With Memorial Day Weekend in the rear-view mirror, the summer backcountry season is officially upon us. June through September are prime months for exploring our country’s wildest areas. Still looking to pencil in an adventure this summer? Here are our top picks for some epic backcountry fishing.
Eastern Arizona
If retirees and saguaro cactus are all that cross your mind when you think of Arizona, you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise when you head east of the Phoenix metro area. Rugged country covered in ponderosa pines, steep canyons, and alpine meadows harbors miles of quality trout water. Free-flowing rivers hold sizeable brown trout and smallmouth bass; many of the lakes and tributaries hold this watershed’s crown jewel: the Apache trout.
This region has a maze of decent Forest Service roads to get you within reach of good water. However, the best spots require a pack and a good pair of shoes. Trail systems are generally well-maintained close to trailheads and road access, but become pretty difficult to navigate in some of the more isolated terrain. Here’s a video of a 60-mile trip we did in the region a few years back.
Closest towns: Show Low, Eagar, Alpine
Planning Resources:
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
White Mountain Apache Tribe Game and Fish
San Carlos Recreation and Wildlife Department
Arizona Game and Fish Department
Best Intel:
Wind River Range
Boasting over 40 13,000+ foot peaks and more than 1000 lakes, Wyoming’s Wind River Range is an adventurer’s paradise. The landscape boasts the stark and dramatic look of the Sierra Nevada with a fraction of the crowd. Plenty of grizzly bears and wolves roam these watersheds, as well as – you guessed it – fish.
While not native, golden trout were once stocked in many of these lakes. They can grow to impressive sizes in these lakes, giving anglers a chance at a real trophy fish. Cutthroat, brookies, browns, rainbows, grayling, and lake trout can all be found in this 100 mile stretch of mountains.
Closest towns: Pinedale, Lander, Dubois
Planning Resources:
Wyoming Game & Fish Department
Southwest Colorado
Looking for big mountains, big fish, and few people? Consider venturing further than Colorado’s crowded Front Range and exploring the southwest corner of the state. The Weminuche Wilderness and South San Juan Wilderness are both pristine backcountry areas that boast extensive trail systems and lots of water. In the high country, snow could be present well into the summer season.
Much of the fishing in this region will be in high-elevation alpine lakes. Some of these nutrient-starved waters offer fishing that is almost too easy. In others, you’ll have to work for the fish, especially larger specimens. Check out our guide on alpine lake fishing to prepare.
Closest towns: Pagosa Springs, Lake City, Silverton, Durango
Planning Resources:
Boundary Waters
If you’re in search of a true off-grid experience, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota is one of your best bets in the lower 48. This 1-million acre wilderness area is comprised almost entirely of water: lakes, rivers, and creeks surround thousands of islands and land bridges. The best way to navigate the BWCA? By canoe. Before you give a sigh of relief at the lack of mountain passes, remember: you’ll need to portage your canoe between lakes.
The lakes in the Boundary Waters offer anglers an impressive selection of fish: northern pike, musky, walleye, smallmouth bass, perch, and multiple species of trout can all be caught in this region. If your focus is on fishing, it’s often most efficient to establish one or two “base camps” and then do day fishing excursions from there.
To access the BWCA, you will need a permit, so planning ahead is key. There is a limit to the number of people who can enter on any given day, keeping this a very secluded area.
Closest towns: Ely
Planning Resources:
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Southern Sierra Nevada
Less crowded than some of the more touristy areas of this famous range (see: Yosemite, Tahoe) the southern portion of the Sierra Nevada holds an impressive wilderness complex that spans over 1-million acres between Sequoia National Park, King’s Canyon National Park, and the Golden Trout Wilderness.
One of the best parts of this area is it’s accessibility. Off-trail travel across the large, open expanses of the Sierra is considerably easier than other mountain ranges in the West. Anglers have the opportunity to catch a California golden trout in it’s native watershed, as well as two other native fish: the Kern River Rainbow and Little Kern Golden Trout.
Closest Towns: Lone Pine, Bishop, Kernville, Three Rivers
Planning Resources:
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (U.S. National Park Service)
Inyo National Forest | Golden Trout Wilderness | Forest Service
Missouri Ozarks
Who said you need to head West for a wilderness adventure? The rivers in Southern Missouri run clear and free and are chock full of both trout and their native predator: the smallmouth bass. The best way to access this region is by canoe or kayak. Riverside gravel bars offer ample camping opportunities. Don't stop fishing when the sun goes down - many of the largest fish will be caught late into a hot and humid Missouri evening.
The Ozark National Scenic Riverways is the first national park area to protect a river system and encompasses much of the Current River and its major tributary, the Jacks Fork. This area boasts stunning cliffs and bluffs, crystal clear water, and is fed by a huge network of natural springs.
Closest Towns: Rolla, Eminence, Van Buren
Planning Resources:
Ozark National Scenic Riverways (U.S. National Park Service)
Where to Fish | Missouri Department of Conservation
Home | Mark Twain National Forest | Forest Service
Black Hills
Western road trippers often stop in the Black Hills to check off Mount Rushmore on their way to more “exotic” locations like Yellowstone. But this region of rolling hills and canyons is more than deserving of its own trip.
Although no trout are native to this region, it boasts over 800 miles of meadering streams. Larger waters, like Spearfish creek, offer easy road access. But the real adventure and fun begins when you start exploring the numerous spring-fed tributaries that meander through grassy meadows. Brook trout are prevalent in these creeks and offer excellent dry fly fishing throughout the summer.
Closest Towns: Rapid City, Spearfish, Deadwood
Planning Resources:
We hope you get out on an amazing adventure this summer! If you’re looking for more help planning a trip, don’t hesitate to reach out.