As in previous years, I am attempting to highlight my ten best fishing days of the previous season. I counted 73 outings on my 2012 fish counter so it took quite awhile to read about these experiences and cull the list down to 21 qualifiers. I read the 21 remaining candidates and in some cases scanned them a third time. Finally after much consternation, I’ve ranked my top ten fishing experiences of 2012. I began fishing on March 13 and ended on November 21 and visited the stream 73 times resulting in 930 landed fish. It was an outstanding year. Here are the top ten.
River in Full Color Near Wellsville
1. South Platte River (Wildcat Canyong) – 8/17/2012
It was the earliest I ever ventured into Wildcat Canyon and the flows at 167 cfs were the highest I’ve experienced in this beautiful remote stretch of the South Platte. I landed 35 chunky fish and most were brown trout, another unusual aspect of this trip. The fishing was ridiculously excellent using the most basic of approaches…hopper/dropper.
South Platte River 8/17/2012 Photo Album
2. Arkansas River – 04/24/2012
Breaking the tip of my beloved Sage rod while landing a feisty rainbow couldn’t ruin this outstanding day on the Arkansas River. The fabled caddis hatch was never found on this day, but no matter, as I landed 22 larger than average trout including some fine hard fighting rainbows. The workhorse RS2 took many fine fish on this day in April.
Arkansas River 04/24/2012 Photo Album
3. Frying Pan River – 08/24/2012
I struggled to match the intense early afternoon hatch, but more than salvaged the day by landing nice fish on the gray comparadun as fish apparently looked for stragglers after the main emergence. An area frustrated me for an hour in the morning but a triumphant return in the late afternoon was very gratifying.
Frying Pan River 08/24/2012 Photo Album
4. Frying Pan River – 09/14/2012
Keen observation enabled me to notice an early BWO hatch resulting in some nice fat fish prior to being pushed out of my hard earned prime spot on the upper water by insensitive fishermen. Fortunately this bit of adversity forced me downstream to the spring area where I experienced the best green drake action of 2012.
Frying Pan River 09/14/2012 Photo Album
5. Arkansas River – 09/28/2012
Plenty of break offs and lost fish, but still a great fall day on the Arkansas River landing larger than average trout on the beadhead hares ear and RS2 extended from a Letort hopper. Large fish from relatively shallow lies always makes for exciting fishing.
Arkansas River 09/28/2012 Photo Album
Largest Rainbow I’ve Seen Out of S. Boulder Creek
The Parachute hopper and beadhead hares ear combination caught fire. The highlight was a fifteen inch brown landed from an obscure location with less than two feet of water.
Taylor River 09/28/2012 Photo Album
7. Red Mountain Creek – 09/01/2012
Catching oversized fish compared to the size of the stream is always fun, and that’s exactly what I experienced on Red Mountain Creek on the Soward Ranch near Creede, CO.
Red Mountain Creek 09/01/2012 Photo Album
8. Arkansas River – 04/13/2012
I experienced a great day catching trout on caddis pupa by imparting jigging action and downstream mends. Catching twelve trout on caddis dry flies in late afternoon was icing on the cake and the best action I saw during the Arkansas caddis hatch.
Arkansas River 04/13/2012 Photo Album
9. South Platte River (Wildcat Canyon) – 09/09/2012
Dan and I spent a wonderful weekend backpacking into Wildcat Canyon and experienced some outstanding fishing on Sunday September 9. Dan outfished me on this special day, and Dad was extremely proud.
South Platte River 09/09/2012 Photo Album
Monster Rainbow Took Orange Scud
10. Roaring River – 06/28/2012
The beauty of greenback cutthroats is unsurpassed. Size isn’t important when I’m in such a beautiful setting catching these high country gems.
Roaring River 06/28/2012 Photo Album
There you have it, my arbitrary assessment of the best ten fishing experiences of 2012. There were many fine days that didn’t make the cut, and in fact every day of fishing is a day to remember, thus this blog.