A Dandelion Whine.

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 that Hendricksons and dandelions go together like bees and honey. If the dandelions are in bloom along the banks of the river where you want to fish, tie on a Hendrickson. Sadly that is not true of the Main Street Hendricksons, who, because of their southern hillside exposure, get a few days head start. Take heart, within the next week both bankside dandelions and Hendricksons should be in full swing.

Took a drive around the system at Hendrickson time, (3:00 pm), and saw many  fishermen, but nothing else. Between 3:00 and 4:00 none of my stops along the BE, UEB, Beaverkill and WB lead to sightings of either bugs or risers. To be sure there were lots of wade fishermen, (all streams are at great levels for wading), as well as numerous boats trying to navigate the low waters now found throughout the system. 

The wind - Might have spoken a bit harshly about the NW wind yesterday and mother nature obligingly turned it right around and sent warm southerly breezes to us that were strong enough to create dust storms in down town Hancock that must have rivaled scenes from the great plains dust bowl. Tin cans bounced across the road while McDonalds wrappers and dead leaves flew through the air. When the clouds came, the thermals thankfully lessoned and parts of the system became fishable.

The fishing - A strange day. Again attempted to fish the best protected part of the river, (above Oquaga), but so did everyone else. It was windy, crowded, bugs were late starting, early ending, and few in numbers. The fish have not had alewives from the reservoir to feed on, (as yet no spills), and are hungry, but when pressured, they quickly turn to feeding on emerging nymphs in the water column. Never saw a bug eaten on the surface although I had numerous fish feeding around me.

How'd I do? Probably had ten or more fish come to my fly in an hour of fishing. Felt four fish who were probably hooked in the body as they swam by after refusing to eat my offering. All came unstuck within a second or two. In short, I was skunked again. 

Earlier someone asked what they are eating. There are tiny black caddis, blue / black quills, and little black stone flies. Most rising fish, (only a relatively few fish are rising), have been hooked and are no longer eating flies on the surface. Things will change when the big hatches of paraleps and Hendricksons  start, but today, I never saw an angler with a fish on.