Planning a Fishing Trip for the Year: Your Seasonal Monthly Guide

Planning a successful fishing trip shouldn’t be hurried at the last minute, where you’re just throwing gear in the truck and hoping for the best. That works maybe once.

The truth is, seasons dictate everything: certain species that are active, where they’re feeding, and the proper gear you need to bring. We’ve learned this the hard way over the years, and trust us, showing up unprepared is no fun.

This guide gives you a clear month-by-month plan you can use every year. After reading, you'll know what to prep, what to fish, and what gear to check before each season change.

Let’s go right ahead.

Planning your fly fishing trips a year in advance lets you hit peak hatches, budget better, and find the best fishing spots. This way, you won’t scramble for gear and miss a great fishing experience, which often happens during spontaneous trips.

Here’s how we recommend using this guide (because honestly, most people read it once and forget about it):

• Save this as an annual recurring checklist, not a one-time read.
• Review each month’s section about two weeks ahead.
• Complete small prep tasks before the month starts. Check gear, organize fly boxes, book trips, and replace worn tippet and leaders.
• Set phone reminders if you need them (we do)

Now, let’s walk through each month.

Each month below focuses on: what to prepare, what to check, and what areas you plan to fish before the season changes. Save this to stay ahead instead of procrastinating later.

January is when you get your gear in order before the season heats up.

To start, check your tippet spools, leaders, and fly boxes for any damage or gaps. We also recommend that you begin organizing your layering system for fly fishing in cold weather and ensure your rod cases are ready if you’re traveling with fly fishing gear later in the year.

Don’t forget to clean your tools and replace worn items so you have nothing to worry about when spring arrives. We sum them up for you below.

January Gear Checklist

Action Tip: Focus on checking your existing gear. You can order the missing items now, but you don't need to buy everything. January gives you more time to prepare your gear and test it before your first trip.

You’ll now see more trout moving because of February’s longer days and slightly warmer afternoons. This is great for midge fishing time (midges are tiny flies that hatch even in cold water), and patterns like the Zebra Midge and Parachute Adams work best when nothing else does.

What's your key strategy? Work on your drift control. This means keeping your fly moving at the exact same speed as the current, without drag. We recommend mending your line upstream to extend those drifts.

It’s also important to use this time to study a seasonal fly selection guide and keep a short list of the best trout flies that work year-round handy.

March marks the real start of spring fishing.

As the water temperatures and daylight increase, water levels fluctuate with snowmelt and rain. Blue-Winged Olives and early caddis begin emerging, so stock patterns like size 18-20 BWO emergers and elk hair caddis.

Keep in mind that this is your window to fish before April runoff muddies the water and raises flow levels. Make sure your reel has a quality drag system by checking out the best fly fishing reels with sealed drags, and review tips for fly fishing in dirty and muddy water in case conditions shift.

June is when things really open up: late spring hatches wrapping up, terrestrials starting to show, and honestly, some of the most diverse fishing of the year. During this time, we suggest you carry both dry and wet flies and nymph fly assortments because you never know what the fish want on any given day.

Make sure your fluorocarbon and nylon tippet spools are fresh as well, and consider upgrading to CNC fly reel starter kits for summer if you’re chasing multiple species.

July heat pushes water temperatures higher, which means fish move to cooler, oxygen-rich areas like shaded banks and deeper pools. You’ll get the most catches on early morning and evening windows when temperatures drop, and fish feed more actively.

During these prime times, switch to lighter tippet like 5X nylon tippet for stealthy presentations that won’t spook wary fish in clear, low water. This increases your hookup rate and improves fly drift.

You should also stock up on terrestrial fly patterns like hoppers and ants. To make sure you’re completely ready for a fishing adventure, review this guide on choosing the perfect fly rod and get complete fishing tippet materials for summer conditions.

Alright. Now we're in October. Trout are fully in feed-hard mode, and this is when some of the most aggressive takes of the season happen.

Here's why: They're bulking up before winter hits. They'll chase bigger meals like baitfish and crayfish. The downside? Cold weather can be a challenge. You don’t want your fingers to go numb.

So, prepare for these must-have fishing essentials:

• Sinking or sink-tip fly line for deeper, colder runs
• Warm hat or beanie to retain body heat
• Hand warmers or a thermos for cold mornings
• Layered clothing (base layer, insulation, waterproof shell)
• Extra leader and tippet (cold water = more break-offs)

We recommend bringing heavier gear if you have it, like 6- or 7-weight setups with large arbor fly reels that can handle aggressive strikes.

Crowds thin and conditions change, but it's not over yet. Tailwaters and lower-elevation rivers will still get you consistent action. Focus on nymphing techniques with slow, controlled drifts using patterns like Bead Head Nymphs and small midges that match the sparse hatches.

During this time, it’s good to revisit your favorite local waters before winter closures begin in many areas. Consider destinations like winter fishing in Utah (Middle Provo River) that remain open year-round.

Sit down and think about what worked this year and what didn't. This is mostly what you need to do for December. Clean your reels, reorganize your foam and clear fly boxes, and replace your tippet and leader that’s been sitting too long.

The next thing you want to do is review your line, leader, tippet, and backing systems for worn sections. Once all is good, get ready to plan for next year:

• Set goals for next season
• Learn new techniques and improve your fly fishing skills
• Pick up fly tying material kits to tie your own patterns

Pro Tip: This is the best time to buy gear. Holiday sales mean you can stock up for 20-30% off.

Set a realistic annual budget by breaking costs into categories. For example:

• Gear: $200-500
• Flies and tippet/Complete Starter Kits: $114-185
• Licenses: $50-150 (check local fishing regulations)
• Lodging: $300-800
• Travel: $200-600

A modest year might run $850 total, while a multi-trip year could reach $2,200. Budget-conscious anglers can start with a standard fly fishing kit and a multi-species fly to save money.

Once you’ve allocated funds, schedule trips based on seasonal priorities like spring hatches or fall feeding windows. This ensures you fish in peak conditions without overspending.

After every trip, take 5 minutes to write down what happened. Note the date, location, water conditions, and what flies worked. It can be as simple as, “May 15, Green River, 52°F, BWO hatch at 2 PM, size 18 Parachute Adams worked best.”

You can also turn this into a post-trip routine (we all keep a small notebook in our vests for this purpose). Review fly fishing terms for accurate reporting, and check out the complete beginner’s fly fishing setup guide if you spot areas you need to improve on.

Don't forget to enjoy every cast, every miss, and every surprise.