Posted on May 10 2024
Today, I'd had enough of the WB. The Armada is following the Hendricksons and caddis up the WB, the water is now at a decent level for waders and I just wanted to enjoy a little solitude, and I did. Before telling you about my day, I want to be clear that I have not had a single boat that went by me this season that was the least little bit discourteous. With the high water, I have had very few encounters with wade fishermen so far this year and no one has knowingly done anything that was even questionable etiquette wise, (hopefully everyone who has fished near me can say the same thing).
Left the fishing camp about 1:15, and turned right, off 97 in Hancock and went east. Why? The March Browns and Gray Foxes have been hatching on the freestones, the pressure has been off the eastern streams for a couple weeks, and I wanted a day away from the carnival atmosphere that is the WB at this time of year.
Stopped at three pools on the EB and caught fish at each stop, (note - "fish" can be singular or plural), also received a more than adequate dose of refusals. I started fishing at about 1:30 and was done with the EB by about 4:30. There were a few March Browns hatching, (never saw one eaten). From the EB I went to the BK and fished two pools. The first had a good number of fish feeding with splashy rise forms. Was basically ignored for over an hour with almost every cast at a rising fish. As I was working my way back to the car, my casts began to get looks, (some were tooks, some were refusals). When I got back to the car at 6:00, I had landed a total of six fish for the day.
My next and last stop was also on he BK and things were different. There were March Browns hatching and fish rising. The later it got the more fish rose. At about 7:00 the Gray Foxes made their appearance and every fish in the pool was up and feeding.. The fish were mostly rainbows and they were mostly eating emergers, but if you got a fly in front of them they ate. I don't know how many I hooked, but it seemed like I had fish on most of the time I was there. With rainbows, you are going to lose some. In a fishing frenzy you are going to lose a lot more. But when I reeled it in at 8:00, I wasn't the least bit concerned about how many fish I lost.
I may even go east again tomorrow, (and just maybe you should too). A
Dennis. Please email your address at. Ews999@aol.com and I’ll send you some flies to try. Of course there is no charge. Hope they work . Ed
Great report as always, glad you got to explore the other systems for a change of pace. I finally made my first trip of the season to the WB, fished from 1:00 until dark. Caught some decent fish on nymphs afternoon into the evening.
Around 7 I found a pool to myself and connected with many of the risers that were taking a multitude of spinners. I only saw a couple natural Hendrickson spinners but that is what worked for me. The one large fish I was able to hook came unbuttoned but that’s fishing.
I’d like to echo your words on drift boats. The only boat that even came anywhere near me was polite and even cheered me on as I landed a fish.
Hi Ed thank you for the info on still born Dunn’s. Sure I would love to try one. Thank you. Please let me know what I owe you for the flies!! Thanks again
Dennis2 thank you for the info. I didn’t realize they were the same insect. !!!
What a great blog!!!!!!!!
Thanks to All
Angler119, thanks for all the great info you share with us. Sadly I won’t be abl;e to get back up th the Dellaware until June. I will continue to read your blog even when I am in France.
Dennis,
I thought that March Brown and gray Fox were now classified as the same insect. The difference being only the size. If in doubt, I usually go for the smaller imitation.
Great reports! Whalen you say BK is that Beaverkill?
Angler119- Sounds like you had a fantastic day. Wonderful. It’s been crazy year. The hatches seem to be at least a week or more earlier than “normal”. Please keep us posted. Dennis- I put the info on stillborn duns in yesterday s post. Ed
A119 sounds like a lonely great day on the river. Why are fish more apt to eat a gray fox vs a March brown? Do grey fox and March browns usually hatch later in the day? Ok no more questions.
Thanks for the useful information