I wondered that too. I believe I just figured it out. Michigan Fish-In. 
I’m lucky enough to live within 15 miles of 2 fine trout streams, about a dozen warm water ponds/lakes (the smallest being 1/4 acre, the largest being Onodaga Lake) and a large section of the Erie Canal/Barge Canal system as well. If I add 30 minutes to the drive I can fish Oneida Lake or Lake Ontario. Add 15 minutes to a half and hour to that drive and I can enjoy not only fishing Cayuga Lake or Seneca Lake BUT also wine from any of about 20 wineries on each of their wine trails! Ther are a couple NY State parks there as well. So for a 1 hour or so drive I can fish, cook over an open fire and sit back with a good wine - I’ve had worse days!
Since moving to Montana from Missouri, I’ve got some of the best trout fishing I’ve ever had about 10 minutes from home. None of it is on famous rivers, but nevertheless, it makes it tough to justify travelling anywhere to fish when its so good here. I have, and will continue to travel as far as neccessary to experience new waters, because to me, that’s what the flyfishing experience is all about. I’ve got some tremendous warm water fishing around here too, but I havent taken the time to fish it yet.
I love saltwater fly fishing, and will continue to travel as often as possible for that.
TT
Hey Bill, if its simply trout you are after then you likely do have to drive a bit. But what about the warm water scene? There might be a lot more local fishing than originally thought - get out the Googles and see what’s cooking in the area
Right in one!
Ed
I live on a pretty decent lake so its a matter of making a short walk down to my dock, but I also live about 10 minutes away from a city lake that gets a lot of pressure from OKC fishermen but still offers pretty good fishing. There are some other decent lakes within an hour that I can go to as well. My Dad has an excellent pond (i.e. bass factory) on his farm about an hour away that I try to fish when I visit the folks. Regarding cold water, there are two really good trout rivers in Oklahoma and I’m about 2 hours from one and 4 hours from the other. I also own a cabin in Red River, New Mexico and there are tons of excellent rivers and streams to fish there, but it’s about a nine hour drive and I only get out there 1-2 times per year. Feel pretty fortunate to have so much good fishing so close.
It’s funny because I live in the middle of what is called the Inland Empire. We’re supposed to have 100 lakes within 76 miles of where I live. However, if I want quality trout fly fishing on a river, I have to travel over 100 miles to find it. If I want to fish the lakes with all the outboard motors, water skiers and jet boaters, cigarette butts and beer cans, all I have to do is travel about 3 1/2 miles from home. The Spokane River is 4 blocks from my house and it’s a great place to smell coconut oil suntan lotion and find vinyl air mattresses festooned with drunks being rescued by the local fire departments. It’s funny, but civilization seems to be the best place to leave you car doors locked.
In answer to your question…too far.
Some fairly nice trout water in the 20 mile range so that is close to home. And if fishing with ssome friend’s then a good hr drive is common
I have said I would - Travel 24hrs to fish for one hour!..
Of course have not had to do it yet, but I would I tell I would…
The town where I live figured prominently in the beginnings of the American industrial revolution due to the abundance of streams that were necessary to run the mills
Just on the brook across the street from the house, there were 11 mills in the coarse of 5 miles of stream and every mill had a mill pond. Some mills in town had 3 or 4.
By my count, there’s 3 trout streams in town plus a handful of trout brooks and 22 accessable lakes and ponds… and that’s just the ones in town
My favorite warm water pond is just around the corner and I can fish for native trout across the street.
5 minutes to a little pond 30 to a decent lake 1hr to a big lake . all are warm water but for trout it isn’t measured in miles but tanks of GAS and it is SEVERAL!!!
For warm water, the closest public water is 14 miles. If I want cold water, it is a matter of about 4 hours or more.
8 minute walk to a river for smaller flathead or channel cats, carp, drum, goldeye, sauger, walleye.
5 minute drive for rockbass, pike, carp.
Need to go at least 1 1/2hr + for cold water critters.
darrell,
I live 15 minutes from a boat ramp on Lake Hartwell. A 30 minute ride to a small lake and there are 5 big lakes I can be at within 1 1/2 hours. My closest mountain stream will take close to an hour or so to get to and I have a shallow river 1/8 mile from my home. I am blessed to have many places to fish close to home.
Hi everyone. This is my first post here but hope to make lots more and look forward to talking with all.
I work right next to a National Wildlife Refuge and can be on several ponds in about 5 minutes. I am a mile from a 20 acre lake with plenty of bass and bluegill. I’m pretty new to fly fishing and feel blessed to have access to so many great warm-water fisheries!
3 minute walk to great trout fishing. Have yet to explore the warmwater here, but it will be at least 30 to 60 minutes. I miss the salt as it it is now a lonnnnggg way off.
For steelhead, bass, carp it’s a 7 minute drive from door to feet wet. If I am on foot … well you could help me guess … it would be how fast a 230 lbs man could fall say about 45 feet?
Lake Erie is about a 9 minute drive and if I am walking facture in the fall and the current of Rocky River … lets say.30 minutes.
For brim, bass, wipers, stripers and other warm-water species, about 30 seconds to 15 minutes to fish different areas of Lake Hartwell, SC. For trout, about 50 minutes to fish the Chattooga River on the SC/GA boarder. 8T
This year, about 550 miles from PA to the OBX. Usually no more than 2 hours.
Roy
6 miles to the St.John river, 1 mile to the Indian River Lagoon