Sometimes not everyone is doing their part.

 

The NYC DEP out did themselves last night. They reduced the out-flows from both Cannonsville and Pepactin and in the process totally disregarded the mandated step down procedure for releases. In both cases they just cranked the valve down to the new desired flow and let the flow drop in one stage. Perhaps the NY DEC said fine, knowing that the rivers were more than bank full and that it would do little harm to the river's insect life, but come on, the regulation is there for a purpose and all it would have taken was for two people to stay awake for a few hours to adjust the flow in the required increments. 

And while I'm ranting, what would be wrong with starting the repair draw-down now, averaging out the difference between the FFMP mandated 500cfs flow from now until June first and the proposed 1,500 cfs release after the first?  It would eliminate the need for the 1,500cfs flow which will keep many fishermen off the river and by reducing the maxed out flow avoid needlessly hurting local economies.

The fishing - Most of you probably already know after reading the first two paragraphs, that it couldn't have been great. I don't often go on rants, especially when the fishing is on fire. Today the fishing clearly took a step back. When you get temps like we've had the last two days in mid-April, coupled with an almost 1,000 cfs drop in the water flow, both the fish and the bugs are going to take a day or two to adjust. 

The bugs are starting, heard from a reliable source that there was a good paralep hatch on the WB, and there were a few Hendricksons on the BR. Within the next few days, both bugs will be going full blast. The fish? Are probably as befuddled by the days events as were the scores of fishermen who flocked to the river today to enjoy a day of unprecedented warmth. Give the fish a cooler, cloudy day and see if they don't make a meal out of the bugs that dare to hatch. 

Will be heading home for the weekend, regrettably leaving a river system primed for an early start to the Hendrickson season.

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