Top Destinations for Your Fishing Road Trip in U.S.

Summer means vacation time and many boaters and anglers are preparing to hit the “open road.” Besides making sure that the road is, in fact, “open” and not “closed for construction,” there are several things to consider before fish-tailing it out your driveway. Like where to go on your fishing road trip, for instance.

A fishing road trip can be defined as any fishing trip which involves covering long enough distance to require a stop (or two) to a convenience store for fishing road trip food such as honeybuns, coffee, chips, jerky, or a pop. Many fishermen may include the need for a selection of “tunes” for this to be an authentic fishing road trip. An overnight stay is not required; numerous local fishing spots will make worthy destinations. However, here are a few states with great local fishing spots that I include as options for where to fish:

South Carolina
Cast a baited hook in the surf and you just never know what might pick it up. 

Texas
I have a score to settle with some massive largemouth bass in eastern Texas.

Michigan
Pike and steelhead, baby!

Colorado
This is Trout Central and there are some surprising bonus fish.

North Dakota
You won’t believe the walleye fishing in some of their lakes.

If the fishing vehicle is piled high, consider protective rod tubes. There are cool models on the market but you can save money by building one out of PVC pipe. Try not to overpack lures and gear. “Do your homework” and research the state fishing online. However, if you do have the room, as one fisherman once told me, “it is better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.”

And before any fishing trips, go over your safety checklists. For the vehicle: tires, fluids, etc.  For your boat: trailer lights, spare trailer tire, whistle, etc.  For you and your guests: lifejackets, extra rain ponchos, emergency fishing ticket prevention papers (fishing licenses), etc.  

Where are you trying local fishing spots in your next fishing road trip?

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Andy Whitcomb

Andy is an outdoor writer (http://www.justkeepreeling.com/) and stressed-out Dad has contributed over 380 blogs to takemefishing.org since 2011. Born in Florida, but raised on banks of Oklahoma farm ponds, he now chases pike, smallmouth bass, and steelhead in Pennsylvania. After earning a B.S. in Zoology from OSU, he worked in fish hatcheries and as a fisheries research technician at OSU, Iowa State, and Michigan State.