Fly-Fishing in North America has long been an activity that elicits thoughts of nostalgia, grace, and beauty. There's something about the rhythmic swaying of the line and the gentle drop of the fly on the water, occasionally followed by the welcome bite of a glimmering trout, that makes it a very meditative experience. Here are 3 Big Sky rivers that capture the fly-fishing imagination in all us:

1. Arkansas River Headwaters

Located 2 hours from downtown Colorado Springs this 75-mile stretch of the Arkansas River Headwaters , features some of Colorado’s finest fishing, with excellent brown & rainbow populations & amazing views of the surrounding Sawatch Mountains.

2. Wind River Mountains

The Wind River Mountains , just outside of Lander, WY , stretch for 100 miles north to south & are dotted with hundreds of alpine lakes & many miles of tumbling mountain streams, all teeming with huge fish that have rarely been fished before.

3. Black Foot River

Made popular by the 1992 movie, A River Runs through It , the Blackfoot River , near Missoula, MT is a truly magnificent river in terms of history, scenery, and recreation. Lewis & Clark once paddled its waters, and Brad Pitt fished them. Need we say more?

Written by Ry Glover for RootsRated and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.