Covid booster delays return to Lordville Estate.

 It's Monday and I'm somewhat frustrated sitting home waiting for my 5:00pm covid booster shot appointment. Just talked with a logger that is going to come and remove some large dead ash trees from around the house and he has covid, no he didn't get the shots and he said he wishes he di d now. The cut back in the release from Cannonsville should be a good thing for waders on the WB. No boats and the fish will be up eating pseudos. Of course they will have a long time to look at your fly and won't be easy to catch.

Greg Tarris you can include the blind casting info in the TU newsletter. Referencing the source and web site would be a nice pat on the back.

Dennis -  When I first starting fishing here back in the late 80's fishermen were able to drive the railroad's service road and park in the pull offs. I actually slept in my van as many a train rolled by. As the number of  fishermen using the tracks increased the railroad closed off the service road to vehicular traffic for obvious safety reasons (one fisherman actually drove his car into the side of a passing train). I have continued to walk along the railroad tracks to reach some of my favorite fishing water. I've never been told not to walk along the tracks and have often exchanged pleasantries with the railroad workers. That said, the number of drift boats fishing each section of the river (especially during "big bug season"), have made long walks to "secret spots" a fools errand. Imagine walking two miles only to find boats with fourteen people already there fishing, as I did years ago. 

With the closure of the service road and the explosion of drift drift boat fishing popularity, by far the easiest way to fish the BR is by boat, be it a drift boat, pontoon boat or kayak. There are a number of launch and takeout places along the river where fishermen can both put in and take out, (wade fishermen can, of course, also access the river at these places).

If you choice is to wade, the NY DEC has maps showing where they have obtained both fishing easements and fishing access. Over the years I have met landowners who have been willing to let me access the river by crossing their property. In many instances they have become "river friends", some for over thirty years. 

If you choose to walk the railroad tracks along the BR you will enter some of NY's most scenic and remote wilderness areas. You will also encounter wildlife of all kinds. Looked ahead of me one time and saw a bear running full speed down the tracks right at me. He heard me the second time I yelled and ran off into the woods on the third shout.  On a cautionary note, timber rattlers love to lay on the iron in the evening and soak up the heat. Be sure to have two flashlights with you and keep a wary eye out for snakes when walking out in the evening. 

My love for exploring is well known. Had friends that kept a top ten list of the most disasterous follies I talked them into. It took me fifteen years but I walked along every mile of the river from the eel weir at Stilesville  and the covered bridge in Downsville  down to the Callicoon bridge. Drift boat traffic and the risks inherent in a man my age venturing solo into remote areas have cut back somewhat on the areas I now fish but as you know, I'm easily bored and sometime I have to go where I go. Just don't anyone tell Jean.