Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report

As you've probably guessed, I'm back in Lafayette.  For dry fly fishing this time of year the outlook is bleak. The pseudos' like cold water and the trout like to eat them in slow moving  (low water) pools. We have high water and some of it is too warm. The outlook - the NYDEP has the release valves almost wide open with (I assume) the intent to create a void in both reservoirs to reduce flood danger in the coming months. When will the releases be reduced? Who knows. Certainly not anytime soon if it keeps raining. The fishing - Drifters are in their glory. Throwing streamers is the preferred method and in the off color WB it will probably produce some fish. If nothing else there should be a good number of big fish that come up to the fly and refuse it at the last minute with an impressive boil. If/when the releases are cut back and the water cools there will again be dry fly fishing, until then I'll be erecting tree stands, cleaning out the basement in Lafayette and yes...

Today, like yesterday, promised to be a hot one. As soon as the grass was dry, I mowed the lawn and then practiced with the stick and string. There is no doubt I'm better for the archery lesson I got last year but I still have my bad days and this was one of them. It was 80 on the porch when I quit and I was in no hurry to head out to fish. The weather forecast was for severe thunderstorms once again. Left camp with the knowledge that I probably wouldn't fish but that I might get a chance to see if the Beaverkill Angler had any G3 Guide waders or my DT4 line.  Arrived streamside just as two gentlemen were leaving because of the lightning. Sat for a few minutes and when the storm cell had gone past I waded in. Saw two rising fish, the first refused and the second ate (a 12 inch hatchery fish). There was a flash of lightning from behind the hill and my count never got to three before the thunder. Reeled it in at 4:38 and headed for the Beaverkill Angler. Walked into the shop just...

 It was an interesting day.  There is one lone hummingbird still using the feeder.  She sits in the apple tree and tanks up on the sugar water all day long. Every morning I look out expecting her to be gone and she's still there. There are so many apples this year that the deer can't keep up with the drops.  The ground is covered with them. Usually the deer lay out in the back yard and come over to the tree every time an apple drops. Saw eagles, osprey, turkeys, geese and mergansers on my journey today. The geese have altered their behavior ever since the season opened (haven't heard a shot), they don't get anywhere near me and are flying up and down the river out of range of steel shot. Left camp about 1:30,  I wanted to see if the fly shop in Shehawken had a DT-4 fly line (they didn't have a single DT). Someone please tell me what is so G.D. good about weight forward lines? I will fish double tapers until I either die or they stop making them. Why?  I ask...

Got up early this morning and took care of remaining items on my at home to do list.  Drove into town, got the car washed and filled with gas, picked up supplies for the weeks stay at camp and  made it to the barber shop fifteen minutes early for my 10:30 appointment. It was good that I did because my name isn't Dan. I botched my attempt at scheduling the hair cut appointment and Dan was scheduled for my 10:30 slot.  Nicole who has both grumpy and pleasant days (this looked a lot like it was going to be one of the grumpy ones) said she could "fit me in" and I got in the chair.  Nicole was born to be a barber, she has the quickest hands I've ever seen. The first few times I went to her I was sure I would lose an ear she snips so fast. By the time Dan ambled in (right on time) the eyebrows were being trimmed (an experience those of you under 65 have to look forward to) and I was out of there by 10:35. I was on the way to camp before 11:00 and had to have the visor down...