Where to fly fish in May

21 destinations list May among their best months.

Showing 21 of 21 destinations
Flats

Ambergris Caye

San Pedro · Belize

Guide day
$480–650
Trip style
Guide recommended
Crowding
Medium
Difficulty
Intermediate
Fly into
BZE Belize City · 15-min flight to San Pedro
Flats

Andros Island

North, Central and South Andros · Bahamas

Guide day
$800
Trip style
Lodge-based
Crowding
Low
Difficulty
Intermediate
Fly into
NAS Nassau · 20-min flight
Trout

Arkansas River

Salida, Colorado · USA

Guide day
$695–750
Trip style
DIY-friendly
Crowding
Medium
Difficulty
Intermediate
Fly into
COS Colorado Springs · 2 hr
Flats

Ascension Bay

Punta Allen, Quintana Roo · Mexico

Guide day
$850
Trip style
Lodge-based
Crowding
Low
Difficulty
Intermediate
Fly into
CUN Cancún · 2.5 hr, then 1 hr by boat (TQO Tulum closer)
Trout

Beaverkill & Willowemoc

Roscoe, Catskills, New York · USA

Guide day
$425–450
Trip style
DIY-friendly
Crowding
Medium
Difficulty
Intermediate
Fly into
EWR Newark · 2–2.5 hr
Trout

Bighorn River

Fort Smith, Montana · USA

Guide day
$725
Trip style
Lodge-based
Crowding
Medium
Difficulty
Intermediate
Fly into
BIL Billings · 1.5 hr
Inshore salt

Cape Cod

Brewster, Chatham, Monomoy · USA

Guide day
$900 for 6 hr
Trip style
DIY-friendly
Crowding
Medium
Difficulty
Intermediate
Fly into
BOS Boston · 1.5–2 hr
6-hour trip, not a full day
Trout

Central PA Limestoners

Spring Creek, Penns Creek, Little Juniata · USA

Guide day
$500–550
Trip style
DIY-friendly
Crowding
Medium
Difficulty
Advanced
Fly into
MDT Harrisburg · 1.5 hr
Trout

Deerfield River

Charlemont, Massachusetts · USA

Guide day
$500–720
Trip style
Guide recommended
Crowding
Medium
Difficulty
Intermediate
Fly into
BDL Hartford · 1 hr 15 min
Trout

Farmington River

Riverton, Connecticut · USA

Guide day
$500–600
Trip style
DIY-friendly
Crowding
High
Difficulty
Intermediate
Fly into
BDL Hartford · 40 min
Flats

Florida Keys

Islamorada to Key West · USA

Guide day
$900–1,000
Trip style
Guide recommended
Crowding
High
Difficulty
Advanced
Fly into
MIA Miami · 1.5–2 hr to Islamorada
Trout

Great Smoky Mountains

Townsend, Tennessee / Bryson City, North Carolina · USA

Guide day
$375–800
Trip style
DIY-friendly
Crowding
Medium
Difficulty
Intermediate
Fly into
TYS Knoxville · 45 min
Trout

Green River

Dutch John, Utah · USA

Guide day
$699–700
Trip style
DIY-friendly
Crowding
High
Difficulty
Intermediate
Fly into
SLC Salt Lake City · 3.5 hr (VEL Vernal about 1 hr)
Trout

Lower Deschutes

Maupin, Oregon · USA

Guide day
$625–750
Trip style
Guide recommended
Crowding
Medium
Difficulty
Advanced
Fly into
PDX Portland · 2 hr 15 min
Trout

Missouri River

Craig, Montana · USA

Guide day
$700–790
Trip style
Guide recommended
Crowding
High
Difficulty
Intermediate
Fly into
HLN Helena · 45 min (BZN Bozeman 2.5 hr)
Inshore salt

Mosquito Lagoon

Titusville and Oak Hill, Florida · USA

Guide day
$500–700
Trip style
DIY-friendly
Crowding
Medium
Difficulty
Intermediate
Fly into
MCO Orlando · 45–60 min
Trout

Rangeley Lakes

Rapid River and Kennebago, Maine · USA

Guide day
$450–635
Trip style
Lodge-based
Crowding
Low
Difficulty
Intermediate
Fly into
PWM Portland · 2.5 hr
Trout

San Juan River

Navajo Dam, New Mexico · USA

Guide day
$575–625
Trip style
DIY-friendly
Crowding
High
Difficulty
Advanced
Fly into
DRO Durango · 1 hr 15 min (ABQ Albuquerque 3 hr)
Trout

South Holston

Bristol, Tennessee · USA

Guide day
$495
Trip style
DIY-friendly
Crowding
Medium
Difficulty
Advanced
Fly into
TRI Tri-Cities · 30 min
Low confidence; local shops list no rates
Trout

Upper Delaware

Hancock, New York / Pennsylvania · USA

Guide day
$425–600
Trip style
Guide recommended
Crowding
Medium
Difficulty
Advanced
Fly into
EWR Newark · 2.5 hr (BGM Binghamton about 1 hr)
Trout

West Branch Ausable

Wilmington, Adirondacks, New York · USA

Guide day
$599
Trip style
DIY-friendly
Crowding
Medium
Difficulty
Advanced
Fly into
ALB Albany · 2.25–2.5 hr
One outfitter's rate only