Posted on July 03 2024
Don't know what I did this morning but it wasn't very productive. Forgot to tie more sulfurs until the last minute and when I took the time to tie three of them, it made me late for the mid-day sulfur hatch. Actually the sun and the warm water were the principal culprits, but if I'd just got it in gear a little sooner ---
Anyway, it's too early to tell for sure, but my money is on this being a really good summer sulfur hatch. Why? I really don't know. Last years hatch was poor. The year before, very good. Last year's smoke from the Canadian fires kept the water temp down and maybe the bugs didn't mature. Perhaps the warm weather last winter helped the bugs to mature early. The sulfurs are two weeks ahead of last year, they are hatching in good numbers midday and again around 7:00 pm. If you think the river isn't full of fish, be in the "Sulfur Zone" from 7:00 'til dark, It's amazing!
Most people would say that the fishing conditions were much better today than yesterday, (there was no wind), but I had to work hard for my fish today. The bright sun, with nary a ripple on the clear water gave the fish all the advantage they needed. If you put the fly in front of a rising fish, they often came up for a look, but refusals abounded and takes were well spaced. I would have helped if I got there at noon instead of 12:45. Not only did the hatch start sooner, but it also ended sooner. I kept fishing because the sulfurs, (and some other bugs), continued to hatch all afternoon, and there were always a few rising fish to throw at, but the hatch was waning, where I was, by about 1:30.
Fished until 5:15, decided not to drive back to Lordville, tried to order a "Classic Chicken" sandwich with a small order of fries and no beverage at Wendy's. Ended up with a chicken sandwich and small diet coke that were covered by the $10.60 I handed the server through the window. Clearly octogenarians need a grandchild to do the ordering at "fast food establishments"
Stood by the river at 6:30, and when the first rises appeared, I put on the waders, vest, and hat, grabbed my rod and beat a drift boat down to where I wanted to fish, (he probably had no intention of fishing there, I made that up). From the get go, the bugs came, the fish ate, and I was into fish. I usually don't bother to put on a spinner during the sulfur hatches as the duns are easier to see and the fish eat them just as well, but last night I got ignored by several fish who were eating spinners at dark, so tonight, I changed to a spinner when the hatch slowed down and when the first fish started eating them I caught one. I then spent fifteen minutes in the dark throwing at spinner sipping fish that never ate my fly. All told, it was yet another "great day to be on the river" as someone else would say.
You know where, you know when, hopefully it lasts all summer, but you never know. If I were you, I'd come now! Look for me, I'll be there, hopefully with a bent rod.
Fished around Deposit yesterday. Hit the water around 11AM with nothing doing until 11:30 when some Sulphur duns stated drifting by. Amazingly enough, there was only one other fisherman with whom I became fast friends with who shared the 100 yards or so of water we fished . No one else near us for almost a quarter mile. It was sunny bright and the cloud cover predicted for afternoon did not materialize.
Unfortutnely the “hatch” never really happened other than some duns floating by here and there pretty much for the next two hours. The fish were obviously chasing something with their splashy rises. They were not touching the duns until almost at the end of the so called “hatch”. Did connect with a few juveniles on my emerger although a lot of fish made ”false charges’ on my fly.
After the obligatory late afternoon nap and late lunch, hit the water again at 6PM. Not much difference from before with again random fish rising to duns (not really feeders you could cast to). Tried a small Iso and got hits but no connections. Gave up at 8PM as the drifting duns almost disappeared as did the random rising fish.
The whole experience reminded me of the late stages in the season of the Sulphur hatches when all the fish have been “schooled” to stay away from fisherman and their flies.
Ed have a great time and safe travels!!!!!! Please keep posting the fishing results.
Good luck fishing to all
Hale Eddy area, last evening, was solid. Fish started their fashionable behavior of intercepting emergers with nary a subtle ring. I started with the a size 22 CDC BWO trailing Antron shuck, after having a diminutive size 28(?) Pseudo land and on my hand just an hour before dusk. No dice. Changed over to a Dorothea Biot Spinner, and stuck to this approach – even though the size 16/20 duns were quite active. Good choice. Solid 18" or longer Brown, and another Rainbow. Gorgeous evening to be in God’s country.
Also, I have carefully transported my Troutfitter purchased “Upping Your Game!” edition to and from DC to hopefully entice Angler 119 to sign and seal. However, it is understood that his schedule it packed with press agents and paparazzi.
Good times.
HLR
Octogenarian— I love that word. When I have used it when telling my age I would guess 90% of the people have not clue what it means.
Angler119-Sounds like you had a great time. Fished the red barn yesterday,with Frank and Ben. not a lot of fisherman , which is never a good sign. Sparse sulpher hatch, had several refusals. Spotted some small olives and switched to a #20 bwo. Worked great. Landed 4 fish 14”-16”, had several other “hits”. Loved it . On the downside I lost my net in the river( yuck) It has my name on it . If my slim chance it’s found please call. me at 973-668-3410. Went to barking dog at 8:30.Major sulpher hatch .Alas no fish. No fishing for 2weeks. In Hawaii with kids and grandkids. Everyone please keep posting. I love reading about your adventures. Ed
A119
Thanks for the glowing yellow report. I gotta get back up there soon!
Dennis
You are a bit out of the Sulphur Zone! Safe travels.
Hello from Florida!! Ed thanks for the well wishes. A119 another good day and night on the river. I’ll be home Sunday and on the river Monday. Thanks for all the posts I’ll be reading.