This week, we’ve decided to share with you some of the greatest fishing locations in the United States of America. In case your adventurous and hunting spirit takes over, you should also check out this knockout post about good hunting cameras as well as discover more here about which insulated boots will work best for you together with a good cocking device for crossbows.
Keep in mind that a heater for your hunting blind might also be helpful and reading this article about ice fishing suits will keep you dry, cozy and warm even in cold weather.
If you ever plan to take your RV out of the garage, your portable fish finder out of your drawer, and go on an adventure either by yourself or with your friends and family, you need to check out these angling spots if you consider yourself a fisher of any kind.
To cut it short, our list is composed of twenty-five amazing places where you simply have to practice your fishing skills whenever you have the time. We made sure to include a variety of locations so as to meet the expectations of anglers across the U.S., and even those of people who might be less inclined to travel for long distances.
Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
As the home of one of the oldest fishing tournaments in the country, this place is considered one of the greatest locations to catch Bluefish and Striped Bass. Of course, depending on the particular area in Martha’s Vineyard you’re going to fish, you can also target bonito, false albacore, and in the South Side, you can even reel in bunker and mackerel. There are several tackle shops available in the area, such as Coop’s Bait & Tackle and Larry’s Tackle Shop, so you don’t even have to take all of your gear with you.
Green River, Utah
If fly fishing is what you have in mind and the type of fish you prefer to reel in is trout, you have to check out Green River. It is the home of a huge trout population, and rainbow trout, specifically. Aside from regular fly tackle, you can also utilize Rapalas and spinners, as they both do a great job. Of course, if you prefer other techniques, there’s nothing stopping you from trying out baitcasting or the best spincast reel, if you’ve recently purchased one and want to know how it feels.
Lodging in the area is available for budget-friendly prices, and the fact that the scenery is a sight for sore eyes practically sells this spot. As it is to be expected from such an amazing location, it’s packed with charter services.
Florida Keys, Florida
This fishing spot boasts a whopping 125 miles of long arc islands. What this means for you is that you can catch fish all year long. Besides, it is worth noting that, unlike other places we’ve tackled in this selection, this one is overflowing with species ranging from redfish to tarpon.
You can even get your hands on some bonefish and snook. If you’re lucky and know how to use your tackle, there’s nothing stopping you from targeting swordfish and white and blue marlin off the Keys. Sport Fishing Mag has published an extensive article about the species you can target in the area.
Thousand Islands, New York
You can probably make out from the name that this area is packed with several species of fish. You can target anything from Northern Pike to Muskies and even Large Mouthed Bass as the diversity is truly breathtaking. What’s more, it’s common knowledge that the Muskies you’ll find in this location can grow up to 60 inches in length. So, you might need to resort to your every skill in order to reel in such a monster.
Besides, the neat thing about this fishing spot is that you can always decide to take a different course and end up angling in Lake Ontario. Just make sure you get your license either from the state of New York or the province of Ontario, depending on where you’re going to be doing your angling.
Montauk, New York
Despite being one of the busiest tourist places in East Hampton, this beach resort is quite famous for its fishing. Montauk can offer you the opportunity to catch some serious flounders, cod, bluefish, fluke, and mackerel in shallow water; in deep waters, you can even reel in some tuna, dolphin fish, blue marlin, as well as shark.
Of course, the fact that it is located on the eastern end of Long Island adds to the overall charm of the area. Plus, the fact that Montauk is filled with heaps of motels in a variety of price ranges is another detail you might be interested in.
Charlotte Harbor, Florida
Because of its unique blend that makes it possible for saltwater coming from the Gulf of Mexico to mix with freshwater from the Peace Myakka and Caloosahatchee rivers, this spot is truly an incredible fishing location. The species diversity is impressive as one can reel in anything from snooks and groupers to redfish and barracuda.
Additionally, you might want to know that Charlotte Harbor offers limitless opportunities when it comes to the type of fishing you can perform. You can engage in anything from kayak fishing to deep sea fishing.
Bighorn River, Montana
If you’re ever in Montana, it would be a shame for you to forego angling in Bighorn River. It’s packed with brown trout, so it is not as diverse as other locations we’ve talked about earlier on. However, if you’re a versatile angler who just so happens to be in the area, we recommend doing some laid-back fly fishing especially as some anglers are even lucky enough to reel in brown trout even with artificial flies.
Orvis has created a report detailing the water conditions, fish species, and recommended gear you might want to use when you’re angling in Bighorn River.
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama
While a trip to the Gulf of Mexico is very likely to sweep you off your feet, Golf Shores is most appreciated by anglers because of its diversity. You can target flounder, redfish when shore fishing, but you can also get your hands on some snapper, marlin, tuna, and king mackerel if you go off the coast.
Also, the vast range of fishing charters you’ll find available in the area will allow you to practice your deep sea fishing skills as you’ve probably always wanted. Plus, the area hosts a plethora of restaurants that will cook the fish you’ve caught for you, and there are about twenty-five of such places.
You can enjoy the breathtaking views while you’re strolling on the beach or pushing the best fishing cart containing all of your necessary equipment. Discover more fishing destinations in Alabama.
Devils Lake, North Dakota
Also known as the ‘Perch Capital’ of the United States, Devils Lake can also provide you a variety of species ranging from white bass to northern pike and walleye. Let’s not forget about crappie.
The hydrology of the location is unique, in that it is one of those few lakes that are salty. Due to the rising waters of the lake and its basin, the location can become the victim of a rough fish, the common carp. As this species is known for the negative impact it can have on any ecosystem, it is quite likely that it will populate the lake in the future, thus affecting the game fish that already exist in the spot, such as walleye and northern pike. So, if you have the opportunity to visit the area in the near future, you’d better do it.
Lake Tahoe, California & Nevada
As the largest alpine lake in North America, Tahoe is also the second deepest one. You can do a lot of things in the area aside from fishing, whether you want to practice your skiing skills during the winter or just go hiking in the summer.
Some of the common fish species that you can target in the area range from salmon to brown trout. That doesn’t stop you from reeling in rainbow trout and mackinaw, though, but there’s a catch. Every fisher is allowed to catch five fish, and everyone needs to abide by this rule in order to keep the health of the fishery on par.
Lake Tahoe is our top favorite of “25 Best Fishing Places in the United States”. We travel to Nevada every year multiple times to enjoy the fresh mountain terrain and frozen ice fishing holes.
Lake Austin, Texas
If you’re a fan of bass, Lake Austin should be right up your alley. It’s one of the few locations in the United States that will allow you to reel in a 20-pound largemouth, so that’s definitely worth considering.
While it might be a bit inconvenient because it’s filled with recreational boaters during the day, there’s nothing stopping you from fishing at night. What’s more, we have to add that the area is significantly cooler compared to other regions across the state of Texas.
Lake Fork Reservoir, Texas
Located approximately 5 miles north of Quitman Texas, this lake contains a broad range of fish that include bream, sunfish, channel catfish, as well as black and white perch. As other areas in Texas, it is mostly known for its bass fishing, so make sure to bring your right tackle with you. Although the chances of reeling in a bass are never slim, you might be surprised to catch a crappie, instead.
Due to the excellent water clarity of the lake, you can use anything from live bait to small colorful lures. You can even catch some perch with minnows.
Lake Shelbyville, Illinois
Despite being a popular angling location mostly during the summer months, this reservoir is the home of several exciting species such as flathead catfish, crappie, freshwater drum, walleye, bass, as well as bigmouth buffalo. Since the lake also contains a good deal of carp, you can use your bow fishing skills to reel in several, especially as they’re in abundance in the lake.
Something neat about the area is that it’s nearby resorts and campgrounds, so you can always take your family on the road and enjoy being in the middle of nature a bit more than you’d regularly do. Plus, there are two state parks you might want to visit while you’re around these parts. To make sure you’re always prepared for a new adventure either by yourself or with the people whose company you enjoy, we suggest keeping the best telescopic fishing rod in the trunk of your car.
Columbia River, Oregon & Washington
Spring and summer fishing is ideal if you plan to hit the Pacific Northwest anytime soon. This river holds a variety of species that range from salmon to steelhead and smallmouth bass. You can even catch some sturgeon. One thing that we have to add in relation to this angling spot is that navigating the waters might be tricky, so if you’re not an experienced boater, you might want to prefer fishing from the shore.
Colorado River, Colorado
This river spans on over 1,400 miles, so you can choose the right area to do your angling in for the type of fish you want to target. We recommend checking out the spots near the Rocky Mountains as it is the place where the salmon fly hatches in the month of June. You can take advantage of this phenomenon to reel in some big trout. Check out the best places to drop a line in Colorado.
California Delta, California
Northern California is the perfect place if you want to go somewhere where you can practice your angling skills all year, what with the climate being warm and mild. The delta is packed with piers and river banks, so there are plenty of opportunities for you to get your hands on some black bass, striped bass, sturgeon, salmon, and catfish. Given that the delta is the location of derbies every year, you can enjoy the view while you’re trying to catch your next trophy fish.
Because the weather might be just a tad too hot for some anglers, we recommend preparing your protective equipment beforehand. Don’t forget to bring enough sunscreen and the best Green fisherman hat along.
Chesapeake Bay, Maryland
If someone were to imagine what the mother of all bass that can be caught in the United States nowadays is, it’s very likely that they would come up with this bay. It is estimated that about seventy percent of the entire population of striped bass that can be found on the Atlantic Coast originates from the Chesapeake Bay.
It stands to reason, though, that the area doesn’t offer just one species, so there’s plenty of bluefish, speckled trout, croaked, and drum to choose from if you’re not a fan of striped bass.
Lake of the Woods, Minnesota
Northern Minnesota might not be the warmest location from our selection, but it is definitely worth checking out if you have nothing against performing some serious ice fishing. If you are brave enough to fight the cold, you can catch anything from largemouth bass, yellow perch, crappie, and walleye. Many anglers like their northern pike, and there’s plenty to catch in this lake.
Since your equipment matters quite a bit when it comes to your ice fishing success, we suggest having a look at this Vexilar FL-8se Genz Pack Ice Flasher Review. Believe it or not, this device can help you catch the trophy fish you’ve always dreamed of.
The number of personal fishing guides available in the area is practically daunting as anyone’s a friend in need and can help you get the right lures and pack up on all the equipment you might need for the type of fish you are after.
Lake St. Clair, Michigan
Bordering Detroit, this lake is lesser known compared to other locations we’ve talked about earlier on. What you might not be aware of, however, is the fact that the place is filled with crappie, walleye, smallmouth bass, and most of all, muskie. Some say that taking a charter boat in the summer will allow you to reel in more bass in a matter of just six hours than spending a whole day trying to do the same in other, less friendly waters.
Kobuk River, Alaska
If you’re not afraid of going up north and catching something different for a change, you have to consider going on an angling trip on the Kobuk River. It’s over 200 miles long, and it hosts a healthy population of arctic char, chum salmon, northern pike, lake trout, and sheefish. Sheefish can put up a serious fight, which is why so many anglers like to battle with these so-called cousins of the common salmon. They are strong, huge, and fast, so they require high-quality equipment that’s resilient enough to put up with their abuse.
Kona, Hawaii
Perhaps Hawaii seems an attractive destination not just due to the weather and breathtaking scenery, but also because of all the fish you can catch in this area. Kona is thought of as one of the fishing capitals of Hawaii, so there’s plenty of Mahi Mahi, tuna, and Ono to reel in. The definition of deep-sea fishing appears to have been invented here as the harbor bottoms out six thousand feet below.
Outer Banks, North Carolina
One of the reasons you should consider going out to Outer Banks is that it’s perfect for anglers who want to try out several techniques without having to travel very long distances. You can fish from the shore, from the pier, or you can engage in some fly fishing or braking fishing; the sky’s the limit when it comes to what you can experiment here, but most fishermen and women seem to prefer to reel in their catches from boats that come with everything that they might need.
Headboat fishing is also convenient because you won’t have to get a license, and we all know how frustrating it can be to end up in a place and have no idea where you can get your fishing permit so as to be able to enjoy the area as much as possible. Fortunately, if you go for a headboat in this location, you can spend either half a day or a whole day on board as most of these boats come with bathrooms and can ensure a number of snacks. Plus, they accommodate all your needs as they will supply you with anything from bait and fishing licenses to hooks and reels.
Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
In a way, Cape Hatteras is a part of the Outer Banks we’ve talked about previously. It’s one of the most appreciated fishing spots in the United States, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise considering the species diversity it accommodates. Offshore fish range from wahoo to marlin and sailfish while inshore fish include striped bass, speckled trout, red drum, and flounder.
Since the area might be a tad dangerous because of the high number of shipwrecks that have happened here, you might want to stay on the safe side and hire a guide unless you’re a great connoisseur of the local waters.
Discover more of the best bass fishing destinations in North Carolina.
Lake Mead, Nevada
Fishing in this huge lake is available all year round, but you’ll find that the best months for angling are from July through December. Some fishers who end up here like to relax and enjoy some night time fishing, so you might want to do the same. If you come here, you will have the opportunity to target anything from crappie to trout and catfish. However, the real attraction of Lake Mead is its striped bass, which can get to a weight of forty pounds.
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
It would have been nearly impossible to avoid including this location, and for good reason, too. In fact, Massachusetts is an amazing place for angling, in general, but Cape Cod is the winner of all prizes. Depending on the specific area and the type of fishing you will engage in, you can get your hands on anything from Black Sea Bass to Atlantic Cod, but also Bluefin Tuna and Wolffish.
As the United States offers a myriad of waters packed with fish, it would be a shame not to try to visit them all. We’ve only talked about twenty-five, but the plethora of fishing locations is truly infinite, so we advise you to have a talk with your buddies and organize a get-together as soon as possible.
Furthermore, we have to add that there are many fishing forums online that can help you find out the specifics of the region you want to travel to and the waters you’re going to do your angling in. Most fishers will help you without expecting anything in return, but you probably know that already.