If you were to move to ANY lower 48 state for fishing.....

Which would it be?

I am going to be moving this spring, likely to montana or wyoming, but we are also considering washington, oregon, colorado.

Obviously how good the fishing is is the most important thing for me.... mostly joking, but seriously. I haven't fished any of those states... what are everyone's thoughts/experiences?

I would be in Florida.

I would be in Florida.

I guess I should re-write this because I don't think I could move to the south... more of a mountain/snow person. Thanks for the input though!

Depends on the type of fishing you like doing. Washington and 0regon have ocean fishing and the migratory salmonoids. Plus they have the lake and stream fishing.  No ocean in Montana and Wyoming

I would have voted for Florida too.  Lived there (florida panhandle) for ~ 5 years.  EPIC fishing where I was at and a short drive to other even more epic fishing destinations!

It does depend on what type of fishing you want.  We are in a pretty good spot here ... you have to admit.  No, no real BIG game fishing but within a days drive you can be on a long range to MX or fishing the Oregon coast or to the high sierra lakes for trout.

Depends on the type of fishing you like doing. Washington and 0regon have ocean fishing and the migratory salmonoids. Plus they have the lake and stream fishing.  No ocean in Montana and Wyoming

Yeah but there's bighorn sheep, elk and pronghorn antelope in Montana and Wyoming... ...And paddlefish!!!

Depends on the type of fishing you like doing. Washington and 0regon have ocean fishing and the migratory salmonoids. Plus they have the lake and stream fishing.  No ocean in Montana and Wyoming

Yeah but there's bighorn sheep, elk and pronghorn antelope in Montana and Wyoming... ...And paddlefish!!!

You can fish for bighorn sheep, elk & antelope?

Baja Mexico 

Baja Mexico 

Si Senor 

Availability of water is my first thought.  WA and Oregon suffer with less droughts then the other places mentioned, which means more fishing. 

Somewhere between coos bay and Astoria, oregon.

Depends on the type of fishing you like doing. Washington and 0regon have ocean fishing and the migratory salmonoids. Plus they have the lake and stream fishing.  No ocean in Montana and Wyoming

Yeah but there's bighorn sheep, elk and pronghorn antelope in Montana and Wyoming... ...And paddlefish!!!

You can fish for bighorn sheep, elk & antelope?

The alfalfa and oats bite is wiiiiiiide open and boy do they make your reel scream. CnR of course . My advice to most Californians: The fishing sucks...don't ever go to Montana or Wyoming But you guys are alright I'm gonna see if I can get a few pics from my dad's Pike/walleye/bass trip to Fort Peck Reservoir this summer

If you like the cold then Michigan is a great place to live for fishing. The Great Lakes offer the big salmon and lake trouts while the rivers and streams over great steelhead and trout fishing. Lots of lakes to catch bass , pike, panfish and walleye.

I would be in Florida.

I guess I should re-write this because I don't think I could move to the south... more of a mountain/snow person. Thanks for the input though!

Sorry I meant if I was the one moving I will be in florida. As matter of fact looking for similar job that i have here in the city. If I find one I will be packing. The snappers, tuna, tarpon, pelagics not to mentioned the freshwater fishing. Oh man. But in response to your options I would probably in wash state or oregon.

Now that I am on the coast I could not imagine leaving.  Wife's wants land out of state but it will have to be when I can't fish and dive the ocean any longer or it will be without me.