Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report
Two Outa Three Ain't Bad
Posted on July 26 2025
True to my word, I went out this morning searching for a place to fish that had bugs, fish, and solitude. Selected a spot on the PA side of the BR where the WB water and the EB water haven't mixed yet. I was the only one there. Entered the...
Goin' Searchin', Gonna Find 'Em.
Posted on July 25 2025
Got another good night's sleep, (may be ready to play before Caitlin Clark), and tackled the lawn before the heat got serious. That onerous task out of the way, I tied the days quota of flies and wondered what to do next. Fortunately the phone rang and I had to...
Maybe I'm Becoming A Late Inning Relief Pitcher.
Posted on July 24 2025
With another late August like night with a predicted low of around fifty, it was my intention to fish another spot on the BR this morning. It could well be another month before the water temperature affords us the opportunity again. Alas, it didn't happen. The triple play yesterday took...
Life's A Dance You Learn As You Go.
Posted on July 23 2025
Todays fishing took on the guise of a three act play, one that ran the the gamut from romance to comedy to tragedy. A-119 was the stand-in for the fisherman who just never showed up. Act I - With the air temperature at dawn 47, and the water temp at...
It's A Great Day To Be Alive - - Why Can't Every Day Be Just This Good?
Posted on July 22 2025
Arrived at the Lordville Estate right at noon today with plans to fish the afternoon sulfurs, it didn't happen. Spent yesterday afternoon reconstructing the dams and repairing the plumbing that feeds water into the trout and bass ponds in Lafayette. Yesterday the bass pond feeder was dry, the trout pond...
Wind Knots And Tailing Loops.
Posted on July 21 2025
Sitting home looking at the fishing reports, couldn't help but notice that since July 1st, the Delaware River Club's fish of the day photos have shown a total of four fish, only one of which contained the notation that it was caught on a dry. DRC has experienced guides and...
Forgot How Much Fun It Is To Have Rising Fish To Cast At.
Posted on July 19 2025
Just so you know, I read and learn from the comments. I have heard of numerous encounters with stripers this year following the two months of high water. Butch's post about someone catching 5 is still unsettling. Hopefully anyone catching one above Callicoon makes sure that it has eaten it's...
Will Wage War On The Crab Grass Tomorrow.
Posted on July 18 2025
It's been three weeks since the groin pull and last night was the first full night's sleep that I've had. It felt great. After yesterdays yard work blitz I decided to concentrate on the back porch. Vacuumed up dead bugs, filled the wood pile and prepared things for the "Home...
Thank The Lord For The Nighttime, Forget The Days.
Posted on July 17 2025
Got up early today, in part because the ache from the groin pull makes it hard to sleep and in part because I wanted to do the yard work before it got too hot. Had the peach tree remains stacked up under the porch before 8:30, pruned the Holly tree...
Sharing Memories With Fellow Fishermen Is Always Time Well Spent.
Posted on July 16 2025
Spent an hour this morning cutting down the cling peach tree that succumbed from a combination of the harsh winter and the ravages of brown rot. My lack of knowledge about the need to prune full sized peach trees didn't help either. Came in hot and sweaty and made the...
When The Fog Is On The River, There Is No Wind.
Posted on July 15 2025
There has been considerable grumbling this season about having to fish in the fog. I've written about it as recently as June 30th. My only complaint about the fog is that it seems to negatively affect my depth perception and hence the accuracy of my casts. I did my best...
This, That And The Grammarian.
Posted on July 14 2025
For about a week I was content congratulating myself on yet another perfect report, not a single of the Grammarian's terse comments, (listing the days typos or spelling errors), was to be found). Then reality sunk in. On June 27, the second T was added to Corbet. Not a single...
The Bench Of Redemption Has Put Splinters In Lots of Keisters.
Posted on July 12 2025
It being the last day of my fishing week, I decided to give it my all, groin pull be damned. Encouraged by all the empty sulfur nymph husks floating by the Hale Eddy Bridge last evening, I wanted to give the sulfurs a chance to redeem themselves. About 1:30 I...
Just An Any Old Kind Of Day.
Posted on July 11 2025
Was unable to work up any enthusiasm for the afternoon hatch in the sulfur zone. I don't blame the wade fishermen who were kept off the river all of May and June by high water. Just maybe, the drift boaters might might show a little consideration and not anchor up...
The Last Hour Of Daylight Needs To Be Two Hours Long.
Posted on July 10 2025
Called Vicki's Unisex Hair Salon this morning and asked for an appointment between 11:00 and 12:30 anytime this week. Vicki said she was going to be closed Thursday and Friday and all she had today was 3:30. I took it. Half an hour later the phone rang, it was David...
It's Not Always Easy Being Me!
Posted on July 09 2025
It's 7:00 pm, and it's raining. It's a gentle rain with little or no wind, the kind I enjoy fishing in, and here I am typing a fishing report. Why? The Chiropractor just may have overdone the stretching of my pulled groin muscle yesterday and the groin muscle took it...
I Feel Lucky
Posted on July 08 2025
It was hard to get enthused about anything today, two doctors appointments, a sweltering hot day with temps well into the nineties, and on the road too late to fish the Dorotheas. Bought a new dehumidifier for the basement at the Lordville Estate and lugged it down the cellar stairs...
It's Not Easy Getting A Delaware River Fish To Eat Your Fly.
Posted on July 06 2025
Jean departed for Lafayette mid morning. I did a little yard work, watered the tomatoes, ate lunch, and at about 1:30 headed for Deposit. My normal procedure is to stop at the Hale Eddy bridge, then drive up the back side of the river looking for both bugs and rising...
Hope You Had A Bang-up Fourth Of July.
Posted on July 06 2025
Jean came down to take in the world famous Lordville Fourth of July Parade. When the roads were reopened we took a ride into the area between route 17 and route 97. Some beautiful scenery with expensive second homes surrounding small lakes and reservoirs. It being a holiday weekend the...
It Ain't Over Till The Spinners Fall.
Posted on July 03 2025
Left the Lordville Estate at 10:00 after first checking the water temp at Lordville. High water has kept me from wading the BR and now that it is low enough to wade safely, the water temp is approaching the 70 degree no fish mark. Never saw a boat or wade...
There Only Was One Choice.
Posted on July 02 2025
Had the same kinda afternoon today as exquisite fly-tyer Jim N. did yesterday, sans the fat 19 inch brown. Between yesterday and today I caught half a dozen yearlings, all but one of which were rainbows. The biggest one was over 10 inches long which is interesting only because yearling...
Sometimes It's Not Just Your Mind That's In A fog.
Posted on July 01 2025
As late as 2:30 today, there was talk about putting me on injured reserve. A "strained groin muscle", (incurred either during an over enthusiastic workout or by sneezing), led to 5 virtually sleepless nights. I'd like to point out that I did fish with the injury on Thursday and Friday...
All I Have To Do, Is Dream, Dream, Dream - - - -
Posted on June 28 2025
Fluky little rainstorms continue to slow the descent of the water levels. One hit the Willow another Oquaga. Cannonsville is not spilling, but only because the release is equal to or greater than what the spill would be. The forecast is decent for the next week and perhaps the rivers...
I'd Rather Not Go To Montana.
Posted on June 27 2025
It's only 8:15 and I'm back at the Lordville Estate writing the fishing report, and it will be short. Drove up to Deposit around 12:30 to see if the Dorotheas were going, they weren't. Returned to the LVE without seeing a bug or a rise and but two waders and...
Don't Care What Anyone Says, The Fish I'm Catchin' Are Huge.
Posted on June 26 2025
After taking two personal days, (high water and mid 90's temps), I was anxious to get back down to the Lordville Estate, if for no other reason than to cut the grass before the next deluge. Got the grass cut, put things away, had lunch, looked out at the bright...
Can Anyone Conjure Up An Ice Age?
Posted on June 23 2025
Spent a couple hours on the phone with Tim Pokorny of the DEC, (Chris Van Maaren, gave him the unenviable job), and Jeff Skelding of FUDR. Tim heads the shocking program that has expanded to include the UEB/EB this year. When I talked with him the release had been increased...
Here's Something You Can Do While Not Fishing
Posted on June 23 2025
With the Cannonsville Reservoir spilling hot water, (the Stilesville gage shows the water temperature to already be approaching 70 degrees), and with the air temperature predicted to be in the mid- nineties for the next two days, the West Branch fishery will be threatened. The FFMP plan states that if...
I've Learned My Lesson, Now All I Have To Do Is Remember It.
Posted on June 21 2025
Today was the longest day of the year, tomorrow will be one second shorter. Strangely I only fished two hours today and the last half hour was in the dark. Love long days and am always bummed when we take the first step towards the dark days of winter. On...
On The Road Again.
Posted on June 20 2025
Today started out better than yesterday. Jean's 8:00 o'clock call woke me up to bright sunshine and by noon the lawn was dry enough to finish cutting. Spent the early afternoon flies, put them in one of those little round plastic boxes that you get at the Troutfitter when you...
Sometime A change Of Scenery Isn't A Bad Thing.
Posted on June 19 2025
As most who follow the reports know, I've been fishing the east side of the system. Why? Better water levels for wading, next to no boats, very few fishermen, decent bugs, and enough 'bows and browns to keep me happy. So today I went west. Why? Because the BK, if...
The Delaware River System, A Better Place To Be.
Posted on June 18 2025
Want to thank everyone who has taken the time to post about their experiences both on the Delaware River System and " Out West". Some of the comments bring back fond memories of my many trips. The Henry's Fork is a delightful river to fish, if the wind isn't blowing....
If Catching A "Big One" Is your Goal, Step Up To The Plate And Take Your Swings.
Posted on June 17 2025
It's 10:05 pm, do you know where your fly boxes are? Mine, (the metal ones), are on the shelf next to the stove pipe and yes I have a fire going. When I left the fishing camp, the radar showed a thin band of light green passing through the area....
Getting To Fish In Solitude On A Beautiful River Isn't A Bad Father's Day Present.
Posted on June 16 2025
Got off to a slow start this morning, and didn't get on the road until almost 11:30. There hasn't been much but activity where I've been able to fish until at least 7:00 pm so there was no need to rush. Got down to Deposit and rode along the river...
Will The Release Go To 1,500 CFS Tonight On The WB?
Posted on June 15 2025
Drove up to Cortland Friday to watch my granddaughter's lacrosse team play in the semifinals for the state championship. They played a team from Long Island that is undefeated and ranked number one in the state. The team is still undefeated having beaten our girls 15 - 7. To Ed...
I Get Around.
Posted on June 13 2025
Drove up the PA side the last two days and it's plain to see that the big bug season is over. The takeouts hold a more modest number of trailers, haven't seen a drift boat go by the fishing camp in over a week, nomadic guides are departing for rivers...
Ice Boxes, Windmills And Herter's, "Tenacious For Quality".
Posted on June 12 2025
It's 10:00 pm on the dot, and with a PM on the table I will attempt to relate the day's happenings without once again making them disappear. Brian, you were supposed to smile, my wife says, "Not everyone gets your sense of humor", you did. I'm always open to learning...
Everyone Deserves A Second Chance.
Posted on June 11 2025
Its been a rough few days for A-119, what with being accused of disseminating ridiculous propaganda, calling wind turbines windmills, and suffering through the disappearance of not one but two blog pages. After Monday's last hour fish hooking extravaganza I decided to take it easy and get some things done...
n Is All That is Left.
Posted on June 11 2025
n Yesterday I lost all but the first paragraph of the report and typed it over. Today I was typing the last sentence and the GD thing disappeared again. I'm just not trying to type it over again at 11:00 pm. Sorry but it's just ridiculous propaganda from someone who...
Today Turned Out Much Better Than I thought It Would.
Posted on June 10 2025
Drove down to the fishing camp this morning in another misty drizzle. The blades on the windmills between Windsor and Deposit disappeared at the top of each rotation in the low hanging clouds. Stopped at Jim Serio's real estate office, (he is my source for all information pertaining to the...
There's Not Much Else For Us To Talk About - - - The WB Fishing We Had Once Is Gone.
Posted on June 09 2025
With the flow at Walton, (above Cannonsville), peaking at 4,500 cfs, the WB and BR will again be off limits to wade fishermen for the foreseeable future. So far the storms have left the east side untouched. The big bug season is over, but as long as the water temps...
Save The Last Dance For Me.
Posted on June 08 2025
Back home after watching my granddaughter's lacrosse team win their quarterfinal game in the state tournament. There next game is against the team that is ranked number one in the state and number three in the nation. Out of habit I checked the water flows only to find that the...
Is The Glass Half Full Or Half Empty?
Posted on June 07 2025
It's noon on Friday and with a flood watch on the menu for this afternoon. It gives me time to attempt to quell the kerfuffle caused by Ed Jones first post. It could have been read as a somewhat sarcastic remark agreeing with my blog post title, or it could...
It Was A Skunking No Matter How I Try To Spin It.
Posted on June 06 2025
Did yard work early to avoid the heat, I didn't, came in soaked, put my clothes out on the porch to dry and took a shower, had lunch, tied flies, waited until after three, and took a drive up to Deposit. Started yesterday at 5:30 and both the bugs and...
If You Enjoy A challenge, Come, The Fish Are Huge.
Posted on June 05 2025
All I had to do was say I hadn't seen any wildlife and presto, a doe walked her wobbly legged fawn across Lordville Roar in front of me, a fox stuck his head out of the grass along the dirt road downstream from monument, and an eagle sat on a...
Born To Fish Again, I'm A Brand New Man.
Posted on June 04 2025
Promised to finish answering the questions so here goes. Dennis 2 - Anyone who has ever watched me fish, knows, that I keep the fly in the water. Often I pick the fly up and put it back down on the forward cast, almost never do I take more than...
Wind Knots And Tailing Loops
Posted on June 03 2025
Jim N. & Steve -Lordville rattlesnakes - They are endangered and protected. By nature they are not aggressive would rather retreat than fight. Biggest danger is stepping on one or falling on one going down the bank from the railroad tracks to the river. Have seen numerous ones on Lordville...
Thanks For All The Questions, I'll Give You Some Answers In The Morning.
Posted on June 02 2025
With two months, including most of the "big bug season" in the books, I thought it might be helpful to lend some perspective to the fishing season to date. My log books, which span 34 years offer a pretty realistic picture of the variations in the fish population numbers and...
Homeward Bound.
Posted on June 01 2025
We had about twenty four hours of "no spill" and now it will start all over again. Because it's the first of June instead of the first of May, this spill has the potential to be far more harmful to the fishery. Why? In May the surface water spill made...
A Tough Few Days For The Lordville Rattlers.
Posted on May 31 2025
After fishing nine straight days it was time to go home, see Jean, watch our granddaughter's lacrosse team advance in the sectional championship, wash my clothes, mow the grass, pay the bills, have lunch with an old friend, and just catch my breath. Wednesday, the last day I fished, the...
Why Is Gasoline $3.35 in Hancock, $3.19 in Roscoe And $2.79 In Syracuse?
Posted on May 28 2025
It was an eventful day, Mark departed for Greensboro at 7:30 this morning. I devoted the day to catching up on yard work. Since the rains came, I have mowed three times and done nothing else. Pruned around the trees and bushes, dug up a deceased apricot tree, turned over...