Fly fishing is a sport that has been around for years, but it is still growing to this day. It’s a sport that requires a lot of skill and knowledge, but at the same time it’s actually quite easy to get into.
The best part about this form of angling is that there are great destinations all around the US, Canada and the rest of the world where you can head out, cast a line, and enjoy the rush of catching a fish on a fly rod.
I first started fishing with my dad when I was around 3 years old, and when I was around 5 or 6 I had my first experience with a fly rod. Once I caught a fish on a fly rod, I never once went back to a regular spin casting rod.
I was hooked (pun intended).
This meant that my dad had to go out and shop around for the perfect fly rod for me and within a few weeks we were exploring western Canada and going to different lakes and rivers to improve our fly fishing game.
Now, more than 30 years later, I still love the sport and my job as a travel blogger has allowed me to go fly fishing in some pretty exotic places around the world.
In this post, I’m going to share with you 5 of the best destinations for fly fishing around the world so that if you decide you want to get into the sport, you’ll have plenty of countries to add to your fly fishing bucket list.
1. The United States
Even as a Canadian, I have to say that the US has probably the best fly fishing in the world. There are just more places and a better climate that allows fishing for a longer season.
Some of the best fly fishing in the US are in places like Montana and Colorado, but heading to less-visited fly fishing locales like Minnesota and Arizona also comes with its perks.
Fly fishermen and women by nature seem to like a bit of peace and quiet, so in the later two states mentioned above, they can enjoy long stretches of trout-filled rivers with hardly another angler in sight.
2. Canada
It feels like blasphemy listing my homeland second to the US when it comes to fly fishing, but these two are very close in my mind. Canada has spectacular river and lake fly fishing all across BC (where I grew up and learned the sport).
But BC isn’t the only place to cast a line. The Bow River in Alberta and the lake rich regions of Ontario also offer angler’s plenty of great fly fishing opportunities.
For those looking to go after salmon, the Margaree River in Nova Scotia has some spectacular salmon fishing with plenty of regulations and rules to keep the fish populations healthy and growing.
In fact, that’s part of what I love about fly fishing. Anglers in this sport almost always opt for catch-and-release fly fishing which really helps to keep the fisheries healthy around the world.
Fly fishermen and women tend to care about the environment as much as they do catching fish, which helps to preserve many rivers, streams and lakes in the US, Canada and around the world.
3. Ireland
The fly fishing here really is world-class and even though many historians of the sport claim that it found its roots in Japan and became popularized in England, Ireland is still a hot spot for angling.
Here you can catch beautiful trout, salmon, and bass all while gazing out at the rolling green hills of the Irish countryside.
There aren’t many places in the world where you can cast a fly at 20-pound salmon while standing in awe of a 1,000-year-old castle, but in Ireland, you can do just that.
4. Argentina
I went fly fishing in Argentina in 2017 and it was a blast. The sport has taken root in this South American nation and both locals and visitors love to head out on the rivers and lakes here thanks to the healthy populations of stocked trout and the long and consistent runs of sea bass that frequent these waters.
If you’re heading to Argentina, consider hiring a guide for the day. The professional anglers know the waters so well that they can really increase your chances of success.
I tried my hand alone for 2 days without any luck, and when I hired a guide I had a fish on my third cast!
5. Mongolia
This one is a little far-flung and it might seem a bit exotic to immediately add to your fly fishing bucket list, but trust me, there’s no place like Mongolia for the sport.
Mongolia is home to the largest salmonid species of fish known as the Taimen and they can grow up to 200 pounds!
I visited Mongolia in 2013 and while I didn’t have any luck catching Taimen, I caught many trout and lenok from the beautiful rivers that criss-cross the rolling green steppe.
Conclusion
Fly fishing is the ultimate sport for those who never want to stop learning something new. From choosing a fly rod to learning how to tie flies, fly fishing runs the gamut of what you would want from a hobby.
If you’re an angler and you’re always looking for a new spot to add to your bucket list, or even if you’ve never considered it before, I hope this article has inspired you to get out and cast a line.
Feature image courtesy of Pixabay
