout | Brown trout exceeding 20 inches documented; rainbow trout over 18 inches; brook trout to 16 inches |
| #74 | Walloomsac River | VT | Freestone | 300-500; trophy section has larger fish | Brown trout 16-20 inches in trophy section |
| #75 | Winooski River | VT | Freestone | 200-500 depending on section | Brown trout over 18 inches; landlocked salmon exceeding 24 inches |
| #76 | Lamoille River | VT | Freestone | 250-450 in prime sections | Rainbow trout over 16 inches; landlocked salmon over 20 inches |
| #77 | Wilson Creek | NC | Freestone | 300-500 wild trout in prime sections | Rainbow trout exceeding 14 inches; brown trout over 12 inches in the deeper pools |
| #78 | Linville River | NC | Freestone | 250-450 wild trout in the gorge section | Rainbow trout exceeding 16 inches documented; brown trout over 14 inches in the deepest pools |
| #79 | Crooked River | ME | Freestone | 200-400 in prime sections; wild brook trout throughout with landlocked salmon in lower sections | Landlocked salmon exceeding 18 inches from Sebago Lake runs; brook trout to 14 inches; brown trout over 16 inches historically |
| #80 | Mitchell River | NC | Freestone | 200-400 wild trout in Special Regulation sections | Rainbow trout exceeding 14 inches; brown trout over 16 inches documented; smallmouth bass over 16 inches in warmwater sections |
| #81 | Deep Creek | NC | Freestone | 200-400 wild trout in lower sections; higher densities in upper brook trout water | Rainbow trout exceeding 12 inches; brown trout over 14 inches in the deeper pools |
| #82 | Dog River | VT | Freestone | 200-400; wild brown and brook trout | Brown trout over 14 inches; brook trout over 12 inches |
| #83 | Owyhee River | Oregon | Tailwater | Robust population with redd counts of 197.3 brown trout redds per mile in peak years | Brown trout to 28+ inches and 12 lbs documented; most browns 17-21 inches; rainbows commonly 12-16 inches with occasional fish to 20 inches |
| #84 | Mettawee River | VT | Freestone | 150-350 depending on section | Brown trout over 14 inches |
| #85 | Wild Horse Reservoir | NV | Stillwater | N/A (lake fishery) | Brown trout exceeding 24 inches documented; rainbows to 22 inches |
| #86 | South Fork Reservoir | NV | Stillwater/Tailwater | N/A (lake fishery) | Brown trout exceeding 22 inches documented; rainbows to 20 inches |
| #87 | Otter Creek | VT | Freestone | Varies widely by section; best fishing at tributary junctions | Brook trout over 12 inches in upper sections |
| #88 | Bruneau River | NV | Freestone | Variable; small-river fishery with lower densities in remote setting | Rainbows and browns typically 8-14 inches; occasional fish to 16 inches |
| #89 | Great Basin NP Streams | NV | Freestone | Variable; small-stream fishery with willing brook trout dominant | Brook trout to 12 inches; browns to 14 inches in lower sections |
89 Best Brown Trout Rivers, Ranked
Colorado River at Lees Ferry
Lees Ferry is Arizona's most celebrated fly fishing destination, offering a world-class tailwater fishery in the dramatic landscape between Glen Canyon Dam and the Grand Canyon. This 15.5-mile stretch of the Colorado River holds exceptional populatio...
Deschutes River
The Lower Deschutes River is one of the premier fly fishing destinations in the American West, renowned for its wild redband rainbow trout and legendary summer steelhead runs. Flowing 100 miles from Pelton Dam to the Columbia River through dramatic h...
San Juan River
The San Juan River below Navajo Dam is widely regarded as one of the finest tailwater fisheries in the American West and is unquestionably New Mexico's premier fly fishing destination. With extraordinary trout densities exceeding 15,000 fish per mile...
Gunnison River
The Gunnison River through the Black Canyon and Gunnison Gorge is Colorado's ultimate wilderness fly fishing experience, combining the highest trout density of any river in the state with breathtaking 2,000-foot canyon walls and a remote backcountry ...
Missouri River
Below Holter Dam near Craig, Montana, the Missouri River becomes one of the most prolific tailwater trout fisheries in the world. Its nutrient-rich flows from the dam create ideal conditions for massive insect hatches and trophy-sized rainbow and bro...
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River through Colorado's Upper Arkansas Valley is one of the most productive and accessible fly fishing rivers in the state, offering over 100 miles of quality trout water between Leadville and Canon City. With trout counts reaching 5,00...
South Platte River
The South Platte River is Colorado's most iconic Front Range trout fishery, offering world-class sight fishing in crystal-clear tailwater conditions. Its multiple sections (Dream Stream, Eleven Mile Canyon, Cheesman Canyon, and Deckers) each provide ...
Spring Creek
Spring Creek is Pennsylvania's most technical and challenging limestone spring creek, flowing through the State College area with gin-clear water, highly selective brown trout, and some of the most demanding dry fly fishing in the eastern United Stat...
Hot Creek
Hot Creek is arguably the most technically demanding trout stream in California, a short spring creek near Mammoth Lakes that packs an extraordinary density of large, wild trout into a remarkably small stretch of water. Geothermal springs warm the cr...
Madison River
The Madison River is one of the most celebrated trout streams in North America. Born from the confluence of the Firehole and Gibbon rivers in Yellowstone National Park, it flows 140 miles through broad valleys and dramatic canyons before joining the ...
Frying Pan River
The Frying Pan River is one of Colorado's premier tailwater fisheries, flowing 14 miles of Gold Medal water from below Ruedi Reservoir to its confluence with the Roaring Fork River at Basalt. Known worldwide for its Mysis Shrimp-fed trout, gin-clear ...
Hat Creek
Hat Creek's Wild Trout Section is one of the most technically demanding spring creek fisheries in the American West. This 3.5-mile stretch of glassy, slow-moving water holds large, extremely selective trout that feed on prolific insect hatches in wat...
East Walker River
The East Walker River below Bridgeport Reservoir is a premier Nevada tailwater offering technical dry fly fishing for wild brown and rainbow trout in a scenic high-desert canyon. This is one of the most productive and challenging fly fishing rivers i...
North Platte River
The North Platte River through central Wyoming is home to the legendary Grey Reef and Miracle Mile sections, two of the most productive tailwater fisheries in the American West. With trout densities exceeding 5,000 fish per mile and trophy browns and...
South Fork Snake River
The South Fork of the Snake River below Palisades Dam is one of the finest big-river trout fisheries in the American West, carving through a dramatic basalt canyon with towering cottonwood forests. Home to trophy brown trout, native Yellowstone cutth...
Colorado River
The upper Colorado River between Granby and Kremmling flows through a scenic valley of cottonwoods and willows in Grand County, offering Gold Medal trout fishing in a relatively uncrowded setting. This is big water with diverse opportunities, from wa...
Upper Connecticut River
The Upper Connecticut River in Pittsburg, New Hampshire, represents the headwaters of New England's longest river and offers world-class fly fishing for landlocked Atlantic salmon, brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout. The famous Trophy Stretc...
Bighorn River
The Bighorn River below Yellowtail Dam near Fort Smith is a world-renowned tailwater fishery producing some of the largest trout in Montana. Its clear, nutrient-rich flows support extraordinary insect populations and trophy rainbow and brown trout....
Henry's Fork
Henry's Fork of the Snake River is one of the most storied dry-fly rivers in the world, flowing from the massive springs of Big Springs through the legendary Railroad Ranch section in Harriman State Park. With blanket hatches of Green Drakes, PMDs, a...
Spruce Creek
Spruce Creek is one of Pennsylvania's most legendary and exclusive limestone spring creeks, known for exceptionally large wild brown trout, gin-clear water, and limited public access. This pristine spring creek sets the standard for Pennsylvania lime...
Big Spring Creek
Big Spring Creek is a pristine limestone spring creek flowing through Cumberland Valley with exceptional water clarity, large wild brown trout, and highly technical fishing. This short but legendary creek is considered one of the most challenging spr...
South Fork Boise River
The South Fork of the Boise River below Anderson Ranch Dam is southwestern Idaho's premier tailwater trout fishery, flowing through a remote mountain canyon with exceptional populations of wild rainbow and brown trout. With consistent cold-water rele...
Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone is the longest undammed river in the lower 48 states, flowing 692 miles from Yellowstone National Park through Paradise Valley and across the Montana plains. It is home to the native Yellowstone cutthroat trout and offers some of the ...
Rio Chama
The Rio Chama is arguably one of the most underrated and diverse trout rivers in the West, flowing from the Colorado border through high mountain forests and stunning Wild and Scenic canyons before reaching the desert southwest. With world-class trop...
Silver Creek
Silver Creek near Picabo is one of the most revered spring creeks in the world, a gentle, crystalline stream flowing through a lush valley where large, highly selective rainbow and brown trout feed on prolific hatches in water so clear that every gra...
Snake River
The Snake River through Jackson Hole is one of the most scenic fly fishing destinations in America, flowing beneath the towering Teton Range through Grand Teton National Park. Home to the native Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout, this braided ...
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande through Taos County is one of the most dramatic fly fishing settings in the American West, carving through an 800-foot volcanic basalt gorge below the surrounding mesa. This powerful freestone river offers exceptional fishing for wild ...
Gallatin River
The Gallatin River rushes through a narrow, forested canyon between Big Sky and Bozeman, offering fast-paced pocket water fishing for eager rainbow and brown trout. Made famous by 'A River Runs Through It,' the Gallatin is a quintessential Montana fr...
Androscoggin River
The Androscoggin River in northern New Hampshire offers exceptional fly fishing for rainbow, brown, and brook trout, plus landlocked Atlantic salmon in the upper reaches near Errol. Flowing from Lake Umbagog through the White Mountains, this 53-mile ...
Yellow Breeches Creek
Yellow Breeches Creek is a productive limestone spring creek flowing through Cumberland County in south-central Pennsylvania, offering accessible fishing for wild and stocked trout near Harrisburg. Known for excellent hatches, year-round fishing oppo...
Bighorn River (Wyoming)
The Bighorn River through Thermopolis, Wyoming, is a phenomenal dry-fly fishery flowing through the town famous for the world's largest hot spring. Beginning at the Wedding of the Waters where the Wind River changes names, this section boasts over 3,...
Green River
The Green River below Fontenelle Dam in southwest Wyoming is a hidden gem tailwater flowing through the remote high desert of Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. Trophy brown trout exceeding 20 inches prowl the slow pools and deep runs, feeding on p...
Pecos River
The Pecos River is New Mexico's most beloved and accessible mountain trout stream, flowing through the heart of the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains less than an hour from Santa Fe. This beautiful freestone stream offers extraordinary diversity: f...
Metolius River
The Metolius River is one of the most beautiful and challenging fly fishing destinations in the Pacific Northwest. Born from massive springs at the base of Black Butte in the Cascade Range, this crystal-clear spring creek flows through old-growth pon...
Penns Creek
Penns Creek is Pennsylvania's most celebrated wild trout stream, flowing through 60 miles of limestone-enriched valleys and mountain terrain in central Pennsylvania. Known for its prolific Green Drake hatch, challenging selective brown trout, and bea...
Slate Run
Slate Run is a pristine mountain freestone stream flowing through the remote Pine Creek Gorge area of north-central Pennsylvania, renowned for exceptional wild brook trout fishing in a wilderness setting. This is Pennsylvania's premier native brook t...
Tulpehocken Creek
Tulpehocken Creek is a productive tailwater fishery flowing below Blue Marsh Dam in Berks County, offering consistent year-round fishing for stocked and wild trout near Reading. Known for stable flows, good hatches, and accessible fishing, the Tulpeh...
New Fork River
The New Fork River flows from the glacial lakes of the Wind River Range through the cattle country of Sublette County, offering outstanding fly fishing for brown, rainbow, and brook trout in one of the most remote and uncrowded river valleys in Wyomi...
Saco River
The Saco River flows through the heart of New Hampshire's Mount Washington Valley, offering crystal-clear water, exceptional brown trout fishing, and some of the most scenic fly fishing in New England. Known for producing hefty brown trout exceeding ...
Fall River
Fall River is one of the purest spring creeks in the world, fed entirely by massive volcanic springs that push millions of gallons of crystal-clear, cold water from the Modoc Plateau. The river meanders through broad meadows with virtually no gradien...
Truckee River
The Truckee River flows 121 miles from Lake Tahoe through downtown Reno and into Pyramid Lake, offering easily accessible urban fly fishing with wild rainbow and brown trout in the heart of Nevada's largest city. This tailwater fishery combines sceni...
Davidson River
The Davidson River is North Carolina's premier wild trout stream, flowing through the heart of Pisgah National Forest in Transylvania County. With over 8 miles of Delayed Harvest water, exceptional access, and healthy populations of rainbow, brown, a...
Upper Sacramento River
The Upper Sacramento River above Shasta Lake is a classic freestone mountain trout stream that flows through the historic railroad town of Dunsmuir and along the I-5 corridor. Despite its proximity to the interstate, the river offers excellent wild t...
Truckee River
The Truckee River flows out of Lake Tahoe and winds through the mountain town of Truckee, offering accessible fly fishing in the heart of the Sierra Nevada. The California section provides a mix of pocket water, runs, and pools holding healthy popula...
Big Fishing Creek
Big Fishing Creek flows through the scenic mountains of north-central Pennsylvania, offering excellent limestone-enriched freestone fishing for wild brown and brook trout. Known for diverse hatches, beautiful pocket water, and a more forgiving charac...
Pemigewasset River
The Pemigewasset River flows 65 miles through the heart of New Hampshire's White Mountains, offering diverse fly fishing from small stream headwaters at Profile Lake to broad freestone water in the lowlands. Known for native brook trout, stocked brow...
Little Juniata River
The Little Juniata River is a productive limestone-enriched freestone river flowing through the scenic Allegheny Mountains of central Pennsylvania. Known for excellent wild brown trout populations, diverse hatches, and beautiful pocket water, the Lit...
Pit River
The Pit River is one of California's most underrated and challenging trout fisheries, flowing through a rugged volcanic canyon east of Redding. Divided into numbered reaches separated by PG&E powerhouses, the river offers cold tailwater conditions th...
East Fork Carson River
The East Fork Carson River flows from the Sierra Nevada through scenic Carson Valley, offering accessible fly fishing for wild rainbow, brown, and Lahontan cutthroat trout in a pastoral high-desert setting. This freestone river provides good dry fly ...
East Walker River
The East Walker River below Bridgeport Reservoir is one of the finest brown trout tailwaters in the Sierra Nevada, known for producing trophy-class fish that regularly exceed 20 inches. Cold releases from the reservoir sustain a population of browns ...
McCloud River
The McCloud River holds a legendary place in American fly fishing history as the source of rainbow trout eggs that were shipped worldwide in the late 1800s. Today, the river harbors a genetically distinct strain of wild McCloud redband rainbow trout ...
Oak Creek
Oak Creek flows through one of Arizona's most scenic canyons near Sedona, offering challenging fly fishing for wild brown, rainbow, and brook trout in a stunning red rock landscape. This freestone creek features cold, clear water sustained by numerou...
Tuckasegee River
The Tuckasegee River below Bryson City offers North Carolina anglers a taste of Western-style tailwater fishing, with year-round fishable flows, Delayed Harvest regulations, and consistent populations of rainbow and brown trout. The combination of da...
Souhegan River
The Souhegan River flows 33 miles through Milford and Merrimack in southern New Hampshire, featuring a popular Delayed Harvest section in Milford with special catch-and-release regulations, heavy stocking, and pocket water that resembles a White Moun...
Kettle Creek
Kettle Creek flows through the remote mountains of north-central Pennsylvania, offering excellent wild brook and brown trout fishing in a wilderness setting. Known for beautiful pocket water, abundant wild trout, and minimal fishing pressure, Kettle ...
Nantahala River
The Nantahala River below Nantahala Lake is North Carolina's most unique trout fishery, combining frigid tailwater flows, year-round trout habitat, and the stunning scenery of the Nantahala Gorge. Despite sharing the river with commercial whitewater ...
Ammonoosuc River
The Ammonoosuc River flows 55 miles from its origin at the Lakes of the Clouds on Mount Washington westward through Bethlehem, Littleton, and Lisbon before joining the Connecticut River in Haverhill. This diverse freestone river offers excellent broo...
South Toe River
The South Toe River flows through the scenic Black Mountain range of Western North Carolina, offering productive Wild Trout fishing in a beautiful rural valley setting. With excellent roadside access, Delayed Harvest regulations, and healthy populati...
Baker River
The Baker River flows 36 miles through the scenic towns of Warren, Wentworth, and Rumney before joining the Pemigewasset River at Plymouth. Home to the Warren Fish Hatchery and stocked with brook, brown, and rainbow trout, the Baker offers accessible...
Deerfield River (Upper)
The upper Deerfield River in Vermont offers excellent tailwater fly fishing below Searsburg Dam, with reliable hatches, technical dry fly fishing, and healthy populations of brown and rainbow trout. This section provides a challenging and rewarding a...
Battenkill River
The Battenkill River is Vermont's most famous trout stream, a world-renowned destination for fly fishing that has drawn anglers for over a century. With its wild brown trout, technical dry fly fishing, and catch-and-release regulations on the Vermont...
Upper Klamath River
The Upper Klamath River is undergoing a historic transformation following the largest dam removal project in American history. With the removal of four dams completed in 2024, the river is reopening to anadromous fish runs for the first time in over ...
Swift River
The Swift River flows 26 miles through the heart of the White Mountain National Forest along the scenic Kancamagus Highway, offering pristine wild brook trout fishing in pocket water, plunges, and pools. This undammed freestone stream descends over 2...
Ellis River
The Ellis River is a 16-mile freestone stream flowing from Pinkham Notch at the base of Mount Washington through the scenic village of Jackson before joining the Saco River at Glen. Known for wild brook trout in its upper reaches and stocked rainbow ...
Watauga River
The Watauga River in the High Country of Northwestern North Carolina offers a mix of freestone pocket water and meadow runs flowing through scenic valley farmland. With Wild Trout designation, excellent public access through Valle Crucis, and healthy...
East Fork Black River
The East Fork of the Black River offers a wilderness fly fishing experience for Arizona's native Apache trout in a remote White Mountains setting. This pristine freestone stream flows through dense forests of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir, providing...
Upper Kennebec River
The Upper Kennebec River below Harris Dam is one of Maine's premier trophy trout fisheries, producing remarkable brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, and landlocked salmon in the dramatic gorge section near The Forks. Cold tailwater releases from...
Mascoma River
The Mascoma River flows 31 miles through Canaan, Enfield, and Lebanon in western New Hampshire, featuring a fly fishing only section below Mascoma Lake, landlocked Atlantic salmon near the lake, and productive brown and rainbow trout fishing in a sce...
New Haven River
The New Haven River is a pristine, cold mountain stream flowing through the towns of Ripton, Lincoln, and Bristol, offering excellent fly fishing for wild brook trout and stocked rainbow and brown trout. Known for crystal-clear water, diverse pocket ...
White River
The White River is a 60-mile free-flowing tributary of the Connecticut River that offers exceptional wild rainbow trout fishing alongside populations of wild brown and native brook trout. Known for productive fall fishing when other rivers are off-li...
French Broad River
The French Broad River is Western North Carolina's premier warmwater fly fishing destination, offering exceptional smallmouth bass fishing within minutes of downtown Asheville. While the upper reaches hold wild trout, the river's reputation rests on ...
Chevelon Creek
Chevelon Creek carves a remote canyon through the Mogollon Rim country, offering adventurous anglers a chance at large wild brown trout in a spectacular wilderness setting. Access requires a challenging 3/4-mile hike down steep terrain, but the rewar...
Magalloway River
The Magalloway River below Aziscohos Dam is one of western Maine's finest cold-water fisheries, producing rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, and landlocked Atlantic salmon in a remote stretch of river along the Maine-New Hampshire border. Cold ...
Walloomsac River
The Walloomsac River near Bennington offers accessible fly fishing for wild brown and rainbow trout in a pastoral Vermont setting. With a two-mile trophy section featuring fish ranging 16 to 20 inches, the Walloomsac provides quality fishing close to...
Winooski River
The Winooski River is northern Vermont's premier fly fishing destination, flowing 90 miles from Cabot to Lake Champlain through diverse terrain. With wild brown trout, stocked rainbows, native brook trout in tributaries, and landlocked Atlantic salmo...
Lamoille River
The Lamoille River courses through Northern Vermont for 85 miles, offering diverse fishing opportunities for rainbow trout, brook trout, and landlocked Atlantic salmon. With good access, scenic mountain views, and fall salmon runs, the Lamoille is a ...
Wilson Creek
Wilson Creek flows through the rugged backcountry of Pisgah National Forest, offering adventurous fly fishers a wilderness trout experience. Designated as Wild Trout water and protected within the Wilson Creek Wild and Scenic River corridor, this bou...
Linville River
The Linville River carves one of the most dramatic gorges in the Eastern United States, plunging 2,000 feet through the Blue Ridge escarpment in a series of spectacular waterfalls and wild pocket water. Designated as Wild Trout water, the Linville of...
Crooked River
The Crooked River is southern Maine's premier wild trout stream, a 43-mile river flowing from Songo Pond to Sebago Lake that supports healthy populations of wild brook trout, landlocked Atlantic salmon, and some brown trout. Located just an hour from...
Mitchell River
The Mitchell River flows through the rolling Piedmont foothills of Northwestern North Carolina, offering a unique combination of wild trout in the headwaters and excellent smallmouth bass fishing in the lower sections. With Special Regulation Trout W...
Deep Creek
Deep Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers classic mountain brook trout fishing in a protected wilderness setting. With easy access from Bryson City, scenic waterfalls, and healthy populations of wild rainbow and brown trout (plus n...
Dog River
The Dog River is a small to medium freestone stream flowing through central Vermont, offering quality wild brown trout and brook trout fishing in a scenic, accessible setting. Known for technical dry fly fishing and healthy wild trout populations, th...
Owyhee River
The Owyhee River below Owyhee Dam is southeastern Oregon's premier tailwater fishery, renowned for its trophy brown trout and stunning high-desert canyon scenery. Flowing through a remote, arid landscape of volcanic rock and sagebrush in Malheur Coun...
Mettawee River
The Mettawee River flows through western Vermont's agricultural valleys, offering accessible fly fishing for wild brown, rainbow, and native brook trout. Best fished where tributaries create pools and cooling water, the Mettawee provides a beginner-f...
Wild Horse Reservoir
Wild Horse Reservoir is a high-desert impoundment offering excellent fishing for rainbow and brown trout plus smallmouth bass in a remote northern Nevada setting. This 2,830-acre reservoir provides good shore and boat fishing opportunities with a rep...
South Fork Reservoir
South Fork Reservoir is a high-desert impoundment offering diverse fishing for rainbow and brown trout plus smallmouth bass in a scenic canyon setting. This stillwater fishery provides good shore and boat fishing opportunities with easy access from E...
Otter Creek
Otter Creek is Vermont's longest river at 112 miles, offering diverse fishing from cold-water brook trout in headwaters to mixed trout and warmwater species in lower sections. Cold tributaries like the New Haven and Middlebury Rivers provide excellen...
Bruneau River
The Bruneau River flows from Idaho through remote northwestern Nevada, offering wilderness fly fishing for wild rainbow and brown trout in a dramatic desert canyon. This small freestone river provides excellent dry fly fishing opportunities in one of...
Great Basin NP Streams
The streams of Great Basin National Park offer high-alpine fly fishing for brook, brown, rainbow, and Lahontan cutthroat trout in one of Nevada's most spectacular mountain settings. Lehman Creek and Baker Creek flow through scenic canyons beneath Whe...