FishingBooker, an online booking service for fishing trips worldwide, through a survey of its customers has declared Pennsylvania’s Juniata River Valley to be one of the top spring fishing destinations in the U.S.
According to the online platform, “The Juniata River Valley is a gentle place with real rural charm. Just a short drive north of Harrisburg, it’s a land of densely-wooded ridges and long sweeping farmland. The valley is tucked away from the major highways that ferry people to and from the East Coast. And in our minds, it’s all the better for it. This is an ideal place to enjoy a little time in the slow lane.
“It’s also an amazing spot to wet a line, especially in spring. The Juniata River is a top-tier bass water, rivaling the nearby Penns Creek, just without the crowds. Kayak your way along the river, and reel in big spring smallmouth. Otherwise, wade the mix of freestone and limestone streams that feed into the river to take on trout on the fly. Like a challenge? Why not enter the local Kish Creek Trout Tournament, held each year in May.
“This sounds great, but is there anything to do once you finish fishing? Absolutely. You can hike through untouched forest or step back in time in Big Valley, one of the oldest and largest Amish communities in the state. Alternatively, turn up the noise at one of the local racetracks. After that, you can treat yourself to a refreshing drink, with beer, wine and whiskey all made locally.”
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The other locales on FishingBooker’s top fishing destinations for spring are:
Fort Myers Beach, Florida: “It all kicks off with Cobia, who cruise up the coast from late March, offering exciting angling and a delicious feast to anyone who hooks one. Speckled Trout are hot on their tails, followed by Permit to keep the bite strong well into summer. Then there’s Fort Myers’s trump card: Tarpon. The shallows around Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel are home to one of the largest Tarpon migrations in the world. Thousands of fish roll along the beach fronts each spring on their way to the Boca Grande Pass.”
Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada: “With its crystal-clear waters, rugged rocky shores, and stunning alpine scenery, the lake is truly magical all year round. It’s most special in spring, when the surrounding mountains are still white with snow and the wildflowers start poking up in the meadows. There’s another reason to visit this time of year: Trout. Tahoe is famous for its monster Mackinaw Trout, which put up a great fight all the way up to summer. They’re joined in March and April by Rainbow and Brown Trout for even more fun. And that’s just the lake itself.”
Black Hills, South Dakota: “These ragged rocks hide some of the nation’s top small stream fly fishing. Take on trout in small mountain streams or hit the open waters of Lake Pactola to reel in pike, walleye, lake trout, bass and more. Visit in late May, and you can enjoy all of this license-free on South Dakota’s Free Fishing Weekend.”
Biloxi, Mississippi: “Spring is the perfect time to target the Gulf’s inshore superstars like speckled trout and redfish, which leave the back bays and head out toward the barrier islands this time of year. The fishing is just as strong out at the reefs, with kingfish, cobia and even amberjack found around deeper spots. Troll, fly fish or just cast a line from the local piers. Either way, you’re in for a treat.”
Yakima Valley, Washington: “Yakima Valley’s waterways wind their way down the forested slopes of the East Cascade Mountain Range into almost 200 miles of flowing rivers. The Yakima River itself is Washington State’s only “Blue Ribbon” Trout stream, full of big rainbows and perfect for fly fishing. As if that wasn’t enough, you also have over 100 lakes just waiting to be explored.”
Tybee Island, Georgia: “Inshore, offshore or somewhere in between, there’s no bad place to look for fish this time of year. The shallows are thick with flounder, trout and red drum. The reefs are bustling with kingfish, cobia and seabass. This is a fishery that anglers of any skill can enjoy, either aboard a local charter or at one of the three public piers found on the island.”
Roanoke, Virginia: “There’s a spot for every taste here. Hike to hidden creeks for rainbow and brook trout. Wade and fly fishing on the Roanoke River. If you’re looking to cover more ground, you can also take a boat onto Smith Mountain Lake to reel in striped bass, black bass and catfish or grab a kayak and paddle down 150 miles of beautiful blueway, every inch bursting with fish.”
Niagara Falls, New York: “All the Great Lakes’ most iconic catches can be found around Niagara Falls. Musky and bass hunt in the warm shallows above the falls, while salmon, trout and walleye patrol the open waters of Lake Ontario. In between the 2, you have the Niagara River, home to all of these fish and more. It’s a must-visit location for keen fly and bass anglers.”
Panama City Beach, Florida: “The rising temperatures of spring mean big speckled trout in super-shallow water on the grass and sand flats. Redfish cruise the bays, while sheepshead set up around structure a little deeper. The Spanish mackerel bite also kicks off in the Gulf, inlets and passes. In short, there are fish everywhere. No wonder the award-winning Discovery show Chasin’ The Sun is shot here.”
FishingBooker noted, “This was a tough list to put together. We got so many great suggestions and tried to whittle them down to a good mix of spots, both on the water and off it. There are plenty more out there, though. From coast to coast and border to border, the country is packed full of outstanding fisheries, and there’s no better time to fish them than spring.”
Contact Marcus Schneck at mschneck@pennlive.com.
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