Posted on May 01 2026
The rain didn't stop this morning until after I was finished with breakfast. It was a cold rain, (the red stuff in the thermometer on the porch couldn't get above 44). The forecast for today was grim, high of 49, with winds out of the north at 10 to 15. Mark and I sat in the Lordville Estate, with the fire going in the wood stove, and tied flies. At noon we were bored enough to begin assembling our gear from the various places it was hung to dry after yesterdays fishing.
Where to fish? We knew the lower BR was entering the doldrums, the upper WB still had very few reports of bugs and risers, and that the caddis spinner fall had been called off due to wet grounds yesterday. On the positive side, the launch/takeout sites from Balls Eddy to Buckingham had but a third of the trailers they had last week.
We decided to fish where there were still massive numbers of caddis egg layers primed to do their thing, both paraleps and Hendricksons were reported to be hatching in sufficient numbers to get fish up, and the boat traffic would be tolerable.
We put in at 1:30 as part of a cluster of three boats, which quickly spread out and dispersed. By 2:00 the water was covered with paraleps, (the first good hatch I have seen all season), but we didn't see a trout rise until we were over two miles down river. There was an annoying breeze from the north at 10 to 15 mph which made making accurate, drag free casts to rising fish a challenge. We did find some risers, not as many as yesterday, but we were better prepared for where the fish were holding and as a result made more successful casts. For the second day in a row the caddis spinner fall was a no show, (probably because the temp was so low).
How'd we do? Hooked more fish today than yesterday, (13 vs 10), but caught less, (7 vs 9). Most of the fish we landed were around 15/16 inches in length, Mark had the fish of the day, which was a brown between 18 and 19 inches long.
Drive past stilesville around 5. Not one fisherman or car in sight.
Angler119’There is nothing better than spending a day on the water with a friend. The icing on the cake was that you both landed fish and Mark got a big brown. Fantastic! Ed
We finished one to 6 PM at a couple of spots om the upper West branch. Loads of Blue Quills on the water but not much surface action from the fish. Caught an 8 inch brown while retrieving a Hendrickson and felt lucky to get that. Things should get better, especially weatherwise. Kudos to all who are able to land big fish!
Sounds like you guys had a pretty good day!! The weather has got to change!! Almost to cold to golf. I will try again this weekend and report back.
Thanks for the reports. Good luck