Posted on September 10 2026
Today was to be cloudy, (it was), and rainy, (it wasn't). I was hopeful of seeing a few bugs and rising fish before the last hour or two of daylight, and I did.
Here's the story. Had a date with Vicky at her unisex salon in Deposit at 12:30. Arrived five minutes early and got the seat with the scissors, no waiting. Finished up by 12:45, (the top takes almost no time at all), and stopped to chat with David at the Troutfitter. The motel business has been good but the fishermen have abandoned the tailwaters in favor of the freestones and the shop business has slowed as a result.
Drove down to the Men's Club seeing but one boat anchored at the sewage treatment plant and not a single wade fisherman. It was dead at the Hale Eddy bridge and there was nary a boat or wade fisherman to be seen on my drive down 17 all the way to Hancock. At four o'clock I decided it was time to fish or cut bait. Waded out into the Lordville riff knowing that isos have been hatching there for about a week. Saw a fish boil and made several cast to him with no response. Another fish gave me a hard refusal, then a nice rainbow ate my iso, jumped once and came right at me. Never was able to set the hook before he was gone. Probably saw no more than half a dozen isos hatch but did see two more "iso takes", both fish chose to ignore my fly. Moved to a place further upstream, saw but one iso on the water and two non-iso rises, one of which gave my iso a big boil refusal. Reeled it in and headed for the lower WB only to find the PA shockers were doing their thing. Went up route 191, over the WB bridge and headed up the EB to a place that was full of fish last spring. Never saw a bug on the water or a rising fish. Stopped at Junction Pool on the way back to Lordville and had a nice chat with Dennis G another Octogenarian who loves to fish wet flies and has been doing about the same as I have. A boat on the far side hooked a fish in the WB water while we talked, there wasn't a single rise on the EB side.
It was a skunking, no excuses and long overdue.
Just hope the guys that are on there way here hoping to catch monster browns and hot rainbows realize that every river has its ups and downs, take in the beautiful scenery, and are fortunate enough to luck into a trophy fish, after all the fish are somewhere between the banks and you never know.
I fished the UEB yesterday and had a couple changes at a few risers. One refusal and no hookups. There were some bugs but I couldn’t quite tell what they were. Tan mayflies with upright wings about size 18 or 20. Stayed at troutfitter last night. Perhaps I’ll go to main stem today.
A119,
Maybe we can make a rule that if you hook a fish, see it jump and it gets off it doesn’t count as a skunk. We could call it a Racoon or Groundhog. I mean if the Big10 and Michigan can create time, why can’t we make our own rules. Thoughts?
Hey 119 I didn’t know you had books out. I bought them just to say thank you and support your awesome work on the rivers. Thank you as always,
Don Von
Life jacket rules.
This is public river access for the Upper Delaware River located near River Mile 324.5 near Equinunk, Pennsylvania. This access is owned by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PA FBC).
“Wear Your Lifejacket: It can save your life! Life jackets are required to be within reach when on the water and are required to be worn by children 12 years and younger. Life jackets are required to be worn when the river level is 6+ feet, or between November 1 – April 30.”Angler119’-Sorry to read you and Dennis had very difficult days. I’m heading up to the Willow hoping to see something. Who knows. Thanks for the twist on “the mommas and papas” very cool. Ed
I probably just missed you at Troutfitters. Picked up a few ISO emergers and chatted with David a bit.
Spent some time at Shehawken but no luck, went to Buckingham and just looked around. Was puzzled by the “Life Jacket Zone”
stenciled in the pavement.
Spent the rest of the time casting on the WBA waters, no luck either.
I am now 0for 6 twice in my life! One was a college double header and the most recent are my trips to the river with no fish. I fished last night at Hale eddy from 3:30 – 5:30. Saw a few fish rise and almost no bugs. I left and stopped at the red barn. It was empty. There were bugs sulfurs and BWO and very few sporadic risers. I did have one refusal. It has to get better!!!!!!