Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report
As Ed S. Likes To Say, There's More To Fishing Than Catching Fish.
Posted on September 29 2025
Started out this morning with the spike horn and what seems to be a gramma, mom, (a yearling that was bred as a fawn), and her fawn, nosing around the base of the apple tree looking for drops. At nine-thirty I headed out to fish and had to stop while...
Please Tell Us Where The Action Is.
Posted on September 28 2025
Thought I'd been Kimmeled this morning when the report hadn't appeared by 11:00am. The Troutfitter management said that an attempt was made to post it at 7:30am but apparently a wrong button was pushed. I'd prefer to think that the Troutfitter phone rang off the hook with room cancellations and...
Maybe Tomorrow - - -
Posted on September 27 2025
We finally got some rain in the water system, the BR hit 2,500cfs, the EB 1,800cfs while the BK peaked at 800cfs. The flows were dropping rapidly today, but I would bet the fish are on their way to their home pools, if not there already. The rain provided a...
Hit It With Your Best Shot
Posted on September 25 2025
With the Cannonsville release cut back to 380cfs in anticipation of the rain, I stopped at both Buckingham and Shehawken on the way home to see what, if anything was happening. Buckingham was like a mill pond with neither bugs nor rising fish in the still water. It was a...
Three fish on One Dry fly cast?
Posted on September 24 2025
Did another double header today. This morning with good cloud cover the water temp in the EB was fine for fishing. Fished a riff/run down low hoping that some fish had started their migration back to their home pools, and they have, sorta. In almost two hours of fishing with...
Five Short Minutes Of Lovin - - -
Posted on September 23 2025
After spending most of Thursday, all of Friday, Saturday and Sunday not fishing, you'd think I'd be anxious to get back on the river, and I was, until I saw the release from Cannonsville was up to 1,150cfs. That eliminated the "tinted" water in the WB. The people who commented...
I've Had It.
Posted on September 20 2025
Spent from six-thirty until seven this evening sitting on the back porch with my P. M. watching the spike horn buck eating apples. Why? There's just no place where I can fish under present conditions, that I want to fish. Jim N's kind words, (or was he reflecting on my...
It's My Party And I'll Cry If I Want To
Posted on September 19 2025
After three straight doubleheaders, I decided to work strictly out of the bullpen today. Took care of some nagging business matters, did some neglected yard work, tied a half dozen olives of the type that got a lot of fish to come up and at least look yesterday, spent time...
All MY Life's A Circle - - -
Posted on September 18 2025
Today was the Associate editors third annual meeting. We met under the pavilion at the Troutfitter promptly at 1:00pm and enjoyed BC's famous meatball subs that Dennis champions regularly. The business portion of the meeting was short, the story session lasted until about 4:00. Dave stopped by and had us...
On The Road Again.
Posted on September 17 2025
Before we start I need to make a correction. The grammarian pointed out that Olga never got a ten, 9.8 being her best score. The first ten was awarded to Nadia Comaneci. Tomorrow is the day the Associate Editors are gathering to both fish and make fun of my fly...
Olga Korbut Isn't The Only One Who Can Get A Ten.
Posted on September 16 2025
With the peaches picked, the tomatoes requiring water only every other day, and the grass not in need of mowing, (perhaps ever), I had the entire day to pleasure myself. Stopped at Morenos and got my Bow License, and headed out to fish. Picked a spot that I haven't fished...
Sunday Morning Coming Down.
Posted on September 15 2025
With Jean out walking with her sister, I finished up the things I had to do back home, fed the trout in the pond, packed food and clothes in the car and departed Lafayette so as to be in time to fish this evening. The drive down showed that Mother...
Watch Out For Rattlers Sunning On The Tracks.
Posted on September 13 2025
With Syracuse Univ. Scheduled to play Colgate at seven tonight I headed out this morning when the air got up close to sixty. The water temps have been good on the BR for almost a month, the flow has varied between 800cfs and 1,100cfs depending on how much water is...
Tonight's Was The Night. Everything Was Alright.
Posted on September 12 2025
Killed another day doing nothing noteworthy. Somehow I skipped shooting the bow, I'll probably never have to mow the lawn again, left too much space between the two fences that are needed to keep the deer away from the tomato plants so, they jumped into the space between the two...
Five Short Minutes Of Lovin' - - -
Posted on September 11 2025
When people ask me where I'm going to fish, I often say, the first place I find with no fishermen in it. It's not that I don't ever have a plan, because I do, but more often than not the plan is changed because another fisherman's plan was to get...
Don't Believe All Those Lies - - -
Posted on September 10 2025
A week ago there were all kinds of olives when the release from Cannonsville was up around 800. When the release was cut back to the mid 400's the bug activity, (at least where I fished), came to a screeching halt. The last two days the release has been between...
It's Hard to Do Something New At 82.
Posted on September 09 2025
Arrived back at the Lordville Estate about 12:30pm today. Put stuff away, ate lunch and mowed the lawn, parts of which are brown and haven't grown in six weeks while other parts, shaded by trees and houses, continued to grow. When I finished the mowing, I sat down and tied...
Up River, It's The Smallest Flies That Are Getting Eaten.
Posted on September 06 2025
Trying to figure out/predict river flows is at least as hard as picking winners at Saratoga. Why did they cut back the release on the WB two days ago? The predicted rain - or - is Wallenpaupack going to run? The rain did produce a little bump in the water...
If You Get To Throw At Rising Fish, You Have To Call It A Good Day.
Posted on September 05 2025
Woke this morning hoping for an all day soaker that would raise the rivers and send the trout back to their home pools, get the olives going and the fish up.. The drop in the release from Cannonsville to under 500cfs in anticipation of the rain, opened up the entire...
Don't You Know We're All Just Travelers On The Road To Kingdom Come.
Posted on September 04 2025
With rain in the forecast for Thursday, (that might be why they cut back the Cannonsville release), I decided to conserve energy and burn gas. Left the Estate at 10:00am and toured the fishery. Driving along the rivers in the foothills of the Catskills is a scenic tour that for...
Let Me Tell You Where It's AT - - -Note See Morning Update Below
Posted on September 03 2025
If I was asked to describe todays fishing in one word - Dreadful - would do just fine. It might well have been a "great day to be on the river", but where I was at least, swinging wets would have been far more productive than dry fly fishing. Fished...
Hey Baby Won't You Take A chance
Posted on September 02 2025
Spent Sunday with a neighborhood friend of over 70 years. His passion is horse racing and we spent a long but very enjoyable day together driving to Saratoga, scratching the muzzles of two of his horses, (one the NYS bred two year old filly of the year), having breakfast at...
And Then Along Came Jones - - -
Posted on September 01 2025
Had to go back to August first to find the last time I answered questions -my apologies to those who who have waited for answers. Terry V. wanted to know what they are eating when they are rising but won't look at your fly. Easy - flies without hooks in...
A Hendrickson Wind And Fall Olives Is A Tough Combo.
Posted on August 30 2025
Decided to try the tricos this morning, it was cold so there was no rush. Took a page out of my GHOF's book and decided I needed to replace the olives that got chewed up yesterday, and wouldn't you know it, both the time and temperature got away from me,...
Same Score, Different Games.
Posted on August 29 2025
Had breakfast with Jean who left with enough tomatoes to feed the extended family, waited for it to warm up, (45 at 6:15am), and then went out and spent an a couple hours fishing another BR pool. The pool I fished has a small stream running into it which usually...
Born To Fish Again, I'm A Brand New Man - - -
Posted on August 28 2025
If perhaps you got the feeling that I was a tad discouraged with the fishing on the Delaware yesterday, you were right. Today was the day Jean was coming down to have lunch with Sue, one of her friends from Florida who lives in Honesdale. The lunch was scheduled for...
We Need A Hurricane, Or At Least A Tropical Depression.
Posted on August 27 2025
It's time to just say it. I'm having a hard time working up enthusiasm for the fishing conditions at present. Had to make a few calls this morning, mow the lawn this afternoon, but about five this afternoon I had no excuse. Got in the car, drove to the post...
Got Back To The Fishing Camp, Turned On The Yard Light, And Midges Swarmed Around It.
Posted on August 26 2025
Back at the Lordville Estate after a little longer break than usual. Had an MRI scheduled for 3:15 this afternoon. If they were behind schedule there was no way I would have driven down. Was in the machine listening to Little Eva do the locomotion, (not in time with the...
You're Too Late, Baby.
Posted on August 23 2025
With the Hancock temperature at 47 degrees this morning there was no hurry to get on the river for the trico spinner fall. Had a leisurely breakfast, read the paper and at 9:30 set out for the UEB. Car thermometer had the temperature still in the 50's until Fish's Eddy...
With A Big Hill Blocking The Western Sky I Was In the Car By 8:12.
Posted on August 22 2025
Spent the early morning hours watching the deer in the back yard. The winter coat is poking through the summer hair on two more does. The twin fawns are now tackling small apples. It takes contortions of their entire body to get the apple in pieces. Have previously mentioned that...
The Fish In The WB Are All Sulfur, Olive And Iso Proof, Bring Ants If You Come.
Posted on August 21 2025
Was in no hurry to get out fishing today. Tricos have a tough time landing on the water when it's windy, so I didn't go. As I mentioned in yesterdays report, this was to be an olive day, and in some places it was. There were, however, other places where...
Tonight The Fish Refused to Rise, But There'll Be Olives, Tomorrow.
Posted on August 20 2025
Walked out on the back porch at 6:30 this morning and the thermometer said it was fifty degrees. Last week I saw a doe about half a mile up Lordville road that was already the dark color they get when the winter coat first shows. This morning she was in...
Turn Out The Light's The Party's Over
Posted on August 19 2025
Enjoyed a weekend at home with Jean that included a quiet 40th anniversary dinner at Dashers Pub in Homer. Ran well water into the trout pond all last week as both the inlet to the pond and our little stream, Rainbow Creek are bone dry. The fish perked up with...
An Increased Release In August Is Seldom A Bad Thing
Posted on August 17 2025
If you are looking for something positive to pin your hopes on, the River Master started calling for increased releases from Cannonsville on Thursday. The releases are required to meet minimum flow requirements at Montague down in Jersey. Why now? The additional flow is needed because the hydro generation at...
Memories Are Made Of This.
Posted on August 16 2025
It occurred to me today that I've had no problem lately finding empty pools, trailers at put-ins and take-outs, almost none, and wade fishermen can find a shady spot to park their car at almost every parking area. Why? It's been a tough season from the get go. Water in...
Would Welcome Some Cool August Nights.
Posted on August 15 2025
Woke up this morning with the porch thermometer showing a temperature of 69, if I'd had my hearing aids in, I could probably have heard the trico spinners falling. Cancelled the drive over to the UEB and will wait for cooler nighttime temperatures before fishing the tricos again. With the...
And The Thunder Rolls - - -
Posted on August 14 2025
With the radar showing much needed rain coming across the state, with an expected time of arrival in Lordville of 1:00pm, I passed on the tricos in favor of mowing the lawn. Waited for the dew to dry and then had at it. Some parts were brown and brittle while...
On A "Hot August Night".
Posted on August 13 2025
Headed out at 8:30 this morning with the intention of fishing the BR up top in the cold water. It was a multipurpose trip. Wanted to see if there was a meaningful trico hatch, and any effect the surge, which was on it's way down the WB, would have on...
Fishing Olives After Dark Is Like Trying to Find Truffles Without A Pig.
Posted on August 12 2025
Drove home Friday afternoon to pick up Jean on her return from our daughters in Florida. Picked up my car from the dealer early Saturday morning, (it was a cracked spark plug that was causing the problem). They did an oil change, put in a new set of plugs and...
What You Need To Know To Fish Tricos.
Posted on August 10 2025
Where to go - Tricos are warm water flies and won't be found in the upper WB or above Shinhopple on the UEB. Look on the WB below the game lands and on the BR down to Stockport. Below Stockport you get into water that is too warm to fish. ...
Looking For Rainbows In the Morning Fog.
Posted on August 09 2025
It's noon on Friday, wasn't going to fish this morning but I will be heading back to Lafayette this afternoon to pick Jean up at the airport so I decided to give the tricos another try. Yesterdays early spinner fall brought into serious question the Orvis pronouncement that trico spinners...
Save The Last Dance For Me.
Posted on August 08 2025
Woke this morning and looked out at the plum tree branches. Mom, her sister and the two kids were walking around looking for a leaf they might have missed. The branches were as bare as they were last January. Headed back to the UEB this morning intent on proving that...
Humble Pie Is Served Up Daily On The Delaware, (could have titled it The Turkey Trot).
Posted on August 07 2025
Headed back to the UEB at 9:00 fully expecting to duplicate yesterdays fish catching bonanza. Picked a riff that required a walk almost three times as long as yesterday's, just knew that the fishing would be at least three times as good. Turns out I'm not well versed in the...
I Like It Like That.
Posted on August 06 2025
With a family of skunks following me around after my two one fish days, I got out of bed this morning resolved to do better. Had breakfast, checked the temperature, (62), and left for the UEB hoping to find tricos. It was 65 when I headed up route 30 past...
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes.
Posted on August 05 2025
It was an eventful weekend. On Saturday Jean drove down and we took in the Summerfest at the Fly Fishing Museum in Livingston Manor. Watched some of the casting competition, looked at the displays of old fishing rods, reels and miscellaneous other equipment, chatted with a few old friends, and...
Dorotheas Are a Cold Water Fly That Hatches When The Water Temp Hits 52 Degrees.
Posted on August 02 2025
A tip of the fedora to two new contributors to "name that tune". Don K. has proved his worth in the country western genera as well as being able to pick out Harry Chapin lyrics with ease. While Ed S. deserves partial credit for recognizing yesterday's title as an altered...
When Will I Ever Learn - - -
Posted on August 01 2025
With the rain scheduled to arrive at 10:00 this morning I got what little yard work I had to do out of the way early and when it did start to rain, just before eleven, I made a sandwich, sat out on the porch and listened to the rain on...
Turned Out To Be Another Great Day To Be Alive, (isn't every one?).
Posted on July 31 2025
I've been fascinated watching the gentleman who is in charge of the releases designed to keep the water temp at Lordville under 75 degrees hit the nail on the head two days in a row. The factors that go into the calculations are endless, (EB temperature and water volume, predicted...
Being In The Right Place, At The Right Time, Is No Guarantee Of Success.
Posted on July 30 2025
Yesterday either the surge sent down river to maintain the thermal refuge in the BR stifled the sulfur hatch, or the hatch, (which progresses upstream over time), has just moved past the Hale Eddy area. I fished bugless water. This afternoon I made the decision that it was better to...
Changes, Keep On Changin' And The Good Old Days They Say They're Gone -
Posted on July 29 2025
Arrived at the Lordville Estate right at noon, had lunch and then went out and mowed the back lawn, (did the two sides and front yard Friday. It's apparent that the tomatoes need a fence around the fence as the deer have been sticking their noses in between the wires...