Experience Fabulous Fly Fishing At These Five Locations

September is often a great time for fly fishing because the days get shorter and cooler, and the trout are starting to show some activity, according to Drifthook. October, when brown trout season peaks, is one of the best fly fishing months. November through December is also an excellent time to fish trout from streams and rivers because the water can be cool, still and clear at this point in the year.

According to Fly Fishing in Michigan: Your Ultimate Guide, basic fly fishing equipment includes a rod, reel, fly line and leader. Instead of using bait, fly anglers use artificial flies. Most fly rods are longer and more flexible than spinning rods. The fly rod must bend enough to cast the fly line without requiring extra work by you to get the fly to where you want it to go. Fly line is heavier and thicker than regular fishing line. It’s covered with plastic and the weight of the fly line itself is what propels it forward when you cast.

The Au Sable River, Michigan

Boasting more miles of lakes and rivers to fly fish in than anywhere else in the country, Michigan is a utopia for people who love the sport. With roughly 20,000 miles of cold, quality trout waters alone, the state’s water is also home to fly fishing species including large and smallmouth bass, sunfish, crappie, northern pike, muskellunge and more. In fact, the Au Sable River is recognized as one of the most premier fly fishing destinations in the country. The river runs 138 miles through the northern Lower Peninsula, including the towns of Grayling and Mio, and enters Lake Huron at the town of Oscoda. Field and Stream especially recommends fishing in Grayling’s stretch of the Au Sable River, naming it one of the ‘5 Best Towns for Trout Fishing in the U.S.’ The Grayling area is a sanctuary for those who seek the great outdoors.

Whiteface Lodge, Lake Placid, New York

With its hand-milled timber and accents such as cozy carpeted sitting rooms and handcrafted Adirondack furnishings, Whiteface Lodge in Lake Placid, New York, complements the resplendent beauty of the Adirondacks in a way that few resorts can. The lodge evokes the region’s 19th-century heyday with a wood-beamed exterior, cozy carpet-strewn sitting rooms and cast-iron fireplaces. The Lake Placid area offers an abundance of fly fishing options. The West Branch of the Ausable River is the region’s most popular fly fishing spot, as anglers are impressed with the plentiful trout that swim these waters. Mid-May through the end of September is the prime time for fishing here. Two catch and release areas are open year-round. You’ll also find plenty of trout on the East Branch, which can be more tranquil than the West Branch.

Primland Resort, Meadow of Dan, Virginia

Located on 12,000 acres in the heart of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Primland Resort is a majestic year-round mountain retreat that provides a truly one-of-a-kind experience for travelers of all kinds. With endless outdoor adventures across the property, guests can explore the unspoiled wilderness with hunting, fishing and beyond. Seasoned anglers will thrill at the catch and release options with unrivaled access to a six-mile stretch of the Dan River, which is rugged, remote and home to spirited wild brown, brook and rainbow trout. For beginners, the more placid Kibler Valley offers three stocked ponds for guests to catch their own trout or bass for lunch or experience the rush of catch and release fishing on a broad and forgiving stretch of river in Kibler Valley. Guests can purchase a fishing license on property and all groups will be accompanied by one of Primland’s expert fly fishing guides.

Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico

With an onsite stream, guests are able to learn the art of fly fishing without having to step foot off property. The resort’s Fly Fishing Outpost is run by Land of Enchantment Guides, an ORVIS-endorsed outfitter, allows guests to purchase fishing licenses, reels, rods, clothing, sunglasses, fishing gear and more.

Fly Fishing experiences Include:

• Full Immersion Fly Fishing Class: For those that are new to the art of fly fishing or anglers that want to hone specific skills, this two day class is a terrific option. Day one will be spent on the Bishop’s Lodge stream at the Fly Fishing Outpost to cover all facets of fly fishing: casting, fly selection, knots, basic entomology, fishing methods and techniques. On day two, guests and guide will depart from the lodge for a full day of fly fishing at one of the area’s best fishing locations.
• Spirituality Through Fly Fishing: Fly fishing isn’t necessarily just catching fish. The experience of being outdoors, slowing down and observing nature and your surroundings is in many ways what the art of fly fishing is all about. Bishop’s Lodge offers specific trips geared as much towards finding inner peace and harmony with the natural world as the fishing. Learning how to be one with nature and the water actually will end up making even a proficient angler more skilled.
• Private Fishing in The Valles Caldera: For those who want an exclusive fishing experience, the outpost offers guided trips on the best private ranches and preserves in the area. These trips often become one of a fly fisher’s most memorable experiences. Along with beauty and seclusion, private water can offer anglers the best chances at catching and landing trophy-sized trout.

The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection, Park City, Utah

Located adjacent to the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection is a 3,500-acre private ranch retreat where guests can spend their days on epic adventures before enjoying delectable cuisine, an award-winning spa and luxurious glamping-style accommodations immersed in nature. Heli-fly fishing offers enthusiasts the chance to explore further afield in Utah’s remote, high-alpine wilderness area while enjoying nature away from human contact. Take a short scenic helicopter ride over peaks and valleys to the high Uintas mountain range. Guests will fish high alpine lakes, rivers and streams that are pristine and untouched, while marveling at the diversity of native Utah trout.