May is a month for flowers, sunshine and fishing. Most states have had their openers or are having one this weekend. We know that Sunday is a special day (if you’ve yet to pick out a gift for your mom, we do have a sale going on the website for Montlake) and we’re not suggesting that you avoid being with mom or your kids on Mother’s Day, but perhaps spending some time away from home is just what mom needs–especially since in Minnesota this weekend, mom’s can fish for free.

To give you some ideas of where to head out whenever you do decide to fish, we’ve made a list of 4 reccomendations, 2 selected out of responses to our followup question on Facebook to our March blog post regarding the opening of the fishing season and 2 from our employees.

#1 Whiteswan Lake, British Columbia


Whiteswan Lake is in a beautiful location with opportunities for the whole family to enjoy a day trip. It has a large fish population (including rainbow trout), and is located within a larger Provincial Park. The fishing crowd gets to cast into gorgeous scenery (with a second lake in the park) and there are opportunities for swimming and hiking for anyone who is less interested in fishing in the party.

Our first suggestion came from Tim Snow

#2 Snake and Salmon Rivers, Washington

The second pick is a favorite for our Marketing Specialist, Amanda Perry:

If you ask me about my favorite river, it would be a tie between the Snake River and the Salmon River.

Both of these rivers hold a special place in my heart. I have experienced days and nights through their canyons on the river and on the sandy shores of both.

Days were spent in white water and ended with calm afternoons fishing with our feet in water catching dinner. Although trips were about the float, the fishing was GREAT as well. And trout caught after a day of paddling just tastes better if you ask me. The South Fork of the Snake River below Palisades Dam features world-class blue-ribbon trout fishing in a gorgeous, road-less canyon.

The Snake River begins as a high mountain stream in Yellowstone National Park before it turns west and follows the ancient scar of the Yellowstone super volcano through southern Idaho.

Just before it reaches Oregon, the river makes an abrupt turn north, into Hells Canyon, the deepest river canyon in the nation. Six-hundred miles from its alpine headwaters, it meets the Salmon.

The Salmon River originates in Idaho’s Saw tooth Mountains and flows 425 miles through some of the most remote land in the lower 48. Unlike the dozens of dams and impoundments found on the Snake River, the Salmon flows free for its entire length until it is absorbed by the Snake in Hells Canyon.

It’s a bucket list of ours to take the kids on someday when they are old enough. Trips like these are where memories are made. Do a quick search on Idaho’s white water trips and you’ll be in for a trip of a lifetime!

#3 Bitterroot River, Montana

The Bitterroot river flows through beautiful scenery in the lush Bitterroot Valley with the Sapphire Mountains to the east and the Bitterroot Mountains to the west. Known as one of the premiere trout rivers in western Montana the river forks to offer a quality fly fishing setting. With pools, runs, gravel bars, riffles and channels the river provides outstanding diversity.

This suggestion came from Michael Campbell:

#4 McKenzi River, Oregon

Last but not least is the choice fishing on the McKenzie River, selected by our Art Director, Dorik Downing:

My pick is the McKenzie River in Oregon

The McKenzie River is an eighty-six mile long tributary of the Willamette in the state of Oregon.

Famous for its native redside rainbow trout that locals call “redsides”.

There is a very good population of wild rainbows, and a small population of bull trout.

This is one of Oregon’s best trout streams.