Posted on September 20 2025
Spent from six-thirty until seven this evening sitting on the back porch with my P. M. watching the spike horn buck eating apples. Why? There's just no place where I can fish under present conditions, that I want to fish. Jim N's kind words, (or was he reflecting on my lack of intelligence), said it best. The water coming out of Cannonsville is chocolate milk. Visibility is less than a foot at Deposit, and with a 1,100cfs release, it is dangerous wading the WB. Yes, there were lots of bugs and rising fish at the game lands Wednesday night and it was fun, but that was at a water level 350cfs lower than today, and even then I couldn't see the trip rocks. The good news, if any, is that the release will probably drop by almost the same amount as it rose on Saturday night, if Wallenpaupack is going to generate on Monday. We are in a drought, rivers everywhere are approaching all time lows, tribs everywhere are bone dry, and those who want to fish are on the Delaware.
Where to fish? There are very few appealing choices, the river above barking dog is void of boats and anglers, a few boats put in at barking dog and will float to Balls Eddy, that stretch also had next to no wade anglers. There were three cars at upper game lands and six at lower game lands, (only God knows why), below Balls Eddy the river narrows and is dangerous for wade fishermen at this level. That leaves the BR and apparently everyone knows it. All parking lots, (junction, Stockport, and Buckingham) were filled with more cars than pickups with trailers. There were even three fishermen in the Lordville riff where I have dutifully fished once a week since September first. For the record, the three fishermen exceeded the number of fish, (two), I've seen rise there all month.
The fishing - Probably isn't as bad as I'm making it sound, if you are in a boat. There are bugs hatching on the BR, isos, Cahills, Hebes, small olives, and of course you may luck into an ant flight. I have caught fish on the BR, but I have not seen rising fish. Jim N. spent a day and a half there, walked a long way looking for rising fish, caught a 19 inch rainbow, and left after our meeting. There is a lot of pressure on the BR and I'm not sure it's justified by what I've seen and heard. Would appreciate anyone who has been on the river telling of their experience.
The outlook - We need a substantial amount of rain. Anglers need to be able to spread out. I have said before, fall fishing is good as long as nobody else is there. At present there is far too much pressure on too small an area. If you have any flexibility, wait for the rain. If you have to come now, bring your golf clubs.
Heard from a couple of people that there’s a new outfitter running massive rafting groups down the upper BR (I guess the Class 0.25 experience at Lordville is a real adrenaline rush for some folks).
Has anyone seen them? Anybody know if it’s just because of the low water downriver where they usually run (such as the actual classed whitewater below Damascus) or if this is going to become the next new annoyance?
I fished at cadosia this morning and saw 2 rises in 3 hrs of fishing. There were more fishermen there than rising fish. There were a few BWO but nothing even close to a good hatch. I’ll just have to wait till the release has dropped.
A119 – Thanks for the report, going with “The Bell Notes” on this one.
A119,
You know I appreciate your insights. This blog is the first thing I read each morning (then I go and google song titles since all I know is Meatloaf).
I hope you find somewhere to fish.
Angler119-Thanks for your insights and advice.Stopped inShehawkin for a Quick Look on my way home on Wednesday. Lots of trailers. Caught two 10”ers , no bugs, not much doing. I’ll wait for conditions to change or next April, which ever comes first. Enjoy the Fall. It’s really beautiful. Ed
You pretty much summed it up. I was up this week and shocked at water levels on East and freestones. Hit a lot of spots on the main and saw no risers and few bugs except at Junction pool where there were many anglers and an endless flotilla. With no rain in the long-term forecast, not looking good for the remainder of the fall. A fitting end for a very tough year for me up there. On the bright side there were times when it did light up this year and the fishery seems in good shape as still an amazing amount of trout when it does.
You pretty much summed it up. I was up this week and shocked at water levels on East and freestones. Hit a lot of spots on the main and saw no risers and few bugs except at Junction pool where there were many anglers and an endless flotilla. With no rain in the long-term forecast, not looking good for the remainder of the fall. A fitting end for a very tough year for me up there. On the bright side there were times when it did light up this year and the fishery seems in good shape as still an amazing amount of trout when it does.
Fished Tues/Wed Shehawken to Buck. Tues we picked up 2 fish in Bard Parker on Tricos. Nothing til we reached Knights and witnessed an Iso hatch that lasted 20 mins max. Fish did not show. Rowed out from there. No fish at The Wall. Wed was worse, few fish rising to Tricos in Bard Parker, wind blew for awhile and then laid down. Very few bugs. Wed we talked with a guy that drove from Buffalo with boat to fish the day, nuts! 10 trailers at Buck when we took out. Could not have parked at Stockport. LOTS of sports out, pressure not letting up. Time to go real low to avoid anglers.