Posted on May 17 2024
With both the BK and EB up from the rain, and higher than I would like to fish them, I took a drive up rte. 30 along the UEB. It's at about 230cfs which is just fine for fishing. There was a stiff breeze blowing up river. Very few anglers were fishing the lower half. From Shinhoppel up there were multiple cars at every parking place. Never saw a rise until the big pool above the old Al's sports shop. The caddis were above Corbett and at 2:50 any Hendricksons were waiting until at least 3:00 to hatch. I left for Deposit.
Arrived in Deposit at 3:30 and looked for a place where I could make a backcast without hooking a boat. With the cutback in the release there were wade fishermen everywhere. Drift boats and personal flotation devices (pontoon boats??) looked like skiers on a slalom course rowing around the waders.
Got into the tailout of a pool, and when the boat that was anchored just down stream from a tiny little island below me pulled out, I waded in. It's a good piece of water and the guides are usually cued up waiting to fish it. This was the first time I've gotten a chance to fish there all year. The fish know the game and are tough but in three hours of fishing I caught enough fish to make it a good day.
At 7:00 I was driving around looking for a place to fish the caddis spinner fall. There were plenty of caddis but it's clearly past the peak of the hatch. The waders had thinned out and most of the boats had gone by. It was more a matter of picking a spot with rising fish. Got to Norboard and there was no one there. Parked, waded in and in one hour caught enough fish to make it a good day all by itself. The fish were eating caddis spinners and weren't looking at them very closely.
The Hendrickson/Apple caddis bonanza is on the wane. It will probably be good this weekend but if you want to fish it, best not wait any longer than that. If you take meds for stress, double the dose before you come.
BTW- Caught half my fish on caddis today.
Fished upper West Branch Thursday. Light caddis hatch around 1130 for about an hour. Fish very picky. No hook ups. Had lunch and took a nap hitting the river around 3 with a full blown Hendrickson, March Brown and whatever hatch going on . BIG fish not 20 feet away sucking in the flies. I actually got rattled!!! Hooked two nice ones that never made it to the net. Hatch slowly petered out.
( I wonder when its started?).
Met two guys who spent week fishing who were from Pittsburgh. I guess my driving 2 hrs to the WB isn’t so bad after all. Caddis started coming down slowly doing touch and go landings on the water .The one fellow was landing a fish every 10 minutes or less. I was occasionally getting a rise to my fly and maybe missed one or two.I was apple caddis. I asked what kind of worms he was using (lol). He came over and showed my a tan caddis (allover). Nary a touch of green on it. Gave me one and first cast landed a trout. The caddis by 7PM were hot and heavy. Caught a healthy bunch ( using an all tan caddis) and the “blizzard” was still going strong as dusk was approaching. Figured I would fish to some risers in faster water to catch the last one before I went home. Was rewarded by a 17 inch brown. Interesting day. BTW all the of the boat flotilla was courteous to me. As each one passed behind me I thanked them for doing so.
Fished the Lower WB and Upper WB Thursday. Upper won big time as it snowed caddis from 1:00 to dark. Yes there were Hendricksons, March Browns and Blue Quills but the fish were mostly interested in be caddis. The fish were picky but they ate my tan caddis patterns. Got a beautiful 20” Brown that was sipping in a back eddy among a few other browns.
As for the boats…90+% of the guides are amazingly friendly and courteous. But I had 2 float right over where I was fishing. I was standing mid river, lots of room behind me, I could have cast into their boat and I’m not a long caster. So thank you to the guides and pontooners who think of others. I do enjoy chatting with you and your clients as you float by. Some great humor in 30 seconds of conversation.
Hacklehouse- I believe the caddis spinner Angler 119 is referring to is a spent caddis.. It represents a dying caddis. If I’m correct there are several excellent patterns including Larry Solomon’s Delta wing caddis, and MikeLawson’s partridge caddis. I tie a simple no hackle with spent zelon wings tilted back at a 45degree angle. I caught 3 nice fish on Tuesday on a#16 tan pattern. Good luck. Ed
Caddis spinners???
Angler119-Sounds a little like the Wild West. Sounds like you landed quite a few fish. That’s great. Do you think the Hendricksons will still be on the UEB next week? Have fun. Ed