Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report

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 looking for a place to fish, no room in the inn (it's Saturday after all). No-kill was filled with boats and wade fishermen, five cars, multiple boats and wade fishermen at the 191 bridge. SEVEN trailers at Shehawken take out. I was on my way to camp when I saw only one truck at Stockport. Decided to give it a try. Met the two anglers with the truck who were walking out. They hadn't seen a thing. Walked downstream to the pool and looked at the water, it was covered with ants! The fish? Couldn't have cared less. I mean there were too many ants to count in each square...

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 needs to be cut up. How'd I do today? Went looking for tricos and strangely didn't find any. Tuesday there were lots with yearlings up. Today I tried spots above and below where I fished Tuesday and saw almost no bugs. There were a few rising fish at the second spot. Hooked four small fish and got refused by three decent fish. Tonight I got fogged out. It sprinkled between Deposit and Hancock and the high humidity resulted in dense fog over the river. I was wading upstream to where I wanted to fish when I smelled smoke from a pipe. Sure eno...

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 archives for "fish of the day" pics. It's not their fault, it's just the way it is right now. Tonight I left camp at 6:10 and headed up the WB in hopes of finding bugs and rising fish in the cold water. I did! When I got in the water (above Hale Eddy) there was "smut" on the water, tiny little creatures that could not possibly be tied on a hook. The biggest flies I saw were spinners about one quarter the size of anything in my spinner box. In the slow water pool where I was there were a few fish sipping on'em. Hooked two of them and lost both. The se...

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 were eaten. BUT, as has been the case since my return from the western trip, all the fish were yearlings about nine inches long. If I threw at anything bigger I wasn't aware of it. I may try another place sometime later this week but the handwriting is on the wall, the big fish are just not up on the tricos. Again took a pass on the Deposit afternoon fishing. The hatch may have waned, but the number of boats hasn't. One of the fishing Steves (there are two) from Lordville has been going almost every day. His reports keep me from even thinking about it. Went out early i...

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 rising for the spinners. I rose six trout in the two hours that I fished and landed three rainbows and a brown. The recent rains and cool temperature have invigorated the river system and it looks like the fall season is upon us. Those of you who read my reports regularly know that I am not a huckster. That said - - - Here is my report: Based on last weeks fishing, I was in no particular hurry to rush down to the river. Took care of some loose ends in Syracuse, lunched with old friends at Ruston's Diner (the cholesterol capital of the world) and left for the fishing camp ...