How many days, what species, and where did you fish this year?

[BillyB]

Thinking about my 2018 days on the water I came up with these numbers. I’m originally from Hawaii, live in Sacramento and my daughter goes to college in Oregon. Think I fished about 40-45 days. Mostly half days. Worked so much overtime getting out was necessary.

Hawaiian Bonefish - 10 days (guide day with Ed Tamai from Nervous Water)
California Trout and Steelhead - 5 days
Oregon Steelhead - 5 days (guide day with Alex from Rogue Valley Anglers)
California delta / American river striped bass - 20 days (1 trip with Maury Hatch)
American river Shad- 5 days

How about you ?

[Woodman]

I was fortunate to get quite a few days on the Yuba in winter and early spring to relearn it after the floods of 2017. A lot of nice trout on dry flies.

Sac River stripers, Sac River trout

A great trip to Central Utah to fish a bunch of Colorado River headwaters streams and lakes. Lots of nice Cutties, browns and brookies.

Assorted days here and there around the Sierra and

One two day skunk on Pyramid Lake.

[PV_Premier]

Didn’t really keep count, probably fished 50ish days

The highlights were 5 days on the North Umpqua, 10ish days on the Trinity, handful of days each on the Yuba and Truckee, and exploratory missions elsewhere

It was a good year - will be kicking off 2019 with a New Years Day expedition somewhere

[mems]

Aloha Billy, had a lot of fun this year. Guiding in Hawaii kept me busy, but had some fun trips and great fishing here on the Big Island.
Took a trip to CI in April, lots of bones, triggers, and GT's. Kenai Alaska for trout opener in June was a blast. One day offshore for halibut. Great ahi season this past summer with 10 ahi over 100lbs. New Orleans in October for redfish and a day in Pensacola florida for redfish and speckled trout. Awesome year on the Big Island for bonefish over 150 this year last one about two hours ago. Lots of mahi and ono action and some bottom fishing when things were slow offshore. Lucky to live in Hawaii, Mems.

[Peter S]

I fished 200+ plus days in 2018. Live close to the lower Sac for steelhead and trout. Also had a few days on the the Klamath and Trinity. Retirement is great!

[John H]

I think I fished around 70 days in 2018. It is interesting to think about the year past and the year ahead. Most of the fishing I did is on the photography page so I won’t list it.

The best of the year for me was the canoe fishing. I remember standing in the water landing a 20 inch smallmouth, hearing my dog barking and looking back to see an 800 pound moose crashing through the trees behind me. That was a pretty good moment from 2018. Hard to believe a 40 pound dog can chase off an 800 pound moose. I made a six minute video if you want to check out some canoe fishing for pike and smallmouth.

https://vimeo.com/279359606

The low point of the year had to be the unrelenting fires in California. I hope we don’t have a fire year like this again but I am afraid we might.

Hopefully 2019 will be a good one with some new experiences. Maybe the Wind River Mountains in Wyoming.

Get out there and make it happen.

[FISHEYE]

I fished 100 days in 2018 according to my journal. I fished in Chili, Argentina, Mexico, Louisiana, and of course Alaska where I live.

[BillyB]

Don,
I’ve got to come join you on the Big Island. Truly a special place on the planet. Hau’oli makahiki hou!

[Sheepdog8404]

Not enough...

[cdevine]

Not enough...

Best answer so far! Love it.

I didn't count days either but do keep a journal most of the time as well. Highlight is getting my boys more into fishing and had some great days both together and with guides. My oldest is a heck of an angler. I hope he keeps it up because fishing and everything that goes with it has been one of the best things in my life.

Some of my highlights.
Couple Eastern Sierra's backpack trip(s) for Goldens/Rainbows/Brooks
Lower Sac
Upper Sac/Mcloud/Pitt Trip
Burney Falls Triip
Truckee and East Walker- Often (exploring more of NV water)

Look forward to a trip to SunRiver/Bend this summer and plan on fishing Deshutes and a lot of water around Central/Southern Oregon. Still haven't really gotten into Steelhead. Sort of like avoiding what you know may change your life. Maybe its time...

Good luck in 2019. Really happy to see how good overall the systems in CA/NV we fish are doing.

[hwchubb]

What a great thread, and great excuse to count our blessings!

As of today (1/1/19), after 15 years I no longer have ID, WA and OR as part of my sales territory. 2018 gave me:
The best blueback spring on the American in several years
Some great sea run cutthroat afternoons on Puget Sound
A fantastic back country brookie / rainbow / golden trip with my younger son
An epic 50 mile backcountry golden trout trip en route to Mt Whitney with my older son
Another 0‘fer on dry fly steel on the North Umpqua
Three epic evenings on the Owyhee, and a slow morning that included two up close encounters with bobcats that made it special
The best 1/2 pounder fall on the American in several years
A memorable morning with Puget Sound chums
A great Thanksgiving trip swinging the Trinity
A gorgeous 9 lb wild buck swung on the Mad last week during a very slow stretch
And all the fishless days I’m choosing not to mention, Facebook style

And last, a 2109 that will be spent closer to home, learning coastal steelhead streams, surf perch, Nevada fisheries, and maybe even the one in my own backyard.

And, of course, living vicariously through all the posts here on the places I have yet to see.

Happy New Year all!

[Norcal6]

Only got out about 40 days in 2018, but did get to fish:

1. 4 rivers and 1 lake in MT
2. 3 rivers in WY
3. Lower Sac twice
4. Upper Sac twice
5. Truckee River
6. Putah Creek a few times
7. Klamath for steel
8 SF Bay for Halibut/Stripers
9. Salmon out of the Gate
10. Local farm ponds
11. Berryessa a few times

Hoping for more in 2019...Happy New Year!

[Bob Loblaw]

Probably 25-30 days.

Upper Sacramento
Lower Sacramento
Yuba
Putah Creek
Hot Creek
Lower Owens
Parker Pass Creek
East Carson
McCloud
Hat Creek
Fall River
Fall River (Oregon)
Stanislaus
Hetch Hetchy
Dana Fork/Tuolumne
Catalina Island

Had a few good trips this year and one cancelled because of fire. My daughter is really starting to get the hang of fly fishing so this year we hit the east side for a few days and she caught her first brown trout in Hot Creek and her first brookies in the Dana fork.

Best day ever was on our way to drop her at Kids Trout Camp up in Antelope Creek. Stayed in the Mercantile in McCloud, fished the McCloud in the morning and got some nice fish there. Hit Hat Creek at lunchtime and fished the riffle and got a few more there, and completely unplanned while we were having dinner in Fall River Mills, Michelle at Clearwater Lodge calls and hooked us up with one of her guides who was going out on the Fall to fish the hex hatch. We didn't go 3 for 3 as the Fall River trout were not buying our hexagenia imitations...but she has a blast watching the huge splashy refusals. Not a bad day for an 11 year old.

Spent a few days up in Sun River Oregon too, only managed half a day on the Fall but caught my first redband trout.

Had my annual birthday present from Mrs Loblaw a few days at Clearwater and had an awesome day on the Fall, best day ever. Had probably 15 fish in the boat, between the put in and the red barn, all in the 12-18 inch range, and I missed 100 more due to a shaky hand hangover. Went to the springs in the afternoon and while much slower, had two 20 inch fish to the boat and one broke me off that had my guide swearing like a dockworker.

Spent a week on Catalina Island with the extended family and caught a bunch of nice Calico bass.

Unfortunately our overnight horsepack trip out of Kennedy Meadows was cancelled as the fire broke out the day we were supposed to check in. Need to get that on the books for this summer.

I want to check out this steelhead thing in 2019.

[Norcal6]

How was the Mercantile? Looks like a good year. Fished near Kennedy a long time ago...great country.

[Bob Loblaw]

Loved The Mercantile. Got a cool attic room overlooking the main street. Great bar and restaurant. Very reasonably priced too.