Posted on May 14 2023
Back home attempting to cross items off a to do list that has filled the page due to my extended stay at the Lordville Estate. At the moment I'm taking a break in the recliner with my feet up and the PC in my lap. Seems like a good time to tackle the questions that have come in since my last WK&TL effort.
John H. wanted to know what to expect when he arrives for a two week stay starting around the 22nd of May. Wish I knew. The high water of the past two weeks, coupled with unusual and unpredictable cold water releases (or lack thereof) makes predicting hatches a literal crap shoot. For what it's worth - The only chance to still fish Hendricksons will be in the upper reaches of the WB and that will be dependent on no spill water and cold releases. The freestones (BK, EB, BR) should be coming out of the doldrums by then with evening hatches of March Browns, Gray Foxes and spring sulfurs (Invaria). You might also run into morning hatches of big olives (Cornuta). The tan caddis is a good choice when the may flies aren't hatching and if it stays warm you will probably see isos, green and brown drakes (on the EB) and the dreaded black caddis before heading home. It's a great time to be on the river but its hell trying to find room for all the fly boxes in your vest.
Dennis wanted to know how deep is too deep to remove hooks from fishes mouths. I use my index finger to remove big hooks (14's and larger) by sliding the end of my finger into the bend of the hook (nail on the point/barb side) and pushing back towards the fishes throat. Using that method a three knuckle release is as far back as I can go. If the hook point is down one of the gill slits I cut the leader and leave the fly where it is. Trout are hardier than most people think. Years ago I broke off a fly in the mouth of a large bank sipper in the no kill zone in Deposit. Came back a week or so later, hooked and landed the fish. Removed both of my flies, a black gnat and two very distinctively tied sulfurs (someone else also hooked him twice). Perhaps the trout was running a fly shop on the side.
Mike A. asked if I ever fish a 5x or 6x leader without tying on tippet in order to cut down on drag from the knot. With the amount of times I change flies I would have to buy a lot of leaders as I would quickly use up the fine end or the leader. I always start by adding 6x tippet to a 5x leader and after a few tippet changes I tie in a piece of 5x to keep the leader taper in balance. It's when I try to add 4x,5x, and 6x that things seem to go awry. Was a long time user of the Orvis Knotted leaders as I felt they turned over better.
Thank you for your honest and thoughtful reply. I’ve been tying most of the bugs you mentioned (except the caddises, which I didn’t think of or am prepared for).
Will swing by the shop on my way in for an update, some caddis, and maybe a bigger vest 😉, and will update here as I go.
Again, thanks. For someone who gets out there only once a year, this type of information is gold.
A119 thanks for the answers!!!
There is a meeting of a local fly fishing group in Endicott Ny and Tim Pokorny is speaking about the fisheries on the Deleware river system. He is an aquatic biologist and his focus is on the tail water of the Deleware river. If anyone is interested in going it’s Thursday may 18. I will send the address if anyone is interested.