Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report
MOLTER WINS!!!!
Posted on July 09 2026
Our own Dennis Molter brought home the gold in the Greater Stilesville Freefall Invitational today. It was a stunning upset over pre-event co- favorites, A-119 and Associate Editor Ed Smith. Smith, well known for his consistency has won numerous times on his home river, the Willow, and last year won...
Keep Your Eyes On The Prize, Hold On.
Posted on July 08 2026
This one is sure to stir up controversy and dissenting opinions, but I believe I'm more right than wrong. To begin with, trout like an easy meal and what is easier to do than to get in a spot where mayfly duns are floating along in soft current and sip...
Hopefully No Reader Goes By "Double Haul"
Posted on July 07 2026
Home for a Doctors appointment today and to pickup Jean at the airport tomorrow. Hope to be back on the river Wednesday. It's probably a good time to talk about some of the things that are holding people back from catching fish. To begin with, lets be clear, the Delaware...
There's Just No Way To Know Until You Go.
Posted on July 06 2026
With rain predicted for this evening I decided to get to the river on time and give the Dorotheas my best shot. Took a longish walk to a place that looked from the road to be free of fishermen. Apparently other fishermen were taking long walks from different directions because...
Didn't Get Much Of A Bang Out Of The 4th Of July Fishing.
Posted on July 05 2026
The Lordville 4th of July Parade threw a monkey wrench into my plans to fish yet another Dorothea hatch. Got drenched in sweat trying to do a little yard work then came in, got cleaned up, and decided to tie a few new sulfurs, lost track of the time and...
Why Can't Every Day Be Just This Good - - -
Posted on July 04 2026
Jean has left me, again. Dropped her off at the airport at 8:30 this morning, picked up a few items at BJ's and headed for Deposit to spar with the fish eating Dorotheas. Arrived in Deposit and borrowed a shelf in the Troutfitter fridge, (who says this job doesn't have...
Just A Thought.
Posted on July 03 2026
Just so you know, the BK went up to 85 today, the BE at Hancock hit 87. Both temperatures are lethal to all trout. Hopefully the trout in those rivers have made there way to thermal refuges and someone is either shooting the eagles or feeding them dead shad and...
If people Don't Want To Listen, Perhaps You Should Just Stop Talking.
Posted on July 02 2026
There may be no cure for the summertime blues, but if you want to beat the heat, put your waders on and go stand in the WB, you may not catch any fish, but you won't complain about the heat. Today it was advantage wade fishermen as the guys in...
Ain't No Cure For The Summertime Blues
Posted on July 01 2026
In the nineties the DEC did some surveys of fishermen on the Delaware River System, it was all wade fishermen back then. Got to know Scott and Mark who did the survey work because I was on the river a lot and they made a point of finding me. They...
This Week, There Are Better Places To Be.
Posted on June 30 2026
This promises to be a week like I've never seen on the Delaware River System. Today was to be the coolest day and the car reported 88 on the drive up to Deposit. Forecasted highs for Tuesday through Friday are 88, 94, 97, 94. A surge is being sent down...
Try To Remember - - -
Posted on June 28 2026
Having taken pains assembling a seemingly well qualified panel of septuagenarians and octogenarians, all supposedly well versed in music from the 50's and 60's, I was appalled when Jim N., (exquisite fly-tyer though he may be), (but a still wet behind the ears newbie), was first on a Beach Boy's...
Every Day's A New Day.
Posted on June 27 2026
Had the best night's sleep of the season last night, no leg cramps and no trips to the loo. Have been doing a series of exercises to tighten up my shoulders which wake me up whenever I turn over in bed. It's a familiar story, do the exercises, get feeling...
Buddy Gonna Shut You Down.
Posted on June 26 2026
It's nine-fifteen and I've been home for over an hour, yesterday I didn't get into the car until 9:37. What happened? Mother nature, the trout, and a guide who apparently thought dropping the anchor no more than 40 FEET below me didn't constitute "low holing". Short term anyways, I'm done...
You Don't Have To Fish The Freestones To Catch Fish.
Posted on June 25 2026
Had several items to cross off the to-do list so I got up early, had breakfast and got to work. Put up the ladder and unplugged the gutter on the backside of the house, turned the ladder around, got the chain saw and cut off two dead limbs on the...
If I Could Save Time In A Bottle, The First Thing That I'd Like To Do - - - -
Posted on June 24 2026
Awoke this morning with two bruises the only evidence of yesterday's encounter with the EB's rock strewn shoreline. Had plans to fish one of my favorite places on the freestones today, but they were put in the TBD category last night. The trip was back on the schedule this morning....
I'll Give You An Answer In The Morning.
Posted on June 23 2026
Drove down this morning in a steady rain with the temperature in the mid 50's arriving at the Lordville Estate just after noon. Had lunch, did the Monday puzzles and at 1:30 headed out to fish the freestones. With a cold rain and no sunshine the freestone water temps were...
This That And The Other Thing.
Posted on June 22 2026
As promised - With apologies as some of the questions deserved prompt answers. John H - Who gave us many detailed reports during his stay, asked when the black caddis fell. I don't know. Saw the day after day up river migration, saw a couple of days of the caddis...
Happy Father's Day To All The Dad's Out There, (dutifully flippin' burgers at the family BBQ wishin' they were fishin' ).
Posted on June 22 2026
Today is the longest day of the year and I'm not fishing. Yesterday was two seconds shorter than today and tomorrow will be one second shorter. Probably no one but me will notice or care. For me, however, the pendulum has started to swing towards the dark days of December...
Saturdays Are Meant to Be Spent Mowing The Pond Grass, Crossing Items Off The Honey-Do List, And Taking Jean Out To Dinner.
Posted on June 21 2026
Have been enjoying the entertainment provided by the local deer population here in Lordville. Ten days ago mom showed up with her two yearlings and her brand new fawns. Watched the fawns explore the back yard for almost an hour while mom made half hearted efforts to chase the yearlings...
It's Fun Chasing Rainbows When You Don't Even Get Wet.
Posted on June 20 2026
Surprised myself by clearing all of the hurdles back home by 11:05, which left me plenty of time to get down to Deposit for the 2:00 pm Invaria extravaganza. Even had time to talk with David, Anthony, Bob, and Mike the Cop at the Troutfitter before heading out to fish....
Blow Ye Winds
Posted on June 19 2026
Would have been a thrill to hoist the spinnaker and take a down wind run in JF's sailboat, but I'd already scheduled a layday to take care of some nagging business matters. Didn't miss trying to get a fly to touch down on the river in 40mph south winds. Return...
The "Next Day" Isn't Always A bust.
Posted on June 18 2026
Might have been a tad full of myself when I drove off this morning at 9:30 to fish a place on the EB. Was back at the fishing camp at 11:00 having seen not one bug or fish in an hour of fishing. Spent an hour and a half lending...
All I Have To Do Is Dream, Dream, Dream - - -
Posted on June 17 2026
In case you've forgotten, last Friday it was so crowded that I couldn't find a place to fish. Yesterday, like Little Miss Muffet, I sat on a tuffet, (thankfully no curds and whey were served), for two hours without seeing a trout I could cast to. Today I decided to...
The Times They Are A Changin'
Posted on June 16 2026
Had a business meeting to attend in Syracuse this morning and didn't get down to Lordville early enough to try any WB fishing during prime afternoon bug time. At about 3:30 I headed over to the BK to see if fish had accumulated in thermal refuge areas. Half way up...
I Enjoy Crowds At A Football Games, On Trout Streams, Not So Much.
Posted on June 13 2026
Having been soaked to the skin twice within an hour yesterday, I resolved to keep a close watch on the weather today. The weatherman said showers, and thunderstorms, ( some severe), starting at 2:00 and lasting until 5:00. His prediction was perfect. Twice I started for a pool only to...
The Thunder Rolls--And The Lighting Strikes - - -
Posted on June 12 2026
After three days of basically driving up and down the WB, (lets forget about yesterday's mid afternoon excursion up route 30), felt I had a handle on what bugs were hatching and where. Found sulfurs hatching and a few fish rising about 2:00, got two refusals and landed a rainbow....
Been Searchin', Gonna Find 'Em
Posted on June 11 2026
After yesterdays sub par afternoon hatch by the bugs, I decided to sit back, watch the weather, (cloudy with a 50% chance of showers), and make a decision on where to fish close to the prevailing hatch time of 3:00 pm. Dark clouds interspersed with brighter skies and even bursts...
If A Tree Falls In The Woods, Will It Put The Fish Down?
Posted on June 10 2026
Clearly we are, if not around the bend, at least entering the turn. Haven't been up to Long Flat and Powerline in a while, if anyone wants to report on the drake hatch up there, please do. My sense of "things" tells me that it is still a thing, but...
Silhouettes On the Shade.
Posted on June 09 2026
Had a busy morning in Syracuse. Stopped at the Dermatologists where Rachael took, (in my opinion), a little too much pleasure in applying the liquid nitrogen to what she referred to as Actinic Keratoses on the top of my head. Second stop was to pick up supplies to refurbish the...
I Take My Chances, (I don't mind fishin' without a net)
Posted on June 06 2026
Make no mistake about it, the river system needs rain and cooler temps RIGHT NOW. Unfortunately, the forecast for the next ten days shows temps 10 to 20 degrees above the 70 degree high, 50 degree low which is normal for this time of year. The BE water was into...
I Feel Lucky.
Posted on June 05 2026
Tried a triple header today and am not likely to try one again. Morning trip was to the EB in town. It proved to be just as barren of bugs and rising fish as was the trip to the top of the EB last night. Came back to the fishing...
Sometimes Being Alone In The Pool, Means You're In The Wrong Place
Posted on June 04 2026
It was an interesting day. There were no drift boats or wade fishermen above Balls Eddy except for those addicted to the river between Cold Springs Brook and Butler Brook, (AKA the Red Barn area). Stepped into the river above Hale Eddy about 3:00 and was surprised to find bugs...
It's Got To Be The Going, Not The Getting There That'Good.
Posted on June 03 2026
After spending Sunday cutting up and removing three dead Ash trees that had fallen last winter and were either on mowed areas or were blocking access roads, I spent Monday dealing with car salesmen. Love my wife and enjoy spending time with her, but boy, was I glad to get...
This, That, And The Other Thing.
Posted on June 01 2026
Said good-by to Mark this morning, spent an hour or so lending order to the Lordville Estate, packed the dirty clothes and two bags of trash in the car and headed for home. It was a good, but not great, week of fishing. Long time readers know I try to...
You Earn Every Fish You Catch On The Delaware.
Posted on May 31 2026
With a cold north wind predicted to blow in the twenties, my first priority as guide/host was to get us out of the wind. In this endeavor I did fairly well. Started out on the BK, (which was crowded with weekend warriors), at a place that had two pools, about...
boom, Boom, BOOM !!!
Posted on May 30 2026
Resolved to stop driving up the price of gas by spending several hours each day going from stream to stream just to look at water with neither bugs, nor rising fish. Did take a short trip up to East Branch to see if there was anything happening in 200cfs of...
Fiss, boom, BAH.
Posted on May 29 2026
Left the Lordville Estate before11:00, hoping to find bugs and rising fish. Fished the EB, BK, EB, (again), and the WB, without seeing bugs or risers. Used the last of our timeouts to stop the clock and eat our sandwiches, during our lunch break, was reminded by the windshield wipers...
It's A Slow Fuse.
Posted on May 28 2026
Launched Mark's boat early enough to lead the parade down river from Buckingham where there were wade fishermen casting at rising trout. We saw almost no flies hatching or spinners on the water but there were fish rising. Hooked a nice rainbow and several fall fish in the slow water...
The Fuse Is Lit.
Posted on May 27 2026
The river system is a time bomb, I just don't know when its going to explode. Left the fishing camp about 12:00 and drove up the PA side hoping to find bugs and rising fish. There were March Browns hatching and fish rising at Buckingham but the boats already launched...
I've Looked At Clouds From Both Sided Now - - -
Posted on May 26 2026
Returned to the Lordville Estate today not having missed fishing in 45 degree rain one bit, until I heard reports of heavy Hendrickson hatches in Deposit, March Browns all over the UEB, and March Browns, Invaria, and rising fish on the BR. Got the food in the fridge, the clothes...
Let Me Tell You Where Its At.
Posted on May 25 2026
For the past week or two reports have been posted about sightings of Gray Foxes, Invaria, (spring sulfurs), and Isos. Yes, I've seen a few Gray Foxes and Invarias on the freestones but nothing that would constitute a hatch occurred where I was. Thursday in the lower WB the hatch...
Tell Me Why, Tell Me Why - - - -
Posted on May 24 2026
Friday night I typed the "Round, Round Get Around, I Get Around" page. Those of you on the pay side who read the posting late at night or early the next morning before it shows up on the Troutfitter page, know that I didn't post it until Saturday morning. Throughout...
Tell Me Why, Tell Me Why - - - -
Posted on May 24 2026
Friday night I typed the "Round, Round Get Around, I Get Around" page. Those of you on the pay side who read the posting late at night or early the next morning before it shows up on the Troutfitter page, know that I didn't post it until Saturday morning. Throughout...
Round, Round Get Around, I Get Around
Posted on May 23 2026
It was an interesting day to say the least. Yesterday I fished a Hendrickson hatch in the afternoon and a modest caddis spinner fall in the evening, went 10 for 10 which gave me my first "win" on the Delaware this season. Today I fished in two places in the...
Sometimes It's Not How Well You Play The Game, But How Long You Keep Playing.
Posted on May 22 2026
It's become obvious to me by reading our angler's comments, that the A-119 team is getting badly out fished by the group of photo happy, bobber rigging guides over at the DRC. I may or may not have previously mentioned that there have been no "Got This One On A...
Today, The Fragile Magic Was Gone.
Posted on May 21 2026
Frustrated by the trout's behavior during the Hendrickson hatch yesterday, I decided to spend the time more productively today. Jean reported, that it was raining in Lafayette while we were talking this morning. Told her, I had sunshine and 78 degrees. Knew the rain was coming so as soon as...
Spinner Falls Are Oftentimes Well Worth Waiting For.
Posted on May 20 2026
My plan today was simple, fish the Hendricksons above Hale Eddy on the WB this afternoon, and try to find a spinner fall of some kind on the WB this evening. So what did I do this morning? Tied some March Brown emergers that I had success with the past...
Just Wishin' And Hopin' -
Posted on May 19 2026
Got a late start this morning what with having to drive into town to pick up provisions for the week and to continue the process, (started Saturday), of attempting to buy a new car. Was on 81 heading south a little after 10:00, arriving at the Lordville Estate just after...
A Special Place To Be.
Posted on May 18 2026
I almost never post twice on a weekend when I'm not fishing, but I was so moved by both the number and quality of the comments today that I just had to say thank you to everyone who takes time to share their thoughts and experiences while on the river. ...
May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your - - - -
Posted on May 17 2026
With a beautiful weekend on tap, a Hendrickson hatch in full bloom in Deposit, the freestones out of the doldrums, (but still a challenge to wade), and a plethora of anglers anxious to get on the river, it's not hard to imagine this being a record breaking weekend for both...