Posted on July 30 2026
With a large stationary low front using Albany as it's axis and rotating it's rain clouds over the entire north east there was no way to fish without a raincoat. Yesterday the heavy rain hit the Willow and Bk and sent the water level at Cook's Falls to about 15,000 cfs which is well above flood stage. The BR peaked back of the fishing camp at about 21,000 which is also above flood stage, (I will not be fishing the BR tonight).
Thankfully Cannonsville reservoir got some water but the WB was spared. The level briefly bumped up over 700 cfs but by the time I went fishing it was down to 650 cfs and was running clear. The radar still shows rain in the area but the flood watches have expired.
The fishing - Most sane people stayed home. Those here for an extended stay and those within an easy drive were on the WB. The bugs showed up, the fish fed, and there were lots of places to fish. The Red Barn had bugs, rising fish and half a dozen anglers. Stilesville was thinly populated with B.F.&F., perhaps the lack of sun kept the water too cold for the bugs.
I chose a place downstream which had a boat anchored in the prime spot. Decided to take a chance that the boat would move on and it did, was later joined by another angler, there was plenty of both room and rising fish for both of us.
How'd I do? The size of the fish this year is something I've never before experienced on the Delaware. I'm not targeting big fish, many of the rises I cast at disappear inside the rim of a teacup. Six of the eleven fish I've caught in the last two days were 19 inches or over and no fish was under 16 inches, (Ed J., a 19 inch rainbow was quite thin). Had put the vest on over the raincoat and got through the best part of the hatch before the sky began to darken and the rain began to fall. I headed for the car. Vest is hanging on a chair in the kitchen but the fly boxes are dry and still in it.
Evening fishing was again called because of rain. Tomorrow's weather forecast makes cutting the lawn and playing a double header a possibility.
How do you measure your trout?
To Dave Garlock… I do remember driving down the RR tracks. We had a pull off on Rt.17 down in the Gameland section. You would drive up a small incline and turn your car parallel to the tracks to park. You would be on the river and hear a train coming and you would hope you were over far enough. That pulloff now has a load of stone dumped there and I think the guardrail was extended. The good old days
Does anyone remember driving up the edge of the railroad tracks , starting in Hales Eddy and fishing towards Deposit?
You could get into the stream ,fish would be going crazy and not see another fisherman.
I was down a couple of weeks ago , counted 26 fisherman above the Deposit bridge.
I miss those days but the stream keeps calling me back. A lifetime of memories.
Thanks for your continued reporting. It is very much appreciated. Living near these rivers is a luxury. Choosing the best times to fish is much easier when you are not 2 hours away. Your reporting helps immensely when I am 2 hours away.
Thanks for the reference….
Angler119’- Congratulations on sticking it out in very difficult conditions. And you were rewarded with rising fish and big fish landed. Does BF&F mean “big fish and fishermen”?!? Thanks for the reference to one of my favorite movies. Ed