Trout Fishing in America

These are the top five trout fishing spots in America, in no particular order:

Gallatin River

The Gallatin is a 120-mile (193 km) stretch of water that runs through Yellowstone National Park and the state of Montana. It is one of the three rivers that join together near Three Forks, Montana to become the Missouri River.

It’s a small river, and the trout are relatively small, but because this area isn’t overfished, the trout don’t put up a large fight, and they aren’t overly wary of fishing lures or anglers.

No matter what season you’re fishing in the Gallatin, the scenery is spectacular. Evergreen and deciduous trees line the banks of the river, and it’s an excellent fly fishing river. In the fall and winter, snow caps the mountains surrounding the Gallatin.

Colorado River

The Colorado is known for some of the best trout fishing in the U.S., and it’s also a great spot for fly fishing.

The Colorado is home to more than twenty freshwater fish species. While the river is known for its striped bass and channel catfish, it’s also home to largemouth bass, rainbow trout, black crappie, and walleye.

The Colorado River has many access points, and shore fly fishing is popular. Frozen or live anchovies or sardines make excellent bait, and early March to late November is the best time to go fishing in the Colorado. The warmth of spring draws crappies to the shallows, and they can be found hiding in the brush near the shore.

Dry fly fishing is ideal for catching a crappie, and in the autumn, walleye can be found in the deeper parts of the river. Live bait or a wet fly are some of you best options for catching a walleye in the colder seasons.

Yellowstone River

No list of the top trout fishing spots in the U.S. would be complete without the Yellowstone River. The Yellowstone is one of the best trout streams in the entire western United States. Cutthroat trout are abundant in the Yellowstone, and as you move further downstream, towards Montana, rainbow trout and brown trout become more abundant.

The water in the Yellowstone River varies in temperature and current speed, making it a great fishing spot for all types of anglers. Dry flies, wet flies, and spinner rods all work great at Yellowstone River.

Bighorn River

The best stretch for fishing in the Bighorn River is the tailwater fishery. The water flow and temperature is regulated in this area, and the trout thrive in abundance here.

The Bighorn is known for its large hatches, which attract trout to the surface. This makes it the perfect spot for fly fishing, though spin anglers have also been successful at catching trout in the Bighorn.

Green River

Fewer fishing spots have a more dramatic backdrop than the red soapstone canyons surrounding the Green River. The Green is one of the best tailwater fisheries in the U.S., and it’s home to brown, cutbow, cutthroat, hybrid, and rainbow trout.

Fishing in the river is limited to artificial lures and flies, and catch-and-release fishing is highly encouraged. Artificial dry and wet flies, fish-shaped lures, and spinnerbaits are highly effective for hooking a trout.

 Catching a trout shouldn’t be difficult, as the fish population is very dense. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources estimates that there are 8,000 to 22,000 fish per mile between the Green River dam and the Red Creek rapids alone!