Where to go next for trout fishing
- The Trout Bandit
- 8 hours ago
- 5 min read
Your next destination to fly fish for trout
It’s mid-winter and many anglers with cabin fever are likely pondering their next fishing excursion. And while I am not an authority on the finest trout fishing destinations around the world, over the past few years I have had some fabulous experiences worth sharing. This blog post highlights some exciting trout destinations that a keen angler may consider exploring in the coming year.
Kootenai River, Montana
If you are looking for an unparalleled float trip experience while fly fishing for trout, consider the Kootenai River (pronounced Kootenay) near Libby, Montana. You may be thinking, “not another float trip in Montana”, but this is not that float trip along an iconic Montana water that resembles the Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC. I have been on that float trip and will never do it again, but I would easily go back to the Kootenai River in Northwest Montana.
What sells this float trip experience is the absence of angling pressure that I found during four days of fly-fishing - there were no more than three other boats on any given day. At first glance, the Kootenai appears to be imposing and intimidating – it is definitely big water. Author Chris Hunt in Hatch Magazine proclaimed it to be a river that “feels like it’s in a hurry”. I would say it is in a big hurry to traverse about 50 miles from the Libby Dam to the Idaho border.
But after a short while the feeling of intimidation dissipates as the key hot spots become apparent - changes in current speed or color hue, drop offs, structure and bubble lines all got the attention of our guides. The drop offs within 3- to 5-feet of the banks, what author Chris Hunt refers to as “the real money zone”, were most often our targets.
The Kootenai offers anglers multiple trout species that include browns, cutthroats, cutbows, rainbows and bulls, as well as mountain whitefish. It is unlawful to target bull trout, but no one will argue that it would be an unwanted by-catch. Although the fish population per mile does not come close to that of some more legendary waters on Montana, I sense that the lack of angler pressure translates into trout that are more willing to take a fly.
Note: I am not being compensated by mentioning that my excursion to the Kootenai was organized by Orvis and expertly hosted by Linehan Outfitters. I am simply a satisfied client!
Hokkaido, Japan
There are not many places in Asia known as mainstream destinations for trout fishing, but Hokkaido, the northernmost island in Japan, is one. Even the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) website highlights Hokkaido as a prime destination for fishing for various salmonid species. So, while on an international assignment in the region, I set aside a long weekend to discover what Hokkaido has to offer in terms of fly fishing for trout.
The capital of Hokkaido is Sapporo, which according to the JNTO, is equally “a winter wonderland and summer haven” and “all about outdoor fun, great food and famous beer.” So this is where I stayed during my two days of fly-fishing, guided by Iwao Shimoyama (Shimo) of Dolly Varden fishing. Shimo kindly collected me at a local hotel and drove us to two different destinations some 2 – 2 ½ hours outside Sapporo.
We would target rainbow trout and dolly varden, but also white spotted char (iwana) and native species such as masu trout (yamame), which is referred to as the “queen of the mountain streams”. Our first day was spent in Furano to the northeast of Sapporo on the Nishitatsupu river, a tributary of the Sorachi river. The second was in the Niseko region to the southwest of Sapporo on the Shiribetsu river system.
These waters reminded me of some of the mountain streams I am accustomed to fishing in Virginia but surrounded by a vast alpine landscape not unlike British Columbia. The stream beds could be treacherous at times, so felt-soled boots and a wading staff were necessary. The approach was also similar to my home waters as we relied on a stealthy approach and mostly fished nymphs suspended from either a dry fly or an artificial indicator.
My guide, Shimo, was very professional and worked very hard to make my two days of trout fishing in Hokkaido productive and memorable. This may be a destination that is challenging to reach, but worth the effort and I would most definitely return if given the chance.
Laxá River, Iceland
Fly fishing for trout in Iceland may initially seem like an enigmatic prospect, especially for the DIY angler. There is a reason for that as many trout and salmon waters are either private or controlled by fishing clubs or other intermediaries that broker access. But an angler effectively working the search engines can find opportunities to package their own guiding and accommodation at prime locations in Iceland for a couple of days or up to a week or more.
My excursion was organized by a UK-based guide that I have known for several years, and who now makes regular trips to the Laxá River in Northern Iceland during the summer months. Although April to October spans the freshwater fishing season in Iceland, the more viable period to fish for brown trout is during July and August. This part of Iceland is on the cusp of the Arctic Circle and weather patterns can vary greatly – we witnessed all four seasons several times over the course of our week of fishing. The bug life is also plentiful this time of year, so a head net is invaluable to keep from getting distracted by swarming insects.
The Laxá (which translates as salmon in Icelandic), comprises 58km of prime brown trout water that is considered to be among the best in Europe. These brown trout are native to Iceland and are fierce fighters that punch above their weight-class, even the more modest-sized fish are in the 14” to 18” range. One can expect an epic and ferocious battle from browns above 20” that may even compromise the most reliable of fly rods. Three 5wt and 6wt rods were shattered by these filthy fighters during our stay in Iceland.
Our arsenal of fly rods comprised a 4wt for tossing dries, a 5wt for nymphs and a 6wt or 7wt for streamers. Because prevailing cold temperatures and strong winds were not conducive to dry fly fishing, we opted to fish streamers most of the time. The most productive patterns were bead head Wooly Buggers, Bunny Muddlers and Zonkers. When not fishing streamers, the tendency was to defer to a tandem of #12 to #16 nymphs fished under an indicator - usually a silver bodied or silver bead head nymph as the dropper (such as a hare’s ear) and a heavier bead head pheasant tail as the point fly (such as a flashback pattern).
Suffice to say, due to the size and ferocity of these brown trout, the fishing in Northern Iceland was epic.
Safe travels and tight lines!
I haven't fished "everywhere"...but it's on my list. The that list is now longer with some of the recommendations you have made.