Posted on July 18 2024
It was a tad cooler this morning when I got up at 6:00am, and I opened all the windows that had screens to get in some fresh air and to help the window AC out. Got wringing wet again doing yard work, came in, and took a shower, then sat down at the tying table, (actually it's an old watchmakers bench), and ground out another half dozen sulfurs. After "almost" completing a Wednesday NYT crossword and screwing up a Thursday Sudoku, I made two sandwich's, (lunch and dinner), added six Hershey kisses, two Gatorades, and ice, (forgot to put the blue cold packs in the freezer last night), to the little soft pack cooler, and at 11:30 was "Ready to go."
Drove up to Deposit, yet again, and found, from the road, what I thought was an empty pool. Alas, the guide who I have encountered every time I have fished there, (3xs), was there again. It's a pool where you can fish either side, and on the previous occasions we each took a side, and when the guide was done with his side he rowed on down stream. There was pleasant conversation and all was well. Today, however, things changed, when he was done with "his side", he rowed over and anchored in the lower part of the pool I was fishing, a little close but sorta ok. Next thing I knew he back rowed up within a short cast from me and his sport started casting at fish I could have easily reached. When the 1:30 T-storm hit I left and got to the car just before the wind and rain hit, saw the two of them trying to put up umbrellas in the wind, and then they disappeared. When the rain let up and I could see fish rising, I headed back out only to see them row back and anchor right where I was fishing. He didn't offer to give me back the spot.
It was my plan all along to go over to the UEB to see if there was any evening fishing. Left Deposit about 4:30 and made the drive only to find that the creek that comes in at Harvard was gushing mud that made the lower UEB unfishable. Drove back to Deposit and fished in the fog. There were tiny olives, bigger olives, isos and sulfurs, all in modest numbers, but enough bugs to get some fish feeding, most of which would at least give you a look. When the bugs slowed down and the fog thickened I quit and headed for Lordville, dodging deer along the way.
Was a pleasure being able to meet you at the shop yesterday. My brother and I spent our entire evening just south of the rt 17 bridge in a pool that gets it’s fair share of pressure. There were enough bugs and risers to keep us busy from 5 to 9, with the most activity around 8. I hooked at least a dozen and landed 5, nothing of notable size. My brother is new to the river, I told him to temper his sulfur expectations. He ended up landing 3.
When this has happened to me I smile and say to the guide “if you wait a minute I will be glad to get out of your way so you can fish where I have been casting.”
The guides provide another opportunity for access to the river and hopefully catch fish. The number of excellent guides floating the WB is very small. I can readily think of 4. These are older experienced man who are probably on the river every day. They are respectful and courteous. Of the balance of the “guides” most should not be allowed in a drift boat! Lack of courtesy, lack knowledge and ego driven best describe them. They are “chasing the buck” and are not concerned with anything but the pay at the end of the day. An excellent guide is unusual, but these men exist…
Bottom line…enjoy the river. When you have a bad guide encounter be sure to quietly express your concern, shake your head in distain and remember who you are dealing with.
Using my reddit handle, real name is John. I don’t know how I’ve missed seeing this blog/report page before but just added it to my bookmarks of other river report pages in the area. In case, just commenting to say I’ve enjoyed the posts I’ve read so far. I bought a place on the lower EB five years ago, have been an avid flyfisher for over 30 years and try to get down to our place (our primary house is in Ithaca) as often as possible. Retired a year and a half ago.
I was on my way down to fish and the storm hit wher I was. I turned around and went home. I’ll be down this weekend
Upper East Branch to confluence and West Branch to Shehawken: Unpopular opinions:
(1) No boats.
(2) Wade fishing only.
(3) Close season at mid point of September.
(4) Section off Stylesvile to Gentlemen’s Club for youth 16 or younger and older 55 or older, handicap access as these sections allow the young and elderly with potential mobility issues safer access.
Respect the fishery.
HLR
I find it somewhat irritating when a drift boat anchors in a spot I was going to fish or is nearby. Since I am wading, my scope of covering water is limited. A drift boat has the whole river to explore but they seem to think crowding in on a wader’s “territory” is a thing to do. Isn’t’ the value of a boat the fact that you can get away from other fisherman and find new areas to access that are not by wading?