The numbers game on the Delaware.
To be more successful fishing the Delaware River system this time of year you need to pay attention to the numbers. The USGS streamflow gauges will provide you with the necessary information. You will also need to find a weather service that provides (with reasonable accuracy) the weather (predicted temp., amount of sun, wind direction and velocity) for the region.
Why? If, like most fishermen, you always go to your "spot" none of the first paragraph matters. If, however, you want to increase your chances of success you will need to use all of the information available to you.
Today the early morning air temp at 7:30 was in the low 30's with a predicted high of about 49. It was going to be cloudy with some rain showers. The USGS gauges on the river system showed varying water temps from a low of 43 to a high of 45. So? Well the paraleps don't mind cold water and will hatch in mid 40 degree water. If you want Hendricksons, however, you need the the water temp to be 48 or above.
With cloudy skies predicted there seemed to be little hope of getting any water up to 48 degrees - and then - the sun came out about 11:00 o'clock and the water temps zoomed up. I changed plans because of the sun and fished a part of the river that at 7:30 this morning seemed to have no chance for a Hendrickson hatch. Arriver at 1:30 and there were paraleps, by 2:30 there were Hendricksons. At 3:05 a storm hit with 40 mph wind, hail and rain. The air temp dropped from 57 to 42 in less than half an hour. I left for what this morning had looked to be the warmest water in the system. Arrived to find Hendricksons stuck to the water and fish going nuts eating them.
How'd I do? There were so many bugs it was hard to get a fish to look at mine. There were two more heavy showers and a constant wind augmented by gusts but the fish kept right on feeding. Enough of them ate my offerings to make it a far better day than I thought it would be this morning.
Tomorrow - Learn how to catch big river rainbows using a formula incorporating the Dow Jones Industrial average and the Solunar tables.
Why? If, like most fishermen, you always go to your "spot" none of the first paragraph matters. If, however, you want to increase your chances of success you will need to use all of the information available to you.
Today the early morning air temp at 7:30 was in the low 30's with a predicted high of about 49. It was going to be cloudy with some rain showers. The USGS gauges on the river system showed varying water temps from a low of 43 to a high of 45. So? Well the paraleps don't mind cold water and will hatch in mid 40 degree water. If you want Hendricksons, however, you need the the water temp to be 48 or above.
With cloudy skies predicted there seemed to be little hope of getting any water up to 48 degrees - and then - the sun came out about 11:00 o'clock and the water temps zoomed up. I changed plans because of the sun and fished a part of the river that at 7:30 this morning seemed to have no chance for a Hendrickson hatch. Arriver at 1:30 and there were paraleps, by 2:30 there were Hendricksons. At 3:05 a storm hit with 40 mph wind, hail and rain. The air temp dropped from 57 to 42 in less than half an hour. I left for what this morning had looked to be the warmest water in the system. Arrived to find Hendricksons stuck to the water and fish going nuts eating them.
How'd I do? There were so many bugs it was hard to get a fish to look at mine. There were two more heavy showers and a constant wind augmented by gusts but the fish kept right on feeding. Enough of them ate my offerings to make it a far better day than I thought it would be this morning.
Tomorrow - Learn how to catch big river rainbows using a formula incorporating the Dow Jones Industrial average and the Solunar tables.
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