10 great places to cast a fly for Father's Day

— -- If you're still seeking a Father's Day present, why not send Dad on a fly-fishing expedition? The sport is growing in popularity, with guides finding new places to use artificial lures. "It's not just trout anymore," says Chris Santella, author of Fifty More Places to Fly Fish Before You Die (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, $24.95). "Because of changes in equipment and attitudes, people are able to fish for a lot of species, and find fishing closer to home." He shares some favorite spots with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.

Casco Bay, Maine

Striped bass congregate in this bay off the Maine coast, where anglers employ "flats" style fishing. They use poles to push skiffs through shallow mudflats, much like fishing in the Bahamas. "It's a beautiful spot," Santella says. "You're really almost in view of downtown Portland." 207-772-5800; Visitportland.com

Potomac River, Washington, D.C.

Not all the tussling in Washington involves politicians. Just a few miles from the National Mall, boaters cast flies for migrating shad every spring. "The shad runs are pretty resilient. They can be five or six pounds," Santella says. Bass and carp are also popular. "A lot of effort has gone into cleaning the river up." 800-422-8644; washington.org

Homosassa Springs, Fla.

A giant tarpon is a catch of a lifetime, and this area north of Tampa is one of the best places to find one. The fish can weigh more than 120 pounds and has a mouth the size of a basketball. "It's a creature covered in silvery scales and the sun reflects off the spine," Santella says. "If you're an angler it's a life-changing experience." 800-587-6667; visitcitrus.com

Laguna Madre, Texas

Most people know South Padre Island for spring break and beaches, but it's also adjacent to a huge salt water lagoon system that's home to sea trout and redfish. The water is clear and shallow, making them easy to spot. "You have this huge expanse of water, but it's seldom over three feet. You'll have a boat but you'll get out and wade on these sandy shallow water flats," Santella says. 800-767-2373; sopadre.com

Hayward, Wis.

In Northern Wisconsin, fishing is all about the muskie, a sharp-toothed predator that can weigh more than 40 pounds. Until recently, few believed it was possible to use flies to catch these iconic fish. Now, it's a quest. "They're hard enough to catch with traditional gear," Santella says. "But it has really started to take hold." 800-724-2992; haywardlakes.com

Big Hole River, Mont.

While there are plenty of places to fly-fish in Montana, Santella says this waterway south of Butte is one of the best. "It has the scenery, it has the ambiance and it has the fish." It also has easy access to guides and gear. "You can have a quasi-wilderness experience by day. And you can have a nice, soft bed and warm meal at night." 800-847-4868; visitmt.com

John Day River, Ore.

Not only is the canyon scenery stunning here, but the fishing is easy, making it an ideal place to introduce people to the sport, Santella says. "You're fishing for smallmouth bass and they're not very particular. You can expect to catch 50 a day." He suggests taking a multiday rafting trip. traveloregon.com

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