Deeter,

I think California deserves the award. I grew up learning to fly fishing in Montana - which is without a doubt one of the finest fly fishing states in the US. But fly fishing is a year around addiction that doesn't pause in the winter. Winter fly tying does its part to ease the addiction, but in California you have the option to fish year around. And given that the Truckee area borders California, you get the great fishing in Nevada too.

You tell me another state with this weather, trout fishing, steelhead runs, the delta fishing, striper fishing, etc, that has a geography that stretches from tiny streams near Bishop to massive steelhead rivers near Eureka, and I'll be surprised. It's taken me a long time to conclude this, but I think California has Montana beat for year around addiction-fulfilling fly fishing. And you have some of the most beautiful scenery around if the fish aren't biting.

FORGET ABOUT ARKANSAS ! We don't have ANYTHING worth catching !

How about maine, we have the biggest brookies in the U.S, a world class smallmouth fishery, landlocked salmon up to 10 pounds, big stripers, and fly fishing for bluefin tuna. NOW HOW CAN YOU BEAT THAT?

I hate to sound like I'm frontrunning, but my vote goes to Michigan as well. Excellent trout fishing, great runs of both salmon and steelhead, plus every warmwater species you could want to chase. My best steelie came in February one winter, and December was the only month I didn't wade in some river. Plus the navigable river law makes access a LOT better than a lot of states. My humble 2 pennies.

You forgot maybe the most important con item for Alaska: that October - May thing (that makes us jealous of even the Michigan and Montana boys), and also that (per capita) lotsa-people-die-in-the-backcountry thing.

Ain't NJ

How bout Rhode Island. One of the best striped bass fisheries on the planet and don't forget about huge bluefish, tackle-busting bluefin, bonito, and yes, even the occasional shark. Who wouldn't want to catch those fish on the fly. It even has some great trout waters close by. I mean come on, its not very big.

Dare I say it. Ohio. Don't get me wrong. I've had some fantastic trips from New York to California and many place in between and have caught lots and lots of fish but Ohio is the only state I know where I can enjoy the day fishing with friends and be home at night with my family.

West Virginia....Its the best of everything in this state...Small private, and native streams, big, clear, beautiful rivers, and lakes at the top of mountains. The fishing has never diappointed me, and I have many stories I'd be glad to share about being out in the wilderness with nothing but a fly rod, a tent or cabin, and a fire. The people are kind, and the fly shops are a great place to learn what fly is hitting at the time. If you want, you can spend a whole weekend without ever seeing another person(just some deer, and maybe a bear if your lucky)or you can go out and meet all kinds of great fishermen on the river. So, yes, West Virginia is the top pick for me.

You have taken on an impossible task. All the states that have waters carry the distinction of 'Best'. I live in California and have found not only your typical fish in streams and rivers, but we have the added distinction of a coastline almost 1000 miles long... all of it has viable fishing. Mako Shark in San Diego with Cpt. Conway Bowman, Sea Bass, Corbina, Guitar and leopard shark... I could go on. McCloud Trout are the base for the New Zealand trout, The Sierra Nevada, both Westside and East is crazy with many different types of trout. Than you have Redding,CA which boast of such rivers as: Pit, Hat, Feather, Trinity,Eel,Kalmath and the big DADDY "The Scaramento". But finally you have one of the most beautiful rivers I've ever seen, The Smith. Surrounded by giant Redwoods, waterways cascading down to the the Pacific, this river is known for it's fantastic Steelheading.
I've only named a few waters, leaving out many lakes,ponds and private waters, but California may not be the watershed state like many others, but don't discount it's greatness for fly fishing.

Of course Idaho ranks #1, with all of it clear mountain streams and lakes, trophy fisheries, and little know bodies of water. Idaho is where the still water fisherman, stream fisherman, boat fisherman, and dry fly enthusiast can all find the water to suite their fly fishing style. From drifting the South fork of the Snake for cutthroat to wading a small stream with a 3 wt. rod for brookies, you can find it all.

Deeter you have done it again. When will you learn that people are passionate about their state and fishery. You like to find the slippery slope.

Well Colorado is always deserving of a fly fishing state especially when you look at the total miles of water. This is where I hang my hat and wave my magic wand more times than other states but the bottom line is that I like to have my rod bent by multiple species.

On Florida you forgot speckled trout so people can chase after trout while fishing for the other multitude of species.

I am miffed in that you forgot the great tribs of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario for those who fish in upstate New York. You talked about the great fishing in the Catskills but those in upstate know when the fishing really begins is in October for steelies and large aggressive browns.

Additionally you have great stillwater fishing for smallies throughout the central part of New York. People are passionate about the Yankees and great fishing throughout the entire state. As with most people, they tend to forget about the rest of the state when they start talking about the city.

In parting - GO YANKS!!!

North Carolina:
Stripers, Bull reds, tarpon, billfish, tuna, small mouth bass, large mouth bass, stocked trout, wild brookies, and even the trophy trout river in Cherokee Reservation. And you can fish year. I guess its not as glamorous as Montana or Alaska, but there are miles of uncrowded waters. I think you need some saltwater access to win this contest.

Deeter,

Have any statistics on fly shops per capita? That may be an interesting objective indicator of which states are the most fly fishing oriented.

Vince

The best fly fishing state in all of America is certainly North Carolina. There is amazing scenery, all kinds of fish, and there is also, rivers, streams, lakes, and saltwater. It goes from fly fishing in the mountains to trolling on the coast. U can catch any thing from rainbow trout to red fish. North Carolina is most the place to fly fish!

Not Wisconsin we got steelhead and some trout streams that aren't nothing more then ditches so I've got to go with probably Alaska if I really wnated to go to the mecca of flyfishing there's so much diversity and think of all the beauty.

I'm going with Missouri. Yeah, I said it, pretty unconventional choice, but I'm going with it anyway. Spring-fed streams in the southern part of the state have the best smallmouth bass fishing in the country, and some pretty awesome fishing for wild and stocked trout too. Plus the streams around here are just tailor-made for fly fishing.... Clear, cold spring water... Maybe I should say it is the most underrated state for fly fishing. That might actually be more fitting.

Grassy Creek, Ashe County, North Carolina!!!