TroutRoutes Ambassado MacKenna Stang (@mackonthefly) reflects back on the 2025 season and shares some of her tips and tricks for leveraging TroutRoutes in the New Year.

Looking back on the 2025 fishing season, it was a year filled with early alarms, long hikes, sore shoulders, and the kind of quiet moments on the water that make everything worth it. From wading the turquoise flats of the Bahamas to standing on the volcanic banks of Iceland’s Myarkvisl Canyon, I was lucky enough to chase several different species across some truly beautiful destinations.

But even with all that travel, I’m constantly reminded how grateful I am to call Colorado home. We’re spoiled here with our access to public water, healthy fisheries, and tucked-away creeks that ask nothing more of you than to show up with a fly rod and a little curiosity. And that’s exactly where TroutRoutes made the biggest difference for me this year. Whether I was hunting for a remote creek high in the backcountry or looking to escape weekend traffic on my local tailwaters, TroutRoutes helped me find accessible water, understand the terrain, and ultimately become a more confident angler.

I think it’s important for all anglers to have access to tools that help them explore more responsibly and safely. So, below are a few of my favorite TroutRoutes features and how they genuinely shaped my year.

Public Access Map Mode

The Public Access Map Mode is the feature I used the most this year. The legend makes it incredibly clear where you can and cannot fish by displaying color-coded layers for public, private, and easement stretches. You can view data for state land, national parks, national forests, BLM parcels, walk-in access, and even designated angler easements.

This feature kept me on the right side of fences, gates, and property boundaries, which is crucial in places where things can get confusing on foot. It also helped me discover new access points on rivers I thought I knew well. A few of my best days in Colorado this year came from simply zooming in, spotting a sliver of public water, and deciding to check it out.

    Offline Maps

    Offline Maps were a lifesaver (literally in some cases). When you’re deep in a canyon, miles down a dirt road, or in an area with zero service, being able to download a region ahead of time means you never lose your map, your GPS location, or your ability to navigate.

    I used this heavily during backcountry missions, where having offline access meant I could focus on fishing without worrying about navigating blind. Once downloaded, everything still works: access layers, trails, flow lines, and even the detailed road network.

    River Miles

    The River Miles tool became one of my favorites for planning this year. With a single tap, I could measure how long a section of river was and estimate how much water I’d realistically cover in a day. This is huge when you’re deciding between a half-day wander or a full-day marathon. It’s most useful for float trips, but can be beneficial while wading as well.

    For one of my floats down the Arkansas River, the river miles tool helped me map out a 7-mile stretch and identify boat ramp access points. It’s great for planning because you can look at driftable stretches, space out put-ins and take-outs, and help you understand how long a float might take you. 

    Stream Classes

    Stream Classes is a great discovery tool. TroutRoutes ranks trout streams using a visual classification system based on three key factors: overall fishery quality, the amount of public access, and the total length of designated trout water. In other words, it highlights the top waters in any area, making it incredibly easy to spot streams worth exploring.

    This feature helped me branch out beyond my usual go-tos. When I wanted solitude, I filtered for lower-ranked, lesser-traveled streams; when I was looking for higher-quality fisheries or a better shot at bigger fish, I focused on top-ranked waters I hadn’t fished before. It’s a simple yet powerful way to discover new places, and it led me to some of my favorite finds of 2025.

    As I look back on the year, I’m grateful not just for the places fishing took me, but for the confidence and curiosity TroutRoutes inspired along the way. It pushed me to explore more, learn more, and make the most of every day on the water. If you’re looking to expand your horizons in 2026, fish more responsibly, or simply find a little more adventure close to home, I can’t recommend TroutRoutes enough. Download the app, explore your local waters, and let it lead you to the next great spot you haven’t discovered yet.