As for myself? My bags are packed and early tomorrow I will be on a flight bound for Deadman's Cay, Long Island in the Bahamas for a week of bonefishing.
It's rumored that the Troutfitter may be in the process of securing a week at the camp for...
Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report
Opening day 2018.
Posted on March 31 2018
They say a picture's worth a thousand words - - - here's one of a big brown that'll be waiting for you whenever you make your first trip to the Delaware.
As for myself? My bags are packed and early tomorrow I will be on a flight bound for Deadman's Cay, Long Island in the Bahamas for a week of bonefishing.
It's rumored that the Troutfitter may be in the process of securing a week at the camp for...
As for myself? My bags are packed and early tomorrow I will be on a flight bound for Deadman's Cay, Long Island in the Bahamas for a week of bonefishing.
It's rumored that the Troutfitter may be in the process of securing a week at the camp for...
The 2017 season in review.
Posted on October 26 2017
Returned to camp after six days to find the north facing hills a barren gray with isolated spots of color where a lone aspen or oak is making it's last stand. The oak trees on the south facing slopes which were green when I drove home last Friday are now a beautiful combination of burnt orange and burgundy interspersed with the green of the pines. If you enjoy fall foliage it's your last chance...
It was somethin' else!
Posted on October 19 2017
Most people probably thought today was a beautiful day. Why not? A mid October day with bright sun and the temp pushing 70. What's not to like? Well, standing in a trout stream you sometimes see things differently. The "delightful' 10 mph breeze blew so many leaves into the river that there was no place to even land a fly. Trying to cast a size 20 olive to a rising fish on 7x tippet was mission...
Reprisals aren't always bad.
Posted on October 18 2017
I admit it. The last two days of fishing didn't sit well with me. I had some good fish rising Monday that I couldn't fool and I fooled some good fish Tuesday that I didn't land. Gave it a little thought, tied up a few new olives, re-rigged my leader using 7x tippet and headed out.
Took a look at the WB which resembled the Mississippi in color, stopped to chat with Lloyd Hornbeck at his shop in...
Took a look at the WB which resembled the Mississippi in color, stopped to chat with Lloyd Hornbeck at his shop in...
It wasn't meant to be.
Posted on October 17 2017
Cool temp, negligible wind and bright sun (at this time of year with cool air temp, sun is a good thing) had me on one of the Beaverkill's two little "no-kill stretches. (With well over 90% of the trout anglers "no-kill" why do the "meat fishermen" get to strip the trout from the rest of the river? But, I digress.
Found enough olives (mostly pseudos) to get the good fish up and sipping. In the...
Found enough olives (mostly pseudos) to get the good fish up and sipping. In the...
Table was set but Pseudos never showed.
Posted on October 16 2017
It was a tailor made day for Pseudos. I had to turn the windshield wipers on at least twenty times on the ride down. Low scudding clouds covered the tops of the hills and the temp never got out of the forties. The wind at 10 to 15 promised to be a challenge but after a quick lunch I headed out.
The high muddy water in the WB coupled with the wind blowing down the BR sent me east on 17 to the...
The high muddy water in the WB coupled with the wind blowing down the BR sent me east on 17 to the...
If you don't like to blind cast - go try the Salmon river.
Posted on October 12 2017
Saw that they dropped the release on the WB to about 500 and decided to give it a shot. Stopped at the lower game lands about 3:00 (the lot was empty) and walked down. DRC's report has been talking about cahills, isos, olives, hebes, and an assorted array of caddis. Today's report said the olives would be more concentrated due to the lower water and thus easier for the fish to find. I could barely...
If you're looking for pseudos, snow is better than warm rain!
Posted on October 11 2017
I picked the day so I've got nobody to blame but myself. I've been gone a week. It's been hot for this time of year. The weatherman said it was going to rain today. Overcast and drizzly, "O'boy", I thought. Bugs and rising fish!
The water temps are in the 60's, unheard of for the second week of October. The isos are done and no self respecting pseudo (or any other olive for that matter) will...
The water temps are in the 60's, unheard of for the second week of October. The isos are done and no self respecting pseudo (or any other olive for that matter) will...
Sometimes it's over before you know it.
Posted on October 03 2017
It kinda snuck up on me is what it did. The "Irma" necessitated trip to Florida knocked nine days out of September. I no sooner got back and it was October. Didn't even stop at Marino's until yesterday to get my archery license. A dentist appointment and social obligations will fill up the remainder of this week and then I'll be doing a little bow hunting while trying to cross off items on the...
Fishing for the humblers.
Posted on October 02 2017
If you think you're good dry fly fisherman and are up for a challenge I've got the fish to test you on. Pick a pool, any pool really, from East Branch up to Downsville. Start at noon and fish 'til dark. There will be olives, maybe some ants and an assortment of little stuff on the water and the fish will be feeding on top.
Gave myself the test today. The fish were on top eating duns. In two...
Gave myself the test today. The fish were on top eating duns. In two...
The way it was.
Posted on October 01 2017
It was 38 on the porch this morning and the sun didn't burn through the fog until about 10:30. After that things warmed up quickly. Left the camp in bright sunshine at 1:30 with the air temp at 64 degrees. After yesterdays efforts to find a place to fish on the UEB and Beaverkill without being set upon by the weekend warriors, I opted to fish a piece of the BE that sees lots of boats during higher...
So you thought I had an easy job.
Posted on September 30 2017
When I left for Florida the iso's were hatching everywhere. The WB was at 450 CFS and the big river was below 900. Temps were good in the entire river system and fishing was great.
While I was gone a heat wave raised the water temps above 70. Lack of rain required increased flows of silt laden water in the WB to meet downstream minimum flow requirements. The iso's said enough was enough and quit...
While I was gone a heat wave raised the water temps above 70. Lack of rain required increased flows of silt laden water in the WB to meet downstream minimum flow requirements. The iso's said enough was enough and quit...
A three shirt, two bear kinda day.
Posted on September 29 2017
With the temp struggling to hit 60 mid afternoon, I threw a third shirt in the car. Put it on when the sun went behind the hills and was glad I did. The car's thermometer reported the temp at 53 when I called it a day. Weather wise today was a big upgrade from yesterday. There was very little wind which made casting a pleasure. Another big plus was the water was free of all the wind blown leaves...
It's good to be back home again.
Posted on September 28 2017
Back from the Florida Keys where three days of work in the hot and humid weather got things mostly cleaned up. The damage is incredible to see. We were very fortunate in only losing two appliances and a hot tub. Our neighbors, one house away, lost their roof and the house ended up totaled. Hard to believe that the mountains of debris and appliances will ever disappear from the sides of the road.
Time for me to deal with what Irma left behind.
Posted on September 19 2017
It's all clear to me now. September and August have switched places. Today was another scorcher with temp in the eighties, bright sun and the freestones hitting 70. Did chores around camp, tied some flies and took a little siesta before heading out about 3:00.
Decided to take a look at the WB in Deposit. It wasn't pretty. The water beneath the thermocline in the reservoir is gone and the murky...
Decided to take a look at the WB in Deposit. It wasn't pretty. The water beneath the thermocline in the reservoir is gone and the murky...
The game has changed!
Posted on September 18 2017
With the unseasonably cool nights and cloudy, rainy days we had in August and early September, the entire river system was again open for fishing. The recent spate of warm nights and hot sunny days, however, has raised the water temps in the freestone sections of the system to or above the "no fish" level of 70 degrees.
With the tailwaters "the only game in town", I was forced to face reality. The...
With the tailwaters "the only game in town", I was forced to face reality. The...
A tale of two rivers.
Posted on September 15 2017
With warm temps and sunshine forecast for today I was in no hurry to get to the stream. Yesterday's double header was fun and productive but one game today will be enough. The temps have stayed warm the last couple of nights and with the predicted sunshine the freestone streams will be getting quite warm. This pushes the bug hatches back to the cooler evening hours. Bottom line, back to the...
One fish can make the trip worth while.
Posted on September 14 2017
It was overcast. It rained a few times. The wind didn't blow. There were ants, tricos, olives, isos, stenos and spinners of all of the above (except for the ants). It was so warm that the spinners stayed late and finished the job.
The fish? They knew a good thing when they saw it. They ate!
Now don't get me wrong. The fish on the Delaware may eat but they always do so carefully. If you keep...
The fish? They knew a good thing when they saw it. They ate!
Now don't get me wrong. The fish on the Delaware may eat but they always do so carefully. If you keep...
Just an any old kind of day.-
Posted on September 13 2017
When I was filling the bird feeder with sunflower seed, I almost took down the half full hummingbird feeder. Saw one hummingbird last week but I haven't seen one at the feeder this week. Left it up in case a traveler stops for a fill up on his/her way to mexico. It seems like only yesterday the first arrivals staked out their claim to the feeder back in early May.
Driving along the river today,...
Driving along the river today,...
I can't do it all by myself!
Posted on September 12 2017
You almost know without asking. The salmon are running! How do I know? The Delaware is deserted. Most all of the guides and fishermen have moved up to the Salmon River to tangle with the big guys. Me? I'm down here trying my best to keep the fish from getting too easy to catch - and - apparently I'm doing a good job!
Today I worked on the BEB fish. Went out about two and stopped at a big...
Today I worked on the BEB fish. Went out about two and stopped at a big...
I should have bought a lottery ticket.
Posted on September 11 2017
A week ago I fished all day with ants on the water. I went to great lengths to tell how seldom that happens. Well, today it happened again! It wasn't really all day today as I didn't leave Rustin's Dinner (The Cholesterol Capital of the World) until 12:30.
At about 2:00 I was drooling out of both sides of my mouth ( a Pavlovian response to the little smears covering my windshield). Got in the...
At about 2:00 I was drooling out of both sides of my mouth ( a Pavlovian response to the little smears covering my windshield). Got in the...
It's September after all.
Posted on September 08 2017
Went home Thursday and enjoyed a night out with old friends. Probably would have stayed home through the weekend except that the camp grass was too wet to mow all week and after nine days looked like a hay field. Arrived at camp at ten thirty to a lawn still wet from an overnight rain. The weather forecast said showers starting at 12:30 so things didn't look good. But the sun came out and dried...
When you're ahead in the game sometimes it's good to see what the subs can do.
Posted on September 06 2017
As I often do after a really good day, I set out to fish places I haven't fished all year. I do it for a number of reasons. First of all I just don't like fishing the same places over and over (the sulfur zone for example). By checking out places you haven't fished this year you get a chance to evaluate the success of the 2016 year class that is now about a year and a half old (10 inches). If you...
How to catch fish on ants
Posted on September 05 2017
Every year about mid August my ant box goes in my vest. As every fly fisherman knows, the ants fly in late August and throughout the month of September. Apparently they aren't very good at picking landing spots because every year untold numbers of them land on the water. It doesn't seem to matter what water, lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, they all get their fair share. I've even had one land in my...
The State Fair was a "better place to be".
Posted on September 04 2017
With the bright sun, warm temp and "delightful" breeze, it was a day best spent perhaps taking advantage of dollar day at the fair. It sure was not a great day to be on the river.
There was no place to hide on the big river and after a bugless, riseless hour I called it quits and headed for more sheltered water. My ill chosen stop on the Beaverkill was more of the same, the only good thing was it...
There was no place to hide on the big river and after a bugless, riseless hour I called it quits and headed for more sheltered water. My ill chosen stop on the Beaverkill was more of the same, the only good thing was it...
A tippet not everyone can afford.
Posted on September 02 2017
I've been fishing a long time. Back when I started everyone used Maxima 4X tippet material. It was the go to tippet material if you were fishing dries, swinging wets or roll casting salted minnows. It didn't abrade or kink up when you tied on a fly and it was tough as nails. The only negative thing I ever heard said about it was that "it didn't mike down to the .007 shown on the spool". It cost...
The Beaverkill, has fish too you know.
Posted on September 01 2017
With SU football at 7:00 I decided to do a little recon and take an early quit.
Drover up the Beaverkill to see if the cold water temps had gotten the iso's going there. It had! The rocks along the riffs had numerous fresh iso husks on them. At 3:00 with bright sun and a brisk wind there were none hatching. Was able to pick up a few fish on caddis but it was slow going until the isos started to...
Drover up the Beaverkill to see if the cold water temps had gotten the iso's going there. It had! The rocks along the riffs had numerous fresh iso husks on them. At 3:00 with bright sun and a brisk wind there were none hatching. Was able to pick up a few fish on caddis but it was slow going until the isos started to...
August in the rear view mirror.
Posted on August 31 2017
Closed out August on the big river. It looked like a perfect "big river day" about noon when I had to duck inside to avoid a rain shower. By three, however, things had changed. The sun broke through the clouds, the wind blew and the water warmed up enough to delay the hatching until after the sun went behind the hill. Not all days are perfect.
Met a troutfitter regular on his way back to the...
Met a troutfitter regular on his way back to the...
Sometimes it would be easier to win the lottery.
Posted on August 30 2017
When I said in yesterday's post "I won't go to the big river tomorrow", I was repeating a saying often heard among guides and fishermen on the river. "If you do good on the river today, go somewhere else tomorrow". The river is a fickle and ever changing lady. Clouds / bright sun, wind / no wind, rain / no rain, increased flows/decreased flows, boat traffic / wade fishermen, air and water temps,...
So, where you gonna fish today?
Posted on August 29 2017
There was no mystery about where I would fish today. It was overcast with a heavy fog/light drizzle. Air temp in the sixties and water temp right around 60. Everything screamed BIG RIVER. There would be olives and isos galore. All the fish would be up and feeding.
AND THEY WERE!!!
If the stars should align again, call in sick, use a personal day but be there. It didn't matter much where you...
AND THEY WERE!!!
If the stars should align again, call in sick, use a personal day but be there. It didn't matter much where you...
It's winding down.
Posted on August 28 2017
Monday is take care of business day and there were a lot of items on the list. The only one I didn't get crossed off was an oil change on my car. It's number one for next week. Didn't leave home until 3:00 and it was 5:45 before I got into the water.
Fished a place on the UEB where I've been caught by thunderstorms twice this year (one with rain coat, one without). The olives were hatching when...
Fished a place on the UEB where I've been caught by thunderstorms twice this year (one with rain coat, one without). The olives were hatching when...
The weekend outlook.
Posted on August 25 2017
If you are at a loss for what to do this weekend, ask your wife, she's got a list. If you have already planned on fishing the Delaware River system - do it, it's fishing very well.
There are tricos on the WB below monument, on the big river and on the EB below Shinhopple. With the cold nights you don't have to be here early. Trico spinner fall occurs when the air temp reaches about 69 degrees. If...
There are tricos on the WB below monument, on the big river and on the EB below Shinhopple. With the cold nights you don't have to be here early. Trico spinner fall occurs when the air temp reaches about 69 degrees. If...
The day after.
Posted on August 24 2017
Stayed at camp until Qadir White announced his commitment to SU for their football recruiting class.
That done I decided to drive around and look at some of the water that has been "out of bounds" due to high water temps or that I just haven't gotten to this summer. Found a fish or two but mostly just looked.
Got serious about 4:00 and drove to a place on the UEB that I have only fished once this...
That done I decided to drive around and look at some of the water that has been "out of bounds" due to high water temps or that I just haven't gotten to this summer. Found a fish or two but mostly just looked.
Got serious about 4:00 and drove to a place on the UEB that I have only fished once this...
Never leave the table before dessert is served.
Posted on August 23 2017
The trout must have eaten so many tricos for breakfast that they just skipped lunch. Was standing side of the road about 4:00 still looking for my first rise of the day when I was run into (see what I just did there?) by one of the Troutfitter regulars. We had a nice chat while dump trucks, logging trucks, farm equipment and a variety of pick ups (all with studded tires) roared past us. Hope he...
And you thought it was a beautiful day.
Posted on August 22 2017
It's 7:15 and I'm sitting in camp typing today's report with rain pounding down on the porch roof. Bright sun, high winds and a severe thunderstorm watch all played a part in both increasing the degree of difficulty and shortening the hours of fishing.
With the olive hatch still going strong I tied flies and did chores this morning and didn't go out until two. Bad mistake. By then the wind was...
With the olive hatch still going strong I tied flies and did chores this morning and didn't go out until two. Bad mistake. By then the wind was...
Eclipse delays the olive hatch!
Posted on August 21 2017
Was driving past the Sunoco station in East Branch at about 2:15 when I saw people looking up at the sun. Then I remembered and took a look myself. There were clouds but you could see the sun through them and when I looked (at least I had my polaroids on) it was about three quarters covered by a black ball. Kinda neat.
Was on the water (UEB) about 2:30 and neither the bugs nor fish had started...
Was on the water (UEB) about 2:30 and neither the bugs nor fish had started...
The best laid plans - - - -
Posted on August 18 2017
A wigi board, tarot cards or even a cell phone that works in the Delaware River watershed would have been a big help for anglers trying to fish today.
With a prediction of about an inch of rain for the area, several considerations came into play. Would the rain be widespread and uniform or hit and miss like a lot of the rain this summer? Would fog envelope both the WB and UEB? It being Friday,...
With a prediction of about an inch of rain for the area, several considerations came into play. Would the rain be widespread and uniform or hit and miss like a lot of the rain this summer? Would fog envelope both the WB and UEB? It being Friday,...
A lay day.
Posted on August 17 2017
Traded the fly rod for a kayak paddle and did Downsville to Shinhopple with Gramma and grandkids. All survived. Fishing reports to resume tomorrow.
Sometimes it's the little things - - -
Posted on August 17 2017
With a bright sun in the sky all day, I was in no rush to go out to fish. Left camp about 4:30 and headed for the cold water up top of the UEB. The trout were feeding on something subsurface (not the olive duns I could see on the surface) and I spent a good hour and a half not catching them.
Second stop was in a narrow stretch of stream where the sun had already gone behind the hill. Six or eight...
Second stop was in a narrow stretch of stream where the sun had already gone behind the hill. Six or eight...
Sometimes it's just going to rain on your parade.
Posted on August 15 2017
When I plan on fishing the WB or big river one of my considerations is to minimize the amount of boat traffic I will encounter (if you think boats don't reduce your chances of success you're not fishing the Delaware River). I check the take outs below where I will be fishing to determine how many boats will be going by. I then try to pick a section of the river where the boats will not get there...
Please bear with me - -
Posted on August 14 2017
Arrived a Deposit about 3:00 and stopped??? Why??? After all I've said. There were almost no sulfurs or rising fish. The fish I did see rise were 12 inch hatchery fish eating #22/ 26 olives. DON'T STOP THERE!!! The fish have been pounded every day, all day, for two months. You won't do well. Even the recently stocked hatchery fish just down from the sewage treatment plant have been pounded and...
Here's the deal.
Posted on August 11 2017
With an overcast sky and a promise of rain, I skipped the morning fishing hoping to find afternoon olives or isos. I found neither. The first bugs I saw were isos that showed up in a heavy rain about 8:15.
My first stop was on the big river where it seemed that I wasn't the only one looking for bugs. The fish were more than happy to eat my fly on blind casts. Most of the fish I rose were...
My first stop was on the big river where it seemed that I wasn't the only one looking for bugs. The fish were more than happy to eat my fly on blind casts. Most of the fish I rose were...
Just fish'n.
Posted on August 10 2017
With water temps in the low 60's I tried a riff/run in the big river this morning. Shared the pool with a doe, fawn and probably last years doe fawn. An eagle watched me fish for a while and then flew off knowing he was better at it than I was. Started by hooking and landing a nice 18 inch rainbow in the first ten minutes. Then fished three more hours to land a 14 incher. Just don't seem to be...
Try new water - Columbus did.
Posted on August 09 2017
Despite the sulfurs and olives still hatching in the sulfur zone up in Deposit I've decided to play the game elsewhere. Simply stated there are too few fish, too many anglers and the fish that are there won't eat my flies.
This morning I fished a run on the lower WB from 9:30 until 1:00. I never saw another angler. Saw two fish rise (they never gave my fly a look). Saw exactly one mayfly and no...
This morning I fished a run on the lower WB from 9:30 until 1:00. I never saw another angler. Saw two fish rise (they never gave my fly a look). Saw exactly one mayfly and no...
There are no secret spots.
Posted on August 08 2017
After losing a battle with a scalpel wielding dermatologist yesterday morning I spent the rest of the day on the recliner with an ice pack for company. For those who were able to fish it was the kind of day you hope for and dream about. An all day rain with cool enough temps to have the water covered with olives. Hope your day was better than mine.
Set out from home today with the intent of...
Set out from home today with the intent of...
A high pressure day.
Posted on August 05 2017
Was it a "Hendrickson wind" in August or a precursor of the Fall winds to come? Doesn't matter, it wasn't fun to fish in. The first day of high pressure after a low is always a good day to mow the lawn, do the wash, pay the bills and cross a few items off the honey do list. Today was no exception.
With overnight rain and a stiff breeze in the morning, I took a pass on the Trico fishing. Worked...
With overnight rain and a stiff breeze in the morning, I took a pass on the Trico fishing. Worked...
If you're looking for someone to test raincoats - - - -
Posted on August 04 2017
It's not easy being me. I tell my wife that all the time. Went trico fishing again this am. Drove by the #1 pool with no intention of stopping. Jersey was parked there again, pulling on his waders and talking with someone in a car from NY. Two of the three fishermen on the UEB.
Drove up river and quickly ran out of tricos. The hatch moves up stream and is still in the lower section of the UEB....
Drove up river and quickly ran out of tricos. The hatch moves up stream and is still in the lower section of the UEB....
Even the eagle left.
Posted on August 03 2017
Took Wednesday off to "supervise" the grading of our driveway prior to tomorrow's blacktop instillation. Stopped in Deposit on the way home and fishermen were lined up like a picket fence from Stilesville to Barking Dog.
Got to Deposit today at 1:45 and saw empty pools everywhere. Parked at the first fisherman- less pool and waded in. There were a few sulfurs hatching but little feeding activity....
Got to Deposit today at 1:45 and saw empty pools everywhere. Parked at the first fisherman- less pool and waded in. There were a few sulfurs hatching but little feeding activity....
So, what part of Jersey are you from?
Posted on August 01 2017
It was a cool morning so I didn't have to rush to check up on the Trico hatch (spinner fall at 69 degrees). Left the camp about nine with the temp at 63. Drove to the UEB and stopped at the first pool without a car. It's a good one and I could see a swarm of Tricos dancing about 30 feet above the water. Within minutes two things happened. The trout started rising and I heard a car door slam....
What it's all about.
Posted on July 31 2017
Judging by the absence of fishermen on the river today, the weekend fishing left something to be desired. Could have fished almost any pool in the sulfur zone today with little or no company. Chose to fish down river from Deposit. There were some sulfurs and the ubiquitous little olives that seem to be on the water rain or shine.
The fish? They had nothing to do with either fly. There were...
The fish? They had nothing to do with either fly. There were...