Posted on June 17 2025
It's 10:05 pm, do you know where your fly boxes are? Mine, (the metal ones), are on the shelf next to the stove pipe and yes I have a fire going. When I left the fishing camp, the radar showed a thin band of light green passing through the area. All I can say is it took it's damn sweet time. Made my usual decision to put the raincoat on and then the fishing vest and never looked back. It came down as rain for about five minutes around 8:00 but the rest of the time it was like fishing in a misty fog. Nevertheless the vest is wet and so are the fly boxes.
Today was to be liberation day, the WB was finally low enough for me to fish several places I haven't been to all year. Looked at the USGS flow early and it was a go, only things to decide were when to go and which pool to fish. Was ready to head out when I decided to check the levels to be sure they hadn't maxed the flow to create the mandated flood control void. Stilesville was going up, I assumed to 1,500 cfs and I bailed. For a change I had options, lots of them. The BR at 2,300 cfs is fishable if you know what you're doing, the BE at 900 cfs is also very fishable, as is the UEB at 400 cfs. Heard a reliable report saying sulfurs at Long Flat, (mostly yearlings up), and that but two boats went by. Drove up the UEB and saw several rises in the big pool above Al's, could see neither boats nor bugs on the water but with only three cars below the Mattson Farm, I decided I would give the UEB a try.
The bugs - A modest iso hatch, coupled with a fair dorothea hatch, actually got fish feeding, (subsurface). The boats have been on the UEB during the high water and no fish has been ignored. The fish quickly learn the benefits of feeding sub surface.
The fishing - When you've had to fish the same few places over and over again for six weeks, getting on water you haven't fished all year is a joy. Were there risers, yes. Did they suffer fools, no. Were there boats, no. Other fishermen, one. How'd I do? Funny you should ask. Last year I would have said "Not very well". This year I say, "Very good". What's the difference? Well, I'm not catching any two year old trout, (fish between 11 and 13 inches). It isn't unusual during big bug season, but by now they should be making up more than half of a daily catch, and they just aren't. If you are fishing, please let us know if you catch any fish in the 11/13 inch slot. Today I landed six fish, four of which were over 17 inches, (one measured 21). If you combine yesterday's catch (3) with today's catch there were nine fish, three between 14 and 16, the rest all 17 or larger, not a single two year old. It cuts down on the number of fish you catch, but the fish you are fishing to, hooking, and trying to land make it exciting as hell.
Angler 119, I landed two browns and two bows between 11-13 " on the LWB, and lost another 5 that felt the same size on the first Saturday in May (the last time I fished it). But I’m still haunted by the truly huge rainbow who broke me off in fast water that day just as I tried to slide him in the net. . .
Chris Z, have a great trip!!!
Heading to HF on Saturday for an annual trip. I have fished it extensively for many years both in June and August. Amazing fishery both the Ranch section (which is most like the Upper Delaware) and occasionally the lower river (pretty standard Western Tailwater, lots of dumb fish).
If I speak to the Ranch section, I have never seen rainbows of that size with 100 yard runs! Can’t compare to Delaware rainbows as they are NFL size on the Ranch.
As far as selectively, I have NOT found the Ranch fish that difficult compared to Summer Stilesville browns on Sulphurs!
I would agree, generally, that the Fork is very technical water. But it gives up banner days like anywhere else. I actually enjoy fishing the HF after the crowds have thinned. My best moment there was back-to-back 25-26”’ Bows just subsurface, dorsaling rises, on a downstream presentation, floatant greased leader to within a foot, with a sz 16 unweighted PT. Other than some spectacular NZ hike-in country, definitely my greatest moment as a fisherman.
Also, NZ is NOT as technical as everyone says.
A119, you are a fountain of information, but you have, over the years, proclaimed that “all the fish have been caught” (which is far far from the truth) or in today’s case, that the fish are feeding subsurface because of all the pressure. I’m assuming you mean just subsurface here, because we all know they feed below all the time.
No. Fish feed subsurface on the UEB, like anywhere else, when the bug conditions warrant. They feed subsurface early in the season, during hatches, midseason, late in the season, all the time.
This is actually one reason I like the UEB more than any other river in the system. Especially for the specimen fish. They make you crack the code. However, that HF presentation I mentioned above does wonders here in our system too. Same with a LaFontaine style bubble caddis, no shuck.
Love the Reports and all the comments. Good fishing, boys.
There is no luck. You either know, or you don’t know.
Many great comments, but I can’t agree that the West Branch is as technical as the Henry’s Fork. I’ve fished the WB since 1976 and except when water conditions wouldn’t allow, have always managed to catch fish. I’ve fished the HF 20 +
times and have been skunked on occasion.
The two rivers are totally different in character and the fish population on the HF is probably greater, but it’s still a very,very difficult river.
The WB compares to Connecticut’s Farmington, in my estimation for technicality, but neither comes close to the Henry’s Fork.
Many 11-13 between gamelands and balls. LOTS of big fish throughout the system. Best I got. Did I meet 119 pulling my boat out at the ballpark last Friday afternoon?
Ed Jones,
Troutfitter 119 is telling the truth. There are a lot big fish on all sections of our Delaware River. Maybe the hatches, water quality, and solitude were better back in the day. As for big and healthy trout we are living the good ole days right now.
If you aren’t using a 15-18 foot leader with 6x most of the time, and have the skill set to cast a perfect reach cast you are not in the game.
Don’t romanticize about the Delaware when it was basically a warm water fishery with very modest size trout. I’m not wealthy but I have saved and have fished all over the West including Henry’s Fork. The Delaware is one of if not the most technical fisheries I have fished in my travels. I do well and bench mark off guys like Troutfitter 119. Thanks Troutfitter for your honest posts.
Spent 3 days on lower WB. Very few bugs or risers any day except right at dark when sulfurs, isos and olives were on water. I managed 6-8 fish per day mostly on ISO and a few on sulfurs. Wading was difficult but not impossible and got better each day. Saw zero other waders all wknd and many boaters float by looking very unhappy they spent $500 on a guide.
My wife told me yesterday morning that her sisters have a dinner planned for the evening. I said I am going fishing. I went below the mens club and netted 4 fish all between 11-13 in. There was a modest hatch of sulfurs and the fish sporadic at best eating on the surface. I had the river to myself and only 1boat went past. It was over at 6. I went to another place and saw no bugs or rising fish. Left at 7:30 and called to tell my wife pick something up for me!!