Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report
You Are My Sunshine, My Only Sunshine, Please Take My Sunshine Away.
Posted on May 27 2025
What more could anyone ask for than bright sunshine and warm temperatures after dealing with seemingly endless days of cold drizzly weather? Well some of the fishermen who spent the day in a drift boat today might well tell you that a few more clouds would have been nice, others...
Sunday Morning Coming Down.
Posted on May 26 2025
Life at the Lordville Estate continued at a hectic pace with Jean checking out after breakfast and Mark checking back in on his way back to N.C. With a brisk NW wind and rising barometer I decided the day would be better spent off the BR, where I have found...
What To Do When Your Perfect Manhattan Isn't Perfect?
Posted on May 25 2025
It's not easy trying to figure out water levels here on the Delaware system. It has rained every day but the rivers go up and down like the stock market when Trump announces or pauses tariffs. Today they were down despite on and off showers all day long. Temperatures got...
Just Cancel The Memorial Day Barbeque And Come.
Posted on May 24 2025
With Mark off to spend the weekend with his parents, I was left with no option but to wade. With the monsoon season showing no signs of coming to an end, and a somewhat irrational desire to fish a pool unpopulated by either drifters or waders, my choices were very...
Rainy Days and Mondays Always Make Me Glad.
Posted on May 23 2025
The day dawned in a drizzle with the red stuff in the porch thermometer hunkered down at the 40 degree mark. The precipitation continued all day, with the air temp climbing as high as 48. The water temps throughout the system struggled to reach 50. We sat in the house,...
To Come Or Not To Come - That Is The Question
Posted on May 22 2025
It was another difficult day to be on the river. High temp of 49 with a light all day drizzle, with a wind from the SE that really was no factor. We left the Lordville Estate about 1:30 in hopes of at least finding some olives. Stopped at every place...
A surf and turf day.
Posted on May 21 2025
Woke to a temp of 41 degrees on the porch so we were in no hurry to get on the water. Left the Lordville Estate at 1:00 pm and again headed east. The pool I had hoped to fish was occupied by three anglers. We stopped at several other pools...
No Sense Calling It A Wind Until Someone Gives It A Name.
Posted on May 20 2025
Drove down this morning to fish with a long time friend from North Carolina who fishes the South Holston, a TVA stream that has an incredible number of wild brown trout. Unfortunately most of the fish are under twelve inches long. It's a fun place to fish but lacks the...
Let Me Tell You Where It's At, (reprise).
Posted on May 19 2025
Since Jim N. wasn't happy with my last effort trying to explain "where it's at", here's a second attempt. The Hendrickson hatch was basically over at the end of April on the freestones and they entered the dreaded doldrums. The rivers were all blown out the first week of May...
Let Me Tell You Where It's At.
Posted on May 18 2025
After yesterday's unsuccessful efforts to find rising fish before 7:00 pm, I found little incentive to continue practicing my casting. At my age, wisdom says, " that I might well be better off saving all those blind casts for a time when there is actually a fish rising within casting...
On Your Mark, Get Set, - - - - -
Posted on May 17 2025
Waited for the T-Boomers to pass through this morning and, when they did, went fishing. Needn't have rushed. Went east again, found a sellout crowd fishing the Willow, and numerous anglers willing to tackle the BK at 800 cfs. In what was midday sun, I never saw a bug or...
Time To Add More Fly Boxes To Your Vest.
Posted on May 16 2025
Having been in dry-dock for the first two weeks of what is supposed to be the apex of the "big bug" season, I was understandably anxious to get back down to the Lordville Estate. There was no illusion, however, that I would be wading into pods of feeding fish. My...
Maybe Tomorrow - - - - -
Posted on May 15 2025
As of today there are limited wade opportunities on both the Willow and the BK. The WB, EB, UEB, and BR are still too high to wade. Will be taking Jean to the airport early tomorrow, (Thursday), morning and then heading down to mow the lawn and perhaps see if...
Be Safe, Not Sorry.
Posted on May 11 2025
It's Mother's Day, May 11th, a third of the way through what is widely regarded as the best month of fishing on the Delaware River System and I've caught a total of three fish, (on May 1st). The river system is currently unfishable for wade fishermen and will continue to...
Who'll Stop The Rain?
Posted on May 09 2025
With Pepacton now spilling there is no where on the river system that wade anglers can even get into the water. There is a flood watch for Delaware County. It is currently raining with over an inch of rain predicted for today. With rising water from the Pepacton spill and...
I'm Not Even Going To Launch The Ark.
Posted on May 07 2025
It's 8:15 and I'm waiting a couple of hours to see if things dry out enough to mow the lawn before leaving for Lafayette. The sun is out right now and it's not predicted to rain again until this afternoon. The good - With Cannonsville spilling most of the silt...
I've Got Better Things To Do.
Posted on May 06 2025
Took a leisurely drive down yesterday morning after my appointment with the ENT Dr., not to fish but to try to get the grass mowed, make a dump run and perhaps paint the fly tying room. Stopped in Deposit and saw a trout rise down below the town bridge. Got...
You Know They Don't Come Easy!
Posted on May 04 2025
Sitting here at home looking out at the fog and rain, it seemed like a good time for a Wind Knots and Tailing Loops segment, except there have been almost no questions. Hopefully Ed S. and I provided more than enough theories about odd hour Hendrickson sightings to satisfy Jim...
Has anyone seen a really good pseudo or Hendrickson hatch?
Posted on May 03 2025
There are three factors worthy of consideration in trying to assess the reasons for what I thought was a very difficult April, fishing wise. The wind, the low water, and the lack of bugs. The wind - As I have previously stated, the "Hendrickson winds", are an understandable event. The...
Michael, Row The Boat Ashore.
Posted on May 02 2025
Decided to take it easy today. Mowed the lawn as soon as it dried out this morning, made some business calls, had lunch and at 1:30 headed out fishing, destination unknown. I seldom stop to fish if there is someone else fishing the pool, (except in the sulfur zone). I...
I Hate Caddis!
Posted on May 01 2025
Spent the day on the river in virtual solitude. Never had a boat float past me and never had a fisherman within two hundred yards of me. Started at the lower game lands, hadn't fished there in a couple of years and with only two cars in the lot, (one...
It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over.
Posted on April 30 2025
Went out in the yard early in the morning when the grass was wet with dew and applied weed and feed with crabgrass inhibitor. Started a little before seven thinking I'd be done before Jean's eight o'clock phone call, but I didn't finish until eight fifteen. Called Jean and then...
It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over.
Posted on April 30 2025
Went out in the yard early in the morning when the grass was wet with dew and applied weed and feed with crabgrass inhibitor. Started a little before seven thinking I'd be done before Jean's eight o'clock phone call, but I didn't finish until eight fifteen. Called Jean and then...
Today, I Never Lost A Fish!
Posted on April 29 2025
If anyone is wondering, I didn't miss not being on the river this past weekend one little bit. Rain, muddy water. cold temps and a sneaky little draft on Sunday. Drove down this morning in bright sunshine, light and variable winds and rapidly rising temps. Left the fishing camp at...
What You Need To Know To Go.
Posted on April 27 2025
Left for home this morning with a steady rain falling, and all graphs heading straight up. As I write this Oquaga is gushing 600cfs of mud, (up from 40cfs yesterday). The WB above Oquaga was muddy half way across at the town bridge at noon today, but the river should...
Maybe, It's Better To Have Hooked And Lost, Than Never Hooked At All?
Posted on April 26 2025
In case you haven't noticed, there have been dandelions in bloom everywhere, and still the Hendricksons have not made a meaningful appearance on most sections of the river system. The only Hendricksons I've seen have been at Lordville the past two nights. I have assumed they were the remnants of...
Don't Bug The One Bugger's.
Posted on April 25 2025
Today was not yesterday. That was evident right from the start. Chose a place a couple miles up river from yesterdays fish catching bonanza. Again, there were egg laying caddis and hatching caddis in good numbers, but the fish just didn't seem to want to play. You had to look...
I'll Be Tying Flies Tomorrow Morning
Posted on April 24 2025
After a day over on the Neversink, I was ready to try to find bugs and catch fish closer to home. The majority of the drift boats have been on the BR for the past week. In part because of the low flows on the other rivers, and in part...
Coming To A Stream Near You Soon.
Posted on April 23 2025
It's 6:54 and I am sitting down at the Lordville Estate with my first celebratory Perfect Manhattan of the season. The last ten days have tested my resolve, but a day like today purges a lot of early season frustration. For those new to the reports, I play a game...
When You Go, Let Us Know.
Posted on April 22 2025
Spent a delightful night in Lafayette with Jean who returned from a trip out to Ohio a few hours before I got back from my journey to the Neversink. Arrived back at the Lordville Estate at noon today, had lunch, put the food and clothes away, and at about 1:30...
Do Easter Bunnies Lay Eggs?
Posted on April 21 2025
Met my neighbors little girl up by the railroad tracks this morning where she was looking for easter eggs. Later in the day I found three goose eggs out on an island in the Neversink that had already hatched. If you could find the goose eggs early enough, just one...
The Guides Just Know, (It's Why They Get The Big Bucks).
Posted on April 20 2025
If you are wondering, most guides are on either the EB or the BR. Why? That's the question. For starters both the WB and the UEB are quite low and difficult to navigate without interfering with wade fishermen and banging the bottom of an expensive drift boat. There is, however,...
A Dandelion Whine.
Posted on April 19 2025
Not wanting to be accused of whining, (or mewling either for that matter), I'll start with the positive. While driving through downtown Hancock around noon today I saw dandelions in full bloom along the south facing banks of the houses on Main Street. Those who regularly read A-119's offerings know...
I Don't Mind A Hendrickson Wind, If There Are Hendricksons.
Posted on April 18 2025
Looked at the forecast on Tuesday morning, worked around the fishing camp until noon in beautiful 65 degree weather, and then packed up and headed back to Lafayette. Temperature dropped to a low of 43 on the way home with winds in 30/40 mph range. Woke to a day long...
The Answer MY Friends Is Blowin' In The Wind.
Posted on April 15 2025
Today the weatherman did me no favors. Intended to do the spraying for brown rot on the fruit trees this morning before the wind picked up, but the radar showed a line of rain scheduled to sweep through the area between 10:00 and 11:00. The clouds arrived about 11:00 and...
The pressures off, at least for me.
Posted on April 14 2025
Since purchasing the Lordville Estate back in '91, there have been a few years where I avoided a skunking, alas, this year isn't going to be one of them. Spent Saturday watching an all day drizzle with the red stuff in the thermometer unable to even get out of the...
Sunshine On My Shoulders (Would) Make Me Happy.
Posted on April 12 2025
Drove down to the Lordville Estate early this morning, stopping briefly at the Troutfitter in Deposit to pick up a new pair of waders. Had an appointment at 10:00 with Hancock Telephone, (now Archtopfiber) to install internet and activate the phone. By noon I was all hooked up. Opened the...
It's Still Early Days.
Posted on April 07 2025
Departed Long Key at 2:30 am last Tuesday morning and rolled into Winchester Virginia 17 hours later. We were on the road again at 6:45 Wednesday morning and arrived home in Lafayette, New York at 12:30 pm. The only glitch in the journey was a one hour delay in the...
My Bags Are Packed I'm Ready To Go - - - -
Posted on March 30 2025
Woke up this morning and checked the obituaries, didn't see my name so it appears that I've made it to 82. Jean and I are still down here in the Florida Keys where the process of "summer proofing" our house is nearing completion. Our current plan is to head north...
And Now You Know The Rest Of The Story.
Posted on November 11 2024
When I went down to Lordville on Wednesday, I had hoped to maybe finish up in time to get a little fishing in. I didn't. It was 4:00 when I called it quits so I decided to take my bow and sit in a place where I've often seen does...
Turn Out The Lights, The Party's Over - -
Posted on November 06 2024
Heading down to the Lordville Estate tomorrow morning. Will be stopping at Vicky's Unisex Hair Salon at 10:00 AM for my last hair cut there until next spring. The Troutfitter is closed and David is probably down at Hilton Head by now after spending over two-hundred straight days at the...
Gonna Shut You Down.
Posted on October 23 2024
It's October and my plans seem to change daily. CL Repair got my tires in at one on Monday and Craig was able to do all the work on the car while I was crossing off items on my closedown list. Car was done by 3:30 and I packed it...
There ARE No Commercials When You Just Watch Nature.
Posted on October 21 2024
It may be time to go sit in a tree, but I'm still here at the Lordville Estate. Why? Several reasons. First, I made arrangements a month ago to get new rear brakes, a tire rotation, and an oil change at Craig's. CL Repair in Equinunk. Stopped by Friday so...
And I Thought Smith's Colonial Motel's No Vacancy Sign Was Due to Leaf Freaks.
Posted on October 20 2024
Let me be clear about a few things. First of all fall fishing can be very good, if most people are hunting, watching football games or working on their honey do lists. Why? The browns are busy spawning, which takes a huge percentage of the river's fish out of the...
If You Have Deer In Your Yard, You Don't Need A Rake.
Posted on October 19 2024
Woke this morning to find the backyard covered with frost. Thermometer on the back porch read 30. Waited until 10:30 to resume the peach tree pruning saga. Happy to report that tree #3 is now finished. Will go back and "touch up" trees one and two, now that I have...
She's Leaving On A Jet Plane - - - -
Posted on October 18 2024
Drove Jean to the airport at 4:30 AM for her trip out to Fargo, North Dakota. Was back to the house by 5:30. Had an early breakfast, packed up the car and headed for Lordville. Wasn't halfway there when Jean called to say she was in Chicago and ready to...
So Maybe I'm Turning Into A Wuss.
Posted on October 14 2024
It's 7:00 o'clock Sunday night and I'm in Lafayette. Had planned on coming down today and fishing until Wednesday. Have to be here early Thursday morning to get Jean to the airport. She's leaving me - again - to go out to Fargo N.D. to watch our granddaughter play volleyball....
Things Are Looking Up And Quite A Few Of Them Are Fish.
Posted on October 10 2024
Worked on my camp closedown list, and pruned one limb and several branches off the peach tree nearest the road while waiting for the grass to dry, then mowed the lawn. Finished up by 12:30, too early to go fishing, so I cleaned up, ate lunch, did a crossword and...
Clear Water, Bugs, Rising Bows And The Possum.
Posted on October 09 2024
Truth be told, I'm sick of fishing in muddy water. Today I went east. The BK is so low, (77cfs), that there was no one fishing, except me. In the fall I look forward to fishing the BK which has excellent iso and pseudo hatches. Picked a long deep pool,...
Who Sang "He Stopped Loving Her Today"?
Posted on October 08 2024
When last Friday looked like a replay of Thursday's bugless adventure, I packed it in and headed for home. I was hobbling around on a bruised foot that just might have been caused by walking up and down streamside rocks in a pair of felt bottomed neoprene booties with felts...