There are few pursuits better suited to travel than trout fishing. One day you might be stalking a single, suspicious brown trout in a tiny New Zealand stream, the next casting a big fly into an Icelandic lake, or wading a clear Patagonian river with the Andes on the horizon.
For the committed trout bum, the world is full of possibilities. Some destinations are about numbers, others about size. Some demand long walks, technical casting and nerves of steel, while others reward you with big flies, big takes and even bigger fish. Then there are the places where the fishing is only part of the reason to go: wonderful food, beautiful landscapes and the chance to experience somewhere entirely different.
From the classic trout waters of Europe to the wilds of Patagonia and the sight-fishing challenges of New Zealand, here is our guide to some of the greatest places in the world to travel with a fly rod.
Europe – world-class trout fishing closer to home
It is easy to look at destinations such as Patagonia and New Zealand when dreaming about a trout fishing holiday, but some of the finest fishing in the world is much closer to home.
For UK anglers, Europe offers an extraordinary variety of experiences. You can fish the historic chalkstreams of England, chase large brown trout in Iceland, explore mountain rivers in Italy and Spain or test yourself on the crystal-clear waters of Slovenia, Bosnia and Croatia. Add Finland to the mix, with its exciting baitfish-feeding brown trout, and there is enough variety to keep any trout bum busy for years.
The beauty of Europe is that it can suit almost any length of trip. A long weekend in Iceland or Slovenia is perfectly achievable, while a longer itinerary can take you through the mountains and rivers of central Europe. Plenty of European spots also lend themselves to a fishing, non-fishing combination holiday.
Iceland – big browns in a dramatic landscape
Although Iceland is perhaps best known for its Atlantic salmon fishing, its reputation as a brown trout destination continues to grow. There are rivers where large fish rise to dry flies, lakes that hold truly enormous trout and plenty of beautifully marked Arctic char to add another dimension to the fishing.
For those in search of a genuine trophy, Iceland has some exceptional options. The Minnivallalaekur, for example, is a place where patience and careful stalking can be rewarded with wild brown trout of over 10lb. It is quality over quantity and not the easiest fishing, but for anglers who enjoy studying a large fish before making the cast, that is very much part of the appeal.
Then there is Thingvallavatn, where cold conditions and long days casting large flies are offset by the potential rewards. This is trout fishing for those prepared to put the work in.
The great advantage, of course, is that Iceland is only a short flight away. You can be standing beside a volcanic river or lake within hours of leaving the UK, making it a really accessible destination for anglers chasing big wild trout.
Finland – the midnight sun and hungry browns
For something a little different, central Finland offers a wonderful mix of big trout, long summer days and relaxed lodge life.
At Kellankoski Lodge, anglers have access to private waters where wild brown trout can be targeted through the summer, with the trophy period particularly exciting when large fish begin feeding hard on baitfish moving between the lakes and rivers. The surrounding waters also offer excellent grayling fishing, along with pike, perch and zander for those who like a little variety.
There is something particularly appealing about fishing deep into a northern summer evening when darkness barely arrives. Add good food, comfortable accommodation and a beautiful lakeside setting, and Finland is a destination that deserves to be much higher on the travelling trout bum’s list.
Italy, Spain and the Balkans – variety at every turn
Northern Italy is one of Europe’s most complete trout fishing destinations. Brown trout, rainbow trout, marble trout and grayling can all be found among the rivers flowing from the Alps and Dolomites, while the combination of fishing, food, wine and culture makes it an easy place to spend a week or two.
Spain offers something different again. From the high mountain lakes and streams of the Pyrenees to the larger trout rivers of León, there is a remarkable range of water to explore. The opportunity to catch the distinctive zebra trout only adds to the appeal.
Further east, Slovenia, Bosnia and Croatia offer some of the most beautiful river fishing in Europe. Crystal-clear limestone rivers, prolific fly life and technical sight fishing for brown trout and grayling make these destinations perfect for anglers who enjoy the challenge as much as the catch. Slovenia also offers marble trout and, during the winter, the chance to target huchen, while Croatia’s Gacka River is famed for its large, fast-growing brown trout.
UK – classic trout fishing
Fly fishing in the UK is built on centuries of angling tradition, offering an extraordinary variety of freshwater experiences across some of the world’s most celebrated rivers. From the crystal-clear chalkstreams of southern England to wild upland streams in the west and expansive dry fly rivers in the north, the UK provides outstanding opportunities for anglers of all abilities. With prolific seasonal hatches, beautiful river landscapes, and a rich heritage of trout fishing, the UK remains one of the most rewarding destinations for classic fly fishing.
Argentina – Patagonia and beyond
If Europe offers variety close to home, Argentina offers scale.
Patagonia is one of those places that gets under your skin. The rivers are big, the landscapes vast and the fishing wonderfully varied. You might spend the morning fishing a small spring creek, the afternoon drifting a larger river and the evening enjoying a glass of Malbec while looking across the Andes.
For the dedicated trout angler, the choice of lodges and fisheries is immense.
Jurassic Lake – when only a monster will do
For anglers whose definition of a good trout starts somewhere in double figures, Estancia Laguna Verde is difficult to ignore. The lodge provides access to Lago Strobel, better known as Jurassic Lake, home to some of the largest wild rainbow trout in the world. These fish have grown fat on freshwater shrimp and are serious, hard-fighting trout that can be targeted with everything from streamers and nymphs to large foam flies and mouse patterns.
The variety of water is another major attraction. Alongside extensive access to the lake itself, anglers can fish the Barrancoso River, Moro Creek and a network of smaller lakes and lagoons. It is a place built around the pursuit of trophy fish and one that remains firmly on the bucket list of trout anglers worldwide.
A trout tour of Patagonia
Of course, Argentina is about much more than one famous lake. At Estancia Tipiluke, more than 27 kilometres of trout water include the Chimehuín and Quilquihue rivers, while the lodge itself offers a particularly good combination of excellent fishing, comfort and activities for non-anglers.
Rio Manso Lodge provides access to an enormous variety of water, from small streams and spring creeks to larger rivers and productive lakes. Brown trout, rainbow trout and brook trout all feature, and the fishing can range from casting large dries to drifting tiny nymphs or fishing heavy streamers from a drift boat.
Limay River Ranch is another destination for anglers with big fish on their mind. Alongside prolific rainbow trout fishing, large migratory brown trout move up from the reservoir each season, with some exceeding 30 inches. Estancia Tecka, meanwhile, offers huge scale, with extensive access to rivers, spring creeks and smaller tributaries spread across a vast working estancia.
This is what makes Argentina such a great destination for the travelling trout angler. You can focus on trophy fish, technical dry-fly fishing, wade fishing or drift boats, or simply mix it all together into one long and memorable trip.
And then there is the food, the wine and the scenery. It would be easy to travel to Patagonia for the fishing and return talking just as much about everything that happened away from the river.
New Zealand – the ultimate sight-fishing challenge
For many trout bums, New Zealand is the dream. The country is not unique simply because it has large trout. There are plenty of places around the world where big fish can be caught. What makes New Zealand special is the opportunity to sight fish to those trout in astonishingly clear water, often in streams that appear far too small to hold a fish of such size.
The challenge is immediate. Spot the fish, work out how to approach it and make the cast count. Long leaders, small flies and absolute accuracy are often required, and a poor presentation will quickly be exposed.
When everything comes together and a large brown trout moves to take a carefully placed fly, there are few experiences in freshwater fishing that can compare.
The South Island in particular feels like a vast playground for the adventurous angler. The fishing may be the reason you go, but the mountains, rivers, people and sheer beauty of the country are what make you want to return.
North America – Extraordinary variety
For many anglers, the American West is the heart of the country’s trout fishing, with Montana, Wyoming and Idaho offering some of North America’s most celebrated rivers and an exceptional variety of fishing. Whether you are looking for technical dry-fly fishing, searching for large brown trout with streamers, stalking cutthroat in mountain streams or simply enjoying a day drifting a productive river with a guide, there is an enormous range of experiences to choose from.
So where should a trout bum go?
That depends entirely on what you are looking for.
If your goal is the biggest possible trout, Jurassic Lake and Iceland should be firmly on the list.
If you enjoy technical sight fishing, it is hard to look beyond New Zealand, although the clear waters of Iceland and the Balkans provide their own demanding challenges.
For variety, Argentina and Chile are difficult to beat. From huge lakes to intimate spring creeks, big rivers and drift boat fishing, you could spend a lifetime exploring Patagonia.
If you want world-class fishing closer to home, Europe has an extraordinary amount to offer, with everything from English chalkstreams and Icelandic trophy browns to Italian marble trout and the crystal-clear rivers of Bosnia, Slovenia and Croatia.
And perhaps that is the real joy of being a trout bum. There is no definitive final destination. Catch the fish you have dreamed about, tick off the river you have always wanted to fish and, before long, another one will be calling.
Fortunately, there is still plenty of world left to explore with a fly rod in hand.
Where will your next trout adventure take you?
At Aardvark McLeod, we have spent years helping anglers travel in search of trout in some of the world’s most exciting destinations. Whether you are planning a short European escape, a first trip to Patagonia or a full-scale mission in search of the trout of a lifetime, we can help put together a trip around the fishing experience you are looking for.
For more information on any of our our trout fly fishing destinations please do not hesitate to contact Alistair Routledge or Alex Jardine, alternatively you can call us on +44(0)1980 847389.
