fishing camp

When it comes to hunting and fishing lodges, my experience has been the accommodations are typically at one end or the other of a wide spectrum with very little in the middle. That's why I was thrilled to spend the night at the new Legendary Suites, part of the Woodland Resort in Devil's Lake North Dakota last week. The moment I walked through the door, I knew it was something different. While it was affordable it wasn't crummy. Instead, it felt extremely well designed and perfect for exactly what it is - a place to sleep, eat, and share stories before and after a day on the lake or marshes.

Near Ketchikan, just a 90-minute flight from Seattle, Waterfall Resort offers all-inclusive amenities that translate into the trip of a lifetime for novice and experienced anglers alike.

Set in the pristine Alaskan wilderness, the resort’s expert guides help guests reel in more than 20 varieties of fish during daily excursions at legendary fishing spots. This unparalleled experience combined with breathtaking wildlife viewings, four-star service and historic setting on 52 oceanfront acres on Prince of Wales Island, creates an unforgettable atmosphere that belongs on every fisherman’s bucket list in 2015.

Who said that taking a cruise is the only way to enjoy the coastline of Alaska? For the ultimate adventure, we highly recommend looking into an Alaskan salmon fishing expedition!

From rustic camping to luxury lodges there is something for almost every budget in Alaska. One of the most popular lodges is the Waterfall Resort, which was original founded as a cannery in 1912. Today, that historic cannery has been fully renovated into an all-inclusive resort that has hosted more than 50,000 guests! It is located on Prince of Wales Island, adjacent to the Alaskan Inside Passage, a spot know to generations of native american fishermen.

Of course, if your idea of a fishing adventure is to be able to come back to the lodge and get a massage and five-star dinner there are those options in Alaska too. If that's more your style, check out the Alyeska Resort where amenities include a full spa, business center, even a sushi bar!

Typically, the best time to visit Alaska for a fishing adventure is May through October, but different types of salmon have different peaks throughout that time period.

Thinking about heading out into the wilderness for some Montana fly fishing? The Montana Office of Tourism was nice enough to help us out with a list of some of their favorite fly fishing lodges.

I strongly encourage you to click on the links to check out the individual lodges. If you are anything like me, you will instantly want to whip out your checkbook and start making plans!

If you have never been, fly fishing is as much an art form as it is a sport. While virtually anyone can stick a lure in the water and drag it behind the boat, fly fishing, IMO, requires even more understanding of your environment and brings you closer to nature - it is just you and the fish right there in the stream together.

There are trails of all sorts in this wonderful country, but North Carolina has created the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail in the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains. If you love fishing and you love being out in god's country then you must at some point in your life visit this area.

One of the spots you should visit while in the area is the High Hampton Inn. Located in the heart of the new Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail, the High Hampton Inn now features their very own fly fishing school!  Being the only trail of its kind in the U.S., fishermen can experience peak fishing in an area with temperatures that are generally 15 degrees cooler than lower-lying regions because of the 3,600-foot elevation.