Today I split time between the WB and the UE.
Fished the WB between the game lands and monument. It was foggy with some drizzle, an olive kind of day. There were olives, not a big hatch where they cover the water but enough to get fish rising. Fished from 1:15 until 4:30, saw one boat and one other angler. Did I catch trout? You betcha. Now ask me how big they were? Not very. Early I rose several...
Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report
A day away from the crowd.
Posted on July 17 2019
With the rain eliminating lawn watering responsibility what was I to do but go fishing. Tried the upper reaches of the BR that was, with the aid of the thermal release, in the low 60s on the PA side. Fished with a spinner, iso and steno for an hour without seeing a rise. Saw an olive float down the river and then a couple in the air. Put one on and was immediately into fish. Lost them (6 straight)...
Tricos, thunderstorms and snow days.
Posted on July 16 2019
Went out early this morning in search of Tricos. I found some. Not nearly enough to interest the fish but it shouldn't be long. They sent another thermal release down the WB and after the last time I wasn't going to be suckered into waiting for the bugs to hatch and fish to feed.
Back at camp by 10:00, I spent the rest of the morning completing the deer proof fortress around my $7.00 plum tree....
Back at camp by 10:00, I spent the rest of the morning completing the deer proof fortress around my $7.00 plum tree....
Sometimes it isn't easy being me.
Posted on July 15 2019
If anyone wants to fish the Upper East in total solitude the time is now. Except for the two cars parked in the Thayer Hollow pull off (perhaps a tryst) there was no one on the river. You can also rest assured that you won't be bothered by bugs (there weren't any). Fished there in three different pools, two of which required long walks, and caught one 14 inch hatchery brown for my efforts. My log...
Fishing the dog days of summer.
Posted on July 15 2019
Returned to camp this afternoon primarily to water the new grass. At 7:30, with everything watered down, I decided to see if I could find a few rising fish. Tried a riff in the lower WB that I hadn't fished yet this season. There was one angler on his way back to the car when I got there and I never saw another fisherman. I also didn't see any bugs or rising fish. Had several fish eat blind casts...
From 9:00 'til dark, it ain't bad.
Posted on July 12 2019
It's the end of the week and I decided to do a split day, opting to skip the mid afternoon madness of the "sulphur zone". Started at the lower gamelands (my first visit this year) and fished about an hour and a half. Never saw a bug or a rise. Reeled it in and started up the trail to the car. Ran into a Troutfitter regular heading down the trail and convinced him to do a 180 and head somewhere...
Moonlighting on the West Branch.
Posted on July 11 2019
Got so caught up in my rant about drift boaters violating my space that I forgot about last nights moonlight fishing experience. Once or twice a year things fall into place. You need a bright enough waxing moon (over half) but not so full that it isn't over the hills at dark. You need a good spinner fall that has the fish up and gulping. You need to be on a part of the river facing the western...
It's not my fault - I didn't know.
Posted on July 10 2019
One of the first things I do each morning is to check water flows and temps. It is an important step in deciding where I'm going to fish. This morning I knew where I was going to fish and never even turned on my PC. Went to one of my favorite morning places, it's a long walk but usually well worth it. This morning, not so much. There were no bugs and no risers. The water seemed colder (50) and...
How to catch big fish on the WB in July.
Posted on July 09 2019
There is no question that the WB has more and bigger fish than any other part of the river system. During the big bug season anglers flock to it in hopes of catching that elusive twenty incher. Upwards of forty boats a day were on the river most days from mid April into early June. Due to the high water and the flotilla of drift boats most wade fishermen didn't even attempt to fish the WB during...
It's time to adapt to conditions - or - take up golf.
Posted on July 08 2019
We are now into early/mid summer fishing. It happened rapidly as we had high water and drakes 'til the end of June. With the lowering of the releases came hot sun. The lower BK and the BE should not be fished. The water temps have been consistently above 70 and the fish are migrating to thermal refuges. The Big River is day to day. The river from Buckingham down is too warm to fish. Above...
Poor is a relative term.
Posted on July 06 2019
I've fished six days this week. The first five days I never hooked, let alone landed a fish over 16 inches. This time of year most of the big browns stop feeding on top and the rainbow population this year is mostly younger fish. But still, to not hook at least on big one is unusual. Today things changed a bit.
Fished above Hale Eddy in the morning. More for peace and quiet (boats don't usually...
Fished above Hale Eddy in the morning. More for peace and quiet (boats don't usually...
Fishing conditions are downgraded to Poor.
Posted on July 06 2019
My wife came down to take in the annual Fourth of July parade in Lordville. It was a scorcher with both the car and porch thermometers registering 92 degrees. As predicted the BK, EB and BR gauges all were up over 70 degrees.
Spent the day just trying to keep cool. Took a drive up the West Branch in the afternoon (more for the car air than anything else) and was amazed to see the river void of...
Spent the day just trying to keep cool. Took a drive up the West Branch in the afternoon (more for the car air than anything else) and was amazed to see the river void of...
Finding rising fish on hot sunny days.
Posted on July 03 2019
With it promising to be one of the hottest days of the year I opted for a split day. Fished a riffly stretch on the lower WB in the morning and then fished the UE in the evening.
The morning fishing was surprisingly good with a nice hatch of sulfurs, olives and cahills. Never saw a big fish but there was a nice mix of two and three year olds. My hooking was far better than my landing but had...
The morning fishing was surprisingly good with a nice hatch of sulfurs, olives and cahills. Never saw a big fish but there was a nice mix of two and three year olds. My hooking was far better than my landing but had...
The seven day weekend.
Posted on July 03 2019
With a four day weekend coming up I thought that the early part of the week would be quiet. Was I ever wrong. There was an unending string of drift boats, kayaks, pontoon boats and every other imaginable kind of personal floatation device on the WB Tuesday. Every pool on the UE had multiple fishermen in it. It was a cloudy overcast day that should have been good but the sulfurs didn't come in...
It's summer time, summer time sum, sum summertime - -
Posted on July 01 2019
Had numerous items on Mondays "To do" list and didn't leave town 'til after one. Unloaded the perishables at camp and went for a drive around the river system. With the releases reduced to near normal levels and a hot sun shining down on the river it seems inevitable that by the end of the week the fishable portion of the Delaware river system will be reduced to the Upper East and the West Branch....
A morning Big River trip.
Posted on June 29 2019
With my wife's plane not due in until 6:40 this evening, I had plenty of time for a morning trip. With releases coming down, the big rivers days are numbered. I decided to give it a try down river before it gets too warm and the fish move out.
The results were, to me surprising. The BR has been high and unwadeable for over a week. Water temps have been cool. There have been very few boats down...
The results were, to me surprising. The BR has been high and unwadeable for over a week. Water temps have been cool. There have been very few boats down...
Weekend outlook.
Posted on June 28 2019
Today was a scorcher, the third bright, sunny, hot day in a row. Went out into the Lordville Riff early hoping to catch my first decent fish from the riff this year. I did. It wasn't great. There were no hatching bugs but there were quite a few very small spinners on the water. Yearling trout along the shore were feeding on them. Hooked four good fish on an assortment of flies, landed three.
Reti...
Reti...
The Chamber of Commerce fish.
Posted on June 27 2019
If you were planning to fish where I did today but stayed home instead -consider yourself lucky.
Yesterday I fell into a good sulfur hatch on the UE that got lots of fish up and eating. The evening fishing on the BR didn't start 'til about nine but the action from then to dark was fast and furious.
The old saying on the Delaware is "If you had a good day on the river today, go somewhere else...
Yesterday I fell into a good sulfur hatch on the UE that got lots of fish up and eating. The evening fishing on the BR didn't start 'til about nine but the action from then to dark was fast and furious.
The old saying on the Delaware is "If you had a good day on the river today, go somewhere else...
Sulfurs by day, Freestones at night
Posted on June 26 2019
As the proud new owner of 8 cubic yards of topsoil, I felt duty bound to begin the process of filling in holes and leveling out some of the yards numerous dips and valleys. Knew it was going to be hot so I started early, by 10:30 I was soaking wet and tired enough to call it quits for the day.
It's summer now and even with the huge releases we have had, fishing is quickly becoming an evening...
It's summer now and even with the huge releases we have had, fishing is quickly becoming an evening...
Drake fishing in the "drift boat era".
Posted on June 25 2019
On the 17th of June I fished to happy trout slurping up drake duns (both green and brown) without a care in the world. Three days later on the 20th I said if you are going to fish the drakes you needed to bring your "a game". Today I went back to the UE. The drakes are still hatching (along with just about any other fly you care to name). But at least for a dry fly fisherman, the fish are now...
Where should you fish tomorrow?
Posted on June 24 2019
For the last four days I've tried something new. Instead of giving advice I've tried to follow it. The wade fishermen have not been on the river. They just aren't here. They are waiting for the water to drop to reasonable wading levels. So I've given it a try. I skipped one day altogether and just fished the last couple of hours the other three days. I got items crossed off my "To do" list. Took...
Today on the river
Posted on June 24 2019
It's seven pm and I'm sitting on my porch watching the neighborhood doe nurse her fawn.
Jumped the little guy(???) yesterday while I was clearing my view of the river. He bounded off into a high stand of weeds. Momma came later in the day and knew just where to find him. Tonight momma came down the hill and walked past me without even a how do you do. She walked up the railroad tracks along my...
Jumped the little guy(???) yesterday while I was clearing my view of the river. He bounded off into a high stand of weeds. Momma came later in the day and knew just where to find him. Tonight momma came down the hill and walked past me without even a how do you do. She walked up the railroad tracks along my...
The Longest Day (part 2).
Posted on June 22 2019
It's a sad state of affairs for the wade fishermen. While the wind has made it difficult for all fishermen, the high water has kept the wade fishermen at home. The drakes are on the UE, saw isos, olives and cahills on the BR at Buckingham, sulfurs and cahills on the WB in Deposit and sulfurs at the gamelands late.
Wade fishermen? I saw three, counting me. All were at the gamelands. You had to...
Wade fishermen? I saw three, counting me. All were at the gamelands. You had to...
The 'Longest Day" (x2)
Posted on June 21 2019
For as long as I can remember I've made it a point to spend June 21st fishing. For me the day itself in one that carries with it a touch of sadness and melancholy. We are turning the corner, tomorrow will be shorter than today and we will be a few seconds closer to the eternal gloom of early winter. It's not an overpowering feeling, more a time when I give some thought to friends and relatives...
So you know before you go
Posted on June 21 2019
Having missed the big storm yesterday morning you had to feel good about the weekend. The forecast was for .04 inches of rain Friday and no rain Saturday and Sunday. Awoke this morning to the sound of rain pounding down on the porch roof. The Bk, which I fished just last night, is now over 2,000 CFS, muddy and unfishable. The two reservoirs are at maximum release which combined with the heavy...
If you plan on catching fish on Drakes - bring your "A" game.
Posted on June 20 2019
Left camp at 5:15 this morning to take my wife to the airport. She's headed to Florida to watch one of our grandkids play in a volleyball tournament. Drove through a torrential rainstorm that passed just to the north of the river's drainage basin. At our house gutters over flowed and the window wells in the cellar filled with water which found it's way into our basement. A second storm hit...
The early weekend outlook.
Posted on June 19 2019
Just so you know - both reservoirs are now spilling. The forecasts vary but there is sure to be more rain tomorrow. Fished both branches in rising water today. Neither branch should be waded at present levels unless you are familiar with the pool you are fishing and are a good wader. If we get the predicted amount of rain it will be a boats only situation again.
The bugs - Today the drakes hatched...
The bugs - Today the drakes hatched...
Time flies when you're havin' fun.
Posted on June 18 2019
After fishing the lower portion of the UE in what one would call a modest drake hatch yesterday, I returned today expecting the hatch would build and encompass the prime drake area around Long Flat. It didn't. I saw drakes from the Pleasant Valley campground pool all the way down to jaws. But there just weren't enough to even get the fish interested. There were a variety of bugs on the water and...
I've changed my tune again.
Posted on June 17 2019
Please note the "Season to Date" post shown on the Troutfitter's website shows only the first two paragraph of the report (someone?? must have hit enter, prematurely). The blog format allows me to edit but the edits are not transferred to the Troutfitter web page. The full report can be seen by going directly to "Angler 119"
Don't know if the aforementioned post served as a wakeup call but there...
Don't know if the aforementioned post served as a wakeup call but there...
By Angler 119 on 2019-06-16
Posted on June 15 2019
After fishing for the last six days straight I am at a loss to explain where the big bugs (isos, green drakes and brown drakes) are. I've been on the Big River, Big East, Beaverkill, West Branch and Upper East Branch. There have been iso husks on the rocks of the streams for the past two weeks. Saw one Green Drake spinner fall and one iso hatch on the BK. A handful of Green Drake duns and spinners...
So maybe we should all get kites,
Posted on June 14 2019
Fourth straight day with high winds. When the wind blows like it did today, morning spinner falls are taken off the menu. Any meaningful dry fly fishing during the mid afternoon period has to be done in places protected by windward hills or steep banks. Even then gusts blow both up and down the river seemingly at the same time. It has only been in the last hour or two of daylight that the wind has...
A better place to be.
Posted on June 13 2019
Today had possibilities, moderate rain, heavy overcast, cool temperatures - it literally screamed OLIVES!!! And where I fished they came. But first you need to know that I drove from Lordville to Corbett and from Corbett to Deposit, stopping at every known vantage point. I never saw a single fish rise. The best I could do was sit on the Shinhopple bridge and watch cedar waxwings fly out over the...
West Branch fish need to call a time out.
Posted on June 12 2019
Today I decided to gird my loins and take on the West Branch, boats and all. Started the day about 10 am on the lower WB at one of my favorite morning places. There is too much boat traffic there for me to fish late in the day but it can usually be fished early in relative solitude. It's a long walk in and out but the fishing is usually worth it. Today I was back at the car in less than two hours....
Brian asked about spinners.
Posted on June 12 2019
My camp is near the river and I find it helpful to leave the porch light on and check the screens in the morning to see what is hatching. Often the duns molt on the screen and I get an opportunity to preview the coming spinner falls. As a general rule, rusty spinners in a variety of sizes will serve you well. If, however, you know what spinners are likely to be on the water it is helpful to match...
High pressure be damned!
Posted on June 11 2019
Woke up this morning to find the BK was blown out and muddy. The EB and BR were rising rapidly and would both be too high and muddy to fish. Was I upset? Not in the least. After fishing two "split days" I was tired. The forecast called for bright sun, high pressure and a 15 to 25 MPH wind. I've seen that mix all to often this season and it hasn't been kind.
Decided to do yard work, tie flies and...
Decided to do yard work, tie flies and...
How many Zee's can you find hidden in my report?
Posted on June 10 2019
It's June 10th. The last two days of bright sunshine and 80ish temps put the water in the freestone portions of the river system close to the 70 degree "do not fish" mark. My log books tell me that the fish will in all likelihood be heading to thermal refuges within the next two weeks.
With the weather person calling for a cloudy day with morning drizzle turning to a steady rain there was no doubt...
With the weather person calling for a cloudy day with morning drizzle turning to a steady rain there was no doubt...
Spinner falls on the freestones.
Posted on June 09 2019
After two days home taking care of chores. I Drove down early and was on the river by 9:30. It looked like a good plan when I hooked my third rainbow in the first 45 minutes. Then things came to a screeching halt. With no bugs or rising fish to be seen, I called it quits about 11:00 and returned to camp.
The next fish I saw was at 4:30, when an unlucky 9 inch brown ate my fly. He was then, in...
The next fish I saw was at 4:30, when an unlucky 9 inch brown ate my fly. He was then, in...
Now is the time.
Posted on June 06 2019
Expecting sunshine to warm the water and provide us with a hatch of bugs or a spinner fall, we parked at the upper gamelands (two cars there before us) and walked down the path to the river. If you're wearing felts, it's like trying to walk on a teflon coated
slope covered with six inches of chocolate pudding.
Arrived streamside covered with mud only to find that the sun had once again failed to...
slope covered with six inches of chocolate pudding.
Arrived streamside covered with mud only to find that the sun had once again failed to...
Rookie hangs three on dries.
Posted on June 06 2019
Did a split day with the morning spent fishing the big river. There were sulfurs early and a modest assortment of bugs the rest of the morning (which ended at 3:00 pm) that kept the fish looking up. My guest proved to be a quick learner and hooked and landed two 'bows (largest was just short of 18). He also cooled of with a brief dip in the BR's 60ish water.
Ate lunch and took a leisurely tour of...
Ate lunch and took a leisurely tour of...
A "winter friend" stops by.
Posted on June 04 2019
Am entertaining a friend from the Florida Keys this week. We took a tour of the area which included a stop on the BK where golden stone flies hatched last night and Isos hatched late this afternoon. The river where we stopped has been cleaned out by "they bite they die" fisherman. Out catch was two fall fish and one 13 inch hatchery brown.
Next we drove up the UE. There were cars at most of the...
Next we drove up the UE. There were cars at most of the...
This isn't about the bear that rearranged everything in my car.
Posted on June 03 2019
To be honest, I was in no big hurry to go fishing today. Why? For at least the fourth time this year a frontal system has ushered in a new week, bringing with it a rising barometer, bright sun and strong, gusty winds. A deadly combo for all dry fly fishermen.
I didn't even fish when one front came through and was skunked the other two times. So, I went to my tooth cleaning appointment, got the car...
I didn't even fish when one front came through and was skunked the other two times. So, I went to my tooth cleaning appointment, got the car...
On improving your success on the Delaware.
Posted on June 01 2019
Those who read my ramblings regularly know that occasionally I come up with a suggestion that helps them be a better fisherman. Sometimes I point them to a part of the river system that I think will be hot and it actually is. But sadly, most of you who read this blog start your car at your house knowing where you are going to park and where you are going to fish. You remind me of a broken clock...
If you've got a pass this weekend.
Posted on May 31 2019
With the sun shining for a change this morning, I stayed at camp and mowed the lawn. This eliminated any opportunity for me to again fish the Hendrickson spinner fall. I'm heading home for the weekend so it'll probably 2020 before I fish Hendricksons again.
May - Mostly because of the high water, this May was, as of the 24th, on course to be my poorest since I bought the camp. Then NYC lowered the...
May - Mostly because of the high water, this May was, as of the 24th, on course to be my poorest since I bought the camp. Then NYC lowered the...
It can't get any better!
Posted on May 30 2019
If you ever are going to catch fish in the Delaware, now is the time. The water levels (as of 9:00 pm) are great and will, absent serious rain tonight, be even better tomorrow. The big river has yet to reflect today's cut backs in the releases from both reservoirs and should be wadeable tomorrow..
The fishing? In my over 30 years on the river I have never put together a better week of fishing, both...
The fishing? In my over 30 years on the river I have never put together a better week of fishing, both...
Even well intended advice isn't always right.
Posted on May 29 2019
As if to spite me after yesterday's posting, mother nature served up one of those cloudy, rainy, "great days to be fishing", and you know what? It was! We're down to the last three days of May and the Hendricksons and apple caddis are still on both branches in good numbers and the BK, EB and BR have yet to come out of the doldrums.
Was on the UE today about 11:00 hoping for morning spinners. It...
Was on the UE today about 11:00 hoping for morning spinners. It...
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy.
Posted on May 28 2019
Without stirring up controversy I'd like to share my personal observations on how sunshine or lack thereof affects fishing. Specifically, sunshiney days vs cloudy days. Far to often lately I've read about how it's going to be a good fishing day because the weatherman is predicting clouds and rain instead of those awful sunny days. It's just not that simple.
Let's take it by seasons:
Springtime -...
Let's take it by seasons:
Springtime -...
You can leave your bobbers, nymphs and streamers at home!
Posted on May 27 2019
The high water had kept me and all other wade fishermen confined to the Beaverkill and even that was often unwadeable due to the high water. And then - NYC cut the flows on both branches. Understand, that we are just one good rainstorm away from high water levels again, (the WB is still spilling and the EB is brim full), but the difference in the fishing has been hard to believe. Combine my two...
The show is in Deposit today!
Posted on May 27 2019
Spent Sunday touring the river system with my wife. After a week of fishing the "day off" wasn't a bad thing. Drove west along Cannonsville reservoir and came out at Stilesville. For the first time this year the wade fishermen clearly outnumbered the drift boaters on the WB. At the current level of 700 CFS the upper river can be waded and/or floated.
The bugs were phenomenal with both...
The bugs were phenomenal with both...
I'm back tying flies!
Posted on May 25 2019
I was like a kid on Christmas morning, I didn't know which present to open first. After ten months of nearly uninterrupted maximum releases from both reservoirs, wade fishermen finally had choices. In fact they could wade almost anywhere they wanted.
What did I do? Tried a little of this and a little of that, kept away from the WB (too many boats) and the BK (too many waders). Endured a Kayak...
What did I do? Tried a little of this and a little of that, kept away from the WB (too many boats) and the BK (too many waders). Endured a Kayak...
Waders REJOICE
Posted on May 25 2019
Starting at about noon yesterday NYC began stepping down releases on their reservoirs. As of 8:00 am this morning all rivers in the system are wadeable. The big river is still quite high but should continue dropping during the day.
There is no telling the effect the drop in water will have on the fish but it will give wade fishermen access to the entire river system for the first time in the last...
There is no telling the effect the drop in water will have on the fish but it will give wade fishermen access to the entire river system for the first time in the last...