A side door · we do not teach you to fish
I want to start fly fishing
Local Waters will not teach you to cast. These are public doors that already exist. Use them, then come back when you want water.
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Get legal
Buy the ticket for the state you will stand in. A Mass salt permit does not cover Hampton. Official pages:
- Massachusetts — freshwater, salt
- New Hampshire — freshwater, salt
- Maine — freshwater, salt registry
- Vermont — fishing license
- Rhode Island — freshwater, salt
- Oregon — ODFW angling license (west of the Cascades in this app)
- Pennsylvania — PFBC fishing license (freshwater)
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Walk into a shop
Tell them you are new. Ask about a first lesson, Orvis 101, or a club night. That is their job, not this site’s.
- Concord Outfitters Concord, MA · 978-318-0330
- Bear's Den Fly Fishing Co. Taunton, MA · 508-977-0700
- Evening Sun Fly Shop Pepperell, MA · 978-433-4910
- Eldredge Bros. Fly Shop Cape Neddick, ME · 207-363-9269
- L.L. Bean Hunting & Fishing Freeport, ME · 877-755-2326
- Rangeley Region Sport Shop Rangeley, ME · 207-864-5615
- North Country Angler North Conway, NH · 603-356-6000
- Maine Sport Outfitters Rockport, ME · 207-236-7120
- Orvis Manchester Manchester, VT · 802-362-3750
- The Saltwater Edge Newport, RI · 401-842-0062
- The Caddis Fly Angling Shop Eugene, OR · 541-342-7005
- Royal Treatment Fly Fishing West Linn, OR · 503-850-4397
- TCO Fly Shop (Boiling Springs) Boiling Springs, PA · 717-258-4050
- Flyfisher's Paradise State College, PA · 814-234-4189
- The Fly Fisher's Place Sisters, OR · 541-549-3474
- Deschutes Angler Maupin, OR · 541-395-0995
- The Patient Angler Bend, OR · 541-389-3474
- Fly and Field Outfitters Bend, OR · 541-318-1616
- Ashland Fly Shop Ashland, OR · 541-488-4104
- Gorge Fly Shop Hood River, OR · 541-386-6977
- TCO Fly Shop (Reading / West Lawn) West Lawn, PA · 610-678-1899
- TCO Fly Shop (Bryn Mawr) Bryn Mawr, PA · 610-527-3388
- TCO Fly Shop (State College) State College, PA · 814-689-3654
- TCO Fly Shop (Muncy) Muncy, PA · 484-818-0595
- The Feathered Hook Coburn, PA · 814-349-8757
- Evening Hatch Fly Shop Lake Harmony, PA · 570-443-0772
- The Fly Rod Shop Stowe, VT · 802-253-7346
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Find other humans
Trout Unlimited chapters and local clubs run the nights that actually get people on the water. Orvis free 101 still exists in a lot of stores.
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Three easy public waters
Pick a town on the planner first. Then we’ll list three easy public waters near you.