Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report

Expecting sunshine to warm the water and provide us with a hatch of bugs or a spinner fall, we parked at the upper gamelands (two cars there before us) and walked down the path to the river. If you're wearing felts, it's like trying to walk on a teflon coated slope covered with six inches of chocolate pudding. Arrived streamside covered with mud only to find that the sun had once again failed to make its way through the clouds. There were almost no bugs and a corresponding number of risers. Blind casted spinners and found enough hungry fish to make it a worthwhile venture. By the time we were ready to head for the car (2:00) there were some bugs hatching and the fish were no longer interested in our spinners. Arrived at the parking lot (nine cars there) again covered with mud. The car will probably never be the same. Had lunch, mowed the lawn and set out for the evening fishing. Opted for a spot on the EB that has been too high to fish until this past week. There were a

Did a split day with the morning spent fishing the big river. There were sulfurs early and a modest assortment of bugs the rest of the morning (which ended at 3:00 pm) that kept the fish looking up. My guest proved to be a quick learner and hooked and landed two 'bows (largest was just short of 18). He also cooled of with a brief dip in the BR's 60ish water. Ate lunch and took a leisurely tour of the upper big river and the WB which included a stop at the Troutfitter in Deposit where a couple of the TFer regulars gave us a recap of their time on the river. At 7:30 pm we donned our gear and waded into the WB hoping to find some kind of a hatch or spinner fall. What we got was a brief but heavy shower followed by river fog. When the rain stopped the fish started. We had rising fish all around us but takers proved hard to come by. We did manage to get a hook into three hot bows and two browns. We each landed a brown while the rainbows all found ways of avoiding the net.

Am entertaining a friend from the Florida Keys this week. We took a tour of the area which included a stop on the BK where golden stone flies hatched last night and Isos hatched late this afternoon. The river where we stopped has been cleaned out by "they bite they die" fisherman. Out catch was two fall fish and one 13 inch hatchery brown. Next we drove up the UE. There were cars at most of the pull offs but only four at long flat and five at powerline. We found rising fish in a pool that had Hendrickson spinners, caddis duns and spinners, and a mix of the current mayflies. There were some feeding fish but not a one even looked at what we threw. A short stop on the BE around 7:00 produced neither bugs nor risers. Arrived on the BR and saw fish rising in a flat water pool. They were fall fish. Big River late, had not enough bug life to get fish up. There were a few one and dones but little else. One angler in the bridge parking lot said the fish were splashing all

To be honest, I was in no big hurry to go fishing today. Why? For at least the fourth time this year a frontal system has ushered in a new week, bringing with it a rising barometer, bright sun and strong, gusty winds. A deadly combo for all dry fly fishermen. I didn't even fish when one front came through and was skunked the other two times. So, I went to my tooth cleaning appointment, got the car washed, bought food for the camp, went home to pack the car, watched a doe nurse her fawn 15 feet from the house in an effort to save it from coyotes and finally left for the camp. Stopped on the way in Deposit to see how the Troutfitter Shop and motel were doing and lo the motel is open and doing business. The shop has been open for about three weeks and is doing fine. It's been quite a project, however, getting the motel rooms renovated. Of the eleven units six are now ready for occupancy. The other five units will be a winter project. It's the place to be if you are goin