Kirk posed the question over on FlyTalk.com and Field and Stream for the consumer vibe on “The Best Fishing Cities” and “The Best Fishing Towns” in America and got a heated debate going. We thought we carry that over and see what the industry has to say. Here’s our own list of the “Flyfishing Capitals of America.” There is no methodology here.
The overall flyfishing capital of America: Denver, Colorado. We sport the highest concentration of anglers and fly shops, per capita, of anywhere. And we’re the new home of the American Fly Fishing Trade Association. The fishing ain’t bad either… trout, bass, carp, pike. We live here for a reason.
The trout flyfishing capital of America: Bozeman, Montana, with all due respect to the Catskill region in New York and elsewhere. And no offense meant, Missoula or Ketchum or Jackson, but the motivated angler can stage from Bozeman and hit your rivers also.
The striper flyfishing capital of America: Montauk, New York.
The tarpon flyfishing capital of America: Key West, Florida. Same for bonefish and permit.
The redfish capital of America: Hopedale, Louisiana. Love you Texas, but the big bull reds eat Cajun food.
The bass flyfishing capital of America: Hill Country, Texas.
The pike flyfishing capital of America: Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
The big rainbow and salmon flyfishing capital of America: King Salmon, Alaska.
The big brown flyfishing capital of America: Bull Shoals, Arkansas.
The smallmouth bass flyfishing capital of America: West Lafayette, Indiana.
And the carp flyfishing capital of America… Gary Indiana!
Agree, disagree… prove us wrong. In any regard, I hope you hook ’em up and have a great weekend!
-the editors
