Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report
It's not my fault, I didn't know!
Posted on November 04 2016
With an all day rain forecast for Syracuse on Thursday and partly cloudy skies for Hancock, it was a no brainer. I packed my stuff (including three extra sets of underwear in case the fishing was good) and headed down to the Delaware to close up the camp. The hills that were ablaze with red and orange from the maples were now a cold barren gray, but the red and white Oaks were in there glory with...
The last hurrah ! (perhaps).
Posted on October 20 2016
After yesterdays fiasco I set out this afternoon to try to right the ship. It rained all morning and was overcast with the threat of more rain to come. In short, it was a day tailor made for pseudos and I was determined to make the most of it. Found a pool on the Beaverkill with rising fish and no other fishermen (there were lots of fishermen on the river today). Descended a steep bank and and...
Just one of those days.
Posted on October 19 2016
Been fishing the Beaverkill since last Saturday. Every day the same, good fish rising in the pools from 1:00 'til dark. Very few anglers on the water, so you you have your choice of pools. Water is very clear and low, fish are very careful about what they eat but they can be fooled. A perfect situation for dry fly fishermen.
So whats the problem?
Well the Beaverkill is part of the Delaware...
So whats the problem?
Well the Beaverkill is part of the Delaware...
Rainbows in the bright sun?
Posted on October 18 2016
With the temp around 80 I was in no hurry to go looking for pseudos. They like it cold! Forty five with a cold rain and they float down the river by the thousands. Today - none. It really didn't matter as the Beaverkill fish were up top even in the bright sun. What were they eating? I haven't a clue. Stared at the water from two feet away and saw two ants in a five minute period when the fish in...
Things to know and a place to go.
Posted on October 17 2016
Checking the flow rates tonight I saw where the release from Pepacton has been increased from 108 to 264 CFS in an apparent attempt to balance the draw down needed to make minimum flow downstream.. While this will probably not significantly impact the Dow Jones averages, it will have an effect on the East Branch fishing. The additional flow will make for better conditions in the upper East Branch...
It beats raking leaves!
Posted on October 16 2016
The last two days have been good ones. The fall foliage is as beautiful as I have ever seen it. Syracuse beat up on #17 ranked Virginia Tech. AND the fish have decided to feed on top!
It's been a long time since I've had consistently rising fish to throw at. Yesterday was a start, today was better. Arrived at the stream at 1:30 and found fish going on top. At 6:30 when I reeled it in, they were...
It's been a long time since I've had consistently rising fish to throw at. Yesterday was a start, today was better. Arrived at the stream at 1:30 and found fish going on top. At 6:30 when I reeled it in, they were...
Increase in release brings change of plans.
Posted on October 15 2016
With the River Master sending 1500 CFS of dirty water down the WB and Lordville going from 500 CFS to 1700 CFS, I was off to fish the Beaverkill and EB. Both are incredibly low and clear and many of the pools and runs do not seem to hold fish at the current water levels.
I found fish (mostly rainbows) in some of the deeper runs and riffs. The fish are no doubt wary of eagles, mergansers and...
I found fish (mostly rainbows) in some of the deeper runs and riffs. The fish are no doubt wary of eagles, mergansers and...
Increase in release brings change of plans.
Posted on October 15 2016
With the River Master sending 1500 CFS of dirty water down the WB and Lordville going from 500 CFS to 1700 CFS, I was off to fish the Beaverkill and EB. Both are incredibly low and clear and many of the pools and runs do not seem to hold fish at the current water levels.
I found fish (mostly rainbows) in some of the deeper runs and riffs. The fish are no doubt wary of eagles, mergansers and...
I found fish (mostly rainbows) in some of the deeper runs and riffs. The fish are no doubt wary of eagles, mergansers and...
An almost perfect day.
Posted on October 14 2016
Motivated more by the lack of deer sightings from my tree stand than the expectation of good fishing, I drove down to the river. It was bright and sunny without a cloud in the sky and the foliage colors were beyond belief. If you have a chance go this weekend do it. The trees will be bare a long time. Syracuse to Binghamton and back will do the trick but the whole ride to Lordville was beautiful.
The second frost.
Posted on October 11 2016
Drove down to the camp yesterday with my bride to take in the foliage and to do some "shutdown" work. The leaves from Syracuse to Binghamton were beautiful with bright red and orange maples glittering in the sun. From Binghamton to Roscoe the colors became more muted as the drought in the ares has caused the leaves to turn in on themselves.
The big river and the Beaverkill are nothing but stone...
The big river and the Beaverkill are nothing but stone...
If you want to see what a dry river bed looks like - - -
Posted on October 06 2016
With the entire river system at it's lowest flow level in years, now is a good time to get to know it better. The big river, which is sometimes intimidating to anglers, will probably hit an all time low today. The temps remain ok for the fish and you get a chance to learn where the main channels, deep pockets and fish holding structures are located. The fish will be concentrated and may even be...
Not skunked in October.
Posted on October 03 2016
Arrived at the Beaverkill at 1:15, just in time for the pseudo hatch (they forgot to show). Found a pool with no fishermen and six good fish rising. Tried to figure out what they were eating but there wasn't anything on the water that the human eye could see. Perhaps they were just practicing but it was exciting - - - until I tried to catch them. The first one ate and I rose the other five and got...
Not much has changed.
Posted on October 03 2016
It's been a week since I promised you sporadic/intermittent reports. So here goes one. The West Branch release continues to be adjusted almost daily to meet minimum flow requirements down river. Thankfully PPL is drawing down Wallenpaupak so it can perform a dam inspection and routine maintenance. Without the additional flow from the Lackawaxen the West Branch releases would be up around 1,500.
Even the clouds didn't help.
Posted on September 26 2016
Today I gave it a good try. Left camp at noon and fished four pools on the Beaverkill. Two did not seem to have repopulated and there was no sign of fish. In the third pool I had two fish come to the fly. Both were rainbows and both ate and were landed. They were long and very lean. The fourth stop was a riff and I found numerous yearling rainbows and a few browns all of which were about 9 inches...
This and that.
Posted on September 25 2016
I've done well lately fishing mornings and evenings and sitting out the middle of the day when the sun is at its brightest. It was 39 this morning (no bugs are stirring at that temp) so I waited 'til after lunch to head out. Heard rumors of pseudos hatching in the afternoon on the Beaverkill (they didn't where I was) so I drove over and pulled into one of the many "Angler Parking Lots" and was...
If you come down, bring an extra shirt.
Posted on September 23 2016
Went out again in the morning and tried the lower big east - nothing. Drove over to the Beaverkill and found fish willing to look at/eat iso emergers and spinners. The Beaverkill is low and clear and the fish are not easily fooled. If one doesn't eat, move on.
In the evening I tried two pools in the big river, farther down than I have been fishing. Stay above Buckingham. I hooked one fish in the...
In the evening I tried two pools in the big river, farther down than I have been fishing. Stay above Buckingham. I hooked one fish in the...
The second boat.
Posted on September 22 2016
Gave the morning fishing a try today and was glad I did. Fished several places on the upper part of the big east and the lower reaches of the Beaverkill. Found at least one fish every place I stopped but I never rose more than three in any one place. They were all rainbows and most took the fly on blind casts. If I were to fish those same places tomorrow my report would probably be less positive....
One is better than none!
Posted on September 21 2016
Spent the morning putting up tree stands. Drove down to the camp and with the bright sum and warm temps, was in no hurry to go fishing. Decided to take care of a few things around the yard and before I knew it it was 5:00.
With the recent fluctuations in the releases and the warm rain water, the temp had risen in both the WB and main stem. The increased temp was no threat to the fish but it has...
With the recent fluctuations in the releases and the warm rain water, the temp had risen in both the WB and main stem. The increased temp was no threat to the fish but it has...
The "Rain Event".
Posted on September 19 2016
This summer we have had several dry periods in the drainage system. Thunderstorms have distributed their water unevenly to say the least and the most recent series of storms is no exception. The west branch got the bulk of the rain with gauges above and below the reservoir recording flows of over 2,000 CFS. The water below the reservoir came from the tributaries (release was cut to 300 CFS) and...
The times they are a changing.
Posted on September 18 2016
The hummingbirds have gone, the camp buck is strutting around with his shiny new three inch spikes ( the does are NOT impressed) and last night the screens had more than a dozen pumpkin (October) caddis on them.
I've been whining a bit about the lack of rainy, cloudy days and today we got one. So what did I do? Went fishing of course. Was it as good as I hoped it would be? No. Was it worth going?...
I've been whining a bit about the lack of rainy, cloudy days and today we got one. So what did I do? Went fishing of course. Was it as good as I hoped it would be? No. Was it worth going?...
Big change in the works???
Posted on September 16 2016
As I mentioned in an earlier post PPL has scheduled a draw down of Wallenpaupak starting tomorrow. If this happens there will be a corresponding cut back in the release from Cannonsville. At present levels most of the WB is not safe to wade. The big river is at about 1650 CFS and can be waded. Both can be floated.
Fished the big river downstream from Stockport and again found a few fish. There...
Fished the big river downstream from Stockport and again found a few fish. There...
Another "Dry Front".
Posted on September 14 2016
Called the Troutfitter this morning at 10:30 to give them an update on the Delaware and learned that it was cloudy, cool and raining in Syracuse. In East Branch where I was, it was 75 and sunny. The front finally came through this afternoon with a brisk wind and cooler temps but not a drop of rain. It's been hot and humid for sure, but the watershed can't buy an inch of rain.
Tried the...
Tried the...
When your vehicle and trailer aren't at the takeout when you arrive - - - - -
Posted on September 13 2016
Didn't start my day until almost three. Yesterday in the bright sun, nothing happened until the sun went behind the hills so I had no urge to rush. Was riding around "just looking" when I drove into Balls Eddy to see if there were any bugs on the water (no) and to count trailers (0). There were two fishermen sitting in waders by a drift boat bobbing in the water. They flagged me down and explained...
When your vehicle and trailer aren't at the takeout when you arrive - - - - -
Posted on September 13 2016
Didn't start my day until almost three. Yesterday in the bright sun, nothing happened until the sun went behind the hills so I had no urge to rush. Was riding around "just looking" when I drove into Balls Eddy to see if there were any bugs on the water (no) and to count trailers (0). There were two fishermen sitting in waders by a drift boat bobbing in the water. They flagged me down and explained...
Decent olives get some fish up.
Posted on September 12 2016
The crisp, dry air felt nice, mid forties last night cooled the rivers and there was "space behind the hills" for the first time in two months. The bright sun was still with us, however, and the frontal system didn't bring enough rain to fill a tea cup.
As promised I tried the Lordville riff this afternoon. The bright sun probably didn't help - then again it might not have mattered- never saw a...
As promised I tried the Lordville riff this afternoon. The bright sun probably didn't help - then again it might not have mattered- never saw a...
A fire in the woodstove.
Posted on September 12 2016
For the first time since last June I needed a fire this morning. Temp outside was 46 and in here it was 64. The front went through yesterday and hopefully took all that hot muggy weather we've been having and dumped it somewhere out in the ocean.
For the first time in months all of the rivers are OK to fish temp wise. Of course there will be few if any fish in the big east which has been well...
For the first time in months all of the rivers are OK to fish temp wise. Of course there will be few if any fish in the big east which has been well...
Same old, same old.
Posted on September 10 2016
I don't fish on the weekends, but here I am writing a fishing report on Saturday night. Our social calendar is quite rigid during the "big bug" season. My wife understands and I love her for it. This time of year I am happy to make concessions to preserve peace in the family and to see friends who aren't available on the weekends. The last two weeks have been a little jumbled but it's late in the...
1360 and rising!
Posted on September 07 2016
Its hard to keep up with the river master. He (she) has been increasing the release from Cannonsville twice a day to meet minimum flow at Montague. The West Branch is now difficult to wade in most places. The big river is cool to Lordvill and below. It is only a matter of time until the fish repopulate the lower river. There were seven anglers at Buckingham tonight. From what I saw they out...
West Branch release bumped another 241 CFS.
Posted on September 05 2016
With another bump in the WB release (now about 1040 CFS) I decided to try the big river down at Lordville before the additional cold water shut things down. In about 45 minutes of fishing I saw a few of the large black caddis hatching but I did not raise a fish. It will take a while before fish leave their summer residence and move back into their cool weather homes. It doesn't help that day after...
More bang for your buck.
Posted on September 04 2016
It's Labor Day weekend, a time when many fishermen close out the season with a last trip to Delaware. This year is no exception. Showing no regard for just how bad the fishing has been lately, they have dipped into their wallets and shelled out money for a guide to take them down the river. I wasn't here to count on Friday or Saturday (often the busiest float days) but today the launch and takeout...
Another major change in the West Branch release.
Posted on September 02 2016
After cutting back the WB release to 400 yesterday, the River Master bumped it up to over 800 today. Why? With Wallenpaupak generation information not available one is left guessing. My guess is that with the cooler air temps there will probably be less demand for electricity and PPL is cutting back on its generation schedule to save water for times of greater demand. Without the additional water...
Flow change update.
Posted on September 01 2016
The release at Stilesville was dropped to 400 CFS today under the FFMP which calls for a flow adjustment on September first. At this time the release on the EB remains unchanged.
What are the effects? It's hard to say. PPL power generation at Wallenpaupak has continued unabated, making it unnecessary for the River Master to call for additional WB water to meet minimum flow at Montague. Haven't been...
What are the effects? It's hard to say. PPL power generation at Wallenpaupak has continued unabated, making it unnecessary for the River Master to call for additional WB water to meet minimum flow at Montague. Haven't been...
Eating liver would be more fun.
Posted on August 30 2016
Today I left camp around 2:15, it really doesn't matter 'cause the sulfur hatch is over up river- and- if there is anything going on anywhere I'm not privy to it. But I've only been fishing evenings and I wanted to know - now I do --- Stay home!!! Everyone else is. Saw one guide the past three days and almost no fishermen.
Fished up in the Deposit area for most of the afternoon and early evening....
Fished up in the Deposit area for most of the afternoon and early evening....
On a scale of one to ten- - - I give it a three.
Posted on August 29 2016
With bright sun (yet again) I didn't venture out to fish until six PM. I needn't have rushed. There was no one on the river from Lordville to
Stockport (one car there) no trailers or cars at Shehawken, no trailers at Balls Eddy, no cars at either gamelands parking areas and one angler standing on the bridge at Hale Eddy. Up river (where the action is) there was no one in sight above or below the...
Stockport (one car there) no trailers or cars at Shehawken, no trailers at Balls Eddy, no cars at either gamelands parking areas and one angler standing on the bridge at Hale Eddy. Up river (where the action is) there was no one in sight above or below the...
Found a way to beat the heat!
Posted on August 28 2016
Today was another scorcher One of far too many this summer. Chose to stay at camp and work on distributing the top soil/gravel that I purchased earlier this year. After a cool shower and a short nap I felt good enough to at least drive around and look at what wasn't happening.
Left camp a little after 6:00 and took a drive up the EB. Saw a dark haired angler heading downstream from the junction of...
Left camp a little after 6:00 and took a drive up the EB. Saw a dark haired angler heading downstream from the junction of...
Back in the waders again.
Posted on August 27 2016
Friday night with old friends was great. Got chores done today and decided to pull the plug on the reunion, first one I've missed but I just needed some quiet peaceful time. Decided to return to the fishing camp, finish up some chores and try to catch a fish or two. Did both.
Didn't get here until after four and stopped in Deposit to see what, if anything was up (nothing). Drove down river...
Didn't get here until after four and stopped in Deposit to see what, if anything was up (nothing). Drove down river...
I've got better things to do!
Posted on August 25 2016
After four days of fishing, I've landed a total of six "countable fish" (I don't count the yearlings). It's true I didn't put in my usual number of hours - but still - 6 fish? It's got to be my lowest total ever for four days this time of year. So I'm out of here 'til Monday. Have a dinner scheduled with old friends, a high school reunion and a big yellow birch tree that blew over at home and...
The game was closer than the score.
Posted on August 24 2016
At the end of the day I had landed but one fish.
Decided not to fish tricos this am. Will probably try yet another place tomorrow. Reports from Deposit were consistent. Fewer and fewer sulfurs, some olives with an iso thrown in. Boats were anchored on the best spots. What risers there were, were looking at everything with their bifocals on. If the fishing was good DRC wouldn't have to go to their...
Decided not to fish tricos this am. Will probably try yet another place tomorrow. Reports from Deposit were consistent. Fewer and fewer sulfurs, some olives with an iso thrown in. Boats were anchored on the best spots. What risers there were, were looking at everything with their bifocals on. If the fishing was good DRC wouldn't have to go to their...
The skunk danced too soon.
Posted on August 23 2016
With the morning temp in the 40's I didn't have to rush. Left camp about 9:30 and drove up to the EB to fish the trico hatch. Arrived about ten to find lots of bugs - all still in the air. They started to fall about a half hour later and the fish fed for a good two hours. There was no wind, a bright blue sky and lots of fish to throw at. Almost all of my good casts got at least a refusal, many...
It's all in how you say it.
Posted on August 22 2016
If I was doing this report for a lodge or fly shop along the river that was trying to promote the river and get people to come and fish - - -
I would say: Couldn't get on the river until after six due to prior commitments. With the cool day, the water temps were down and I headed for the big river. Saw hebes, yellow sallies, and isonichia hatching and spinners over the water late. Trout were seen...
Waiting for a cold rain.
Posted on August 20 2016
With most all of the anglers and guides concentrating on the upper WB where the fish have been pounded for the last three months and where the sulfur hatch has all but disappeared, I took my game elsewhere.
In the am I tried the upper big river. It looked good for the first ten minutes as I hooked and landed two small rainbows, got a refusal and saw another fish rise. Then nothing for two hours.
In...
So you want to fish the Delaware.
Posted on August 18 2016
If you want to go trout fishing you really don't have many viable options right now. It's been hot and in many places, dry. Freestone streams are too low and warm to fish. Tailwaters? You've got the Delaware River System, arguably the best trout stream east of the Rockies right in your back yard. Big browns and rainbows sipping dries, any anglers dream. Just hop in the car, head on down and catch...
Golfers vs fishermen.
Posted on August 17 2016
First of all, my apologies for the appearance of the reports. I DO break the report down into paragraphs but for some unknown reason it has been printed in one big paragraph the last few days. If someone can tell me how to fix it please do. If anyone has a friend who is a golfer, you know the fatal mistake is to ask him how he did. You can only hope he just played nine and he shot a thirty nine...
"Current" state of affairs.
Posted on August 16 2016
For you early risers, the trico hatch offers an opportunity to sharpen your dry fly skills. Be on the river early and look for a cloud of the little buggers swarming over a riff (Cedar Waxwings will be having them for breakfast). Get downstream in a quiet pool below the riff and wait for the fish to start feeding. Most literature says the spinner fall will occur when the temp hits 69 degrees. I've...
Day - Night doubleheader.
Posted on August 15 2016
Left at 7:15 this morning to try a little trico fishing. Found a good sized group of spinners being attacked by waxwings over a run on the EB. Got in the water and saw fish eating duns. Within fifteen minutes there were spinners on the water and even more risers. Had fish to throw at for two hours. Hooked about a dozen and landed about half. Fun? You bet. Exciting? Not so much. As is often the...
A good day to watch the olympics.
Posted on August 14 2016
The parade of storms last night missed us. The water was lower, clearer and colder. I was there at one pm for the sulfur hatch. Donned my waders, vest - - - and then my raincoat. When the flash and boom came I decided to sit in the car and wait it out. Good decision. It rained hard enough and long enough to get all of the tribs gushing brown. When it finally let up I drove down stream to get ahead...
Barely missed a second bear!
Posted on August 14 2016
For the second time this season I had to brake hard to miss a bear crossing the road against the light. This one chose to cross an unlighted area on route 97 in downtown Hancock just three houses up the street from the Rite Aide Pharmacy. You never know. The entire system was hit by thunderstorms Friday night and was high and muddy Saturday morning. With tricos out of the picture, I waited until...
At least I got the net wet.
Posted on August 12 2016
After 14 days out west (nine on the Owyhee, two on Silver Creek and three in transit, I arrived home at five am Wednesday morning ( Delta computer melt down didn't help the trip home). Yard work, bill paying and other misc. chores took up two days and a flat tire this morning delayed arrival at the fishing camp by another couple of hours. The 94 degree temp and the hay field claiming to be my...
Gone, gone, gone!
Posted on July 26 2016
If all goes well I'll be casting to big browns on the Owyhee River in eastern Oregon starting Thursday. On August 2nd I'll be driving over to Silver Creek in Idaho for a shot at the monster fish that sip dries there. Scheduled to head east on the 11th and should be back on the Delaware within a day or two.
Enjoy the sulfur hatch in the Deposit area. If you don't have a long ride home stay 'til...
Enjoy the sulfur hatch in the Deposit area. If you don't have a long ride home stay 'til...
Big bump in West Branch release!
Posted on July 24 2016
If you've checked the Stilesville water level you know that the release has been bumped from 500 to 777 cfs. This is a substantial increase which will alter conditions on the West Branch and the upper big river.
How will they be affected? Some things we know for sure. The algae in the water will be increased short term as the higher flow will wash it loose from the shore lines , rocks and...
How will they be affected? Some things we know for sure. The algae in the water will be increased short term as the higher flow will wash it loose from the shore lines , rocks and...