Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report

After yesterdays fiasco I set out this afternoon to try to right the ship.  It rained all morning and was overcast with the threat of more rain to come.  In short, it was a day tailor made for pseudos and I was determined to make the most of it. Found a pool on the Beaverkill with rising fish and no other fishermen (there were lots of fishermen on the river today). Descended a steep bank and and found fish feeding on what might charitably be called a "sparse pseudo hatch". I hooked the first fish I cast to and then worked my way up through several rising fish without so much as a sniff from the intended targets. With one fish left to cast to the wind picked up and the fish quit rising.  Finally the fish rose in a lull and I hooked my second fish, it was good I did as the wind returned and all rising ceased. Drove to several pools with the wind blowing harder and  no fish rising.  Left for the Upper East where I could at least escape the wind.  Found a quiet pool covered wi

Been fishing the Beaverkill since last Saturday.  Every day the same, good fish rising in the pools from 1:00 'til dark.  Very few anglers on the water, so you you have your choice of pools.  Water is very clear and low, fish are very careful about what they eat but they can be fooled. A perfect situation for dry fly fishermen. So whats the problem? Well the Beaverkill is part of the Delaware River System and if you have a good day on the Delaware they say "don't go back".  Well, today was bright and sunny just like the other days, maybe a little breezier and little cooler than yesterday but basically another beautiful fall day.  Except the fish and bugs took the day off! I fished different pools again today and when I didn't see fish I went back to pools where I found fish earlier in the week,  Even went up the upper east in hopes that the increased flow would liven things up there.  All a waste of time. The fish just were not up.  Didn't check to see i

With the temp around 80 I was in no hurry to go looking for pseudos. They like it cold!  Forty five with a cold rain and they float down the river by the thousands.  Today - none.  It really didn't matter as the Beaverkill fish were up top even in the bright sun.  What were they eating?  I haven't a clue.  Stared at the water from two feet away and saw two ants in a five minute period when the fish in front of me were rising at least a hundred times. At the end of the day my fly patch had an olive, a caddis, an iso, an ant and a spinner.  If you are on the Beaverkill and make good presentations with those flies you should catch fish. Continued my assault on the  Beaverkill fishing five different pools.  Four of them had big rainbows (the browns have other things on their mind right now)  on top sipping with regularity. Those I caught were fat.  Looked in their mouths for a clue - nothing. If you want to throw a streamer and watch fish swirl behind it in muddy water go to

Checking the flow rates tonight I saw where the release from Pepacton has been increased from 108 to 264 CFS in an apparent attempt to balance the draw down needed to make minimum flow downstream..  While this will probably not significantly impact  the Dow Jones averages, it will have an effect on the East Branch fishing.  The additional flow will make for better conditions in the upper East Branch and MAY be enough to stimulate those fish still waiting for a flow  increase to migrate back up the big east from the main stem. With the brown trout spawning period now upon us the outlook is bleak.  The fish cannot get up most of the tributaries and if by chance they do they are easy prey for any number of predators.  In short we need rain, lots of it.  Be aware of browns spawning in both branches.  Don't step on the spawning beds and do not fish for or disturb spawning trout. Also remember the upper regions of both branches are now closed to all fishing. Today's Fishing?    B

The last two days have been good ones. The fall foliage is as beautiful as I have ever seen it.  Syracuse beat up on #17 ranked Virginia Tech.  AND the fish have decided to feed on top! It's been a long time since I've had consistently rising fish to throw at.  Yesterday was a start, today was better.  Arrived at the stream at 1:30 and found fish going on top. At 6:30 when I reeled it in, they were still going. The fishing?  At 55 CFS the Beaverkill isn't easy.  An 18 inch drag free float deserves a standing ovation.  A refusal is something to be proud of.  If a fish eats your fly you won the lottery. It's not Hendrickson time.  These fish have been fished to.  They are nobody's fool.  I got refusals more than twice as many  times as I got eats. BUT I HAD RISING FISH TO FISH TO ALL DAY!!! They were all quality fish.  The fish I  landed were all between 15 and 17 inches.  A wild brown (there are hatchery fish in the Beaverkill)  and a rainbow (both 17 inches)