I strongly second The Ranch (whole upper Henry’s Fork, actually)
Hot Creek, CA…the ranch section. One is limited to using dries ONLY and the weeds and wind can drive one nuts…
Hot CreeK Ranch, 1975…where I have witnessed grown men cry and toss expensive bamboo rods into the water…
PT/TB
For me, the Green River below Flaming Gorge damn. It is like they have tasted everything, seen it all and are educated as to what hooks and what doesn’t.
Cheeseman Canyon on the South Platte in CO. Huge trout you can see feeding, but they all have PHDs in Fly Avoidance. You know it is technical when the guide book recommends to wear carpet layer’s knee pads to crawl to the bank!
In the East…The Yellow Breeches
In the West?..Rocky Ford Spring Creek in Eastern Washington has sent me home empty handed than any other creek I have fished.
Hat Creek and McCloud.
Hands down, Silver Creek on the Conservancy, especially on a calm sunny day. Wyoming’s Flat Creek through the Elk Refuge would be a close second. Cheesman is right up there too.
I also fish the Ranch on Henry’s Fork every year, and its easier. The Missouri around Craig is easier too. The Green below the Gorge, way easier (less technical). These three have size going for them, and the bigger rivers usually give you better cover and make approaches easier. You’re less likely to spook the whole pool or the whole run like a smaller creek.
Silver Creek is the toughest few miles of spring creek I’ve ever fished, and its that way nearly every time. Just getting into a good casting position is a near-miracle. When you raise your rod, they often run. If you line, leader, shadow, or drag on them once, they’re gone. Crystal clear water, mostly flat as a pancake, and mixed up currents caused by the dense grass beds with trout hiding in between them. I love it!
Haven’t been to Rocky Ford, McCloud, or Hat Cr.
The Ranch section of Henry’s Fork and Flat Creek in Jackson,WY. Both are clear, flat with converging currents and eddies and down stream presentation.
I haven’t fished enough waters to give a reasonable answer. So, I’ll paraphrase Lee Wulff. He said that the Beaverkill has the most sophisticated trout in the world. So, if what this question means by ‘technical’ means most educated difficult fish and fishing, then since Mr. Wulff’s experiences have taken him to fish trout waters we, or at least I, can only dream of, I take his word as an authority on this subject.
Allan
Lower Rush Creek in California’s Eastern Sierra. Specifically the canal section where it emanates from Grant Lake. Narrow and shallow water. High, Steep banks make it very difficult to get into a good position without spooking fish. Tougher than Hat Creek or the Fall River in my experience. Though I have fished Hot Creek, I haven’t fished the ranch section, but experienced guides tell me the canal section of Rush Creek is more difficult.
after reading some of the responses , i had forgotten about the Letort, 2 steps in the marsh, they have heard you coming, spooked and you are not even in casting range yet. that would be my # 2
The Bread Pool at Gates Lodge. Before you laugh, think about it. Those large trout have been fished hard and long. They take dries that have made flawless (i.e. drag-free) drifts and completed at least one circuit in the eddy. The quarters are somewhat close. There is an overhanging willow branch that turns over canoes for a hobby. The water is clear. Floating a dry and having it complete one, two, three, or more circuits of the eddy, without drag, to provoke a rise is the hardest fishing I have tried. I have yet to get a strike. I offer to kudos to Mato Kuwapi for hooking one of those fish!
Regards,
Ed
Earl Park Lake on Ft. Apache Reservation in Arizona’s White Mountains was very tough until a gentleman who was a veteran there told my friend what to use and gave me a couple. The first trip my friend and I had the lake to ourself and totalled on fish from a AZ Peacock Lady which I was basically trolling in my float tube. If you decide to give it a try I would recommend you have some red chromonids emergers.
D. F. O. specific intermittent risers from Spring Creek downstream on the Williamson River, Oregon.
For me, it’s the kind of angling experience that puts the relative ease of fishing our Truckee River, Ca. into perspective.
The Letort without a doubt. Thrilled to get one fish in a morning.
Spring Creek “crik” near State College, Pa. in the winter. Trout, educated by the likes of veteran dry fly men like Charlie Meck, sipping tiny midges makes for quite a challenge. This and the fact that your hands are basically numb, makes for tough presentations to finicky fish in gin clear water. Wading is pretty much futile. Gotta bring your “A” Game!!!
aa
[SIZE=2]This thread might make a great bucket list for some trout anglers. :idea:
…for others it could be a list of places to be avoided, for the sake of ones ego. 
[/SIZE]
Byron -
It looks as if the majority are either spring creeks or tailwaters, both of which generally have lots of healthy fish and lots of insects and other food sources, not to mention plenty of fishermen.
I’ve fished most of these rivers, both in the east and west, and have fished a number of them countless times. In my experiences, although it may take a time or two (or three!) of fishing them before you learn the ins and outs of the place, once you aquire its vagaries, you can have some great fishing, and the catching can often (but not always, mind you) become relatively easy.
John
I’m kind of hoping that Heaven versus Hell admission standards are reversed for trout. Sinning trout are sent to Heaven where they are forced to take the poorest of drifts. Good trout are sent to Hell where they are able to to avoid even the best of drifts from sinning fly fishers.
John,
That’s kind of what I expected. I frequent the Henry’s Fork in Idaho. I can tell you that, guideless, I have seen the majority of fishers being skunked. That is why I keep going back - for the challenge. It is great fun to catch lots of fish. But, if you can catch some big ones in a very technically challenging stream, it is so much more satisfying.