Some readers may point out that I am posting a 2015 top ten list with nearly a month remaining in the year. There is truth to this assertion, and I genuinely hope to fish again before the new year as I attempt to surpass my previous annual record fish count. However, the likelihood of having a top ten day in December in Colorado is very remote, so I will press on. I can always edit and update this post if a miracle surprises me. Once again I enjoyed the task of reading over my adventures of 2015. Since I am now retired, I was able to accomplish the annual review over two days. Hopefully this will add some consistency to my choices, although these are purely my subjective opinions, and there is no documented criteria to guide my choices.
Here are the top ten of 2015 in reverse order:
10. Tuckasegee River 05/12/2015 – My first fishing experience in the state of North Carolina was very enjoyable. The river was teeming with trout, and I was blessed with the companionship of my son. Nine fish in 2.5 hours is quite respectable particularly on water that I never fished before.
Displaying His Catch
9. Yampa River 06/23/2015 – I was surprised by a stellar day of fishing in spite of high flows due to run off conditions. Large fish found my net, and a decent pale morning dun hatch aided my efforts. Jane and I celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary at a restaurant overlooking the river in a fitting ending to a wonderful day.
8. Big Thompson River 09/30/2015 – A twenty-eight fish day on a river that was ravaged by the 2013 floods was another surprise. A solid blue winged olive hatch allowed the soft hackle emerger to shine, and I discovered that Jake’s gulp beetle was a fish attractor in Colorado.
7. Arkansas River 10/02/2015 – My most successful day on the Arkansas River evolved after accepting advice from ArkAnglers Fly Shop. A zebra midge produced early, and then a decent baetis hatch enabled the soft hackle emerger and RS2 to be effective. Late afternoon dry/dropper success capped a fun day.
6. Yampa River 07/01/2015 – Large fish and a dense late afternoon pale morning dun hatch combined to make this a very memorable afternoon to start July. It is rare for the Stagecoach tailwater to yield this quantity of large fish in one afternoon.
Gill Color Is Amazing
5. North Fork of White River 09/09/2015 – Large quantity, big fish relative to the stream size, and beautiful surroundings elevated this day to top five status. Gorgeous brook trout in bright spawning colors put an exclamation point on this outing.
4. South Platte River 10/08/2015 – Only size was absent from this spectacular day. Fifty plus fish, a pretty remote setting and the companionship of my lovely wife made this a day to remember.
Some Color Remains on Streamside Foliage
3. Conejos River 07/22/2015 – How could this end up number three? I had the river to myself and landed nearly forty beautiful trout. All were brown trout except for one seventeen inch rainbow. Four hatches occurred including green drakes, pale morning duns, golden stoneflies and yellow sallies. My large bushy green drake produced confident rises in the hours before hatches began.
2. Elk River, BC 08/08/2015 – My first venture into British Columbia and in fact my first time fishing in Canada was a delight. West slope cutthroat were new to my net, and they are the definition of subtle beauty. The scenery was spectacular, and my fishing companion Jake Chutz was a knowledgeable pro.
Jake Displays One of Dave’s Nicer Fish
1. South Fork of White River 09/10/2015 – Awesome is an overused word in the present time period, but it applies to my hike in to the South Fork. I was miles from the trailhead and human beings. The scenery was rugged and breathtaking. I landed a large quantity of fish, and eight fish in the 14-17 inch range in a small backcountry stream boosted this to number one in 2015.
Pretty Catch Stretched Out
I Cannot Wait to Fish This