Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report

Weekend musings on the season to date. Took the time to tally my fish counts for May and  June.  It was the eighth best May in the twenty five years of records.  June finished  as the 11th best.  There are many factors which influence the overall results.  When I first came to the river system there was a learning curve that showed slow but steady progress in my ability to catch Delaware River fish.  I was working during the first eight years so I fished less which also makes comparisons with  those years more favorable.  The flood years and the years following them distorted the norms as entire year classes of fish were wiped out. With the passing of years my skills have eroded which no doubt leads to a reduction in my current catch numbers. As I have previously mentioned, April is by far the most unpredictable month.  Some years the snow melt is late, the weather is cold, the rivers high and no bugs hatch.  In both 2014 ...

With a tornado watch in effect and thunder storms predicted for  two-thirty , I opted to fish the upper WB at a spot close to the car.  I had avoided the algae plagued  West Branch all week, first because  of the algae, second because of the rain induced muddy water.  Found  the river at an ideal level,  running clear and with a reduced amount of algae. Arrived about two-forty five to find a mix of bugs on the water with  very few fish up. The summer sulfurs got going about 3:30  and  the fish  started feeding with some vigor. There were dark clouds  overhead, thunder and lightning in the air and when it started to rain  hard I headed for the car.  It was 4:00  and I had landed five of seven fish hooked,  losing a big rainbow and a two year old brown  to large clumps of algae. Returned after about half an hour to find lots of bugs and very few  feeding fish. You had to find risers, mark them, ...

After yesterday's bonanza I decided to return to the upper EB, but  spend the day fishing places I hadn't visited this year (or at least  since Hendrickson's).  Did chores in the morning, tied flies and left  for the river around two.  Carried out my plan to perfection, visiting  all new ( for this year) places.  Couldn't believe how much the  multiflora roses have grown.  Probably poked a dozen new holes in my  waders.  It was sunny and the sulfurs (where I was) hatched in modest  numbers which the fish, for the most part, chose to ignore.  By seven  o'clock I had landed two twelve inchers. Not to worry the feeding bonanza was yet to come.  As soon as the sun  goes behind the hills  - - - - - Well it went behind the hills and the fish, where I was, began feeding  on sulfur nymphs (just like yesterday) only the hatch never really got  going and the spinners didn't show up until it was too dark...

With the DRC saying the WB was "brown", there was never any doubt  about where I was going to fish today.  My only concern was how  crowded it would be.  I needn't have worried. Left camp about one  thirty intending to fish sulfurs on the upper EB.  Was surprised at  how muddy the big EB was in Hancock.  It didn't start to clear until the seventeen rest area.  When I turned up route thirty at the Sunoco  station there was still color in the upper EB but it was quite clear  by Centerville and back to normal at Harvard. My worries about the crowds of anglers?  I drove from the Sunoco  station to the transfer station below Downsville and the only cars I  saw were parked at Al's in Shinhopple. I think they belonged to a  group of kayakers who went by me while I was fishing.  Never saw  another angler! The fishing? It was a seesaw battle.  The sulfurs were going when I  got there and so were the fi...

After Mondays lackluster effort, I decided to put in a full day of  fishing.  Woke to find isos, cahills and a hexagenia  on my porch  screens.  Had to try the river out back but after half an hour of  casting it was evident  that the trout had left for cooler water.  Drove up to Stockport where there were already three fishermen  hard  at it.  There is lots of room there and I worked part of the riff with  iso patterns and spinners.  Rose five fish, three ate and all were  landed. Was back to the camp before  noon , filled the Hummingbird  feeder, tied some sulfurs and was ready to go by two. Saw black sky towards Deposit so I headed to the upper EB for the  afternoon sulfurs.  Found a pool with both sulfurs and fish, parked  the car put on my gear and had at 'em.  After two minutes (or less)  it was obvious that the fish had seen a fly or two.  They were taking  sulfur du...

Several things came up that delayed my departure for the river until a  little after three. Uncharacteristically took my time and didn't go  out the camp door until after seven.  I might well have gone earlier  as it was an overcast olive kind of day but it was too late for  afternoon  bugs and still early for the evening fishing. Took a look at Buckingham, as is my custom, and saw no bugs, birds ,  risers, fishermen  or trailers.  All of these things pointed to the  water having been too warm for too long for fish to still be down  river that far.  Onward and up river I went  Stopping at Stockport  where there were  two trailers and no cars. Walked in and down to find Steve (a local landowner/fisherman)  holding down the fort.  He said there were fish but the action has  been from9:30  'til dark.  It's hard to justify a trip to  Stockport for fifteen minutes of fishing if you live m...