Top Places to Trout Fish in the United States

Are you planning on searching for trout for your next fishing trip? Then this article is for you. Trout may not be as prized as salmon, but fortunate anglers can still land pretty big ones. Trout are a species of freshwater fish that generally lives in rivers, ponds, streams. Some, like the steelhead, however, can live in coastal areas. A lot of the bodies of water mentioned will thus be freshwater, as these are where most trout live. 

With so many brooks, streams, and rivers, where do you start? This article will list down six of the most popular fishing spots for trout in the US. This guide is here to help you find fishing spots teeming with trout that are either near you or are easily accessible without too much hassle. Do note that this list is merely a guide on which places to visit. Don’t limit yourself to these alone, as there are plenty of other spots that offer just as good, if not better, trout fishing. Try exploring the fishing spots near you; who knows, maybe you’ll land your big one there.

1. The Yellowstone River, Montana

Let’s start with a familiar fishing spot. Aside from being the perfect place for camping and outdoor activities, you can also catch plenty of trout in Yellowstone National Park. The Yellowstone River is known worldwide for its world-class trout fishing, and anglers from all over the world come here to experience it at least once. Due to its size, it’s divided into several sections and feeds several tributaries along the way, such as Yellowstone Lake. 

Anglers will have a wonderful time fishing at their heart’s content in its waters, as each section of the river is a different experience from the last. You will find cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout in large numbers here, as well as plenty of other gamefish as well. And the best part? You can visit this river at any time of the year and expect to catch plenty of trout. 

2. Roscoe, New York

Roscoe isn’t nicknamed Trout Town USA for nothing. This town is where the Beaver Kill River and the Willowemoc Creek meet. Roscoe also contains five of the best trout streams in the country, just in case the previous bodies of water aren’t cutting it for you. Aside from the bountiful gamefish found here, another reason why anglers visit the Beaver Kill River is the tradition of fly fishing here that goes back to the early 19th century. Unfortunately, because of this, the river has lost some of its early abundance of brook trout. But conservation efforts and the introduction of new hatcheries of brown trout has restored a portion of its former glory. 

Anglers from all over come here to practice their fly fishing skills catching brown and lake trout in its waters with the beautiful Catskill mountains as your background. Aside from trout, there are also plenty of other gamefish available in its waters. If it’s your first time fishing here, don’t worry, as there are guides in the area that assists anglers on how to approach Roscoe’s trout-rich waters. 

3. The Bighorn River, Montana

Okay, this may sound cheating, as it is a tributary of the Yellowstone River, but the Bighorn River’s abundance of brown trout deserves a special mention. And because it is a tributary of the Yellowstone, you can nail two birds with one stone when planning your fishing trip in Montana. The trout caught by anglers here are nothing to scoff at, as the average size of trout caught here are 15 inches in length. 

Anglers congregate 13 miles below the dam built on the river and into the Bighorn access site. If it’s your first time here, then fishing in this part is not a bad idea. Once you get to know the river better, there are plenty of other fishing spots in the river that you can go to catch trout. With the abundance of trout in its waters, anglers can visit this river throughout the year and expect a bountiful catch every time they do so. 

4. The Missouri River, Montana

Before you ask, no, it’s not located in Missouri. You read this right, as this is another perfect fishing spot in Montana for trout fishing. The river’s headwaters until the Holter Dam are perfect for catching brown and rainbow trout during spring and fall. But most anglers visiting this river usually go to the waters below the Holter Dam, similar to that of the Bighorn River.

And just like the Bighorn and the larger Yellowstone Rivers, anglers wanting to join in on the action can do so at any point of the year and expect great results. Another thing worthy of note about this river is that back in 2018, an angler caught a rare tiger trout here. For those who don’t know what this is, it’s a rare hybrid of a brook and brown trout. If you want to test your like and find one of these rare fish yourself, then head onto the Missouri River during your next fishing trip. 

5. The Manistee River, Michigan 

This famous river is considered one of the best rivers for trout fishing in the world. And this is for a good reason; there’s just so many trout here that anglers will struggle to catch them all. Brook trout abound in its waters, joined by smaller numbers of brown trout and even chinook salmon.  But make no mistake, if you’re looking for a trophy in this river, then you’ll be disappointed. If you want one, try the other popular fishing spots. 

Still, lucky anglers can find a trophy in its waters if they cast their lines from the M-72 Bridge downstream towards the CCC Bridge. Another thing to note when fishing in this part of the river is that only fly fishing is allowed here. So if you want to catch trout via a different fishing technique, you can inquire where these are allowed instead. 

6. The Connecticut River, New Hampshire, and Vermont

Anglers looking for a trophy trout can visit the Connecticut River, located between New Hampshire and Vermont. This odd river is located on the East Coast but has a West Coast feel to it, as brown and rainbow trout are common in its waters. The upper part of this river flows through a series of streams teeming with brook trout while the spring and fall bring landlocked salmon in large numbers to the area. 

Anglers fishing here have a variety of options on how they want to catch trout here. Whether it’s just fishing via the shore or wading through the river itself via boat, anglers will be sure to have a great time fishing in the Connecticut River. The closest towns to this river are Charlestown and Hanover, so these are the best places to start fishing here.