Dialing in your final list of schools to apply to? Currently, trout-bumming your way through college? Recent grad or washed-up alumni? We’ve all got our opinions when it comes to talking college rankings, so we thought we’d complicate it even more by adding fly fishing to the mix. Our top fly fishing college town list consists of the 25 best schools we deem fit for true fly fishing enthusiasts.
Criteria
While some schools have excellent trout fishing, others may have diverse offerings of species and fisheries. To properly rank the “best fly fishing colleges,” we judged each school on three criteria: diversity of species, proximity to water, and student fly fishing/conservation organizations.
Species Diversity/Fishing
For some, a trout sipping a dry may be the epitome of fly fishing, but the sport as a whole offers anglers much more. From warm water fisheries to coastal fisheries and everything in between, we felt it was important to take this into account in our rankings. Sure, trout fishing is fun, but it doesn’t hurt to expand your skillset to other areas.
Proximity to Water
As a college student, close proximity to water is crucial. You may not have a car or easy access to consistent fishing otherwise. We took this into account in our rankings and made sure schools were within accessible range for fishing. Whether between classes or a weekend send, the schools that made our list offer accessible fishing opportunities.
Student Organizations
If you’re interested in fly fishing or are a die-hard angler, good student organizations can make all the difference. They offer a chance to get involved and meet like-minded individuals. Additionally, programs like TU Costa 5 Rivers engage students in bigger conservation projects. Sure, you’ll get to fish, but you also get a chance to give back to local fisheries through conservation efforts.
After considering the overall cultures both on and off the water, we think these 25 schools deserve a place in the trophy case. After all, what would college football season be without a little competition of our own?
1. Montana State University – Bozeman, MT
Bozeman has always been a fly fishing destination in its own right, and Montana State University is no exception. Students obsessed with living the trout bum lifestyle are greeted with the Gallatin, Madison, and Yellowstone rivers in close proximity. Add to that the abundance of other world-class rivers across the state, and plenty of hidden gems, and it’s easy to see why the fly fishing obsessed flock here. The MSU Fly Fishing Club is also an active member of the TU 5 Rivers program, bringing together like-minded students to lead conservation projects and, of course, fish. The combination of fly fishing culture, world-class rivers, and big trout solidifies MSU as our top pick for trout bums. And if you’re going to skip class to fish, we recommend waiting for the salmonfly hatch.
2. University of Montana – Missoula, MT
Coming in at number 2 is the University of Montana, located in Missoula. Another Montana school, UM, is positioned near some iconic rivers. The Clark Fork runs right through town, Rock Creek is just down the road, and students speak in code about which hatch is happening. The UM Trout Unlimited 5 Rivers club connects students with the area’s epic fisheries, while also giving back to the resource through conservation work. Fly rods in one hand, stream restoration tools in the other. If you’re looking for a slightly smaller school than MSU without sacrificing the legendary Montana fishing, UM is a great choice.
3. Western Colorado University – Gunnison, CO
Western Colorado University finds itself approximately 2 miles from the nearest boat ramp on the Gunnison River. This legendary river is one of Colorado’s premier trout rivers and an easy commute to fish after class. In addition, several other nearby rivers, like the Taylor, give students other options to procrastinate school work and chase trout. The WCU Fly Fishing club is a staple at this school, offering weekly meetings in and outside of the classroom.
4. Appalachian State University – Boone, NC
Boone is where southern small-town vibes meet sneaky good trout fishing. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs right by town and offers access to some fantastic wild small stream fishing. Appalachian State University is also less than an hour’s drive to the legendary Watauga and South Holston tailwaters. The college fly fishing club in Boone is making serious waves in the industry surrounding their conservation projects, community building, and fly tying nights. Also, rumor has it, the Appalachian State Fly Fishing club might be the fishiest group of guys and gals east of the Mississippi.
5. Colorado State University – Fort Collins, CO
CSU Fly Fishing Club members live the dream. They have the benefits of a bustling campus life, mountain town vibes, and close proximity to great fishing. Positioned on the Front Range in Colorado, Boulder Creek is a short walk from campus. In addition, CSU’s centralized location makes it a great jumping-off point for the Rockies, Wyoming, or any of the nearby warm-water fisheries. Bonus points: the proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park makes skipping class almost too easy.
6. University of Wyoming – Laramie, WY
Wyoming’s wind is basically a hazing ritual — if you can cast here, you can cast anywhere. But for those who brave the breeze, alpine cutthroats, big browns, and solitude are your reward. By graduation, you’ll have a degree, bulletproof double-hauls, and the skills needed to catch trout anywhere. The UW Fly Fishing club is also an active and engaging member within the Trout Unlimited 5 Rivers space.
7. Penn State University – State College, PA
Spring Creek, Penns Creek, and Bald Eagle Creek are the holy trinity of State College fly fishing. These legendary rivers have had literal books written on them and are filled with fly fishing heritage. Penn State also has the oldest fly fishing course in the country, which Joe Humphreys played a pivotal role in developing. Now George Daniel, a fly-fishing guru and former coach of the US Fly Fishing Team, runs the course, so expect a PHD in trout fishing. Students can also join the Penn State Fly Fishing Club, which promotes conservation and the fly fishing community.
8. University of Miami – Miami, FL
If you’re looking for four years of sunshine and excellent fishing, the University of Miami is your place. Your home waters are Biscayne Bay, where you can expect shots at bonefish, permit, and tarpon—the big three. In addition, the various canals within walking distance of campus hold peacock bass, snook, and tarpon. You’ll probably skip class for a tide window, and honestly, who wouldn’t? The only catch: you’ll spend more on gas and skiffs than on textbooks.
9. Fort Lewis – Durango, CO
Durango is an underrated gem, tucked in the San Juans with trout around every bend. Students fish the Animas before class, chase pike after, and squeeze in desert carp when they’re looking for a change. The diversity is insane, and it’s one of the only places where pulling a weekend trout slam actually feels doable. Although a sleeper pick, the Fort Lewis Fly Fishing Club is here to make a difference by getting students involved in local conservation projects.
10. University of Utah – Salt Lake City, UT
SLC is where powder days and trout days blend into one lifestyle. The Provo River is a stone’s throw from campus and offers some world-class fishing for students looking to take a break from the books. The student organizations play a big role in the University of Utah’s way of life. Another prominent member of Trout Unlimited Costa 5 Rivers program, the University of Utah Fly Fishing Club is just as likely to be found picking up bags full of trash or big kyped up rainbows.
11. East Tennessee State University – Johnson City, TN
The South Holston and Watauga tailwaters make ETSU a southern fly fishing stronghold. ETSU students are blessed with an abundance of well-known hatches that these two local tailwaters have to offer. Whether you enjoy throwing fall streamers or springtime sulfurs, this is the place to be. The student organizations are equally important as the fishing to this college town. The ETSU Fly Fishing club is making a difference around the tailwaters with organized trash cleanups as well as unique learning opportunities.
12. University of Oregon – Eugene, OR
Eugene is home to a student body that might be half trout hippie or half steelhead junkie. Want to target different species? This place has it all. You can hit the McKenzie and Willamette just down the road or head to the coast to chase chrome on the fly. Sure, Eugene’s fishing scene might lead you to missing a few classes, but you might just be surprised to find your professor on a river playing hooky as well.
13. Boise State University – Boise, ID
Boise State might be one of the only schools where trout literally run through campus. The Boise River is an on-campus fishery, with steelhead and trout practically in lecture range. Boise offers other well-known rivers, such as the Owyhee and Payette, which are phenomenal rivers to hunt for trout on the fly.
14. Virginia Tech – Blacksburg, VA
Hokies have the option to split their time between tailwaters or tight, small streams. Brook trout thrive in nearby Appalachian streams, while smallmouth in the New River keep things spicy. Conservation culture runs deep here, and the angling community is tight-knit — which makes this school a perfect candidate for this list. One of the most active 5 Rivers clubs in the nation, the VT Fly Fishing Club’s crew is all about fishing hard and protecting local waters. From tailwaters to brook trout streams, they bring Hokie pride to every bend in the river.
15. University of Washington – Seattle, WA
If steelhead obsession is a major you are looking to explore, Seattle is the place for you. Students here have the options of fishing the Skykomish, the Yakima, or just tying up wet flies with their school’s prominent fly fishing club. The Husky Fly Fishing Club is another proud and active member of the Trout Unlimited 5 Rivers program.
16. University of Vermont – Burlington, VT
17. Western Carolina University – Cullowhee, NC
18. University of Idaho – Moscow, ID
19. College of Charleston – Charleston, SC
20. University of Maine – Orono, ME
21. Texas State University – San Marcos, TX
22. Gonzaga University – Spokane, WA
23. Tulane University – New Orleans, LA
24. University of Nevada – Reno, NV
25. Northern Michigan University – Marquette, MI
26. Bonus: SUNY – College of Environmental Science and Forestry – Syracuse, NY
27. Bonus: Lees McRae College – Banner Elk, NC
Which schools did we miss? Feel free to comment below!
Article by Team Flylords, based in Basalt, Colorado.
University of Vermont! Burlington, VT. We have wild brookies in the mountains, lake trout and lake salmon. And tons of rivers with browns and rainbows. Im shocked we didn’t make this list.
University of Virginia
Western Colorado should be in the top 10 at least!
Shhhh…. see if you can delete this.
You guys either are keeping it a secret or completely missed the boat. How can you not include Fort Lewis College in Durango? Out fishes every othe Colorado school listed
Great area but I’d take my Alma mater Colorado State over Durango. But Durango is tops for scenery and proximity to Mess Verde for non fishing day
My younger son went to Fort Lewis. My older son went to U of MT.
You put the University Of Georgia but you have to go to the University of North Georgia to get to any good fly fishing water
University of Wyoming. No school in Michigan???
ETSU – Johnson City, TN. The Watauga River is a classic southeastern trout fishery!
And the south Holston and not to mention all the creeks with native brooks!
Somewhere in the Driftless…maybe Luther College in Decorah IA or a UWisconsin school
University of Idaho but no mention of Washington State University. Come on. 8 miles apart. Most WSU fishermen fish Idaho, as well as northern Washington
They actually missed U of Idaho, Moscow as well as WSU, Pullman. Instead going for stuff around Boise.
Lees-McRae in Banner Elk, NC has a trout stream on campus.
Calif State University Chico, 3-4 hour drive to all the blue ribbon trout streams of Northern California 🤷
University of Wisconsin La Crosse and most the other campuses. On Mississippi and Black River plus hundreds of trout streams within 50 miles.
Bloomsburg university of PA. An hour from Penns and tons of other solid spots near there.
San Diego State?? Interested in your justification.
University of VT Burlington VT
Rolla, Missouri. Great trout and smallmouth fishing nearby. Don’t tell anyone.
One of my favorites is close by…shh
How can you not include UW-Lacrosse, so close to so many amazing driftless creeks
Western Carolina University? It has a trout stream through campus with a dorm on it. 4600 miles of trout streams within 30 miles- that’s a fact!
Used to do some work out there. Anglers in the stream all days of the week in the right season. All kinds of water meandering through the Nantahala National Forest.
Fort Lewis College in Durango, Co. come on now
Absolutely
Ferris State Unversity Big Ripids MI. Many great waters within a 1 hour.
CSU also has one of the top fisheries biology programs and one of the top river engineering programs in the country. You know, on the off chance you wanted to go to classes.
University Of South Alabama, all of coastal Alabama parts of western Florida, coastal Mississippi and Louisiana all just down the street. Reds, jacks, speckled trout, flounder and even off shore fish like bonita.
Appalachian State University… in the Appalachian mountains. Come on man
App State for sure!
For sure, the NC high country has a massive amount of fish able water and the Watauga and South Holstein right over the mountain.
SUNY Oswego in Oswego, NY – the fall salmon run up the river from Lake Ontario is legendary
Skidmore College for sure! The Ausable, the Saranac, the Delaware, and the Salmon River! Can’t forget about Lake Trout in a bunch of the local lakes too.
University Of Nevada, Reno. You have the truckee river walking distance from campus, truckee is 30 minutes away with tons of other rivers. Then the famous Pyramid Lake right next door as well.
Surprised Paul Smiths College in the Adirondacks didn’t make the list.
Western Carolina and App State
Use to work at Binghamton University. Professor friends and I fished the Delaware river all of the time. Caught lots of fat trout there. The fly fishing museum is only an hour or two from there as well.
How does UNC Chapel Hill make it in over UNC Asheville? PR contest?
Fort Lewis College in Durango Colorado.
Utah State! We’ve got 3 blue ribbon fisheries within 20 minutes. Native bear river cutties and big ole browns that don’t get taken care of. If you’re willing to fight off the rattlesnakes and hawethorne there’s plenty of native beauty’s waiting
Drop those UNC kids and put NC State University on the list – NCSU has lots of access around it and actually a fisheries program!!!
Brevard College, UNC Asheville, Western Carolina, Clemson, Warren Wilson.
Fort Lewis College in Durango! Gold medal water on the Animas just minutes from campus. Countless option nearby including San Juan River, Rio Grande river, countless creeks and alpine lakes.
I don’t know or understand how you all left University WI, Madison off this list. TONS of fly fishing — from Black Earth creek 30 mins north to the driftless area starting 20-25 minutes south and west, there is AMAZING fly fishing around Dane Co and points west.
The WI River is world-renowned for a smallmouth crash / blitz in the spring / fall.
Lake Wingra has a MASSIVE population of Muskie, and Lake Mendota has a 40” limit on pike. It’s a frickin trophy factory, and they are all fly-fishable.
Best College in Maine is Colby College. The Kennebec River runs through the city of Waterville. South of Waterville it fishes well for smallmouth. North it fishes for Landlocks and Brookies. When it reaches the ocean it’s great for Stripers and Blues
How do you put UNC Chapel Hill instead of Appalachian State in North Carolina? This makes zero sense.
You missed a good one .Gonzaga university in Spokane Washington nearby to several excellent rivers and streams. All within a 90 minute drive .Excellent academics and basketball team
Yeah, you missed Carroll College in Helena, Montana. Closer to the Mighty Mo and its 3 BIG lakes than Bozeman or Missoula.
Great comments from everyone. So glad I found this site. I have spent a great amount of time at Sewanee and I too think it is awesome. YSR!
Utah State University – Logan, Utah
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. Close to San Juan, Jemez, Santo de Cristo, Rio Grande gorge, etc, etc
Michigan Tech University in Houghton in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Spent five years there on the trout streams with some fantastic fishing and beautiful country.
or
Appalachian State University where I taught my son and lifelong fishing partner to fly fish.
Many years ago I got PE credit for a class in fly casting/fishing at Michigan Tech University. The class probably doesn’t exist anymore, but it was a fun conversation piece when interviewers noticed it.
Montana Tech. Butte, Montana. Should be top five for sure.
Amazing that the University of TN is not top 10 here…
With Access to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in TN and NC.
Tailwaters galore outside the park in East TN and Western NC.
Colorado State University Pueblo, the Arkansas river tailwater is 15 minutes from campus. Gold medal water for browns and rainbow trout and not to mention Pueblo reservoir for good small mouth bass and other warm water species.
BYU – Provo river, Strawberry Reservoir, Green river, Weber river…the list goes on. Not to mention Fly fish food, only the largest fly fishing/tying shop.
Fresno State! Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks are all within an hour away and there are literally thousands of streams and alpine lakes in those parks and the nearby Sierra National Forest, John Muir Wilderness, Amstel Adams Wilderness and Golden Trout Wilderness. The Blue Ribbon Kings River is a 20 minute drive from campus!
You forgot University of Wisconsin-Madison. Great College town with the Gateway to the Driftless Area trout streams of southwest Wisconsin starting within a 25 minute drive of campus(Black Earth Creek). Not to mention the warm water fisheries of Lakes Mendota, Monona, and Wingra a stone’s throw from campus. There’s even a chance to catch a Muskie a bike ride from the dorms.