Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report
Be Safe, Not Sorry.
Posted on May 11 2025
It's Mother's Day, May 11th, a third of the way through what is widely regarded as the best month of fishing on the Delaware River System and I've caught a total of three fish, (on May 1st). The river system is currently unfishable for wade fishermen and will continue to...
Who'll Stop The Rain?
Posted on May 09 2025
With Pepacton now spilling there is no where on the river system that wade anglers can even get into the water. There is a flood watch for Delaware County. It is currently raining with over an inch of rain predicted for today. With rising water from the Pepacton spill and...
I'm Not Even Going To Launch The Ark.
Posted on May 07 2025
It's 8:15 and I'm waiting a couple of hours to see if things dry out enough to mow the lawn before leaving for Lafayette. The sun is out right now and it's not predicted to rain again until this afternoon. The good - With Cannonsville spilling most of the silt...
I've Got Better Things To Do.
Posted on May 06 2025
Took a leisurely drive down yesterday morning after my appointment with the ENT Dr., not to fish but to try to get the grass mowed, make a dump run and perhaps paint the fly tying room. Stopped in Deposit and saw a trout rise down below the town bridge. Got...
You Know They Don't Come Easy!
Posted on May 04 2025
Sitting here at home looking out at the fog and rain, it seemed like a good time for a Wind Knots and Tailing Loops segment, except there have been almost no questions. Hopefully Ed S. and I provided more than enough theories about odd hour Hendrickson sightings to satisfy Jim...
Has anyone seen a really good pseudo or Hendrickson hatch?
Posted on May 03 2025
There are three factors worthy of consideration in trying to assess the reasons for what I thought was a very difficult April, fishing wise. The wind, the low water, and the lack of bugs. The wind - As I have previously stated, the "Hendrickson winds", are an understandable event. The...
Michael, Row The Boat Ashore.
Posted on May 02 2025
Decided to take it easy today. Mowed the lawn as soon as it dried out this morning, made some business calls, had lunch and at 1:30 headed out fishing, destination unknown. I seldom stop to fish if there is someone else fishing the pool, (except in the sulfur zone). I...
I Hate Caddis!
Posted on May 01 2025
Spent the day on the river in virtual solitude. Never had a boat float past me and never had a fisherman within two hundred yards of me. Started at the lower game lands, hadn't fished there in a couple of years and with only two cars in the lot, (one...
It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over.
Posted on April 30 2025
Went out in the yard early in the morning when the grass was wet with dew and applied weed and feed with crabgrass inhibitor. Started a little before seven thinking I'd be done before Jean's eight o'clock phone call, but I didn't finish until eight fifteen. Called Jean and then...
It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over.
Posted on April 30 2025
Went out in the yard early in the morning when the grass was wet with dew and applied weed and feed with crabgrass inhibitor. Started a little before seven thinking I'd be done before Jean's eight o'clock phone call, but I didn't finish until eight fifteen. Called Jean and then...
Today, I Never Lost A Fish!
Posted on April 29 2025
If anyone is wondering, I didn't miss not being on the river this past weekend one little bit. Rain, muddy water. cold temps and a sneaky little draft on Sunday. Drove down this morning in bright sunshine, light and variable winds and rapidly rising temps. Left the fishing camp at...
What You Need To Know To Go.
Posted on April 27 2025
Left for home this morning with a steady rain falling, and all graphs heading straight up. As I write this Oquaga is gushing 600cfs of mud, (up from 40cfs yesterday). The WB above Oquaga was muddy half way across at the town bridge at noon today, but the river should...
Maybe, It's Better To Have Hooked And Lost, Than Never Hooked At All?
Posted on April 26 2025
In case you haven't noticed, there have been dandelions in bloom everywhere, and still the Hendricksons have not made a meaningful appearance on most sections of the river system. The only Hendricksons I've seen have been at Lordville the past two nights. I have assumed they were the remnants of...
Don't Bug The One Bugger's.
Posted on April 25 2025
Today was not yesterday. That was evident right from the start. Chose a place a couple miles up river from yesterdays fish catching bonanza. Again, there were egg laying caddis and hatching caddis in good numbers, but the fish just didn't seem to want to play. You had to look...
I'll Be Tying Flies Tomorrow Morning
Posted on April 24 2025
After a day over on the Neversink, I was ready to try to find bugs and catch fish closer to home. The majority of the drift boats have been on the BR for the past week. In part because of the low flows on the other rivers, and in part...
Coming To A Stream Near You Soon.
Posted on April 23 2025
It's 6:54 and I am sitting down at the Lordville Estate with my first celebratory Perfect Manhattan of the season. The last ten days have tested my resolve, but a day like today purges a lot of early season frustration. For those new to the reports, I play a game...
When You Go, Let Us Know.
Posted on April 22 2025
Spent a delightful night in Lafayette with Jean who returned from a trip out to Ohio a few hours before I got back from my journey to the Neversink. Arrived back at the Lordville Estate at noon today, had lunch, put the food and clothes away, and at about 1:30...
Do Easter Bunnies Lay Eggs?
Posted on April 21 2025
Met my neighbors little girl up by the railroad tracks this morning where she was looking for easter eggs. Later in the day I found three goose eggs out on an island in the Neversink that had already hatched. If you could find the goose eggs early enough, just one...
The Guides Just Know, (It's Why They Get The Big Bucks).
Posted on April 20 2025
If you are wondering, most guides are on either the EB or the BR. Why? That's the question. For starters both the WB and the UEB are quite low and difficult to navigate without interfering with wade fishermen and banging the bottom of an expensive drift boat. There is, however,...
A Dandelion Whine.
Posted on April 19 2025
Not wanting to be accused of whining, (or mewling either for that matter), I'll start with the positive. While driving through downtown Hancock around noon today I saw dandelions in full bloom along the south facing banks of the houses on Main Street. Those who regularly read A-119's offerings know...
I Don't Mind A Hendrickson Wind, If There Are Hendricksons.
Posted on April 18 2025
Looked at the forecast on Tuesday morning, worked around the fishing camp until noon in beautiful 65 degree weather, and then packed up and headed back to Lafayette. Temperature dropped to a low of 43 on the way home with winds in 30/40 mph range. Woke to a day long...
The Answer MY Friends Is Blowin' In The Wind.
Posted on April 15 2025
Today the weatherman did me no favors. Intended to do the spraying for brown rot on the fruit trees this morning before the wind picked up, but the radar showed a line of rain scheduled to sweep through the area between 10:00 and 11:00. The clouds arrived about 11:00 and...
The pressures off, at least for me.
Posted on April 14 2025
Since purchasing the Lordville Estate back in '91, there have been a few years where I avoided a skunking, alas, this year isn't going to be one of them. Spent Saturday watching an all day drizzle with the red stuff in the thermometer unable to even get out of the...
Sunshine On My Shoulders (Would) Make Me Happy.
Posted on April 12 2025
Drove down to the Lordville Estate early this morning, stopping briefly at the Troutfitter in Deposit to pick up a new pair of waders. Had an appointment at 10:00 with Hancock Telephone, (now Archtopfiber) to install internet and activate the phone. By noon I was all hooked up. Opened the...
It's Still Early Days.
Posted on April 07 2025
Departed Long Key at 2:30 am last Tuesday morning and rolled into Winchester Virginia 17 hours later. We were on the road again at 6:45 Wednesday morning and arrived home in Lafayette, New York at 12:30 pm. The only glitch in the journey was a one hour delay in the...
My Bags Are Packed I'm Ready To Go - - - -
Posted on March 30 2025
Woke up this morning and checked the obituaries, didn't see my name so it appears that I've made it to 82. Jean and I are still down here in the Florida Keys where the process of "summer proofing" our house is nearing completion. Our current plan is to head north...
And Now You Know The Rest Of The Story.
Posted on November 11 2024
When I went down to Lordville on Wednesday, I had hoped to maybe finish up in time to get a little fishing in. I didn't. It was 4:00 when I called it quits so I decided to take my bow and sit in a place where I've often seen does...
Turn Out The Lights, The Party's Over - -
Posted on November 06 2024
Heading down to the Lordville Estate tomorrow morning. Will be stopping at Vicky's Unisex Hair Salon at 10:00 AM for my last hair cut there until next spring. The Troutfitter is closed and David is probably down at Hilton Head by now after spending over two-hundred straight days at the...
Gonna Shut You Down.
Posted on October 23 2024
It's October and my plans seem to change daily. CL Repair got my tires in at one on Monday and Craig was able to do all the work on the car while I was crossing off items on my closedown list. Car was done by 3:30 and I packed it...
There ARE No Commercials When You Just Watch Nature.
Posted on October 21 2024
It may be time to go sit in a tree, but I'm still here at the Lordville Estate. Why? Several reasons. First, I made arrangements a month ago to get new rear brakes, a tire rotation, and an oil change at Craig's. CL Repair in Equinunk. Stopped by Friday so...
And I Thought Smith's Colonial Motel's No Vacancy Sign Was Due to Leaf Freaks.
Posted on October 20 2024
Let me be clear about a few things. First of all fall fishing can be very good, if most people are hunting, watching football games or working on their honey do lists. Why? The browns are busy spawning, which takes a huge percentage of the river's fish out of the...
If You Have Deer In Your Yard, You Don't Need A Rake.
Posted on October 19 2024
Woke this morning to find the backyard covered with frost. Thermometer on the back porch read 30. Waited until 10:30 to resume the peach tree pruning saga. Happy to report that tree #3 is now finished. Will go back and "touch up" trees one and two, now that I have...
She's Leaving On A Jet Plane - - - -
Posted on October 18 2024
Drove Jean to the airport at 4:30 AM for her trip out to Fargo, North Dakota. Was back to the house by 5:30. Had an early breakfast, packed up the car and headed for Lordville. Wasn't halfway there when Jean called to say she was in Chicago and ready to...
So Maybe I'm Turning Into A Wuss.
Posted on October 14 2024
It's 7:00 o'clock Sunday night and I'm in Lafayette. Had planned on coming down today and fishing until Wednesday. Have to be here early Thursday morning to get Jean to the airport. She's leaving me - again - to go out to Fargo N.D. to watch our granddaughter play volleyball....
Things Are Looking Up And Quite A Few Of Them Are Fish.
Posted on October 10 2024
Worked on my camp closedown list, and pruned one limb and several branches off the peach tree nearest the road while waiting for the grass to dry, then mowed the lawn. Finished up by 12:30, too early to go fishing, so I cleaned up, ate lunch, did a crossword and...
Clear Water, Bugs, Rising Bows And The Possum.
Posted on October 09 2024
Truth be told, I'm sick of fishing in muddy water. Today I went east. The BK is so low, (77cfs), that there was no one fishing, except me. In the fall I look forward to fishing the BK which has excellent iso and pseudo hatches. Picked a long deep pool,...
Who Sang "He Stopped Loving Her Today"?
Posted on October 08 2024
When last Friday looked like a replay of Thursday's bugless adventure, I packed it in and headed for home. I was hobbling around on a bruised foot that just might have been caused by walking up and down streamside rocks in a pair of felt bottomed neoprene booties with felts...
A Good Bad Day.
Posted on October 04 2024
People often ask me where I'm going to fish, and I usually tell them I don't know. Sure, I have an idea where I want to fish, but if someone else is already fishing there I go someplace else. For the past two weeks there have been consistent hatches that...
Take That Dennis M., (With Absolutely No Disrespect Directed At Mrs. Dennis And Her World Famous Chocolate Cookies).
Posted on October 03 2024
Was on the road this morning in the pitch dark at 5:00AM heading for Ithaca where we were to arrive by 6:15 for Jean's second cataract removal. Jean was scheduled to be the second operation, (she was eighth last week), but there was a mix-up between the front desk guy,...
For The Good Times.
Posted on October 01 2024
It doesn't seem possible but it's the last day of September and therefore time for my sporadic and intermittent message. Have to go home tomorrow and drive Jean to her 2nd cataract operation. The first one was last week and already Jean's crowing about how well she can see out...
Momma Said There'd Be Days Like This
Posted on September 30 2024
It's six-thirty and I'm off the river and typing the report. There were bugs from when I started at 1:15 until just before I quit at 6:00. What kind? The usual suspects which haven't changed much in the past few weeks, olives of all sizes, isos, Hebes, the odd Cahill,...
I Had Other Things To Do.
Posted on September 29 2024
Today held little promise as a fishing day for me. Why? Syracuse was playing at noon today and the game would last the entire time that I saw hatching bugs yesterday. I've been away for a week and the lawn has to be mowed. Needed to clean out the accumulation...
Somebody Tell The Old Man When The Olive Are Hatching.
Posted on September 28 2024
It's 7:30 and I'm back at the Lordville Estate, Perfect Manhattan in hand, ready to write a report. Drove back down this morning after a week in Lafayette. Was surprised by the number of fishermen on the river this morning, and was even more surprised when I went out to...
It' My Party And I'll Cry If I Want To.
Posted on September 21 2024
Those of you on the pay side who sneak a peek at the blog before it's posted on the Troutfitter page were no doubt disappointed last night. I was disappointed too, as I watched Stanford kick a last second field goal to beat Syracuse, in lieu of writing the...
Too Much Of Nothin'.
Posted on September 20 2024
Got half the lawn mowed and tied some flies. It occurred to me while at the bench, that I'll never be a fly tyer, rather I'm a fisherman who uses a lot of flies and they need to be replaced. Have taken my tying stuff down to Florida but somehow...
Didn't Think I'd Need A Reservation.
Posted on September 19 2024
Finally have something a little different to talk about. Started out at 3:00 with a place I was intending to fish clearly in mind. Pulled into the parking area and there was a guy with his waders on fussing with his equipment in the back of his vehicle. Asked him...
Come On Let Me Tell You Where It's At.
Posted on September 18 2024
Thankfully both last night and today turned out to be cooler than what was forecasted. It got into the forty's last night and I took full advantage of the cooler temp this morning to do some heavy duty yard work. Rested up mid-day, tied a half dozen flies, and at...
I'd Gladly Pay More For Three Or Four Cloudy Rainy Days Than I Did For My New Lap Top.
Posted on September 17 2024
Today was another in a seemingly endless string of beautiful fall days, (unless you are a fisherman). Checked the weather forecast and those two rainy days I was so looking forward to, have now been replaced by two more orange suns smiling at me from my lap top. Have a...
You Know They Don't Come Easy
Posted on September 15 2024
It's Saturday night, I'm back in Lafayette attempting to type a report on a notebook. Yesterday's fishing was the same as the previous three days. Fished both the BR and the EB. Found very few bugs during the day, but if you floated a fly over a fish that hadn't...
Sometimes Fishing In The Bright Sun Isn't So Bad.
Posted on September 13 2024
A couple weeks ago I caught the laptop charger cord with my foot, yanked the laptop off the table and in the process bent the charger cord prong. Today I finished the job, by once again catching my foot in the cord and snapping off the prong, in the laptop....