Calling a fishing destination “5-star” can mean a lot of things to different people. Some people are all about fishing and only fishing. Five stars to them mean spectacular fishing opportunities for that prized species on their list. For them, it could be good numbers, rare fish, or even that “trophy” size catch. If this means sleeping in a car on the side of the road it makes no difference to them. It’s all about “The Fish”.
Other people are looking for a trip the whole family can enjoy, a vacation with a side of good fishing. They want some amenities, some nightlife, maybe some local culture and sightseeing. Then a couple of days on a blue water charter.
Throw in all the factors like; do you want a guided/charter experience or are you more into self-guided adventures? What time of year? What species? What’s on the bucket list? Boat or shore? Fly fishing? Budget? Well, you get a lot of answers for what a 5-Star Fishing Destination entails. And guess what? Everybody’s right. Your dream fishing destination is a personal thing. Whether you’re a trophy hunter or dream of ten-inch trout on a quiet Alpine Lake, who can say it’s not “5 star”? Fishing is many things for everyone, but here are some of our favorites from over the years and why we think of them as “5-star”. (Hint: the reasons aren’t all the same.)
Starting from East to West.
Fort Peck, Montana
DIY Road Trip Adventure
For some people seeking out fishing destinations, the adventure of getting there is more than half the fun. Fort Peck Montana is nearly 1000 miles from Seattle and a 15-hour drive straight through. It is so far East that it’s not really PNW anymore. The road to Fort Peck has its share of roadside attractions, beautiful scenery, and fun stops if you plan your time accordingly. If your 5-star fishing destination means a nice long road trip, you should put Fort Peck on your list.
Why Fort Peck? Last year a new state record came out of Fort Peck that caught the attention of anglers across the U.S. You might be surprised that the record was for Chinook Salmon, a 32.62 Chinook to be exact. That’s a nice fish anywhere! And traveling across the northwest to this unlikely spot for a chance at 30-pound plus Kings is what makes this one of our 5-star destinations. The fishing opportunity doesn’t stop with salmon at Fort Peck. Walleye, Sturgeon, Northern Pike, Lake Trout, and Small Mouth Bass all abound in one of the most beautiful, uncrowded fishing destinations in the United States. You’ll have an opportunity to catch a “personal best” of multiple species all on one trip. And from experience, they grow them large in Big Sky country!
Fort Peck Reservoir is a big lake (about 134 miles in length, 1520 miles of shoreline, and roughly 220’ deep when full) created by the Fort Peck Dam on the Missouri River. Boats are recommended but there are a lot of marinas and campgrounds to plan your trip around with many having shore fishing opportunities. Glasgow, Montana serves as a good base camp with various lodgings, restaurants, and re-supply options and is just 17 miles from the Fort Peck Marina. The Cottonwood Inn & Suites has a variety of options for lodging; from RV Parking to hotel rooms, and amenities include boat parking, a casino, and a restaurant.
You can learn more about Fort Peck, and how to fish it at https://fwp.mt.gov/fish
Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho
North Idaho Trophy Hunting
Lake Pend Oreille is the largest lake in Idaho and in the top 50 for the U.S.. It is really deep (over 1000 feet in some areas) and is known for naval submarine testing. This is beautiful country, with a host of fishing options, but what many come for are the Kamloops. Kamloops is a Gerrard strain of rainbow trout that are known as some of the biggest trout around, and are highly sought after to round out an avid trout anglers trophy checklist. Your chance for “Big Fish” is what makes Lake Pend Oreille a 5-star fishing destination.
The Idaho state record Kamloops rainbow trout was caught out of Pend Oreille by Wes Hamlet in 1947. That’s a long time for a record to hold up, but that doesn’t stop anglers from pursuing glory every year in tournaments, by boat, and from shore. Pend Oreille is also home to massive schools of kokanee (a favorite food of the Kamloops), and populations of pike, bass, perch, walleye, crappie, and mackinaw. The lake has a history of big fish taken from it in addition to the trout record, these include a 43-pound 6-ounce mackinaw in 1995, and a world record 32-pound bull trout in 1949.
The idyllic town of Sandpoint sits on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille, nestled in forests between the mountains and the lake. A destination town for skiers in the winter and boaters in the summer, Sandpoint is a great home base for the family fishing destination vacation with some boujee amenities not too far from some small-town, rustic escapes. The theme park, Silverwood, is less than 30 minutes away. If you’re looking to plan a trip with something for everyone, shopping, hiking, dining, and trophy fishing, Sandpoint and the neighboring town of Ponderay are great options.
The word is out, and the popularity of the area has grown immensely so plan ahead! Jeff and Mona Laybourne of Superfly Tackle not only operate the local tackle store and carry everything you need, but they also make specialized gear to target the lake’s prized trophies. They are a wealth of information and can be reached online at https://superflyflies.com/.
Clearwater River, Idaho
Steelhead Mecca
Arguably the most consistent steelhead fishing in the region and your best shot at steelhead retention (catch and keep), the Clearwater River’s retention steelhead season runs from early October to mid-April, with prime time being October through January. You can be at this steelhead promised land in just under 6 hours from Seattle.
The river draws steelhead enthusiasts from around the northwest, offering outstanding opportunities for catch-and-release fishing, fly fishing, shore fishing, and of course drift boats and power boats. The Clearwater’s “B-run” may be the best bet in the region for a trophy 20-pounder, and B-run fish typically average 12-14 pounds. Many of the fish originate at the Dworshak National Fish Hatchery managed by the Nez Perce tribe of Idaho, located at the confluence of the North Fork and mainstem Clearwater, about 3 miles west of Orofino, Idaho.
While the epic steelhead fishing and amazing stretches of highly fishable water make this a 5-star fishing destination, the Clearwater is not a one-trick pony. The Dworshak hatchery bolsters catch and keep chances for King and Coho salmon with sustainable fish production goals. Coho were declared extinct in the river in 1986, but this year there was an overlapping sport season for Coho, Kings, and Steelhead! These October days are prime time and can be some of the most amazing, quality, days of an angler’s life. With returning Coho averaging 8-12 pounds, 10 to 20 pounds plus Chinook, and those amazing B-runs in the river at the same time, pandemonium has been the theme more than once! Recent years have seen spring run Chinook seasons as well.
This adventure is really about fishing and those special days on the water. There are a variety of options in the area for shore fishing, multiple boat launches, and some great area outfitters. Many folks skip the hassle of pulling the boat and learning the river, instead walking onto a guide’s boat and getting right into the hot spots. Many of these area professionals provide a “hot lunch” as well, and around noon you can smell burgers and brats all around the river. Guides we recommend in the area include Toby Wyatt of Reel Time Fishing https://reeltimefishing.com, Kyle Jones of Jones Sport Fishing https://jonessportfishing.com, and Adam Hocking of Steel Dreams Guide Service https://steeldreamsfishing.com. For lodging Lewiston, Idaho has all the amenities with the Hell’s Canyon Grand being our usual choice. Orofino, Idaho, has several good options as well.
Potholes Reservoir, Washington
Walleye Wonderland
Not everyone’s into walleye, but if you are, Potholes Reservoir should be on your list. Located about seven miles south of Moses Lake in Central Washington, Potholes Reservoir offers year-round fishing opportunities for walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and panfish. Dinner plate bluegill are not unknown and last year there was some great rainbow fishing.
The lake is large and shallow, with most of the lake less than 30 feet deep. What used to be, and still is to some extent, a large collection of sand dunes, is now a one-of-a-kind regional destination for bass and walleye anglers and recreation of all sorts. As part of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project, multiple tournaments are held on the Lake annually, most held at the MarDon Resort Marina.
With over 300 days of sunshine, MarDon is popular as a destination for families, and vacationers nearly year-round (boating, camping, resort events, wildlife & birdwatching), with the Fall and Winter offering excellent waterfowl hunting opportunities. The resort has a variety of lodging opportunities from big RV spots and campsites to beach houses and cabins, you can customize your Potholes Lodging experience to your needs. The marina offers quick access to the Lake, and the restaurant and resort store means you don’t need to go anywhere.
The consistent walleye fishing and the flexibility to tailor the trip to whatever you’re looking for is what makes this a 5-star fishing destination. Walleye are delicious table fare, and the big boys can offer a surprising fight. Nothing beats a mess of walleye grilled up after a day of fishing with one of those epic Potholes sunsets on the horizon.
You can fish from the shore or the marina dock, launch your boat, rent a boat, or hire a local guide to experience Potholes Reservoir Fishing. Shelby Ross of Ross Outdoor Adventures is the resident expert on lake conditions and where the fish are.
To learn more about MarDon Reservoir visit https://mardonresort.com/ to contact Shelby Ross of Ross Outdoor Adventure visit: https://rossoutdooradventures.com
Zeballos, BC
Trip of a Lifetime
This one is for those people who want the ultimate PNW fishing experience. You want salmon, you want halibut, you want the smell of saltwater and rugged untouched shorelines. This destination is not for people who want shopping, nightlife, and dance clubs. When you pull into Zeballos, BC you drive into the past. There’s one thing to do: Fish, Eat, Sleep, Repeat.
There’s one primary business in this town: Reel Obsession Sportfishing. Zeballos is about halfway up the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia. It looks just like the coastal parts of the PNW. On the drive up (about 4 1/2 hours from the ferry in Nanaimo) there are towering cedars and firs, jagged mountains, and pristine streams. There aren’t any mini-marts though. This trip is all about decompressing and enjoying some of the consistently best all-around salmon & halibut fishing in the region, and the team at Reel Obsession is obsessive in providing an unforgettable experience for their guests.
From the time you arrive, until you depart, they have thought of everything. Wonderful accommodations, amazing chef-prepared meals, top-quality boats, gear, and equipment, and off-the-hook fishing is what makes this a 5-star fishing destination. Owners Adrian and Angie O’Connor have grown their operation to include up to 30 guests daily with groups of two, three, and larger visiting for three- or four-day inclusive trips. Guests start their day with breakfast in the common room then head for the boats, lunches already onboard, and after eight hours of fishing your captain returns you to the dock. Fish are filleted, vacuum packed, and flash frozen – all while you enjoy the latest chef’s creation. Then you wake up and do it again.
Located at the end of Esperanza Inlet which leads to Nootka Sound and then the Pacific Salmon Highway, fishing from Zeballos allows multiple options to intercept salmon, access to reliable halibut grounds, and the chance at ling cod and bottom fish nearly every trip. Later in the season, Albacore Tuna trips are possible as are the chances for the prized Tyee Salmon (30 pounds or larger).
U.S. guests are limited to specific travel limits which usually fill a good cooler. Reel Obsession books up fast each season, we recommend you reach out to them early to plan your destination fishing adventure. For more information about Reel Obsession visit https://reelobsession.ca
There you have it, our “5 Star Destinations” fishing list. We’re sure you have your own list, but if you haven’t tried one of these amazing destinations, give it a shot. It may well be added to your 5 Star List!
