Posted on July 15 2026
On a day like today with air temp in the 90's, the best place to be was in the water, and I that's where I was. Started at noon with Sulfurs already on the water and fish on them. Hooked a couple of fish early, then went through a couple of frustrating hours with fish boiling all around me but taking nothing on the surface. I'm sure the bright sunlight in a nearly cloudless sky didn't help things, the fish just don't like the bright sun. Moved from where the bugs were hatching to where they were just floating along on a quiet pool. Managed to hook a couple more. At 3:00 I used one of my timeouts and retreated to the Troutfitter where I rehydrated and talked with Dave and Matt, (the guide who works out of the shop).
Left about 4:30, and could have fished wherever I wanted to, (most people are smarter than me). There were sulfurs, (from now on, know that it's Dorotheas I'm talking about), in the air and on the water, but the fish had had enough of the bright sunshine. Used my last timeout about 5:30 and drove up to the Red Barn and Stilesville for a look see. Saw several boats, a few fishermen, and very few flies and rising fish.
At 6:30 I was back in the water in an "A" pool with the sulfur hatch cranking up again and the fish eating, of all things, duns. From then until 9:17 when I made it back to the car, I had a lot of rising fish willing to look at my fly, a surprising number of them willing to eat it, green slime on the fly EVERY cast, a landing net with so much algae on it that I'll never get it clean, and a big smile on my face..
The bugs - Yes I saw a handful of isos, and there were some little olives on the water, but it was the summer sulfurs who had center stage from before noon until long after dark. It appears to be one of those years when you just have to be in the Sulfur Zone for the hatch. There are sulfurs on the water from when the water reaches 52ish until dark. Fish don't stop eating them and you can cast at rising fish for eight to ten hours a day. What's not to like? (The fish are better at this than we are and you probably won't catch many).
Since no one mentioned … Badfinger …“If you want it” … I think McCartney wrote it since there was some connection there at the time
Don K. and Ron K— I agree. With you and Paul. And I did bounce around, but I didn’t bounce to the right places. I need to work on both my casting and my bouncing technique. Lol. Am My Best Ed
Going with Don K. on his advice.
Well Ed Smith is correct in saying the UWB is never Bad but if you had to put your Finger on it I take the advice of my cousin Paul who once told me patience is a virtue when timing the hatch but just don’ t stand around waiting in one spot to see it happen..it could ruin your day..
Is it Sulfur or sulphur? It seems to be used interchangably.
Angler119’- You had a great day with lots of rising fish. Congrats. I was up yesterday and saw a lot of sulphers but not many risers. I tried to avoid the crowds and probably picked places that were too sunny. I did have several misses and a few refusals. Always fun fish or no fish. Left at 4:30. The bench awaits. I may have to take up permanent residency. I’ll try to put the finger on what I’m doing wrong . But fishing the UWB is never bad. All My Best . Ed
I fished Monday and the hatch was not great mediocre at best. I lost 3 fish and had a bunch of refusals. I fished from 2-6. I drove around deposit looking for risers on the water and saw none. I left for home.
I am going to fish today and hope I can run into that sulfur hatch you just wrote about.
Morning , I fished about 3 hours yesterday between the two bridges in Depisit . Somehow my fishpond net
Became removed from my vest . Unfortunately I didn’t notice it until I got home last night . If anyone finds it could you please call me or return it to Dave at Troutfitter . Much appreciated !
Bob Flynn
201-446-1550