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THE INTOFLYFISHING RIVER GUIDES
Fly Fishing Rivers
In The United States
Find your state, compare the water, and plan where to fish next.
I’ve spent the past two decades fly fishing around the US. When I’m planning a trip, I start with the part of the country I want to fish, then narrow it down to a few rivers I can give proper time to.
Use this guide to compare river picks across 44 states. Start with the map or search for a state or river, then follow the available guides to the water you want to fish.
How To Use This Guide
01
Choose A State
Use the map to explore a part of the country, or search the directory for a state or river you already have in mind.
02
Compare Your Options
Save the states you want to revisit, or compare up to three beside each other. Each summary gives you river picks and links to the guides available now.
03
Plan The Particular Reach
Open a river guide and identify the stretch you want to fish. Check public access, current rules, and conditions before making the trip.
EXPLORE BY LOCATION
Where Do You Want To Fish?
Select a green state to jump to its river picks. On a small screen, the state list below the map gives you larger links to tap.
State boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. Alaska and Hawaii are shown as insets.
Choose From All 44 States
Find Your State
Search for a state, river, or fish mentioned in the summaries. You can also narrow the selection by region or by the guides available to read.
No states match these filters. Try another search or clear a filter.
You have three states selected. Remove one to compare another.
State River Guides bring together a state’s river selection. State Fishing Guides cover the broader trip. State Summaries give you the river picks on this page. Counts refer to our selections, including waters without a separate article.
Rocky Mountains
Back To Filters
35 Rivers In Our Selection
Colorado
State River Guide
Colorado gives you a choice between the Animas freestone fishery in Durango and the Frying Pan tailwater below Ruedi Dam. Compare them with the Arkansas, South Platte, and the rest of the state’s waters.
For lakes, seasons, and broader trip planning, use the Colorado Fishing Guide.
28 Rivers In Our Selection
Montana
State River Guide
Shallow riffles and boulders shape the upper Madison, while the Missouri below Holter Dam gives you a tailwater option. Compare those rivers with the Yellowstone, Gallatin, and the rest of our Montana river selection. Our Montana fly fishing overview covers the wider trip.
26 Rivers In Our Selection
Wyoming
State River Guide
The Firehole runs through Yellowstone’s geyser country, while the Snake near Jackson Hole holds fine-spotted cutthroat trout. On the North Platte, the Miracle Mile begins below Kortes Dam and flows toward Pathfinder Reservoir.
For broader trip planning, read our Wyoming fishing guide.
Photo: Miguel Hermoso Cuesta / CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped for display.
21 Rivers In Our Selection
Idaho
State Summary
On the Henry’s Fork, Harriman offers selective rainbow trout that call for a drag-free presentation, while Box Canyon has fast, rocky water and strong currents that can make wading difficult. The South Fork Snake River and Silver Creek add two more Idaho options.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
The South Fork of the Snake River in southeastern Idaho. Photo: Bureau of Land Management / Public domain.
11 Rivers In Our Selection
New Mexico
State Fishing Guide
The Red River has rainbow and brown trout. The San Juan River, Pecos River, and Rio Chama give you a broader New Mexico shortlist beyond that one fishery.
San Juan River, New Mexico.
9 Rivers In Our Selection
Utah
State Summary
The Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam holds brown and rainbow trout beneath red canyon walls, and Section A has a riverside trail from the dam to Little Hole. The Provo River and Weber River are the other Utah waters on our first shortlist.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
Provo River, Utah.
Pacific And Southwest
Back To Filters
7 Rivers In Our Selection
Arizona
State Fishing Guide
The Colorado River between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry is an Arizona rainbow-trout fishery. Black River and Oak Creek are the other waters in our first Arizona selection.
Photo: Tom Koerner / USFWS / Public domain. Cropped for display.
28 Rivers In Our Selection
California
State Summary
Fall River is primarily a boat-fishing choice, while Hot Creek is small enough to fish from the bank. The Lower Sacramento River adds drift-boat fishing for wild rainbow trout, often with nymphs beneath an indicator.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
Photo: Tom Koerner / USFWS / Public domain. Cropped for display.
4 Rivers In Our Selection
Nevada
State Summary
The Jarbidge River is a Nevada option for redband trout. The East Fork Owyhee River and South Fork Humboldt River are the other waters to begin with in this state selection.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
Photo: USFWS / Public domain. Cropped for display.
30 Rivers In Our Selection
Oregon
State Fishing Guide
The Rogue River and North Umpqua River are steelhead-focused choices. The Deschutes River completes our first Oregon shortlist; steelhead openings need to be checked for the particular river and reach.
Deschutes River, Oregon.
21 Rivers In Our Selection
Washington
State Summary
The Skagit River and Sauk River are steelhead destinations with a tradition of Spey casting and swung flies. The Hoh River, which begins in Olympic glaciers and runs toward the Pacific, adds a different Washington river setting.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
Photo: alan souter / CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped for display.
Alaska
Back To Filters
35 Rivers In Our Selection
Alaska
State Fishing Guide
The Kenai River has rainbow trout and Dolly Varden, with eggs becoming an important food during salmon spawning. The Kvichak River and Kanektok River round out our first Alaska picks.
Kenai River, Alaska.
Midwest And Plains
Back To Filters
3 Rivers In Our Selection
Iowa
State Fishing Guide
Bloody Run Creek near Marquette has brown trout. French Creek and Waterloo Creek are the other Iowa waters in this selection.
Photo: Calum McRoberts / CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped for display.
13 Rivers In Our Selection
Michigan
State Fishing Guide
The Au Sable River, Manistee River, and Pere Marquette River all belong on a Michigan brown-trout shortlist. These three give you several destinations to consider without changing that target fish.
Au Sable River, Michigan.
4 Rivers In Our Selection
Minnesota
State Fishing Guide
Trout Run Creek in Fillmore County has benefited from habitat-restoration work. The Root River, Whitewater River, and Knife River provide a wider Minnesota selection; keep the county with the Trout Run name when locating that creek.
Whitewater River, Minnesota.
6 Rivers In Our Selection
Missouri
State Summary
The upper Current River offers trout fishing, making the reach an important part of the destination’s name. The Eleven Point River and North Fork of the White River round out our first Missouri picks.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
Photo: Tom Koerner / USFWS / Public domain. Cropped for display.
2 Rivers In Our Selection
Nebraska
State Summary
Long Pine Creek is a Nebraska trout fishery. It joins the North Platte River in this two-river selection.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
Photo: Billy McCrorie / CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped for display.
1 River In Our Selection
North Dakota
State Summary
Northern pike are present in North Dakota’s Missouri River. This stretch of the Missouri gives the national selection a pike option alongside its many trout destinations.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
Photo: Trevor Littlewood / CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped for display.
4 Rivers In Our Selection
Ohio
State Summary
Spring flow feeds the Mad River, which has a brown-trout fishery. The Chagrin River and Rocky River are the other Ohio waters on our shortlist.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
Photo: Tom Koerner / USFWS / Public domain. Cropped for display.
4 Rivers In Our Selection
South Dakota
State Fishing Guide
Spearfish Creek is one of the Black Hills waters with brown trout. Rapid Creek and Castle Creek complete our first South Dakota picks.
Spearfish Creek, South Dakota.
10 Rivers In Our Selection
Wisconsin
State Fishing Guide
The Bois Brule River is one Wisconsin option for brook trout. The Kinnickinnic River and Black Earth Creek are the other waters on our first shortlist.
Photo: Tom Koerner / USFWS / Public domain. Cropped for display.
Northeast And Mid-Atlantic
Back To Filters
2 Rivers In Our Selection
Connecticut
State Fishing Guide
The Housatonic River has trout-managed water and sections with smallmouth bass, giving you different fishing options along the same river. The Farmington River is the other Connecticut selection here.
Farmington River, Connecticut.
1 River In Our Selection
Delaware
State Summary
White Clay Creek is an established Delaware fly-fishing destination with stocking. It is the state’s single creek in this selection.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
Photo: Calum McRoberts / CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped for display.
8 Rivers In Our Selection
Maine
State Fishing Guide
The Magalloway River has brook trout and landlocked salmon. Kennebec River and Grand Lake Stream complete our first Maine picks.
Grand Lake Stream, Maine.
4 Rivers In Our Selection
Maryland
State Summary
The lower Savage River combines tailwater fishing, pocket water, and brown and brook trout. Gunpowder Falls and the North Branch Potomac River complete this Maryland shortlist.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
Photo: Tom Koerner / USFWS / Public domain. Cropped for display.
3 Rivers In Our Selection
Massachusetts
State Fishing Guide
The Swift River offers Massachusetts trout fishing on the fly. Deerfield River and Millers River are the other waters in this selection.
Swift River, Massachusetts.
3 Rivers In Our Selection
New Hampshire
State Fishing Guide
The Saco River through Conway offers trout fishing. Androscoggin River and Connecticut River complete our first New Hampshire picks.
Saco River, New Hampshire.
3 Rivers In Our Selection
New Jersey
State Summary
Ken Lockwood Gorge is a named fishing reach on the South Branch Raritan River. Big Flatbrook and the Musconetcong River complete our first three New Jersey picks.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
Photo: Billy McCrorie / CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped for display.
15 Rivers In Our Selection
New York
State Fishing Guide
The Upper Delaware includes its branches and mainstem; the West Branch below Cannonsville Reservoir and the mainstem from Hancock to Callicoon are distinct places to investigate. Wild brown and rainbow trout occur in that mainstem reach, with the Beaverkill River and West Branch Ausable River among the other New York selections.
Photo: alan souter / CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped for display.
19 Rivers In Our Selection
Pennsylvania
State Fishing Guide
Penns Creek has brown trout. Letort Spring Run and Big Spring Creek are the other Pennsylvania waters in this selection.
Penns Creek, Pennsylvania.
1 River In Our Selection
Rhode Island
State Fishing Guide
The Wood River is our Rhode Island trout-water selection. It is the single river included here for the state.
Wood River, Rhode Island.
5 Rivers In Our Selection
Vermont
State Fishing Guide
The Batten Kill offers brown-trout fishing in Vermont. White River and Mettawee River complete our first three picks.
Battenkill River, Vermont.
South
Back To Filters1 River In Our Selection
Alabama
State Summary
The Sipsey Fork below Smith Lake offers cold-water rainbow trout fishing. The tailwater below the dam is the focus of this Alabama selection.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
Photo: Tom Koerner / USFWS / Public domain. Cropped for display.
5 Rivers In Our Selection
Arkansas
State Summary
The White River below Bull Shoals Dam offers cold-water fishing for brown and rainbow trout, with baitfish imitations among the streamer options. The Little Red River and Norfork River are also on our Arkansas shortlist.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
Photo: Tom Koerner / USFWS / Public domain. Cropped for display.
1 River In Our Selection
Florida
State Fishing Guide
The Suwannee River has Suwannee bass, adding a bass destination to this largely trout-focused guide. It is the Florida river covered in this selection.
Photo: Trevor Littlewood / CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped for display.
7 Rivers In Our Selection
Georgia
State Summary
The Chattahoochee River below Buford Dam offers trout fishing, so that specific reach is the focus for a trout trip. The Toccoa River and Chattooga River are the other Georgia waters on our shortlist.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
Photo: Billy McCrorie / CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped for display.
2 Rivers In Our Selection
Kentucky
State Summary
The Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam is a trout tailwater with brown and rainbow trout. Elkhorn Creek is the other Kentucky water in our selection.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
Photo: Tom Koerner / USFWS / Public domain. Cropped for display.
10 Rivers In Our Selection
North Carolina
State Summary
The Davidson River is a North Carolina trout-fishing destination. The Nantahala River and Hazel Creek are the other two waters on our first shortlist.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
Photo: Calum McRoberts / CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped for display.
3 Rivers In Our Selection
Oklahoma
State Summary
The Lower Mountain Fork River has both rainbow and brown trout. The Blue River and Lower Illinois River round out the Oklahoma selection.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
Photo: Tom Koerner / USFWS / Public domain. Cropped for display.
2 Rivers In Our Selection
South Carolina
State Summary
The Middle Saluda River offers trout fishing in Jones Gap State Park. It joins the Saluda River in this two-river South Carolina selection.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
Photo: alan souter / CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped for display.
9 Rivers In Our Selection
Tennessee
State Summary
The Elk River below Tims Ford Dam provides a trout-tailwater option. The South Holston River, Caney Fork, and Clinch River are the other Tennessee waters to put beside it.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
Photo: Tom Koerner / USFWS / Public domain. Cropped for display.
5 Rivers In Our Selection
Texas
State Summary
The Guadalupe River below Canyon Dam offers trout fishing. The Llano River and Devils River complete the first Texas shortlist, with the Guadalupe tailwater as the trout-focused starting point.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
Photo: Tom Koerner / USFWS / Public domain. Cropped for display.
8 Rivers In Our Selection
Virginia
State Fishing Guide
Mossy Creek is spring-fed trout water. Jackson River and Rapidan River are the other Virginia waters in this selection.
Jackson River, Virginia.
6 Rivers In Our Selection
West Virginia
State Summary
The Cranberry River is a West Virginia trout stream. The Elk River and Shavers Fork complete our first three picks in the state.
Use these river names as your starting point for this state.
Photo: USFWS / Public domain. Cropped for display.
KEEP YOUR OPTIONS TOGETHER
Compare Your State Choices
Choose up to three states to keep their river selections and available guides beside each other. Use the summaries to decide where to read next.
Select Compare on a state to add it here.
A larger selection means we’ve included more rivers for that state. Choose the fishing that interests you, then look at the access for the river you want to visit.
BEFORE YOU PACK
Turn A River Name Into A Fishing Plan
Keep The Reach With The River
Keep the reach with the river’s name as you make your notes. A guide may describe water below a dam, a named canyon, or a section through a particular town. Use that same location when checking directions and current information.
Work Out How To Reach The Water
Decide how you’ll reach the water before choosing what to carry. Find the public access and its boundaries, then work out whether your visit will be from the bank, on foot along the river, or with a boat. A float also needs an agreed launch and takeout.
Check The Current Information
Before traveling, check the current fishing rules, any closure notices, and the conditions for your chosen reach. If the guide includes a historical flow chart, use the linked current measurements for the latest reading. Leave room to change the plan when you arrive.
Before You Go
0 Of 4 Planning Checks Done
These checks stay on this page while it is open.
Using The River Guides
What Do The River Counts Mean?
They show how many waters are included in our selection for that state. A count can include rivers that do not yet have a separate guide. Use the links to see which guides you can read now.
How Do I Go From A State To A River?
Open the state summary and compare its river picks. Follow the available state or river guide, then identify the reach and public access you want to visit. Check current rules and conditions before traveling.
Where Is My Shortlist Saved?
Your shortlist is stored in this browser on this device. It does not transfer to another browser or device, and clearing browser data can remove it.
This guide contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Pack For The Water You Choose
For a trout trip, organize the flies for your chosen river in a SF slim fly box. If your plans include wading, the Frogg Toggs Canyon II waders are one option to compare; KastKing Skidaway polarized sunglasses are another item for your packing list. Match the rest of your tackle to the river and the fish you plan to target.
Save This Fishing Guide For Later
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