March 20, 2014
By Game & Fish Online Staff
If you're a serious angler, you've already dusted the cobwebs off of your rod, oiled your reel, and tied your flies. Now that you've got a head start, it's time to start mapping out your spring fishing trips. If you're in Tennessee, it's all about largemouth bass on Percy Priest Lake . New York is a trout fisherman's paradise this spring, and if you're out West you don't want to pass up Oregon's Clackamas River for some incredible steelhead fishing .
Here are all the best places to fish in your state this month, as well as the species to shoot for and the best tactics to use. So pack the cooler, pick up your buddies, and hightail it out to get out on the water!
Alabama Read the full forecast here.
There's never been a better time for spring fishing in Alabama, so grab your favorite rod and reel and hit the water! Here are the places you won't want to miss.
Arkansas Read the full forecast here.
There's never been a better time for spring fishing in Arkansas, so grab your favorite rod and reel and hit the water! Here are the places you won't want to miss.
Arizona Read the full forecast here.
Offering nearly 20,000 surface acres for anglers to roam, the Grand Canyon State's Lake Havasu is an excellent choice as the trees begin to show their spring buds and the days get warmer. Although it's known for cranking out 20 to 30 pound stripers on a regular basis, it is also a phenomenal largemouth fishery, and they especially turn on once spring arrives.
California Read the full forecast here.
There's never been a better time for spring fishing in California, so grab your favorite rod and reel and hit the water! Here are the places you won't want to miss.
Colorado Read the full forecast here.
With the days getting longer and Old Man Winter beginning to loosen his grip, it's time to trade your snow shoes and parka for your favorite graphite rod and Cast Master. By all accounts it should be another excellent fishing season across Colorado, and with more than 300 lakes and countless river and stream miles to explore, rod-bending possibilities are limitless.
Connecticut Read the full forecast here. Spring fishing in Connecticut has never been better. Whether you're angling for stripers or planning on slamming rainbow trout, these are the best places to hit.
Florida Read the full forecast here.
There's never been a better time for spring fishing in Florida, so grab your favorite rod and reel and hit the water! Here are the places you won't want to miss.
Georgia Read the full forecast here. There's never been a better time for spring fishing in Georgia, so grab your favorite rod and reel and hit the water! Here are the places you won't want to miss.
Iowa Read the full forecast here.
Whether you're planning on hitting the channel cats or spring fishing in Iowa for yellow bass, these are the top places you definitely won't want to miss.
Idaho Read the full forecast here.
Although it's been a long and cold winter across the Gem State, the days are getting longer and Old Man Winter has loosened his icy grip. Warmer weather is coming, and it's time to dust off your fly rod and patch your waders; there's spring fishing in Idaho to do. Here are a couple you can't go wrong with this spring.
Illinois Read the full forecast here.
There's never been a better time for spring fishing in Illinois, so grab your favorite rod and reel and hit the water! Here are the places you won't want to miss.
Indiana Read the full forecast here. Spring fishing in Indiana has never been better. Whether you're angling for coho salmon or planning on slamming slabs, these are the best places to hit.
Kansas Read the full forecast here. Here's everything you need to know about spring fishing in Kansas whether you're angling for monster pike, slabs, walleyes or bass.
Kentucky Read the full forecast here. Whether you're planning on hitting the slabs or spring fishing in Kentucky for largemouth bass, these are the top places you definitely won't want to miss.
Louisiana Read the full forecast here.
There's never been a better time for spring fishing in Louisiana, so grab your favorite rod and reel and hit the water! Here are the places you won't want to miss.
Massachusetts Read the full forecast here.
The Bay State is renowned for its excellent saltwater fishery including big stripers and bluefish. However, Massachusetts is also home to some of the best stream trout fishing and big-water bass fishing in New England. There isn't enough time to do it all but it's certainly worth a try! Here are your top options for spring fishing in Massachusetts.
Maryland Read the full forecast here.
There are some incredible opportunities for spring fishing in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay area, but there are also some excellent freshwater fishing opportunities for trout, bass, muskies, pike, panfish and a wide assortment of popular inland species.
Maine Read the full forecast here.
Spring is clearly defined in the North Country. March is still winter, which means ice-fishing rules till the end of the month. April 1 is opening day for open-water angling but it may be weeks before there's enough open water available for boating or casting from shore. May literally bursts upon the scene as the leaves on the poplars become 'big as a mouse's ear, ' which traditionally means it's time to go for trout, salmon and togue.
Michigan Read the full forecast here.
Whether you're planning on hitting the walleyes or spring fishing in Michigan for smallbouth bass, these are the top places you definitely won't want to miss.
Minnesota Read the full forecast here.
There's never been a better time for spring fishing in Minnesota, so grab your favorite rod and reel and hit the water! Here are the places you won't want to miss.
Missouri Read the full forecast here.
Spring fishing in Missouri has never been better. Whether you're angling for rainbow trout or planning on slamming walleyes, these are the best places to hit.
Mississippi Read the full forecast here.
Whether you're planning on hitting the steelhead or spring fishing in Mississippi for white bass, these are the top places you definitely won't want to miss. And don't forget your catfish baits because the flatheads are waiting for you in the Big Black River.
Montana Read the full forecast here.
Montana. Just saying those three syllables elicit visions of dancing trout in epic rivers. Although ice may still build on your rod's guides and snow may fly from time-to-time, Montana is calling, and it's time to hit the Madison River. Located in the heart of trout country, the Madison River is one of many epic destinations the Treasure State has to offer, and when spring arrives, the crowds are gone and the trout are active.
North Carolina Read the full forecast here.
There's never been a better time for spring fishing in North Carolina, so grab your favorite rod and reel and hit the water! Here are the places you won't want to miss.
North Dakota Read the full forecast here.
Now that winter's almost through, it's time to grab your favorite rod and reel and head out for some spring fishing in North Dakota.
Nebraska Read the full forecast here. Spring fishing in Nebraska can't happen soon enough! Here are the top places to hit and the species you want to target.
New Hampshire Read the full forecast here. There's never been a better time for spring fishing in New Hampshire, so grab your favorite rod and reel and hit the water! Here are the places you won't want to miss.
New Jersey Read the full forecast here.
Angling options in The Garden State range from surf-fishing for stripers and bluefish to sharks and flounder along the coast to inland opportunities including bass, trout, muskies, panfish and catfish. Great fishing is never far from Interstate Route 95 and the Garden State Parkway and the time to go is now!
New Mexico Read the full forecast here.
When it comes to spring fishing in New Mexico, bass and trout fishing are your best bets. Here are the places you want to hit and what tactics to use.
Nevada Read the full forecast here.
The Silver State is not the first place you think of when it comes to doubled-over rods and screaming reels, but if giant cutthroat trout and largemouth bass are on your agenda this spring, then you might consider what these two high desert jewels have to offer.
New York Read the full forecast here.
There's never been a better time for spring fishing in New York, so grab your favorite rod and reel and hit the water! Here are the places you won't want to miss.
Ohio Read the full forecast here.
There's never been a better time for spring fishing in Ohio, so grab your favorite rod and reel and hit the water! Here are the places you won't want to miss.
Oklahoma Read the full forecast here.
There's never been a better time for spring fishing in Oklahoma, so grab your favorite rod and reel and hit the water! Here are the places you won't want to miss.
Oregon Read the full forecast here.
Whether you're planning on hitting the steelhead or spring fishing in Oregon for smallbouth bass, these are the top places in the Pacific Northwest you definitely won't want to miss.
Pennsylvania Read the full forecast here.
Whether you're angling for slabs, or trout fishing is more your speed, there is plenty of spring fishing in Pennsylvania. Here are the place you'll definitely want to hit.
Rhode Island Read the full forecast here.
Not surprisingly, the Ocean State features many miles of Atlantic coastline where surf casters and offshore boaters work the salt for blues, stripers, blackfish and other popular 'deep sea ' species. Inland opportunities for spring fishing in Rhode Island include great fishing for bass, trout and panfish.
South Carolina Read the full forecast here.
Spring fishing in South Carolina has never been better. Whether you're angling for crappies or planning on slamming largemouth bass, these are the best places to hit.
South Dakota Read the full forecast here.
There's plenty of great spring fishing in South Dakota. Whether you're trout fishing on Castle Creek or walleye fishing on Reetz Lake, these are the tactics you want to use.
Tennessee Read the full forecast here.
There's never been a better time for spring fishing in Tennessee, so grab your favorite rod and reel and hit the water! Here are the places you won't want to miss.
Texas Read the full forecast here.
Spring fishing in Texas has never been better. Whether you're angling for slabs or planning on slamming catfish, these are the best places to hit.
Utah Read the full forecast here.
Straddling the Utah and Arizona border, Lake Powell is the second largest man-made reservoir in the United States that stretches nearly 190 miles from tip-to-tip. Although a popular vacationing hotspot for water sport connoisseurs during the summer months, when spring arrives, it is arguably one of Utah's top smallmouth bass fishing destinations.
Virginia Read the full forecast here.
Whether you're planning on hitting the steelhead or spring fishing in Virginia for largemouth bass, these are the top places you definitely won't want to miss.
Vermont Read the full forecast here.
The Green Mountain State is the last of New England's North Country trio that is highly susceptible to lingering cold, snow and ice at the end of winter, but by mid-April adventurous anglers can find enough open water to legally drop their favorite species a line. It's likely that the northern portion of the state will be snowbound till late April, but southern portions of the state should be ice-free by then. Here are your top options for spring fishing in Vermont.
Washington Read the full forecast here.
Spring fishing in Washington has never been better. Whether you're angling for steelhead or planning on slamming walleyes, these are the best places to hit.
Wisconsin Read the full forecast here.
There is plenty of great spring fishing in Wisconsin. From combat fishing for walleyes on The Dells and Fox River, to baitcasting for Lake Michigan salmon, these are the areas you definitely don't want to miss!
West Virginia Read the full forecast here.
There's never been a better time for spring fishing in West Virginia, so grab your favorite rod and reel and hit the water! Here are the places you won't want to miss for West Virginia muskie fishing and more.
Wyoming Read the full forecast here.
Driving through the classic high arid plains, sagebrush hills and pitched strata of central Wyoming, the average passerby wouldn't know it even existed. But weaving its way through this dry, dusty and desolate landscape is a clear river that runs cold all year long. It's here, thirty miles west of Casper, the North Platte River forms two top-of-the-line tailwaters that are ripe with rainbows.
Delaware Read the full forecast here. There are a wide variety of options for spring fishing in Delaware. The First State is known for its world-class black sea bass angling as well as freshwater fishing for bass, trout and other popular inland species.
