Paul Young’s Fishing Road Trip USA

In this premiere episode of Fishing Road Trip USA, Paul Young lands across the pond to embark on the most epic of angling adventures. Over the next series, the crew will travel over 5000 miles up the east coast of the United States sampling some of the best sport in the world. First off, it’s straight to Key West of sunny Florida for this pasty Scottish Salmon fisherman, where Brad Simmons and deck-hand Chad agree to put Paul on the best shallow water spots. After having fun with some Barracuda and Mackerel drifting live baits, the crew head further offshore to try and spot some Permit schools. To cap off this red-letter day Brad breaks out the heavy-duty gear, as Paul's literally strapped in to do battle with a Florida favourite, the gargantuan Goliath Grouper.

After a great day out in the keys, Paul Young heads inland in this episode of Fishing Road Trip USA to another historical spot for American anglers; the Everglades. Everglades City just suffered a beatdown from Hurricane Wilma, but local skipper Captain Jerry remains confident. The crew head out to the bay of 10,000 islands, where Speckled Sea Trout and Snook can be found patrolling the shallow water beneath the mangroves. The action comes thick and fast, before a surprise species takes the bait, one that skipper Jerry has never seen in the everglades. Finally, Paul heads to nearby lake Okeechobee, where Captain Angie gets him into some all-American Largemouth Bass.

Paul young’s off to spring break in this episode of Fishing Road Trip USA, sampling the best of angling around Daytona Beach, Florida. After chatting with the local anglers, the crew head to Tomoka State Park, where local fishing legend Kit Gibbons puts his decades of experience to work on the gator infested natural canals. There’s certainly Redfish in the area, but Paul and Kit aren’t the only ones with dinner on their mind. Frustrated, the crew drive back to Daytona beach, where the offshore King mackerel fishing is booming. Finally, Paul goes back to basics with local angler Joanne, dropping a simple pole and worm off the jetty for mullet in the backwaters of the old south.

Fishing Road Trip USA has left Florida and Paul finds himself in the great state of Georgia, where he can finally play to his own strengths. But first, Captain Mark Covington takes Paul out to the Brunswick coast where a unique species can be found in great numbers. Tripletail, an ancient species, can be spotted sunbathing in the top few inches of the water, where a precise cast can make for exciting sport. Up at the Brigadoon Fly Lodge near Atlanta, a crystal-clear Trout stream offers Paul a chance to show off his skills. After some massive brownies on the local patterns, he breaks out some of his own traditional Scottish wets for a little friendly competition with guide Hunter Morris.

In this episode of Fishing Roadtrip USA, Paul doubles back and travels east to South Carolina in search of Redfish, Speckled Sea Trout and Blue Catfish. Out near Mount Pleasant, skipper Rick takes Paul on a tour of the ancient docks that border the miles of waterways in Carolina, docks that provide shelter for big, predatory Redfish and Trout. After great sport on light spinning tackle, Captain Don Graham brings Paul out to the canal connecting Lake Marion, where Blue Catfish grow big and hungry in the shallow, muddy water.

The next Leg of Paul’s east coast adventure has him in North Carolina, where he explores the waters around Morehead City in pursuit of Redfish, Blue Fish and every other colour of fish, in another episode of Fishing Road Trip USA. With not a cloud on the sky, the crew join Captain Dave, a legend in the backwater fishing scene. Greeted by miles of bays and estuaries, Paul enjoys exciting action jigging for Redfish and Bluefish on light tackle. Up towards the town of Oriental, Captain Gary knows some good spots for speckled Sea Trout. When the action proves slow, Paul pulls out his trusty fly rod and suddenly catches a fish most fly anglers would never dream to encounter.

Paul continues his travels north in this episode of Fishing Road Trip USA, as he hunts out two very different species of bass in rural Virginia. First up is a bucket list species for Paul and Captain Cathy is just the person to find it for him. The crew join her in the early hours on a pitch-black Smith’s Mountain Lake. With fresh live bait in the well, it’s not long before these big fish make their way to the boat. Over in the town of Roanoke, guide Sam subjects Paul to some rough water rafting; the only way to get to the pristine Smallmouth Bass that live in the beautiful New River.

In this episode of Fishing Road Trip USA, Paul Young samples two very different ways of fishing in the capital state of Maryland. Out of Fort Washington Marina, a mere casting distance from the White House, Captain Tim puts Paul onto a trophy sized Potomac River Blue Catfish. Deep out in the west, the clear and beautiful Savage River offers a chance at some dry fly stalking for big Brown and Brook Trout. Guide Harold talks us through his refined theories on imitating natural insects with his fly collection, but will it be enough to tempt these clever fish?

The blazing sunshine of the southern states has finally disappeared as Paul travels further north in this episode of Fishing Road Trip USA. Pennsylvania is dangerously flooded and the Trout fishing is a no go, so the crew take the country roads down do Shenandoah, West Virginia where guide John Roberts says the rivers are in perfect health. Ultralight fly rods make for great sport, but Paul finds himself in trouble when he hooks a rainbow bigger than expected. The weather eases up in Pennsylvania, so guide Mike Heck puts Paul onto a now crystal-clear Fallen Creek, where fat Brown Trout have been feeding hard.

Paul’s made his way to the big city in this episode of Fishing Road Trip USA, where locals say there’s huge Striped Bass to be caught. Captain Darren and the crew of the Mary Lou kick off the day with a trip to Sandy Hook Bay in New Jersey. Paul has Bass on his mind, but ferocious Dogfish shark have moved in on the baits, so they move inland to look for Flounder. At the Newport Yacht Club, in the shadow of the Empire State building, Captain Chris takes Paul jigging and trolling in the mouth of the Hudson River. Paul finds some luck as he quickly spots a school of huge Striped Bass and Bluefish feeding hard on the surface.

The storms have returned in this episode of Fishing Road Trip USA, as Paul heads north to New York State in search of huge Trout and Salmon. The town of Roscoe in the Catskill Mountains, usually known and ‘Trout town USA’, has just experienced the worst flooding in 300 years. Despite destroyed roads and raging waters, tackle shop owner Ken is confident he can put Paul onto some big Brown Trout using streamer flies. Up on the Salmon River, a tributary of the mighty Lake Ontario, Paul finds a rare opportunity to stalk Pacific Salmon. With a tiny fly and a tiny rod on a tiny stream, Paul hooks a fish of huge proportions and prepares for the ultimate fight.

There’s yet more bad luck for Paul in this episode of Fishing Road Trip USA, as he goes looking for Rhode Island Flatfish and Massachusetts Trout on the fly. Not long after casting out a way offshore, the crew find themselves chased inland by a fast approaching tropical storm. The next day, Captain John takes them out a little closer to shore in Port Judith, where Bream, Flatfish and all manner of shallow water species can be caught on light tackle. Further north in Massachusetts on the Deerfield River, fly fishing guide Walt shows Paul how to use a dry-dropper setup to target Trout in all levels of the water.

Almost 5000 miles deep into their adventure, the Fishing Road Trip USA crew find themselves in New Hampshire, where Paul samples the cold-water fishing for Brook Trout, Cod and Haddock. Perhaps the most beautiful fishing spot so far, the rivers in the Franconia region are surrounded by mountains and cool, still water. After guide Richie breaks out a ceremonial shot a liquor to get the day started, the pair try an unusual method of trolling flies for Brook Trout. Due east off the coast of Portsmouth, Captain Aaron puts Paul onto big numbers of Haddock and one beast of a Cod.

As the series comes close to its end, the crew of Fishing Road Trip USA find themselves in the final State of Maine, where Paul is live bait fishing for massive Striped Bass. The City of Saco just south of Portland is experiencing flat calm conditions, so skipper John is confident of success. After trolling for live mackerel to use as bait, John pulls the boat up against the rock structures. By drifting baits alongside the rocks with tennis ball bobbers, Paul can imitate an injured prey fish along the patrol route the Bass use to hunt. The technique certainly works, as Paul soon finds himself connected to a striper far bigger than any he’s caught on the trip so far.

Paul Young finally finds himself at the end of his epic journey, as the Fishing Road Trip USA crew go fly fishing for Brook Trout and Landlocked Salmon. The Kennebec River is one of few places in the world that play host to this unusual species. Unlike regular Salmon, the landlocked variety live, feed and breed in the river year-round. Because of this they can be fished for in a similar manner to Trout, so local guide Michael Jones ties on some typical dry and nymph patterns. Stunning surroundings, clear water and fin perfect Trout and Salmon, there’s no better way to close the trip of a lifetime.