Someone cue the sulfurs!


Today was the co-longest day of the year, tying with yesterday. As far as I'm concerned it could have ended much sooner. Stood in the BR with bugs on the water and nothing to even throw at, let alone suffer the indignity of being refused. Everywhere I've fished this week the fish have been between difficult and impossible to get to eat a dry fly, and, the fish I've hooked, have proven to also be difficult to land. 

What's going on? Well, perhaps we've had it much too good for much too long. The river is full of big fish. People who are on the river with some regularity have all seen it. Bugs on the water and big fish slopping like hogs. It's over. The big bugs are gone and the browns have switched to eating fish. Sure, once in a while a big brown will get a craving for a sulfur or olive but most of the fish eating sulfurs and olives will be one to three year old fish (seven to fifteen inches). If you're up for the challenge it's a great time to be on the river. If you are careful and observant you will get two or three shots at big browns a day. What you do with those chances will tell you how far you have come as a Delaware River dry fly fisherman (no one but you needs know). The rainbows, you ask? They love flies and if you fish water where they live, you'll have a good chance of hooking a good one at any time of the season.

Note to Ed Smith - Great news about your Achilles tendon, just hope you didn't jump for joy over the news. Us old timers take time to heel. Will be sure to let you know when there is a yellow glow on the water at the Red Barn.

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