Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report

Chris Z. -  My wife is in your corner.  She has often reminded me that I have to be careful with my humor as not everyone always "gets it". She read the exchange in question and said she could see where someone might think it was being a bit sarcastic (I'm currently running ads in the personal columns for a new wife).  The idea for the offending reply actually was spawned by the a post from several months back where someone (me) hit publish instead of save and a half written unedited blog page was created. I did what I thought was a spoof on corporate America and launched an internal investigation with the promise of terminating the wrongdoer.  The post you have taken issue with was an extension of the idea i.e. the corporation bringing in experts to solve their problems. Never was it my intention to be sarcastic.  The last sentence was the thank you you deserved for a good answer to the question. That said, if you attempt to collect unemployment, Angler 119 will fight yo

It was an interesting day for me.  Started out with a plan to fish from the Stilesville fisherman's parking lot down to the town bridge. The lot was full of cars and the river was full of fishermen. Paid to park at the red barn, four cars were there before me and two more came before I left the pool on my journey.  Fished the pool until the hatch got going and then made my way down river.  It was my hope to find a few fish along the way between the "hot spots".  I didn't.  There were lots of bugs but the only rising fish were in the heavily fished and crowded pools.  From 11:30 until 2:30 I hooked eight fish and landed four.  The last three fish that ate the fly experienced my rapid hook removal procedure which comes from going too long without hooking a fish. Rested up at the camp before venturing out at 6:30.  Headed towards Deposit on 17, crossed the river  at Hale Eddy and went up the back side to Deposit. There were 7 cars by the Hale Eddy bridge and when I g

Found time to paint the fascia board at the peak of the house where the electric comes in, two windows and the window section of the garage door.  Also applied "Sedge Hammer" to the yellow nut sedge in the back yard. Left for fishing right at eleven hoping it wouldn't rain for four hours ( the time necessary for the Sedge Hammer to be rain proof). Should have left earlier as both the sulfurs and fish were going full blast when I got there at 11:30. There was a choice of empty pools, took one I hadn't fished in quite a while and was into fish right away. It helps to be able to see both your fly and the rises (no fog).  Was refused at the vary last second by several good fish but had lots of takers in the two year old group.  At 2:00 the bugs and fish were still going strong but I was tired, hungry and needed to tie flies. Left, ate lunch, tied flies screwed up a Sudoku and never did get that nap. Back out on the river about 7:00 in a pool I have wanted to fish all

Back to business today.  After yesterdays sorry performance I had the yard work done by eight and the painting by 10:30.  Was on the stream with sulfurs and rising fish by 11:30. With all the action now in the sulfur zone there were both boats and wade fishermen in every pool. Picked a place where there was room to work around the fishermen without interfering with their fishing. Early in the hatch the fish were taking the nymphs on the way up.  As the hatch went on there were plenty of fish looking up and enough of them were willing to eat my flies to make it a great start to the day. A nice 17 inch rainbow was the best fish. Spent the middle of the day driving around watching other anglers fish, eating lunch and stopping by the Troutfitter to buy some tippet.  After waiting out a brief shower (during which I dozed off for a few short minutes) the grounds crew rolled back the tarp and it was time for the second half of the double header.  Things started fast when a big rainbow ate

After my rather full day yesterday I was a little late answering the bell this morning. Savored the new peach jam, had an extra cup of coffee and didn't climb the ladder to paint until almost eleven.  Lunch wasn't until 2:00 and I still had to contact cement felts onto a pair of my wading booties.  Never gave the afternoon sulfurs a thought.  The evening fishing has been so good there was no need to fight the crowds in the hot afternoon sun. Left camp full of confidence, Sunday and Monday nights I was surrounded by sulfurs and rising fish.  Threw at fish nonstop for almost three hours each night. Since I rarely fish a pool twice in one week those two places were crossed off the list before I started, place three was open but I drove by to check out places four and five (both occupied by multiple fishermen).  Back to number three only to find that the two fishermen that were walking along the road when I first drove by were now in the pool. Regular readers might recall that

It's been a long but satisfying day.  Left the "Lordville Estate"  with my load of peaches at 7:00 this morning.  Arrived home at 8:45, had breakfast and then Jean and I did the peach jam.  I'm sure that any canners who are reading this will be glad to know that all 24  lids sealed (love each one's little pop) and that the jam "set", will try some tomorrow morning. The entire canning project (4 batches) including clean up took but two hours - not counting the trip to Lordville for the peaches, the trip to the store for pectin and sugar and Jean's prep work in the kitchen before my arrival.  With the clean up completed and the 300 piece puzzle we started Saturday finished, I headed back down to Lordville to self quarantine, paint, and fish (not necessarily in that order).  Arrived in Deposit too early to fish at 3:00 and was too tired to paint so I drove around in the hot sun looking at pools with no bugs, rising fish or fishermen.  Chatted with Dav

The early peach tree peaches are ripe and I drove down to pick them.  Will be making peach jam back home in Lafayette tomorrow. A late freeze killed most all of the blossoms but there should still be enough peaches to make about a dozen jars.  It is hot, by the time I picked the peaches and watered the orchids I was soaking wet.  Porch thermometer in partial shade said 95, on the way to Deposit the car said 93.  Drove up to Deposit not so much to fish but just to stand in the cold water. Arrived in Deposit about 2:30 and tried a run below barking dog.  Saw a few sulfurs but not a single feeding trout.  Drove from there up the river, which had next to no boats, fishermen, bugs or rising trout, all the way to the Red Barn where one angler was fishing.  Saw a few rises and decided the cold water would beat the car's air. Fished from what must have been about 3:30 until 9:00 with a short break for the thunderstorm that passed through.  Caught two rainbows early on and then went for