The one river

[weirdnjfly]

I always wondered if I would find that one river I could fish for the rest of my life. Over the past few years fishing all over Pa, Ny, and Nj I think I might have found it. Most people i talk to say this river, stream, creek is too hard to fish. What they say is its too hard not big enough, or they dont even want to go give it a try. The truth is the river is hard to fish even harder to land a fish, however me and my buddy do agree this is the best river to fish. Its called the Letort and both me and him have some great memories from there. Such small stream but some huge fish, now what is your favorite river, stream or creek and why?

 

[Rusty Spinner]

I don't think I could ever be happy with just one stream or river. I need some strange now and then and I like too many waters all over the country. But a spring creek like the Letort would be a good choice if you only had one. After all, you can fish it year round which isn't always the case with freestoners due to warmth in summer or anchor ice in winter.

 

[mob201]

When they find a way to turn the Gowanus Canal into a year-round tailwater fishery with a naturally reproducing strain of brown trout and a big steelhead run every year, that will be my favorite river. Until then I'm with Rusty.

Even a great spring creek is a particular kind of fishing experience. I would miss having an excuse to cut loose and double-haul like you can on big water, and I might get tired of having to be so sneaky. They are the most beautiful to fish though, hands down, due to the clarity of the water and the plant life. Those of you east of the East River (like me) can go to the Connetquot for a reasonably similar experience.

 

[lightenup]

My Grandpa taught me many things on Minnimingo Creek.....I could probably die happy if that was the only stream I could fish.....Lots of people and loads of stocked fish, but the memories and time I have spent there are priceless....

 

[flyI4]

I agree that one river would get old, and that changes in scenery, fishing style, fish, habitat, ect are what allows an angler to remain passionate about the sport for a lifetime. Also, even difficult streams become easy if you fish them enough and easy gets boring after a while. Its fun to fish a new place that you know nothing about, and when you hook that first fish you get that rush you got when you actually did hook your first trout on the fly. New water is a great way to bring back the novice thrill and satisfaction that a tough 1st day can provide when you finally do hookup and bring a fish to hand.

 

[weirdnjfly]

guys you have no choice this is the law you can fish one river pick one

 

[CTobias]

guys you have no choice this is the law you can fish one river pick one

Who's law?

 

[weirdnjfly]

Never mind forget it lets just stick to the original post

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[flyI4]

mainstem. Big fish, limited crowds down river, and on a good day you can catch more 20+ inch fish than most people catch on other streams in a lifetime. Most fish are wild, scenery is great, and the water is diverse so as to allow u to fish in a way that suits your mood.

 

[weirdnjfly]

mainstem. Big fish, limited crowds down river, and on a good day you can catch more 20+ inch fish than most people catch on other streams in a lifetime. Most fish are wild, scenery is great, and the water is diverse so as to allow u to fish in a way that suits your mood.

Thank you now that's a answer

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[CTobias]

Sustut River in BC. You don't go there to catch 20lb steelhead. You go there to catch 30lb steelhead.

 

[Trouser Trout]

For me, its the fabled waters of the Rahway river.

 

[thrashers.wheat]

One river...good question. A prolific steelhead stream out west is a good choice because they typically have solid trout fishing in other parts of the year. Plus, some of these streams have hundreds of miles of public water. The Deschutes could be a good choice.

Streams on the East would be tough...limited access, limited length.

Picking a Canadian stream? Doubt they'd extend citizenship to most folks on this site to be able to fish within the 51st state year round. Glad nobody picked any of the MT streams as their year round fishing choice.

 

[nsdrawbridge10]

Theres this stream here in mass, I dont even know its name. Its in the town of clinton, tiny little stream maybe 5ft wide at its widest. But it is loaded with native brookies, the brightest colors I have ever seen. No pressure, will never see another angler, in mass thats kind of a big deal. Just a gorgeous setting and prettier fish. I could die happy on those banks

 

[Thursthouse]

Theres this stream here in mass, I dont even know its name. Its in the town of clinton, tiny little stream maybe 5ft wide at its widest. But it is loaded with native brookies, the brightest colors I have ever seen. No pressure, will never see another angler, in mass thats kind of a big deal. Just a gorgeous setting and prettier fish. I could die happy on those banks

likely story...

 

[skipper3245]

I agree with JC on the main stem. I would get bored fishing a river that just had trout in it and the same damn holes each day. Main stem while fishing for trout have caught largemouth, smallmouth, carp, pike, sunfish, walleye, perch and stripers. Fishing the mainstem is like a box of chocolates..never know which one you are gonna get. Its my fav river to fish in the area for sure.

Letort spring creek is a pretty sweet stretch of water. I have only fished it twice and never found it really hard or anything different from any other spring creeks I have fished. Scenery isnt that great either. I read articles on how its really hard and the fish are ultra finicky and spooky. We were catching them on streamers and hoppers on 4-5 x tippet all day which are not the most stealthy of flies.

 

[Johnny Utah]

If i had to choose just one, I would pick the Delaware river. It is very long(301 miles), many species and many great hatches. One could easily spend a life time fishing it from one end to the other.

 

[mob201]

Fishing the mainstem is like a box of chocolates..never know which one you are gonna get.

Yeah that's a good point. I love that about the mainstem too.

 

[NJpatbee]

I have several streams that I feel at home on and fish different waters based on the season and plan to keep it that way - plus I enjoy the anticipation of fishing a new water. But since we have to pick only one by law I would choose the Yellow Breeches in Boiling Spring, Pa. Here are my reasons:

- It has many of the traditional mayfly hatches in the Spring, which start earlier than most in the Northeast
- As a Spring fed creek, the fishing stays excellent during the Summer with terrestrials, midges, and other small stuff - not reliant upon tailwater releases which can be changed as we have seen
- It has the most intense large mayfly hatch I have ever fished during the dog days of Summer
- When the fish police aren't watching you can sneek off the to the Letort and other Limestone gems
- I spent 15+ 4 day weekends staying at a local resort in the Yellow Breeches with my family during the Summer and feel right at home

 

[GARYB]

The Willowemoc, all types of water, trout and good hatches.

 

[bkill]

The Delaware would get crowded with all the people who could only fish their one river.. It is the obvious choice for the East and I am joining the others.. Diverse, Challenging, Scenic and Perfect..... But I would miss the Beaverkill and smaller creeks....Thankfully we do not have to make that choice... There is a world of adventure in fly fishing.. Experience it!!!

 

[Trout Guy]

The Willowemoc, all types of water, trout and good hatches.

I second that notion. My first trout on a fly was caught by the campground. The head waters are superb if you like fishing for small scrappy brookies like I do.

 

[LyNcH]

I will say I have it narrowed down to 2 rivers. When I get closer to retirement in 17-18 years, maybe I'll have it figured out.

First is the Salmon River, which is not a surprise to anyone who knows me. I easily spend twice the amount of days on this river (and nearby LO tribs) than anywhere else. The fishing is dynamite from September through early May, with consistent steelhead action from early October on through. Hopefully the Atlantic Salmon program continues to show success, which will make this fishery ever better. Sure the salmon run is fun, but I'll take a nice aggressive chromer that time of year any day. Don't forget the massive brown trout that head in every fall with the steel and again in the spring.

My second river of choice is the Ausable River. Once the steelhead have returned to Lake Ontario, the Ausable is just picking up. I try to fish it at least 14 days a year, and would love to have a place right on the river between Whiteface and the flume. The Ausable offers a nice selection of brown, rainbow and brook trout. The scenery up there is amazing, and my wife really likes the area. I already have my 14 days scheduled on the calendar for 2013.

Two house on two rivers, year round fishing......sorry, I couldn't follow the rules.

 

[Rugby10]

Without a doubt, my choice would be the Ausable. It has so much variety in the types of water you could fish, you would never get bored. Big Browns and Rainbows, and the occasional Brook Trout. I almost exclusively fish dries (except for the 2 Fly Contest or when LyNcH raves about a new nymph he's concocted) and always do as well if not better than my high sticking compadres. Size 10 Haystack's down to a size 16 Purple Haze all produce. Wading is tricky but rewarding, and there is just so much damn water to fish!

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[tomfly]

For me it is the St Regis. It contains all the types or water that a fly fisherman would want. It still has great hatches. The flies are big and the fish are hungry. I have never been there and seen it crowded. It is a picturesque river to fish. I love tannic water from what I have observed the insects seem to fair better in that stream chemistry for some reason.