Posted on May 31 2025
After fishing nine straight days it was time to go home, see Jean, watch our granddaughter's lacrosse team advance in the sectional championship, wash my clothes, mow the grass, pay the bills, have lunch with an old friend, and just catch my breath.
Wednesday, the last day I fished, the sulfurs were clearly waning on the BR, the BK, and EB. Today they are gone. They can be found in Deposit in limited numbers, (along with the last of the Hendricksons). You may find green drakes and for sure coffin flies from Stockport up, on the BR. Two days away doesn't seem like much, but things are changing fast. If you don't find bugs in your "spot", get in your car and look for them, or find where the guides are fishing, (over twenty trailers at a take out), and join the fray. If you are where "It's happening" you'll be amazed by the numbers of both boats and rising fish.
The fishing - Word from the associate editors during my absence was that there were both Hendricksons and sulfurs at the red barn, and that the fishing there was good. I fished two places on the WB today, one above the No Kill and one in the No Kill. Joined Mike the Cop at the first place and watched Mike land two fish while I suffered through three refusals and a lost yearling. Second place, (in the No Kill), during prime time, produced a few sulfurs and even fewer Hendricksons. Got refusals from all but one of the risers I saw, (lost the one that ate), but hooked four and landed two, blind casting a sulfur. By five it was over. Drove to the BE, found no bugs of any kind, but hooked four fish, landing three. Back to the car by seven, I decided to make my last stand on the BR near the fishing camp. There were a few black caddis and green drake coffin flies in the air, hooked two fish on the black caddis and one on a coffin fly, landed two of the three.
Long time readers may have noticed that except for the eagles, precious little has been said about the area wildlife. As yet, I have seen no bears or foxes, and prior to Tuesday I had seen no rattlesnakes. Tuesday there was a dead one on the road by the church in Lordville and today in the 45 minutes I was in camp between my arrival and departure to fish, another was run over not fifty feet from the first. I'm not a snake lover by any means, but I have lived with the rattlers in Lordville for thirty four years, they come out on the road to get the heat, they do not try to get out of the way of cars, they are basically docile creatures that have no intent to cause us harm. If you see one on the road give him a brake and then go around.
I do appreciate all the reports on this site. What I find interesting is what folks call a “good day” on the river.
For me, it’s having a target, fairly stationary, where I try to figure out what is being eaten, and what form the insect is. And I really don’t care if I get the fish all the way into the net; as long as I see the fish, he’s welcome to shake off the fly, so I don’t risk hurting anything while try to remove the hook. (I no longer take photos)
As I write this, the graph showing the flow at Hale eddy is going straight up, so it looks like it will be a few days until I think about coming up again. Plenty of time to tie my favorite Galloup cripple patterns
Had a good day yesterday on the BK, with 10 fish caught including 16 and 17 inch browns. Prolific and varied hatch going on especially last evening. The winning combo for me was a March Brown with a black caddis jigged nymph dropper. Now with the rivers being blown out as we speak, our group is assessing our streamer collections and anticipating Plan B in high water tomorrow.
Thank you A-119 for your wonderful reports and for all the comments.
Good to have you back, and am glad you enjoyed a break.
The last three days my experience is similar to yours on the freestones. Limited bugs, some coffin flies and big black caddis. Very few spinners, which is weird.
Did see some ISO’s on the Beaverkill a couple of mornings. Sporadic but the fish were on them.
Coffins have been interesting. There appear to be are 2 sizes, small and big (male and female???). My buddy said the big ones look like French fries on the water. Fish seem to have a preference for one or the other. But as soon as the coffin flies landed the fish were on them heartily.
Did see some giant caddis, like a size 4, brown and black. Have never seen them before. Any idea what they might be?
Last night at the campsite, with the lantern on, there were 2-3 sizes of caddis, one gray fox, and some dozen coffin flies. No sulphers and we are camping near a freestone river.
All in all it’s been a good first part of the trip. On my third leader and second spool of tippet. Not sure what the next week will bring but will try to be helpful and post about it.
Good luck everyone.
Welcome back A119.
We were going through withdrawal without your posts…
Are there rattlers all along the system or are there just pockets of them in certain areas?
Angler119- Glad you had a chance to unwind a bit and watch your granddaughters lacrosse ( how did they do?). Our granddaughters lacrosse team plays Monday in the quarterfinals against the #1 team in the state. It’ll be a tough one. Great that You and Mike got into some fish.Hopefully the rain won’t blow things out again. Ed
A119 good to have you back on the river!! Thanks for the report. I am going to fish today if this rain doesn’t blow out the smaller streams. I will report