Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report
You're never lonely on a trout stream.
Posted on May 27 2017
Split the day between the BR and the UEB. Fished noon 'til four on the BR just below a take out where there were three trailers parked. There was one drift boat in the area I fished. They put in at the take out above me and floated past me shortly after I started. They were the only fishermen I saw on the BR. At about four thirty I drove from Hankins to Roscoe and then down the Beaverkill. EVERY...
A place for T to try.
Posted on May 26 2017
Decided to give the BR a try down at Callicoon. Fished it years ago whenever water levels permitted. In the past few years there have been so many boats floating the lower river that I have found other places more enjoyable.
This year with the extreme high water and now the doldrums the lower river has been lightly fished. Once the bugs start you can count on an armada fishing down there.
The...
This year with the extreme high water and now the doldrums the lower river has been lightly fished. Once the bugs start you can count on an armada fishing down there.
The...
The table is set!
Posted on May 25 2017
Grackles were lined up along a gravel bar in the Beaverkill today eating Dragonfly nymphs as they crawled up on rocks to hatch. The Dragonflies hatch just before the stone fly and drake hatches and feed on the duns. You can see them darting around over the water catching and eating the mayflies. Wings and other uneaten body parts often cover the water.
Ragged Robin, long the precursor of the...
Ragged Robin, long the precursor of the...
So maybe I changed my mind.
Posted on May 24 2017
Well, lets be up front about it - I didn't go to the big river today. I know I said I was going there but it turned out to be a beautiful day. Bright sunshine with a cool and refreshing breeze are not the best weather for a fun day on the big river. Add to that about a dozen trailers at Buckingham and I found myself less enthusiastic about fishing the big river.
I saw sulfurs on the BE on Monday...
I saw sulfurs on the BE on Monday...
A day on the Big River.
Posted on May 23 2017
To me the Big River is a special place. Parts of it go through remote areas where seeing bears, rattle snakes, eagles and deer are as likely as not. It can be intimidating to wade anglers and often times being able to reach a rising fish tests your courage, and both your wading and casting ability. It is the reason I fly fish.
Sadly, drift boats have changed the experience of fishing the big...
Sadly, drift boats have changed the experience of fishing the big...
Monday morning coming down.
Posted on May 22 2017
I fished my way downriver today as I usually do on my return from the weekend spent at home with my wife. It was a gray overcast day with scattered showers (some heavy - like the one when I was ready to leave BJ's with a basket of food and no raincoat or umbrella).
The WB had bugs at three. I saw tiny olives and small hendricksons. There were also spinners of various sizes but a dearth of risers....
The WB had bugs at three. I saw tiny olives and small hendricksons. There were also spinners of various sizes but a dearth of risers....
If only my vest had more pockets!
Posted on May 22 2017
At home on the weekend I took the time to reorganize my fishing vest. I added march browns to the arsenal already in the vest just last week. You don't dare take the hendricksons or grannoms out just yet and now I need to add sulfurs, green drakes and isos. About the only flies not in the vest are tricos and epherons.
It's an exciting time to be a fly fisherman as it will all happen sometime in...
It's an exciting time to be a fly fisherman as it will all happen sometime in...
Frontal systems and toads.
Posted on May 19 2017
Its accepted by anglers almost everywhere that the first day of a high pressure system is a poor day to fish. Well, this week we had two of 'em. Monday's got rid of Sundays rain with a wind that exceeded 20 mph not counting gusts. I drove around all afternoon and saw nary a riser.
Today started out much warmer than the forecast high of seventy degrees and by 3:30 it had reached 85. I was...
Today started out much warmer than the forecast high of seventy degrees and by 3:30 it had reached 85. I was...
Just so you know.
Posted on May 19 2017
At midnight last night NYC reduced the flow from its reservoirs. This will make wading easier but it will result in warmer water temps since the bulk of the water coming from the reservoirs is now overflow off the top which has been warmed by the recent hot weather.
At present this poses no threat to the fish, however, unless we get cool cloudy rainy days the bug activity and fishing will be...
At present this poses no threat to the fish, however, unless we get cool cloudy rainy days the bug activity and fishing will be...
The spinner falls are too good to miss!
Posted on May 18 2017
Fished the WB in the morning hoping to beat the heat and find some fish eating leftover spinners. The water is now at a level where the WB can be waded (with care). At noon when I headed back to mow the lawn there were nine cars in the upper gamelands lot. There were spinners on the water when I got there (paraleps, hendricksons and caddis) and there were fish up feeding. With no wind (yet) the...
The first one shirter
Posted on May 17 2017
They said it was going to be hot and sunny and it was. My car thermometer registered 90 most of the afternoon.
Went out early to beat the heat and hooked and lost two more rainbows. Took the middle of the day off and returned in time to catch a apple caddis/hendrickson hatch. Stopped at the first empty pool with risers and promptly lost the first two fish I hooked. Was fast to a nice brown when I...
Went out early to beat the heat and hooked and lost two more rainbows. Took the middle of the day off and returned in time to catch a apple caddis/hendrickson hatch. Stopped at the first empty pool with risers and promptly lost the first two fish I hooked. Was fast to a nice brown when I...
Rainbows best Angler 119!
Posted on May 16 2017
Fished the BE, BK and the UEB today. Found rainbows lunching on a hatch of small caddis just after noon. Had no problem getting them to eat my flies, landing them, however, was another story. Three left wearing an Angler119 fly as a remembrance of the occasion. Managed to get only one of the six that I hooked into the net.
Mid afternoon I headed for the UEB in search of Hendricksons. Found...
Mid afternoon I headed for the UEB in search of Hendricksons. Found...
Not to be the one to throw a wet blanket but - - -
Posted on May 15 2017
From the 5th to the 11th of this month whenever I was able to get into the water on the WB and the UEB I found myself in the midst of epic hatches of paraleps and Hendricksons. Wading was limited but the fishing was very good. Last Thursday and Friday there was a marked decline in the hatches. (The fishing was better as you had a better chance of getting a rising fish to look at your fly.)
I...
I...
Are the Hendricksons petering out?
Posted on May 12 2017
With rumors that March Browns were hatching, I tried a pool on the lower Beaverkill. Never saw a MB or a rise.
At about two I started my journey up the UEB. From the Sunoco station at East Branch to the pool above Thayer Hollow, there were multiple cars at every pull off and parking area. It was not until I got above Corbett that I found a pool with no cars. Saw a few Hendricksons on the water...
At about two I started my journey up the UEB. From the Sunoco station at East Branch to the pool above Thayer Hollow, there were multiple cars at every pull off and parking area. It was not until I got above Corbett that I found a pool with no cars. Saw a few Hendricksons on the water...
Warmer temp extends the fishing.
Posted on May 11 2017
Left camp early as I had a long walk to get to where I wanted to be on the WB for my date with the bugs and the fish. Neither showed up. At 2:00 I pulled the plug and returned to the car more lathered up than Always Dreaming after his Derby win. Drove over to the UEB and encountered more boats, cars and fishermen than I'd seen since the One Bug Weekend.
At 2:45 fishermen were sitting down (not a...
At 2:45 fishermen were sitting down (not a...
It doesn't get any better than this!
Posted on May 10 2017
If you went looking for Rick at the Troutfitter today, you didn't find him. Don't know if he called in sick or just took a personal day. All I know is that by the end of the day he was feeling just fine. Stop by the shop and ask him how he did.
If you followed the advice in yesterdays report and made it to the river today you witnessed an epic hatch of paraleps and Hendricksons. Put simply, both...
If you followed the advice in yesterdays report and made it to the river today you witnessed an epic hatch of paraleps and Hendricksons. Put simply, both...
Personal days and sick leave?
Posted on May 09 2017
Returned from my sojourn down south in time to be on the WB (at 2800 cfs) for the paralep/Hendrickson hatch. It was cool and breezy but the bugs came (boy did they ever!!!). The fish are now keyed in on them and were rising even in the heavier, faster water.
The WB fish don't suffer fools and with the wind and difficult wading I got my share of refusals. But enough of the fish were willing to...
The WB fish don't suffer fools and with the wind and difficult wading I got my share of refusals. But enough of the fish were willing to...
Used one of my time outs!
Posted on May 09 2017
With wade fishing the Delaware system taken off the table by unseasonably high water I spent 18 hours (round trip) driving down to Tennessee to fish the Watauga and South Holston tailwaters with
an avid fly fisherman friend, originally from Syracuse who now resided in Greensboro, North Carolina. We floated the Watauga Sunday and wade fished the South Holston on Monday.
Both rivers have large...
No Mas!
Posted on May 07 2017
With the sun shining in Lordville and the WB dropping back towards 3000cfs, I sat down and tied a dozen red quills and paraleps. I was confident that with the warmer air temp the bugs would come again and that I could get out for a second day of dry fly fishing before the cold front shut things down.
Checked the water level for the WB at noon and instead of dropping below 3000cfs it had risen...
Checked the water level for the WB at noon and instead of dropping below 3000cfs it had risen...
Jean and Pam save the day!
Posted on May 05 2017
After yesterdays less than scintillating day on the Neversink, I was left with no where to go. Both branches and the big river were at higher levels than I had ever waded them and 3/4 quarters of an inch of rain was in the forecast.
When I looked out at 5:45am it was raining. It continued to rain all morning. The air temp hovered at 45, some 13 degrees below the predicted high. The water temp...
When I looked out at 5:45am it was raining. It continued to rain all morning. The air temp hovered at 45, some 13 degrees below the predicted high. The water temp...
At least I got the Lawn mowed.
Posted on May 04 2017
With the Delaware system too high to wade I drove over to the Neversink ( it took about 45 minutes from Hancock) where the ghosts of LaBranch and Hewitt haunt the waters. The reservoir was 99.8 percent full but NYC loves Neversink water and the pipe to Rondout was no doubt open and there was no spill. The air temp was 58 degrees with a chilly breeze. Saw two Hendricksons, one Quill Gordon and a...
It's good we aren't in a parade.
Posted on May 03 2017
The river system has peaked from Monday night's storm but all rivers remain unwadeable. The West Branch offers the best possibility for drift boat fishing as the area above the reservoir didn't get hit as hard as the East Branch did. It will be full of alewives and should be clearing up by tomorrow if it doesn't get serious rain. Bring your streamer rod and alewife imitations.
Another...
Another...
If you're thinking of fishing the Delaware today - Think again!
Posted on May 02 2017
The entire system got hit by a frontal system and is blown out. The rivers are flowing orange and are not even safe for drift boats.
The reservoirs will be spilling again for days and the rivers are likely to remain too high for wade fishing all week. If we don't get additional rain (rain is in the forecast all week) drift boaters should have good streamer fishing for alewife eating trout late in...
The reservoirs will be spilling again for days and the rivers are likely to remain too high for wade fishing all week. If we don't get additional rain (rain is in the forecast all week) drift boaters should have good streamer fishing for alewife eating trout late in...
Where it"s at
Posted on April 30 2017
I usually head home on Saturday morning to take care of household chores and fulfill social obligations. This week I delayed my departure in order to take in the the "One Bug" launchings and to get a feel for just how many fishermen and drift boats would be on the river.
On my drive up the UEB around two thirty I saw several boats and a significant number of wade fishermen all hoping that the...
On my drive up the UEB around two thirty I saw several boats and a significant number of wade fishermen all hoping that the...
New approach - - -same results but with a stronger smell
Posted on April 28 2017
Instead of driving around like a maniac all day looking for rising fish I decided to mow the lawn, tie some flies and then drive around like a maniac for half a day looking for fish. I saved a little gas by starting later but I had a part break on the mower - so call it a wash.
It was a bright, sunny and warm day and I'll bet from the cars on the road lots of people snuck out of work early to take...
It was a bright, sunny and warm day and I'll bet from the cars on the road lots of people snuck out of work early to take...
Dead certs shouldn't be bet on.
Posted on April 28 2017
I knew yesterday, which will be a top ten for sure, would be a tough act to follow.
The big river, at current levels is boats only. It is warming up and there are Paraleps and Hendricksons on my screens but you can't step off the bank without going over the tops of your waders.
The UEB and WB are still cold from the big releases and the bugs are behind.
The Big east is wadeable in some places but...
The big river, at current levels is boats only. It is warming up and there are Paraleps and Hendricksons on my screens but you can't step off the bank without going over the tops of your waders.
The UEB and WB are still cold from the big releases and the bugs are behind.
The Big east is wadeable in some places but...
It's early days - but
Posted on April 26 2017
The dandelions have been in bloom for almost a week. The shad bush is in full bloom. The water temps have for the most part stayed below the magic 50 degree mark. The reservoirs are full and spilling. The West Branch, upper East Branch and big river are too high to wade safely. The rivers are filled with alewives and the trout are gorging on them.
Boat fishermen have been throwing streamers at...
Boat fishermen have been throwing streamers at...
It's not my fault, I didn't know!
Posted on November 04 2016
With an all day rain forecast for Syracuse on Thursday and partly cloudy skies for Hancock, it was a no brainer. I packed my stuff (including three extra sets of underwear in case the fishing was good) and headed down to the Delaware to close up the camp. The hills that were ablaze with red and orange from the maples were now a cold barren gray, but the red and white Oaks were in there glory with...
The last hurrah ! (perhaps).
Posted on October 20 2016
After yesterdays fiasco I set out this afternoon to try to right the ship. It rained all morning and was overcast with the threat of more rain to come. In short, it was a day tailor made for pseudos and I was determined to make the most of it. Found a pool on the Beaverkill with rising fish and no other fishermen (there were lots of fishermen on the river today). Descended a steep bank and and...
Just one of those days.
Posted on October 19 2016
Been fishing the Beaverkill since last Saturday. Every day the same, good fish rising in the pools from 1:00 'til dark. Very few anglers on the water, so you you have your choice of pools. Water is very clear and low, fish are very careful about what they eat but they can be fooled. A perfect situation for dry fly fishermen.
So whats the problem?
Well the Beaverkill is part of the Delaware...
So whats the problem?
Well the Beaverkill is part of the Delaware...
Rainbows in the bright sun?
Posted on October 18 2016
With the temp around 80 I was in no hurry to go looking for pseudos. They like it cold! Forty five with a cold rain and they float down the river by the thousands. Today - none. It really didn't matter as the Beaverkill fish were up top even in the bright sun. What were they eating? I haven't a clue. Stared at the water from two feet away and saw two ants in a five minute period when the fish in...
Things to know and a place to go.
Posted on October 17 2016
Checking the flow rates tonight I saw where the release from Pepacton has been increased from 108 to 264 CFS in an apparent attempt to balance the draw down needed to make minimum flow downstream.. While this will probably not significantly impact the Dow Jones averages, it will have an effect on the East Branch fishing. The additional flow will make for better conditions in the upper East Branch...
It beats raking leaves!
Posted on October 16 2016
The last two days have been good ones. The fall foliage is as beautiful as I have ever seen it. Syracuse beat up on #17 ranked Virginia Tech. AND the fish have decided to feed on top!
It's been a long time since I've had consistently rising fish to throw at. Yesterday was a start, today was better. Arrived at the stream at 1:30 and found fish going on top. At 6:30 when I reeled it in, they were...
It's been a long time since I've had consistently rising fish to throw at. Yesterday was a start, today was better. Arrived at the stream at 1:30 and found fish going on top. At 6:30 when I reeled it in, they were...
Increase in release brings change of plans.
Posted on October 15 2016
With the River Master sending 1500 CFS of dirty water down the WB and Lordville going from 500 CFS to 1700 CFS, I was off to fish the Beaverkill and EB. Both are incredibly low and clear and many of the pools and runs do not seem to hold fish at the current water levels.
I found fish (mostly rainbows) in some of the deeper runs and riffs. The fish are no doubt wary of eagles, mergansers and...
I found fish (mostly rainbows) in some of the deeper runs and riffs. The fish are no doubt wary of eagles, mergansers and...
Increase in release brings change of plans.
Posted on October 15 2016
With the River Master sending 1500 CFS of dirty water down the WB and Lordville going from 500 CFS to 1700 CFS, I was off to fish the Beaverkill and EB. Both are incredibly low and clear and many of the pools and runs do not seem to hold fish at the current water levels.
I found fish (mostly rainbows) in some of the deeper runs and riffs. The fish are no doubt wary of eagles, mergansers and...
I found fish (mostly rainbows) in some of the deeper runs and riffs. The fish are no doubt wary of eagles, mergansers and...
An almost perfect day.
Posted on October 14 2016
Motivated more by the lack of deer sightings from my tree stand than the expectation of good fishing, I drove down to the river. It was bright and sunny without a cloud in the sky and the foliage colors were beyond belief. If you have a chance go this weekend do it. The trees will be bare a long time. Syracuse to Binghamton and back will do the trick but the whole ride to Lordville was beautiful.
The second frost.
Posted on October 11 2016
Drove down to the camp yesterday with my bride to take in the foliage and to do some "shutdown" work. The leaves from Syracuse to Binghamton were beautiful with bright red and orange maples glittering in the sun. From Binghamton to Roscoe the colors became more muted as the drought in the ares has caused the leaves to turn in on themselves.
The big river and the Beaverkill are nothing but stone...
The big river and the Beaverkill are nothing but stone...
If you want to see what a dry river bed looks like - - -
Posted on October 06 2016
With the entire river system at it's lowest flow level in years, now is a good time to get to know it better. The big river, which is sometimes intimidating to anglers, will probably hit an all time low today. The temps remain ok for the fish and you get a chance to learn where the main channels, deep pockets and fish holding structures are located. The fish will be concentrated and may even be...
Not skunked in October.
Posted on October 03 2016
Arrived at the Beaverkill at 1:15, just in time for the pseudo hatch (they forgot to show). Found a pool with no fishermen and six good fish rising. Tried to figure out what they were eating but there wasn't anything on the water that the human eye could see. Perhaps they were just practicing but it was exciting - - - until I tried to catch them. The first one ate and I rose the other five and got...
Not much has changed.
Posted on October 03 2016
It's been a week since I promised you sporadic/intermittent reports. So here goes one. The West Branch release continues to be adjusted almost daily to meet minimum flow requirements down river. Thankfully PPL is drawing down Wallenpaupak so it can perform a dam inspection and routine maintenance. Without the additional flow from the Lackawaxen the West Branch releases would be up around 1,500.
Even the clouds didn't help.
Posted on September 26 2016
Today I gave it a good try. Left camp at noon and fished four pools on the Beaverkill. Two did not seem to have repopulated and there was no sign of fish. In the third pool I had two fish come to the fly. Both were rainbows and both ate and were landed. They were long and very lean. The fourth stop was a riff and I found numerous yearling rainbows and a few browns all of which were about 9 inches...
This and that.
Posted on September 25 2016
I've done well lately fishing mornings and evenings and sitting out the middle of the day when the sun is at its brightest. It was 39 this morning (no bugs are stirring at that temp) so I waited 'til after lunch to head out. Heard rumors of pseudos hatching in the afternoon on the Beaverkill (they didn't where I was) so I drove over and pulled into one of the many "Angler Parking Lots" and was...
If you come down, bring an extra shirt.
Posted on September 23 2016
Went out again in the morning and tried the lower big east - nothing. Drove over to the Beaverkill and found fish willing to look at/eat iso emergers and spinners. The Beaverkill is low and clear and the fish are not easily fooled. If one doesn't eat, move on.
In the evening I tried two pools in the big river, farther down than I have been fishing. Stay above Buckingham. I hooked one fish in the...
In the evening I tried two pools in the big river, farther down than I have been fishing. Stay above Buckingham. I hooked one fish in the...
The second boat.
Posted on September 22 2016
Gave the morning fishing a try today and was glad I did. Fished several places on the upper part of the big east and the lower reaches of the Beaverkill. Found at least one fish every place I stopped but I never rose more than three in any one place. They were all rainbows and most took the fly on blind casts. If I were to fish those same places tomorrow my report would probably be less positive....
One is better than none!
Posted on September 21 2016
Spent the morning putting up tree stands. Drove down to the camp and with the bright sum and warm temps, was in no hurry to go fishing. Decided to take care of a few things around the yard and before I knew it it was 5:00.
With the recent fluctuations in the releases and the warm rain water, the temp had risen in both the WB and main stem. The increased temp was no threat to the fish but it has...
With the recent fluctuations in the releases and the warm rain water, the temp had risen in both the WB and main stem. The increased temp was no threat to the fish but it has...
The "Rain Event".
Posted on September 19 2016
This summer we have had several dry periods in the drainage system. Thunderstorms have distributed their water unevenly to say the least and the most recent series of storms is no exception. The west branch got the bulk of the rain with gauges above and below the reservoir recording flows of over 2,000 CFS. The water below the reservoir came from the tributaries (release was cut to 300 CFS) and...
The times they are a changing.
Posted on September 18 2016
The hummingbirds have gone, the camp buck is strutting around with his shiny new three inch spikes ( the does are NOT impressed) and last night the screens had more than a dozen pumpkin (October) caddis on them.
I've been whining a bit about the lack of rainy, cloudy days and today we got one. So what did I do? Went fishing of course. Was it as good as I hoped it would be? No. Was it worth going?...
I've been whining a bit about the lack of rainy, cloudy days and today we got one. So what did I do? Went fishing of course. Was it as good as I hoped it would be? No. Was it worth going?...
Big change in the works???
Posted on September 16 2016
As I mentioned in an earlier post PPL has scheduled a draw down of Wallenpaupak starting tomorrow. If this happens there will be a corresponding cut back in the release from Cannonsville. At present levels most of the WB is not safe to wade. The big river is at about 1650 CFS and can be waded. Both can be floated.
Fished the big river downstream from Stockport and again found a few fish. There...
Fished the big river downstream from Stockport and again found a few fish. There...