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Fly Fishing by State 2024
Montana
The state that usually comes to mind when thinking about anything related to wildlife and nature is Montana. Montana is considered a Mecca for many fly-fishers from around the world. Montano contains some of the most incredible rivers in the country and the world, which is a ripe location for many fly-fishing enthusiasts. While many think that fly fishing usually consists of trout, that's not all this state offers. If you'd like to diversify the species in your catch, the eastern part of Montano has a lot to offer. Walleye, bass, catfish, and sturgeon are among the ranks of some of the most plentiful fish types in the state.
For those that want to stick to the staple of trout fishing, Montana offers many locations in the western and central regions of the landscape. The middle of the state is more mountainous and provides a real backwater country that has an immense wildness of forests and rolling rivers. Truly, the spirit of Montana is captured within the center of the state. If you are still not satisfied with the range of your catch, the western part of Montano is home to rainbow, brown and trophy-sized fish in the respective rivers.
Wyoming
Immediately south of Montana is the state of Wyoming, which is another iconic state that hosts a plethora of wildlife and wildlife. The many trout rivers of Montana are shared between the two states in some of the most iconic landscapes. Many anglers journey towards Wyoming for the atmosphere, as you can fly fish among a backdrop of rivers and geysers which are regulated by the surrounding environment through the many hot springs.
The Yellowstone River is one of the most ecologically diverse marine habitats in the world. The thriving population of trout, specifically cutthroat trout, offers a once-in-a-lifetime view of the fish in abundance, especially during the mating season. Because of the steady population, anglers love to come here due to a more relaxed observance of the amount of trout that can be fished. Be warned, that Yellowstone Park and its rivers are actively guarded by the rangers and authorities surrounding it, to make sure that it is not disturbed too much by human presence and overfishing.
Florida
Although it may come as a surprise, Florida is one of the best places to fly fish. Although it is more of a marsh biome and landscape. it offers the unique experience of diversifying your catch through saltwater fly-fishing. The main difference between the fishing styles is that your gear needs to be taken up a notch, as the speed and weight of the fish will have your line cut and broken from underneath your nose. The fishing population includes bluefish, black drum, and tarpon, as well as saltwater trout.
Although there is an absence of rivers, you can fish in many places at any hour of the day or night. Canals are most effective in the afternoon, and the lakes are usually left for the evening.
State | Rank | License Cost Non Residents | License Cost Residents | License Details | Best Locations | Popular Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $54.20 | $14.05 | Saltwater $24.35 ($52.20 non-res) |
| Spotted bass, largemouth bass, black bass family | |
| Alaska | 4 | $145 | $29 |
| King salmon, trophy rainbow trout, char, dime-bright steelhead, sockeye, silver and pink salmon | |
| Arizona | $55 | $37 |
| Trout, bass, and carp | ||
| Arkansas | $50 | $10.50 |
| Trout and smallmouth bass | ||
| California | 6 | $158.25 | $58.58 |
| Many native and introduced trout speaces | |
| Colorado | 10 | $97.97 | $35.17 |
| Rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, cutthroat | |
| Connecticut | $63 | $32 |
| Brown and rainbow trout, striped bass, bluefish | ||
| Delaware | $22.50 | $11 |
| Trout, bass, bluegill | ||
| Florida | 2 | $47 | $17 |
| Sheepshead, snook, redfish, mangrove snappers, seatrout, lockdown fish, black drum, and tripletail (all year) Ladyfish, tarpon, bluefish, jack crevalle (seasonal) | |
| Georgia | $50 | $15 |
| Smallmouth bass, brown trout, and rainbow trout, brook trout | ||
| Hawaii | $26 | $6 |
| Rainbow trout, panfish, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass | ||
| Idaho | 8 | $98.25 | $30.50 |
| Great King salmon and trout | |
| Illinois | $31.50 | $15 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill, coho salmon, lake trout, rainbow trout | ||
| Indiana | $35 | $17 |
| Largemouth bass (the state fish), bluegill, musky, northern pike, brook, brown, and rainbow trout, walleye, sturgeon | ||
| Iowa | $48 | $22 |
| Bass, channel catfish (the state fish and the most popular gamefish in the state), perch, pike, and sunfish. | ||
| Kansas | $52.50 | $27.50 |
| Smallmouth and largemouth bass, northern pike, bullhead, and a variety of catfish. | ||
| Kentucky | $55 | $23 |
| Brown, rainbow, and brook trout | ||
| Louisiana | $60 | $9.50 |
| Red drum | ||
| Maine | $64 | $25 |
| Wild brook trout, landlocked salmon, brown, brook, and lake trout | ||
| Maryland | $30.50 | $20.50 | Saltwater $15.00 ($22.50 non-res) |
| Trout, smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye, musky, carp, and panfish | |
| Massachusetts | $37.50 | $27.50 | Saltwater $10.00 |
| Brook trout, rainbows and browns; largemouth and smallmouth bass, Atlantic salmon and yellow perch | |
| Michigan | 3 | $76 | $26 |
| Salmon, steelhead, walleye, pike, panfish, bass, and of course trout | |
| Minnesota | $51 | $25 |
| Trout, largemouth bass and bluegill sunfish | ||
| Mississippi | $64.29 | $27.29 | Saltwater $34.29 |
| Yellow-bellies, red-eared sunfish, and largemouth bass | |
| Missouri | $49 | $12 |
| Largemouth bass, blue catfish, white crappie, black crappie, spotted bass, channel catfish, white bass, flathead catfish, hybrid stripers, walleye, paddlefish, and bluegill | ||
| Montana | 1 | $111 | $31 |
| Smallmouth bass, catfish, walleye, trout | |
| Nebraska | $76 | $38 |
| Trout species: brook, brown, rainbow and cutthroat | ||
| Nevada | $80 | $40 |
| Rainbows, browns, bowcutts (a rainbow/cutthroat hybrid), smallmouth bass, and channel catfish | ||
| New Hampshire | $63 | $45 |
| Salmon, trout, and smallmouth bass | ||
| New Jersey | $34 | $22 |
| Rainbows, browns, and brookies | ||
| New Mexico | $56 | $25 |
| Rainbow and brown trout | ||
| New York | $50 | $25 |
| Trout, bass, northern pike, salmon, walleye, and muskies. | ||
| North Carolina | $45 | $25 | Saltwater $16.00 ($32.00 non-res) |
| Wild trout, rainbow, brown, and brook trout | |
| North Dakota | $48 | $18 |
| Pike, walleye, bass, and trout | ||
| Ohio | $40 | $19 |
| Brown trout, carp, bass, bluegill, and once in a blue moon a muskie, brook trout, smallmouth and largemouth bass, sauger, white bass | ||
| Oklahoma | $55 | $25 |
| Rainbows and browns, smallmouth bass or walleye | ||
| Oregon | 5 | $110.50 | $44 |
| Panfish, trout, steelhead, and salmon | |
| Pennsylvania | $52.90 | $22.90 |
| Brown trout, brook trout, rainbows | ||
| Rhode Island | $35 | $18 |
| Rainbow and brown trout, smallmouth and largemouth bass | ||
| South Carolina | $35 | $10 | Saltwater $10.00 ($35.00 non-res) |
| Rainbows and browns, some wild, and some stocked fingerlings | |
| South Dakota | $67 | $28 |
| Brown trout, rainbow trout | ||
| Tennessee | $99 | $34 |
| Rainbows and brown trout. Tennessee offers a no-trout license for $50. | ||
| Texas | $58 | $30 | Saltwater $35 ($63 non-res), All Water $40 ($68 non-res) |
| Guadalupe bass, argemouth and smallmouth bass, trout | |
| Utah | $85 | $34 |
| Golden, lake, brown, brook, cutthroat, and rainbow trout | ||
| Vermont | $54 | $28 |
| Wild brown trout trophies, brook, brown, rainbow trout | ||
| Virginia | $47 | $23 | Saltwater $17.50 ($25 non-res), All Water $39.50 ($71 non-res) |
| Rainbow and brown trout, walleye, largemouth bass, and sunfish | |
| Washington | 7 | $84.50 | $29.50 | Saltwater $30.05 ($59.75 non-res) |
| Salmon, steelhead, and trout |
| West Virginia | $37 | $19 |
| Sturgeon and hybrid striped bass; rainbows and browns trout and hybrid trout called golden rainbow – or palomino rainbow | ||
| Wisconsin | $50 | $20 |
| Brook, rainbow, and brown trout | ||
| Wyoming | 9 | $102 | $27 |
| Yellow perch, walleye, brown trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, golden trout, brookies, lake trout, tiger trout, northern pike, crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass |