Western Rivers

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.

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 freestone stream.

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 Jefferson and Gallatin to form the Missouri River at Three Forks.

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 brown trout.

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 most scenic fly fishing in the American West.

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 5,000 per mile in the best sections, outstanding float fishing through Brown's Canyon National Monument, and a year-round fishery supported by diverse hatches, the Arkansas delivers exceptional fishing in a spectacular mountain setting.

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 walk-and-wade fishing in the Hot Sulphur Springs area to outstanding float trips through Byers Canyon and the ranch country downstream.

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 water, and demanding technical fishing, the Pan rewards anglers who master delicate presentations and patience.

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 setting. Designated both Gold Medal and Wild Trout water, the Gorge demands effort to reach but rewards with fishing that rivals any destination in the West.

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 distinct character and challenge, drawing anglers from across the country to match wits with notoriously selective trout.

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, and BWOs drawing selective rainbow trout to the surface, this is the river that has defined American dry-fly fishing for over a century.

The Salmon River, Idaho's famed 'River of No Return,' is the longest undammed river in the lower 48 states, flowing 425 miles through the heart of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. Home to steelhead, westslope cutthroat, and bull trout, the Salmon offers a wilderness fishing experience unmatched in the American West.

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 grain of sand on the streambed is visible. Protected by The Nature Conservancy, Silver Creek is the ultimate test of technical fly fishing skill.

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 releases, prolific hatches, and surprisingly light fishing pressure, the South Fork Boise is one of the most underrated trout streams in the American West.

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 cutthroat, and legendary hatches of Salmonflies and Green Drakes, the South Fork offers world-class float fishing in a stunningly wild setting.

The Crooked River below Bowman Dam is a world-class tailwater fishery tucked into a dramatic rimrock canyon just south of Prineville, Oregon. With redband trout densities exceeding 8,000 fish per mile in its best reaches, this intimate stream offers technical nymph fishing that rivals any tailwater in the West. Open year-round and easily waded by anglers of all abilities, the Crooked River is Central Oregon's most accessible quality trout stream.

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 high-desert canyon country, it offers world-class dry fly fishing in a stunningly remote setting. The river's consistent, cold tailwater flows and prolific insect hatches support one of the healthiest wild trout populations in Oregon.

The John Day River is Oregon's longest undammed river, with 284 miles of free-flowing water coursing through the dramatic canyon country of eastern Oregon. Unlike traditional trout streams, the John Day is best known for its extraordinary smallmouth bass fly fishing and its wild summer steelhead. A multi-day float through painted canyons with world-class bass fishing is one of the great wilderness fly fishing adventures in the American West.

The McKenzie River is Oregon's quintessential drift-boat trout stream, flowing 90 miles from Clear Lake high in the Cascades to the Willamette River near Eugene. Famous for its stunning blue water, prolific caddis hatches, and the traditional McKenzie drift boat that was invented on its banks, the river offers outstanding dry fly fishing in one of the most beautiful valley settings in the Pacific Northwest.

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 ponderosa forest and supports wild populations of rainbow trout, brown trout, and the increasingly rare bull trout. Fly-fishing-only regulations and catch-and-release rules protect a fishery of uncommon quality in a setting of breathtaking natural beauty.

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 County, this 10-mile tailwater produces some of the largest brown trout in the Pacific Northwest with year-round fly fishing opportunity.

The Klickitat River is a hidden gem of the Columbia River Gorge, a wild and scenic river that flows through a remote basalt canyon to join the Columbia near the town of Lyle. Known primarily as one of Washington's finest summer steelhead rivers, the Klickitat also offers quality trout fishing in its upper reaches and a wilderness experience that feels far removed from civilization.

The Methow River flows through one of Washington's most pristine mountain valleys, offering outstanding fly fishing for wild rainbow and westslope cutthroat trout in a landscape of pine forests, sagebrush hills, and snow-capped Cascade peaks. Its clear, cold waters and protected habitat make it a true Pacific Northwest gem.

Rocky Ford Creek is Washington's premier spring creek, a crystal-clear, spring-fed stream winding through the desert landscape northeast of Ephrata. Its year-round, fly-only, catch-and-release regulations protect a population of large, highly selective rainbow trout that challenge even the most experienced fly fishers.

The Skagit River is the largest river system in Puget Sound, flowing from the Canadian Cascades through dramatic mountain gorges and fertile lowlands. Renowned as one of the Pacific Northwest's premier steelhead rivers, the Skagit also offers exceptional fly fishing for wild rainbow trout, bull trout, and sea-run cutthroat in a stunning wilderness setting.

The Yakima River is widely regarded as the best trout fly fishing river in Washington state, flowing through a spectacular basalt canyon between Ellensburg and Yakima. Its year-round catch-and-release regulations, prolific hatches, and healthy populations of wild rainbow and westslope cutthroat trout make it a destination that draws anglers from across the Pacific Northwest.

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 3,000 trout per mile and is renowned for its consistent hatches and stunning Wind River Canyon scenery.

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 prolific hatches of midges, BWOs, PMDs, and terrestrials in a starkly beautiful landscape that few fly fishers ever discover.

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 Wyoming. With trophy browns exceeding 20 inches and a diverse hatch calendar from Grey Drakes to PMDs, the New Fork rewards anglers willing to venture off the beaten path.

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 rainbows routinely topping 20 inches, this is destination fly fishing at its finest.

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 mountain river offers outstanding dry-fly fishing in a wilderness setting that defines the spirit of Western fly fishing.