Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report
This Will Be The Last Time, It May Be The Last Time, I Don't Know.
Posted on October 30 2026
Should you ever wonder, Norway Maples are not my favorite tree. They grow very large and have a dense dark canopy. The leaves do not turn orange or red during the fall and the GD leaves stay on the tree until mid November. Why anyone would plant them in their...
All My Life's A Circle - - -
Posted on October 25 2026
Sitting in the recliner after several hours of work tearing down our 40 year old shed and transferring it's contents to the new one. Thought a review of the season, as well of a preview of what may lie ahead might make interesting reading. For this review consider the WB,...
Who Knows Where The Time Goes.
Posted on October 23 2026
Spent until 3:00 in the afternoon working on the camp closedown. I perhaps do things differently than most. My closedown includes a thorough cleaning of the entire camp. When I come back in the spring everything is ready to go, with the place shut up and snow on the ground...
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.
Posted on October 22 2026
It's been a week since Jean and I took in what we both felt were the best colors we have seen in the Catskills. The hills covered with maples were a blaze with red and orange. On the drive down today from Lafayette to Binghamton the leaves were well past...
Not A Bad Way To Spend A Day.
Posted on October 15 2026
After watching fish rising in placid slow water pools on Tuesday I decided to try it for an hour or two on Wednesday afternoon. With Jeans help we made short work of putting up the storm windows in the morning and left for my 11:30 appointment at Vicky's hail salon...
What To Know If You Decide To Go.
Posted on October 14 2026
Jean and I headed to the "Lordville Estate", (I haven't yet told her it's been downgraded to a fishing camp), this morning to take in the Catskill colors at their peak. We weren't disappointed. Left Lafayette in the rain, encountered clouds and fog in the morning but for once the...
On The Road Again - - -
Posted on October 09 2026
Left home at 10:00 this morning and drove down to the fishing camp, primarily to cut the lawn. Apparently the cooler temps have slowed things down. The backyard that faces south and gets full sun all day, needed cutting, the sides and front didn't. Finished mowing by 1:15, had lunch,...
My Bags Are Packed, I'm Ready To Go - - -
Posted on October 04 2026
Sadly, reality is starting to sink in. Sat and watched the Syracuse football team beat the UConn football team by one point in overtime. A battle of two stumbling, bumbling teams, because frankly, the dry fly fishing right now is worse. Drove around after the game, which ended after 4:00,...
If You Want It, Here It Is, Come And Get It - - - -
Posted on October 03 2026
If you haven't been paying attention, NYC is in the process of reducing the releases on its reservoirs. They did Pepacton, (UEB), all at once cutting the flow in half, from 180 to 90 cfs. They are in the process of "stepping down" the release at Cannonsville. The first two...
You Know If He's Hungry, He Can Dance.
Posted on October 01 2026
The local skunk is persistent if nothing else, shows up most nights to dine on the grubs that seem to enjoy eating the roots of my yard grass. Last week he found what turned out to be a large ground bee nest. Apparently decided that the trade off of stings...
Just An Any Old Kinda Day --
Posted on September 30 2026
It's 7:20 and I've been home about half an hour. Got to the car at 6:30 without turning on the flashlight. Both the bugs, (olives), and the fish stopped about 6:00. Took it slow driving home as the deer were out everywhere, counted fourteen before even getting to Lordville. Had...
Remember When - - -
Posted on September 29 2026
It's 5:55 and the Perfect Manhattan has been poured and the first sip taken. Got in two hours and fifteen minutes of fishing for rising trout feeding on pseudos on the UEB. Before you jump in the car and head up, know that of the ten fish landed, only two...
Sunday Morning Coming Down
Posted on September 28 2026
With the remnants of the nor'easter circling New York state like a vulture over a road kill, predicting where and when the rain would actually fall was beyond the capabilities of both AI and the weatherman. Had worked hard getting the area around the bass pond leveled off with all...
A Closed Mouth Gathers No Feet.
Posted on September 26 2026
With my old football helmet on and my loins girded, I'll enter the blog and attempt to quell the fire. I took offense to "couldn't disagree more" when he was saying exactly what I was saying about the fishing, (although admittedly coming at it from a different angle). Also took...
The Truth, The Whole Truth, Not A Word Of A Lie.
Posted on September 25 2026
It's Friday morning and I just checked the Thursday fishing report. Was surprised to find a post from a new contributor who claims to have read my reports for the past five weeks. Says, "he couldn't disagree more with what I am saying" and that "he finds it comical that...
I've Got Better Things To Do!
Posted on September 24 2026
Today was full of surprises, woke to find that all the apples under both trees had been eaten which isn't unusual except that I haven't seen a single deer in Lordville all week. Normally there are more deer present in the greater Lordville metropolitan area than people. A week or...
If You Want To Catch Fish, It's Best To Have Your Fly On The Water.
Posted on September 23 2026
It has finally become evident to me, (I'm a slow learner), that I'm just not going to catch many fish waiting for the bugs to hatch in the last hour of daylight, so I decided to start earlier and see if I couldn't do better. Shot the bow in the...
Running bear - - -
Posted on September 22 2026
While Brian C. was catching fish Sunday on a rainy, cloudy olive kinda day, I was home grinding my teeth, knowing that I was probably missing good fishing and yet, because of the rain, unable to get much accomplished on the bass pond restoration project. Got out early this morning...
Rainy Days On Sundays Always Make Me Sad.
Posted on September 20 2026
It's Saturday at 7:30pm and if you haven't already figured it out, yesterday I bailed, (and I wasn't in a boat). It was sunny with a 10/15 mile per hour breeze, drove around for an hour and a half without seeing a bug on the water or a trout rising...
A Perfect Manhattan Does Not Make The Fog Go Away.
Posted on September 18 2026
I'm sitting on the back porch with my Perfect Manhattan and a bowl of kettle corn listening to the rain pound down on the roof. The mini spike and his sister with her fawn are bedded down on my neighbors lawn, (the grass is longer and perhaps softer). The deer...
How Long Does It Take For New Friends To Become Old Friends?
Posted on September 17 2026
It was the day of the Associate Editors annual meeting, (the fourth, I think), which was scheduled for 1:00pm at the Troutfitter. I spent the morning planting grass on some of the remaining bald spots from last year's grub invasion, gave a thought to cleaning out the bluebird houses, but...
Memories Are Made Of This.
Posted on September 16 2026
I'll admit it, my confidence has taken a hit. Ever since I quit the Sulfur Zone back in mid- August I have struggled to find and catch fish. Have had two or three good trips on the BR, but when the only reliable hatch you can find is on the...
The Middle Of The Afternoon Is Fast Becoming The Prime Time.
Posted on September 15 2026
Had several chores to do this morning before heading for the fishing camp. Met with the guy who brought in stone to level the site for our new shed, sprayed Roundup on the patch of Knotweed that has, so far, survived our efforts to kill it, continued work on the...
I Feel Lucky!!!
Posted on September 11 2026
Bright sun and warm temps may work for summer sulfurs but they sure don't help the olive and iso hatches. I don't think it got as hot temperature wise today as the weatherman predicted but the bright sun heated up the water well past where the olives and isos are...
Wednesday Morning, You Gave Me No Warning Of What Was To Be - - -
Posted on September 10 2026
Today was to be cloudy, (it was), and rainy, (it wasn't). I was hopeful of seeing a few bugs and rising fish before the last hour or two of daylight, and I did. Here's the story. Had a date with Vicky at her unisex salon in Deposit at 12:30. Arrived...
Let Me Tell You Where It's At.
Posted on September 09 2026
If you are planning a late season trip to the Delaware expecting to catch some of those big browns everyone was talking about during the sulfur hatch you should probably trim your sails and lower your expectations. Why? The summer sulfurs started to wane about the middle of August, and...
The Times They Are A Changin' - - -
Posted on September 08 2026
Never mind what the calendar says, it's fall. Started the first fire in the stove this morning since sometime back in May. It was 47 out on the porch and a chilly 68 inside. Made three trips to the big apple tree to pick up drops, (the deer just can't...
I Can't Get No Satisfaction - - -
Posted on September 07 2026
Returned to the Lordville Estate today, in part because I'd gotten several major tasks out of the way at home, in part because I didn't want to deal with Memorial Day traffic tomorrow, and in part because I just plain missed the fishing. The first two are done deals. The...
Homeward Bound - - -
Posted on September 05 2026
Woke this morning to more surprises, there were two wet spots on the porch which was a clue that it had rained. Looked out at the river and it was clear that I would be heading home again. Looked at the screens and they were again covered with isos. Mowed...
Sometimes A Simple Change Of Perspective Can Change The Kind Of Day You're Having.
Posted on September 04 2026
Yesterday's "drive by" did nothing to boost my enthusiasm for the fishing, neither did the absence of bugs under the porch light, and the thunderstorms that passed through during the night. Awoke this morning to see muddy water flowing by on the BR, checked the USGS gages and where I...
Five Days Off Without A Cut In Pay!
Posted on September 03 2026
It's not that I couldn't have driven back down Monday morning, fished two days, then driven back to Lafayette for the Wednesday appointments, just didn't think it was worth it, had things that needed doing back home, and sometimes I just like to spend time with Jean. Wasn't able to...
I'm Done With Hot August Nights.
Posted on August 29 2026
It's been an interesting couple of days. Two serious storms skirted downtown Lordville, (pavement under the trees was dry), one went to the north and one to the south. River out back was muddy all day today from the Beaverkill which shot up from 200 cfs to 800 cfs. It's...
Wind Knots And Tailing Loops.
Posted on August 28 2026
With a strong thunderstorm watch posted for the area from 6:00 until 9:00 tonight it's doubtful that I'll even wet a line. It's 3:45 now and a good time to answer some questions. James - wants to know about algae, is it good or bad? I've written about it many...
It's Easier To Find A Landing Net Than A Rising Fish.
Posted on August 27 2026
Encouraged by both the bugs on the water and the fish in the net last night, I woke up this morning with the thought of seeing if I could find some fish eating tricos. It was chilly and I had plenty of time before the spinner fall but I ended...
Five Short Minutes Of Lovin', Is Probably Not Worth A Four Hour Drive.
Posted on August 26 2026
Can't help but notice that the length of the days are shrinking like a cheap cotton tee that got put in the dryer. Close to three minutes a day. Was back in the car tonight at 8:12, in June it was 9:45. Spent idle time weeding my "flower garden", others...
I Think I'm Going To Sprinkle Some Yeast On The Water.
Posted on August 25 2026
Spent Sunday at Saratoga watching the races with a neighborhood friend from back in 4th grade. His horse did not do well but we had a delightful day, toured the barn where his group of owners has a half dozen horses stabled. Scratched a few muzzles just in case they...
Small Olives Are Hard To See In The Dark.
Posted on August 22 2026
Things are looking up and some of them are fish. Did more yard work this morning. Quit at noon and wasn't soaking wet for a change. The night time temps have been going down into the fifties, there is fog in the morning and the sun's rays just aren't as...
Striped Bass Belong In The Ocean!
Posted on August 21 2026
You know things are slow when 7 out of the 10 blog comments were about the blog title. It's 6:30, have had my first sip of the Perfect Manhattan and a couple handfuls of Act II's extra butter popcorn, (have paper towels in my lap to wipe the butter off...
Just Wishin' And Hoping - - -
Posted on August 20 2026
Hopefully today will turn out to be the nadir of this years fly fishing season. Was amazed at how much work I could get done by just not driving around hoping to find rising fish. Worked in the yard, paid some bills, made an appointment to get my trigger finger...
I'm Feeling Sad; It's Bad All Over.
Posted on August 19 2026
Making a conscious effort this week to take care of things that have been on the to do list since April, and to fish places I haven't visited this year. Didn't mow until the sun dried the dew off the lawn but was able to prune the apple and peach...
Has Anyone Seen A White Fly Or An Ant On The Water?
Posted on August 18 2026
My ploy to get the fishermen off the river with the, "Let me tell you where it's at", offering on Friday worked like a charm. At 4:30 when I drove up to Deposit, there were but two cars in the Men's Club lot, neither JF or Mike-the-Cop were parked at...
Wind Knots And Tailing Loops.
Posted on August 17 2026
Home in Lafayette resting up after some yard work and figured it was a good time to answer questions. James gets the Dennis Molter award for most questions asked. I measure the trout by holding it up against my rod where the nice people at Winston put little white lines...
Come On, Let Me Tell You Where It's At.
Posted on August 15 2026
Spent a minute or to before writing tonight reading fishing reports from DRC, WBA, and AI. All gild the lily to varying degrees. I don't blame DRC and WBA one bit they are trying to rent rooms/cabins and keep the boats floating. AI, however, should be able to see through...
At Least The Fish There Were Willing To Eat My Flies.
Posted on August 14 2026
After yesterday's lackluster, rain shortened effort, I resolved to do better today. Got to Deposit at 1:30 and drove up to the Red Barn where two cars and two fisherman told the story. Stilesville had five cars and unless I missed someone, an equal number of fishermen. Glassed the water...
Sometimes the Sulfur Zone Is Just "A Better Place To Be".
Posted on August 13 2026
After yesterday's woeful fishing performance, my usual reaction would have been to spend more time fishing and less time doing crosswords. Today it was 6:45 before I pulled the suspenders up over my shoulders, put on the fishing vest and headed for the river. Why? I'm tired of fishing the...
My Day Produced Some Shocking Results!
Posted on August 12 2026
Mowed the lawn this morning as soon as the sun dried the dew off the back yard grass. Felt no need to hurry up to Deposit as I had rising fish from two until almost five yesterday. There are bugs on the water from at least noon until dark, but...
There Are Some Yearling Rainbows In The Lower West Branch.
Posted on August 11 2026
#29 got his new crown at 8:00 this morning. Went from the Dentist to the car wash, and then filled the car up with gas. Arrived at the liquor store at 8:52 and had to wait until 9:00 to replenish my whiskey and vermouth. Stopped at home to pick up...
Food For Thought.
Posted on August 10 2026
July, helped by a very good Dorothea hatch, was a surprisingly good month for me. I have never, in the 36 years I have owned the Lordville Estate, caught as high a percentage of big fish. While statistics are often misleading I think this months are interesting enough for you...
Refusals Are Kind Of A Drag.
Posted on August 09 2026
When I picked on Double Haul's shortcomings back on July 6th, I said I would talk further about eliminating drag which I consider to be one of the two biggest causes of refusals. Drag exists when the fly is moving at a different rate of speed than the water it...
MRI's Aren't Bad As Long As You Are Hard Of Hearing And They Play Old Time Rock And Roll In The Earphones.
Posted on August 07 2026
With an MRI scheduled for tomorrow morning, I put the trash bag and dirty clothes in the car and headed out to fish at 12:30, uncertain if I would stay for the evening fishing or head home when the afternoon sulfurs abated. Skipped the trip up to Stilesville as the...