Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report

No, the fat lady isn't getting ready to sing.  BUT, there have been  far too many hot, dry and sunny days this late summer/ early fall. Today my heart just wasn't in it.  I've caught fish this week but the  places where I can, under these conditions, (see yesterdays report)  can be counted on one hand without using the thumb. So I set out on a  journey, doomed to failure, to confirm what I already knew. Drove the length of the  Beaverkill from jaws to Roscoe without seeing  one fisherman. Tried three spots out of perversity and was rewarded  with one refusal. Tried three riff/pools on the lower end of the big east to see if the  cooler water had enticed any fish up.  Reward, one refusal. Fished a pool on the big river where there were three fishermen Monday  and four Tuesday  just to see if they knew something I didn't.  They  didn't. My reward?  A third and last refusal. Going home tomorrow  to do, as ...

What does this mean? You have less time to fish.  I've been heading home by seven fifteen each day this week. If it's a dry year, (for sure this one is) you have less water to  fish. The WB is high and muddy, the big east is low and fishless, the  big river below Buckingham has very few fish and the upper East Branch  is at around one hundred ten cfs ( take one step and your wake puts  the fish down. The only water worth fishing is the big river from junction to Buckingham and from Warners down that to is iffy. Fished the big river below junction this evening and rose six fish.  Hooked three and landed one. There were almost no bugs, risers, boats  or fishermen on the water. If you want to fish the Delaware system this fall, there are several  things you should do. 1- Pray for rain. 2- Wait for a cloudy rainy day. 3-Make sure you buy a new license.

If you are going to give advice on where to fish you should follow it,  right?  Well that's what I set out to do.  It was too cold for Trico  fishing in the morning so I tried a spot on the lower EB just to see  if the fish have started moving back up from junction pool.  They  haven't. This afternoon I headed for the big river.  Crossed the bridge at  Lordville  (four fishermen) and headed up the Pa side.  Three  fishermen in the water at Buckingham and seven trailers in the parking  lot. Three fishermen at the Knight farm, seven cars and one trailer at  Stockport and fishermen and boats in the water from the "braids" up through Junction Pool. Couldn't get a good look at the Junction Pool  parking lot but there were too many cars to count Drove over the high and muddy WB  on the 191 bridge, got on route 17  and headed for the upper east. There were zero cars from the Sunoco  station to Shinhopple ...

It's always the question on the Delaware system and after two weeks away touring the western part of the country, I didn't have a clue. Opened up the camp and was ready to fish a little after three. The West branch is high, off color and full of weeds.  NOTE - There have been reports of a bear that has been following anglers in the game lands area. I don't know if it has been fed and is  looking for handouts or if there are other problems,  best to avoid the area for now. The East Branch at Harvard is "running" at 108 cfs.  That makes for tough fishing.  If you go up there and see a car or someone else fishing GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.  It's far too skinny to share a pool. I haven't looked at the lower EB yet, but read below, it's probably still too early. I drove by Buckingham and after counting seven trailers ,decided to try farther downstream.  Found a mix of bugs (mostly Heebies) and a few risers.  Hooked and landed a nice rainbow that was just ...