The sulfurs are hatching (and their spinners are falling).

Cooler days and hatching sulfurs have fishing on an upswing. The water levels are excellent for wading while challenging for drift boaters. All fishermen and guides should refrain from fishing the BR below Stockport and on most days even fishing below junction pool should be avoided.  A significant rise in the water combined with cooler temps would sure be welcomed by all.

Painting (and cleanup) ran overtime this morning and I didn't get on the river until 2:00. Was able to find an empty run on the WB near Deposit.  A couple of anglers walked up to where I was fishing but both gave me plenty of space. The fish on the WB are as tough to fool as any trout I have ever fished for anywhere. If I was awarded a dollar for every refusal (when the trout rises but doesn't eat your fly)  I've had the last two days I could take my wife out to dinner at the fanciest restaurant she could find (after the Covid pandemic) and still have enough money left for a generous tip.

Fished two to five, hooked five and landed two and felt I did well. There were some good fish feeding (very carefully) and all of the fish hooked were three year olds (15/16 inches). Can't stress enough, throwing the same fly over a feeding fish (even if he didn't refuse it ) is a waste of time.  Change flies often and if possible move around enough to cast at different fish.

Went back out at 7:00.  Drove by the game land lots where twenty cars were equally divided between the upper and lower lots.  Had my hopes up as there were only three trailers at Balls Eddy.  Kept going and found a spot above Hale Eddy where I saw only one other angler.  Three drift boats came by, one (unguided) came within twenty feet of me, rowed threw the pod I was fishing to and cast at all the other fish in the area.

The evening fishing - is a must do.  Sulfurs are hatching and the fish are up feeding but the best part is  the spinners fall.  When the first noses appear switch to a spinner.  When fish are feeding exclusively on top (spinner time) you finally have them where you want them.  Fishing to sulfur spinner eaters, while facing into the light of the western sky had me getting back to the car at 9:50 (and it wasn't that long a walk). Some nice fish got sore mouths tonight.

Comments

  1. JamesJune 28, 2020 at 9:27 AM

    THANK YOU FOR YOUR POSTS. I AM A SORT OF "INTERMEDIATE" FLY FISHER, MEANING I CAN CATCH TROUT ON EASY STREAMS, BUT STRUGGLE ON THE WB. IN YOUR "THINGS I KNOW" LIST, YOU RIGHTLY STATE THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCURATE CASTING. I AM ABOUT TO PURCHASE A FLY RODD SPECIFICALLY FOR WB DRY FLY FISHING. HAVING READ YOUR STATEMENT ABOUT SHORTER, ACCURATE CASTS, WHAT WEIGHT ROD AND TIPPET LENGTH/SIZE DDO YOU USE/RECOMMEND. SINCE I NEVER SEEM TO GET WITHIN THE 30 FOOT RANGE YOU MENTION, I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT 6 WT. RODS, BUT, DO YOU SUGGESTS GOING LIGHTER AND SOMEHOW GETTING CLOSER. IF SO, ANY RECOMMENDATIONS? THANK YOU

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