Posted on June 21 2026
Have been enjoying the entertainment provided by the local deer population here in Lordville. Ten days ago mom showed up with her two yearlings and her brand new fawns. Watched the fawns explore the back yard for almost an hour while mom made half hearted efforts to chase the yearlings away. The yearlings, a buck with sprouting spikehorns, and a very pregnant doe, are around constantly but they now keep their distance from mom and the new kids. Started thinning the peaches and the buck ended up right under the ladder eating the peaches almost as fast as I threw them down.
It's the weekend and a holiday to boot. Didn't drive down to Barking Dog which is being enlarged but Balls Eddy and Shehawken were mad houses again, Stockport had its usual half dozen trailers and Buckingham was more than half full. The tiny parking area at Stilesville was full and cars were parked along the road, the Red Barn had its usual half a dozen cars. From Cold Springs Brook down to the tailout of the Red Barn pool there wasn't a rising fish that couldn't have been reached by one of the anglers standing in the line casting at fish rising along the far bank.
What did I do? Fished a little riff that runs along side of a small island. It's seldom fished, and all the boats go down the other side of the island. It holds a few fish that seldom seem to rise, but on a Saturday it's a nice place to spend an hour. Got refused by three fish, caught one nice rainbow and drove back to the Lordville Estate.
At 6:45 I set out, not even sure I would fish. Drove up the PA side and couldn't believe the trailers and cars at Stockport. When I went over the WB on the 191 bridge, no one was in the water, I parked, put on the waders and went fishing, knowing full well what was coming. In two hours seventeen boats went by, every guide was courteous. I had planned to wade down into the pool and look for fish sipping just before dark, but three of the boats that went by anchored at the first rising fish they saw. They did nothing wrong, I knew they were coming, and they left me lots of space.
Just before dark I had rising fish everywhere. It probably wasn't more than a half an hour but it was what makes me keep doing what I do. Caught one, then lost one, fly wouldn't float, changed flies, couldn't see the fly, got refused, (I think), changed flies again, wrapped the new fly around the tip of the rod, untangled it, caught another one, fly wouldn't float, dried it off, dipped it in the flotant and cast at another rising fish, had no idea where the fly was but hooked when I saw the splash of a rise and was into yet another fish. Of course the hook came out of the fish in the net with the leader still in the fish's mouth. Cut the leader at the fly, released the fish, reeled it in, and walked back to the car laughing at my self. I'll try to find the fly and take it out of the net tomorrow.
Thank you Jean, for letting me do this.
What day of the week has the least amount of drift boats?
I fished the upper west yesterday and did ok. Landed 3 and had numerous!!!!! Refusals. I then stayed for the evening fishing and I left at 8 with only seeing a few rises. I have not experienced a good evening hatch this year. I fished below the 17 bridge in the evening. Still have not seen a iso
Looks like the summer pattern of sulphur madness in deposit has arrived! My favorite time of year despite the crowds….such a dependable hatch it’s always nice to know you will have hatching bugs and rising fish for 3 hours even if they are impossible to catch at times!
Steve…Barking dog is a boat launch/access at the end of Airport road in deposit. A popular launch site with good wade fishing at these levels.
Hi John Kania, you provide a great reminder to all of us that even when we don’t know it and we might be 50 yards away from someone we can still have an impact on another person.
I’m glad we brought you some good memories of times past with your father. After all, that’s what fishing and Father’s Day are all about!
Years down the road I won’t remember much about the fish I caught yesterday, but I will remember the day with my son and your message.
Take care!
Charlie, I was the guy fishing to the left of your son. Seeing you and your Son fishing together reminded me of my youth fishing with my Dad. It warms my heart to see a young man enjoying the sport we love. As difficult as fishing conditions were he hung in there like a champ. Tell him to keep up the good work. John
Great report A119 and Charlie…and Happy Fathers Day to all.
I’m grateful that my father taught me how to fish. I’d love to have just one more day on the water with him.
Angler119’- Sounds like an interesting day . Glad you found rising fish and the boats were all considerate. Dennis- Also glad to hear your itching is dissipating. Good luck today. Great. Charlie- You’re absolutely right – there is nothing better than spending time fishing with your children ( or grandchildren) . Enjoy. Happy Father’s Day to All. Ed
My son and I were two of the fisherman in the line from Cold Springs to the Red Barn and one of the cars parked along the road. Probably the two standing closest together to any observers driving by. He invited me to fish for Father’s Day. And this was only his 2nd time fly fishing and first with the dry. I didn’t make it easy on him. I’m left handed and he is right so I didn’t even have a rod set up properly for him to try. But he was a good sport and willing switches hands when it came time to reel. We got on the water a little after 2. Room to slip in comfortably but not room to move up or down the river much. The sulphurs started slowly around 245. By 330 they were going pretty good and we had plenty of fish rising in front of us. So never really had the need to move more than 10 or 15 yards. The hatch was done by 515 and the rising at the remaining duns by 545. I tried every different sulphur and PMD pattern I had it my box. Had some misses on a looped wing emerger. But late in the hatch the fish were keying on duns that were skittering across the surface and they would chase them. My flies that didn’t skitter didn’t get many looks. I ended up finally hooking and landing a 16 inch rainbow on a biot CDC comparadun around 530 when it was just the remaining duns on the water. My son learned the difficulties of dry fly fishing in the wind. He gracefully dealt with the tangled line and his father’s instruction on casting. But he loved seeing the hatch come and go and the fish taking bugs around him. Between the two of us we saw a total of 4 fish landed including mine up and down the line when we weren’t paying attention to our own doings. A nice Fathers Day gift from him.
Take your son or father fishing while you can! The fish don’t mind!
Where is the barking dog location?
Happy Fathers to all !!!!!!!!!! . Sounds like you salvaged a good day A119. I am going to fish today!! I will report. Itching is getting better every day!! Wading in the cold water really helps. Good luck to all
Happy Father’s Day. Enjoy the day – - FISHING