Field & Stream magazine elevated Glenwood Springs to the top of
its list of America’s top 20 fishing towns in its February issue. The magazine polled the nation’s top angling
professionals to compile the list, comprised of towns with populations
of 100,000 or fewer.
“You’d be hard
pressed to find a better combination of gold-medal water, blue-sky
climate, and stunning canyonscapes anywhere in the world besides
Glenwood Springs,” said Field & Stream, which hits newsstands Jan.
23.
“It’s the geographic center of the
best flyfishing in the state: The Roaring Fork and Colorado rivers
merge right in town, and the Eagle River, the Frying Pan, and the
Gunnison are easy day trips. In any season (even the dead of winter),
there’s always at least one world-class flyfishing option. Glenwood is
far enough downstream from the la-la world of Aspen to keep things
relatively affordable, and with 300 sunny days a year, natural hot
springs, and more trout-laden rivers and lakes than you can count,
Glenwood is soothing to the angler’s soul.”
Towns
were judged on the availability of year-round fishing opportunities,
cost of living, fishing culture, outdoor-related economy, quality of
life and diversions other than fishing.
“These
are the best places to live if you live to fish,” said Anthony Licata,
editor of Field & Stream. “If you’re dreaming of life in an
affordable, smaller town with an authentic fishing community and great
quality of life, then pack your bags, because these 20 are hands down
the top options.”
Here is Field & Stream’s list of the nation’s top 20 fishing towns:
1. Glenwood Springs, Colo.
2. Mountain Home, Ark.
3. Traverse City, Mich.
4. Bozeman, Mont.
5. Minocqua, Wis.
6. Apalachicola, Fla.
7. Nantucket, Mass.
8. Bend, Ore.
9. Guntersville, Ala.
10. Morehead City, N.C.
11. Missoula, Mont.
12. Ely, Minn.
13. Page, Ariz.
14. Driggs, Idaho
15. Jasper, Texas
16. Tahlequah, Okla.
17. Beaufort, S.C.
18. Eufaula, Ala.
19. Redding, Calif.
20. Montauk, N.Y.
