Posted on May 24 2025
With Mark off to spend the weekend with his parents, I was left with no option but to wade. With the monsoon season showing no signs of coming to an end, and a somewhat irrational desire to fish a pool unpopulated by either drifters or waders, my choices were very limited. Drove by miles of river with rising fish and no place to wade, but found a spot with bugs, (they seemed to be everywhere), and rising fish, (lots of them), where I could waded in.
Fished one of those new "Midas Touch" rods, (ask about them at the Troutfitter), and for about an hour and a half, every fly went where it was supposed to, and every trout came up and took a look. Most of them ate, and remarkably, almost none of them came unstuck. I got there at about 3:30 and it was over by 5:30, but it was sure an action packed two hours. Should have quit right then, but I spent an hour and a half trying to rekindle the magic in other places, (hooked and lost two fish for my efforts), before heading back to the Lordville Estate for the PM.
The weather - Is perhaps not what one would order up for a Memorial Day weekend, but the rivers aren't blown out and it sure keeps the bugs plastered to the water.
The bugs - I've seen everything from Hendrickson to green drakes, and except for the invaria, (spring sulfurs), all of the hatches have been just the right amount to get the fish up and feeding but not enough to fill the fish up and shut things down
The fishing - If you're here, you know, if you aren't, too bad, I told you it was going to happen, (perhaps I did say maybe), but the entire system is on fire. If you don't see TMTC risers in your spot, go somewhere else. It's mind boggling how many trout are in the river and probably not every one of them is feeding on top, but almost all of them are where I've been
Angler119 – I had a banner day yesterday thanks to your encouragement to drive down and Dave’s choice of flies. Big fish were gulping down big flies in shallow water. Keep doing what you do so well!
Also, Congratulations to Butch for landing that monster.
Angler119’- Thanks for the report. The fishing sounds great.Butch-Congratulations on landing some tremendous fish. A 21” brown on the Delaware is quite an accomplishment. Everyone enjoy the weekend. Ed
I was up Wed-Fri but had to return home early Fri. It was tough to find water I could wade. On Thur, I never saw a rise before 2 PM, but then fish started rising to a smattering of bugs. By 3 the water was covered with all the A119 bugs listed and a few caddis. My anemic wading kept me close to shore and limited me to a couple decent fish that came unbuttoned. It didn’t help that my wading and casting skills are such that hundreds of risers were out of my reach. By 5 the number of rising fish fell, but there still some when I left at 5:45.
I wish I could travel back up to enjoy what should be an exciting weekend.
You talked me into getting out even though it was a little cool and rainy for me. I think my blood is a little thin from my Florida winter. Fished the Deposit area during the afternoon and as you reported the flies were there and the fish were eating. Although since it was my first time out this year and a bit rusty I was able to land 4 out of 5 fish hooked. Lost a huge brown that took me to my backing as the hook popped out.
But caught a 17” rainbow, 2 small browns and my last fish of the day was a big fat 21” brown. Was a good afternoon for me all things considered.