As your fly fishing obsession grows, you’ll begin to notice more and more opportunities to cast your fly rod. Eventually, you may even find yourself asking the question, can you fly fish anywhere?

Yes, you can fly fish any body of water that contains fish, provided you are legally allowed to do so. This includes everything from small streams and big rivers to ponds, lakes, and even the ocean. In fact, the wide array of fly fishing opportunities is often what gives the sport its appeal.

So, if you’ve reached the stage where even a bathtub full of water makes you want to grab your fly rod and test out some close-quarter casting techniques, you’re in the right place. What follows are a few tips and considerations you might want to take into account.

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Can You Fly Fish Anywhere With A License?

I’m going to hit you with the hard truth right away on this one; no. You cannot fish anywhere just because you have a license. First of all, a fishing license only covers you for the state you are in. So, if you get a fishing license in Colorado, it won’t be valid in any other state.

Additionally, while you need a fishing license to fish both private and public land, you cannot fish private land without expressed permission from the property owner.

In other words, your fishing license doesn’t just give you the right to fish wherever you want. It just gives you the opportunity to legally fish public land, as well as any private land you have access to.

Fly Fishing Streams and Rivers

When it comes to fly fishing, my mind almost always thinks of a river. When it’s the Taylor River that enters my thoughts, I can feel the water rushing over my wading boots, and the slick river rocks beneath my feet. When it’s the Bighorn River, I can hear the rhythmic sound of the water against the bottom of our drift boat. Rivers are a wonderful option when it comes to fly fishing, and great opportunity to catch some hard-fighting fish.

Additionally, fly fishing on a river is a pretty active form of fishing, and I’m not just talking about physically. Rivers come with an added mental challenge. Whether you are trying to match the hatch, read the water, determine the perfect depth, figure out what fish are feeding on below the surface, or just determine what a proper strike looks like, you need to be mentally sharp. So, before you go wading into a river with a fly rod in hand, here are a few quick tips to help you make the most of your river fly fishing adventure.

Know Where Fish Hang Out

One of the best things about fish, is that they are fairly predictable. No, you don’t know when — or even if — they are going to strike, but in most cases, it’s pretty easy to know where they are camping out.

Fish like to hang out in sheltered, or well-oxygenated areas of a river. So, if you can find a nice boulder in the middle of a river, or a cut-bank on the side of a stream that would protect the fish from predators (like birds), or a fast current, try dropping a fly in there. Additionally, if you see a nice little riffle that tails-out into a slow, deep section of water, add some weight, and take a few casts.

Approach Fish From Downstream

As you might suspect, fish spend most of their time looking up-river. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be able to hang out in a specific spot. So, if you want to catch fish in a river, don’t approach a hole from upstream. The fish are likely to spot you, and either swim away, or stop feeding out of fear.

If you approach a fishing hole from below a fish, they are less likely to notice you, and therefore, take your tasty little fly.

Re-Rig On The Side Of The River

This might seem a little amateur, but whenever you have the opportunity to re-rig your line on dry land, do it. The one consistent thing about rivers, is that they are always flowing downstream. And when you have to hold your fly rod, while standing in the middle of a fast-moving river, while tying on a new fly, it’s easy to drop your fly box. 

And trust me, that’s a day ruiner.

Fly Fishing Ponds And Lakes

Stillwater fly fishing can be a uniquely satisfying experience. In fact, a bunch of my favorite fly fishing memories have taken place on small ponds and lakes. And if you like the idea of catching big fish, this might be right up your alley. 

But how do you fly fish a lake if you don’t have a boat? Well, here are a couple options.

From The Shore

If you don’t have any kind of boat, it’s pretty obvious that you will be relegated to fly fishing from the shore. But not to fear! Fish like to feed near the shore. 

The area of a lake that goes from the shore to around 25 feet deep is called the Shoal. And the shoal is where fish get the majority of their food. Though, if you really want to strike the jackpot when fishing from the shore, look for an inlet (a place where water flows into a lake). The flowing water acts like a conveyor belt of food for fish, so they like to hang out in these areas.

Float Tube

One of the most fun ways to fly fish is in a float tube. And if you’ve never done it, now is the time to try. A float tube is exactly what it sounds like. It is a little one-person innertube you can use to float around a pond or small lake and fly fish. 

Typically you just strap some fins to your feet and use those to move around the river. However, some of them are a little higher tech and include some oars. But personally, I think it’s easier to just use fins. They don’t get in your way, and you never have to set your fly rod down, which gives you a better opportunity to catch more fish.

Saltwater Fly Fishing

Like I said earlier, you can fly fish anywhere, and that includes the ocean. And this is where things get awesome! Unlike rivers and lakes, where you are pretty limited in terms of species, the ocean provides ample opportunity to catch all sorts of fish. 

On top of that, saltwater fishing with a few exceptions, comes with warm weather. Sign me up!

But where exactly should you go to catch fish in the ocean? I’ve got three epic places for you.

Belize

Belize is often praised as one of the best saltwater fly fishing destinations in the world. Whether you want to catch bonefish, permit or tarpon, this is your place. Additionally, there are plenty of fly fishing lodges in Belize ready to take the hassle out of it for you.

Mexico

At first, when you think of Mexico, you might imagine an all-inclusive resort. And I wouldn’t blame you. Who doesn’t want to sit on the beach for seven straight days, ordering piña coladas and eating all the piaya you can handle?

Fly fishermen, that’s who!

Mexico is one of the world’s best destinations for saltwater fly fishing. And it comes with the added bonus of cheap flights, and quick travel time.

Bahamas

This list just keeps getting better! The Bahamas is a uniquely awesome destination for saltwater fly fishing, because the majority of it is done on saltwater flats. I’m talking sight-fishing for tarpon, permit, and bonefish in knee-deep, crystal clear water. If that doesn’t sell you on it, I don’t know what you want from me.

Final Thoughts

The world of fly fishing is wide open. Whether you like the sound of a river running over your boots, the serenity of a quiet lake, or the thrill of landing a bonefish in the Bahamas, you can fly fish just about anywhere. Now, go do it.

What’s your favorite place to fish? Do you prefer fly fishing on rivers and lakes, or do you have saltwater fly fishing running through your veins? 

Be sure to leave a comment below. We always love hearing from our readers!

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