Posted on August 25 2022
Clearly the River Master needs a remedial course in basic math. The minimum average daily flow at Montague is supposed to be 1,750 cfs. Yesterday the flow ranged from a high of 1,600 to a low of 1,380 and today's high appears to be peaking at 1,630. Why do I care? Because, given the current hot, sunny days and drought like conditions, without increased releases from Cannonsville, most anglers remain confined to the Sulfur Zone and ths sulfurs are done for the year.
There were hoards of anglers in the zone yesterday, so many that I didn't even consider fishing there. I got a taste of the better fishing available with the increased flows last week and have no interest in crowding into a pool in the upper river and trying to catch beaten up fish that are trying to make a meal out of size 24 olives.
What to do? A rain dance, or, sit back and wait for the River Master to increase the release to meet minimum flow requirements.
The fishing? For me it is now confined to the evening hours and it is tough. There have been good olive hatches and the fish are eating them but they have quickly gone from eating duns to feeding subsurface on the emerging nymphs. The water in the lower WB and BR has returned to summer like temps and what bugs that do hatch are doing so late in the day or after dark (my screens have isos on them each morning).
The deer in the back yard this morning were all starting to show their winter coats. The fawns spots are disappearing and within the next week or so the reddish summer coats will be gone. It would be nice if we could transition to fall conditions on the river system as quickly.
Hi Max I have his first book. I would like get copies of this years posts
Dennis,
A friend of A119 kindly sells his book at the troutfitter shop right in deposit. I recommend picking it up. It is a culmination of his blog posts. I am not sure if they plan on doing another version that captures this year as well, but id happily pick up the next one myself.
I fished below Hale eddy yesterday afternoon from 2-5 and it was dead. Very few rises and almost no bugs. Two people were nymphing and caught fish. I moved up to the sulfur zone and there were olives all over. Fish we’re hitting the emerger, boils all over. Then suddenly sulfurs were floating by and the fish we’re on them. I switched to a 18 sulfur and landed 2 nice fish 19 and 20. Nice fat fish. I was surprised to see sulfurs.
A119 your report was right on!!!
Is there a way I can print your articles to keep for reference? I am not good with modern technology
Thanks