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...
Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report
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...
If only Dobson flies didn't twist the leader so much.
Posted on July 28 2017
First day all week that things dried out enough to take care of yard chores. Picked peaches (lots of 'em), mowed, pruned and weed killed. By 3:00 I was tired but ready to fish.
The high water had dictated that I fish the upper WB all this week, so with dropping water levels I was anxious to try the UEB. The water level was ideal, the number of wade fishermen was low but the number of boats was...
The high water had dictated that I fish the upper WB all this week, so with dropping water levels I was anxious to try the UEB. The water level was ideal, the number of wade fishermen was low but the number of boats was...
Refusals in the sulfur zone are like track soup at a hunting camp.
Posted on July 27 2017
With everything outside too wet for me to work on any of my projects, I decided to paint the bathroom. It's tiny and only took about a third of a gallon of paint but the taping, cutting in and clean up took forever. Didn't leave camp until 2:30, arrived in the Deposit area and had my pick of several pools. Don't know if fishermen had been and gone or just hadn't come. There were no flies or risers...
It's now late July, back in the car at 9:11.
Posted on July 26 2017
The "Sulfur Zone" had more than its share of fishermen and boat traffic today. Found myself wedged into a small area where there were three good fish eating sulfurs. The fish know the game and are fished to by someone every day. Got several open mouth refusals but never got a hook into any of the three good ones.
When the hatch waned about 5:00 I headed downstream. The WB has cleared quite well...
When the hatch waned about 5:00 I headed downstream. The WB has cleared quite well...
Some fish have a liking for olives.
Posted on July 25 2017
When I left camp around 1:00 I was undecided on whether to give the Neversink a try or to do battle in the sulfur zone up in Deposit. Headed west with the idea that it was early and if the WB was too muddy, high or crowded I could still head east on 17 and see if the Neversink had a sulfur hatch.
The WB was clear above Oquaga, was at a nice height and there was room to fish. Shared a pool with...
The WB was clear above Oquaga, was at a nice height and there was room to fish. Shared a pool with...
Rain, rain, go away.
Posted on July 24 2017
There's just nothing I can say. When I can fish, I'm having a really good days. But I've been rained out so many days this season that my total catch for the yeas is sure to be the lowest in almost ten years.
Went to bed last night with flash flood warnings posted for Delaware County. This morning the
USGS gauges were going straight up and most of the river system was already unfishable. Took my...
Went to bed last night with flash flood warnings posted for Delaware County. This morning the
USGS gauges were going straight up and most of the river system was already unfishable. Took my...
Someone let the air out of my balloon!
Posted on July 21 2017
After four days of walking into empty pools and finding fly hatches with trout eagerly feeding on them I was pretty well convinced that if I wasn't the greatest dry fly fisherman in the world I was surely in the top three.
Fully expecting that today would continue the "anointed one's" hot streak I rode my fully inflated ego up to Stockport where I was sure that the increased release of cold WB...
Fully expecting that today would continue the "anointed one's" hot streak I rode my fully inflated ego up to Stockport where I was sure that the increased release of cold WB...
A better place to be.
Posted on July 20 2017
Got a late start today and didn't get on the river until 3:00. Fished a pool on the UEB which had pitched a shutout against me all three times I fished it this year. Last year it was full of 15 to 17 inch fish.
Saw fish rising from the road but when I got to the spot where they were rising - nothing. My wake had put them all down. It took about fifteen minutes for them to start up again and I...
Saw fish rising from the road but when I got to the spot where they were rising - nothing. My wake had put them all down. It took about fifteen minutes for them to start up again and I...
A get away day.
Posted on July 19 2017
Drove over to the UEB this morning to see if the tricos were going yet. They aren't.
After yesterday's stint in the "sulfur zone", I opted for the quiet and solitude of the UEB. It's low and clear and if there are two anglers in a pool no one catches any fish. I didn't have to worry, the only angler I saw was sitting on a fold up chair streamside smoking a cigar.
There were a few fish feeding on...
After yesterday's stint in the "sulfur zone", I opted for the quiet and solitude of the UEB. It's low and clear and if there are two anglers in a pool no one catches any fish. I didn't have to worry, the only angler I saw was sitting on a fold up chair streamside smoking a cigar.
There were a few fish feeding on...
It's summertime, summertime sum, sum summertime.
Posted on July 18 2017
The sulfur zone -
Hot sun and warm water from the tribs MAY have started the sulfurs early. There were bugs and fish going when I arrived at 1:30 and it was over at 3:45. The hatch was poor at best but the fish did get going for about 45 minutes. Make no mistake, the fish do not suffer fools. Change flies often. Never throw the same fly back at a fish that "missed it". If you put the fly over a...
Hot sun and warm water from the tribs MAY have started the sulfurs early. There were bugs and fish going when I arrived at 1:30 and it was over at 3:45. The hatch was poor at best but the fish did get going for about 45 minutes. Make no mistake, the fish do not suffer fools. Change flies often. Never throw the same fly back at a fish that "missed it". If you put the fly over a...
The gods were angry again.
Posted on July 17 2017
The day turned out to be a microcosm of the season. Weather (high water, muddy water, thunderstorms, wind) has limited the opportunities for everyone trying to fish northeastern rivers this year. When conditions are favorable the fishing on the Delaware has been quite good, however, there have been far too many days when we just couldn't play the game.
Today I arrived about two and under...
Today I arrived about two and under...
If you want to land big fish - leave your net home!
Posted on July 14 2017
With the "Flash Flood Watch" set to expire at 8:00 pm, wouldn't you know that at 7:30 a thunder boomer hit Deposit ending my fishing for the week. Drove back to camp and as I write this Lordville has at 8:15 (despite three days of the flash flood watch), not had enough rain to increase the flow in Humphrey's Brook.
Today, with morning rain spiking river levels everywhere else, I went above Oquaga...
Today, with morning rain spiking river levels everywhere else, I went above Oquaga...
Who doesn't like a "Flash Flood Watch"?
Posted on July 13 2017
With a "Flash Flood Watch" again issued by the weather service I drove up the UEB at 2:00 pm without seeing a single fisherman. I was going to look for sulfurs above Corbett but as I crossed over the bridge it was obvious that was not going to happen. The trib above the bridge was gushing mud and the river upstream of the bridge was already muddy. Did a u-turn and headed back down stream in search...
The "sulfur zone".
Posted on July 12 2017
With flash flood and severe thunderstorm warnings in effect for the area I decided to fish close to the car. Ventured into the "sulfur zone" and found to my surprise that it was almost deserted. Perhaps the weather forecast kept people away or just maybe fishermen are finding the fish too difficult to catch. In any event I had a riff/pool all to myself.
Arrived riverside about 1:45. There were a...
Arrived riverside about 1:45. There were a...
Summer on the Delaware.
Posted on July 11 2017
After two weeks away from the river which included a trip out west and restoration work following the flood that hit our house a week ago last Saturday, it's good to be back. It's summer on the river. There are sulfurs 2:00 to 5:00 in the upper reaches of both branches. From 5:00 until 8:00 things are tough. From 8:00 until dark (got in the car at 9:45 tonight) there is good action wherever the...
The week in review.
Posted on July 07 2017
Arrived home around midnight last night after dodging two thunderstorms in route. The first was horrific. Never before have I seen so much lightning. We passed the storm in Wisconsin north of Green Bay. We were just above and several miles to the north of the storm but I had a good view of the lightning which never stopped in the twenty minutes the storm was in sight.
Trip to the Owyhee...
Trip to the Owyhee...
'Til the next time.
Posted on June 27 2017
I wanted the month to end with a bang (not a boom). Unfortunately I spent most of the afternoon dodging thunderstorms. By 4:30 I hadn't fished more than half an hour. Called it quits and was headed back to the camp when the sky cleared and the sun came out.
Stopped at a place on the BE that has always had fish (until this year), and decided to give it a fair try. Fished from about 4:45 until...
Stopped at a place on the BE that has always had fish (until this year), and decided to give it a fair try. Fished from about 4:45 until...
The way it is.
Posted on June 26 2017
Decided to follow my own advice and turn my attention to the cold water in the WB and UEB. Had hopes of finding a good hatch of summer sulfurs mid afternoon. Arrived in Deposit a little before two and knew right away by the absence of fishermen that the sulfurs hadn't started. Tried two places one above the no kill and one in the no kill. There were a very few sulfurs hatching. The only fish up...
It's time to put a thermometer in your vest.
Posted on June 24 2017
With the warm nights and daytime sunshine the areas of thermal concern all hit temps in the low 70s today. While there may yet be periods of cooler temps and cloudy days when you can fish anywhere in the system, on most days the BK, BE (below confluence with the BK) and the big river below Stockport will be too warm to fish after early morning. The trout will begin congregating at thermal refuges...
Some days are like that.
Posted on June 23 2017
Buoyed by my success the last two days I again set out for the EB in the morning. Fished a riff/run where I had success early in the year and had a big zero the second time around. Today turned out to be sorta in between. There were no olives (or any other bugs for that matter) nor were there any (alright I saw one) risers. Started with an olive and later switched to an iso.
How'd I do? In three...
How'd I do? In three...