Since the release of “A River Runs Through It,” fly fishing has become indelibly associated with Montana. The Big Hole River in the southwestern corner of the state delivers on the “Big Sky” scenery. “The Big Hole River has so many layers,” said Craig Fellin, accomplished guide and proprietor of Big Hole Lodge. “It has a rich history, awesome beauty, big browns for the accomplished angler and plenty of smaller rainbows for the beginner. It's one river that if you have confidence in a dry fly and are patient, you’ll catch fish.”

For more information: Fly Fishing Lodge

The writings of the late great Ernie Schwiebert helped bring the trout-fishing wonders of Patagonia to the attention of American anglers in the 1960s. Now a trip to southern Argentina or Chile is de rigueur for adventure anglers; fortunately, many lodges cater to international travelers. Tim Purvis, who specializes in booking Patagonian fly fishing adventures for John Eustice & Associates, recommends Estancia de los Rios. “Nestled in the shadow of the Andes, it offers superb brown trout fishing—mostly with dry flies—on 40 miles of the Rio Cisnes,” Purvis said. “It’s a standout for those seeking great angling coupled with a taste of estancia life, which includes some fine Chilean wines.”

For more information: Estancia De Los Rios Lodge

Old-school fly anglers have long revered Atlantic salmon as the king of game fish, and for stamina, beauty and challenge, they seldom disappoint. While Iceland, Norway and most recently the Kola Peninsula of Russia boast excellent stocks of salmon, the Miramichi River in New Brunswick still boasts one of the world’s most prolific runs. “Anglers have been plying the waters of the Miramichi for centuries,” said Bill Taylor, president of the Atlantic Salmon Federation. “Today, the river still has North America’s healthiest runs of Atlantic salmon, and offers anglers miles and miles of classic runs.” Fresh fish arrive in the river to spawn in several runs, the first in the early spring, the next in mid-June, and the last in late September. Wilson’s Sporting Camps offers access to some of the best pools.

For more information: Wilson's Sporting Camps

The Kamchatka peninsula, adjoining the far eastern reaches of Russia, is home to more than 1,200 rivers (many of which have never been explored), the world’s largest population of brown bears and some of the healthiest wild salmon populations in existence. Here, on the Zhupanova River, rainbow trout average 22 to 28 inches, with fish over 30 inches (and eclipsing 15 pounds) caught each year. Guests can either float through a 60-mile section of the river or stay in a fixed camp and fish different waters by jet boat.

For more information: Wild Salmon Rivers

Mongolia is home to the world’s largest member of the trout family, the taimen, and the quest to tame this fish is on the outer fringe of adventure angling. “You fly in a helicopter from the nation’s capital, Ulan Bator—a 1950’s era pre-Soviet city offering a number of fantastic early Buddhist temples—to the Mongolian steppe,” said John Eustice, a fly fishing booking agent based in Portland, Oregon. “There, you’ll have the occasional nomadic family and their horse herd for company, along with lenok (an indigenous fish resembling brown trout) and taimen, which can run to over 50 inches.” Taimen are generally caught on the surface using mouse patterns—not your father’s dry fly fishing. Guests stay in yurts.

For more information: John Eustice and Associates

Bonefish are among the saltwater fly fisher’s most sought-after targets. The deliriously clear waters around Andros are the only destination in the world where anglers with a decent cast are almost guaranteed a chance to cast for bonefish of 10 pounds or more.

For more information: Andros Bone Fishing

Peacock bass are indigenous to the Amazon watershed, and in the last decade have become one of the most prized exotic species for fly anglers. They’re not bass at all, but members of the Cichlid family, some of which may be in your kid’s aquarium. Their docility stops there. Anglers fly from Manaus, Brazil to an air-conditioned cabin barge deep in the jungle; the barges can negotiate the shallow water where the peacocks congregate.

For more information: Rod Gun Resources

The “Lord of the Rings” movies have exposed many Americans to the possibilities of New Zealand, though the angling cognoscenti have long understood its appeal. “We’re fortunate enough to have many remote, uncrowded, seldom-fished streams, with gin-clear water, in stunning wilderness surroundings,” said Chappie Chapman, who’s guided anglers around the South Island for over 20 years. “The rivers don’t hold as many trout as the average U.S. stream, but those they have are quite large.” The fishing here is not easy; anglers must spot fish first (a skill in itself), then present their fly with the utmost delicacy. “These trout are the great leveler,” Chapman continued. “They don’t care about your affluence, religion, mental health or politics. All they know is that if the fly doesn’t look right, they’re not going to eat it.”

For more information: Chappie Chapman

For species variety, it’s difficult to beat the Bristol Bay region of southwest Alaska. Some lodges will fly anglers out to a different river each day in search of salmon and rainbow trout. If fly fishing author and equipment innovator Jim Teeny had only one river to choose here, it would be the Kanektok. “Your chances of hooking several Pacific salmon species in a day are quite good on the Kanektok,” said Teeny. “If your timing is right you could hook all five species, not to mention leopard rainbows, arctic char and grayling.” The “leopard” refers to these rainbows’ brilliantly spotted flanks—truly one of the most beautiful trout in the world. Dave Duncan and Sons operate several fixed camps on the river; for the more adventurous, a 100-mile float trip is available.

For more information: Dave Duncan & Sons

There are no tigers on the great land mass of Zambia—they lurk below the surface of the Zambezi River. It was in recent times that anglers like Dahlberg realized that Tigerfish could be taken on a fly rod with a heavy steel leader. Suffice it to say, casting to toothy Tigerfish among wallowing hippos while trying to avoid elephants with your backcast makes a Zambezi River adventure stand apart from your average trout fishing trip. Frontiers books travelers for Chiawa Camp in Lower Zambezi National Park.

For more information: Frontiers International Travel