Now I know why there were so many fishermen on the river this weekend.

 

Didn't get an early start this morning and had several stops I had to make on the way down. Arrived just before noon and by the time I unpacked, put things away, and had lunch, it was time to go fishing.

Drove up the PA side, there were bugs at Buckingham but no risers. Shehawken had a row of fishermen (perhaps a fishing class) in the water at the takeout, but no bugs. Did see  "Black Boat" being driven out of the parking lot and later into the Hancock Hotel lot???  From Hancock I drove east, which was not my original intention, but with yesterday's rain, I decided to forego my planned BR fishing for a day or two to let the water get back down to a river crossing level (which for me gets lower every year).

The fishing - I don't wear a watch and I once again left my cell phone home (more on that later), I was probably in the river by 2:30 which turned out to be too early. With water temps in the high 50's and low 60's I had hoped to see afternoon isos; didn't. Left the first place after about an hour and a half and drove farther east. Found place with a dearth of fishermen, a plethora of bugs and a batch of big rainbows who said "Lets see what you got old man". For three hours we did battle. I scored early, but in the middle rounds the trout gave me a fierce beating, (had a dozen fish feeding in a glide above a riff, rose ten of them, not one ate my fly). Worked my way down into a long, deep, slow water pool where some good fish were rising. Was either refused or ignored by most, but hooked and landed two big browns, one of which went 21.50 ( it was then that I discovered the camera was back home on the desk, charging). On the way back up to the car, I found several more quality fish who, with a waning hatch, were more willing to eat my offerings. From 2:30 until 7:10 when I got back to the car, I hooked eight fish and landed seven, all but two of which were over 17 inches. I don't care what the expectations or prognostications were, it was a hellofagoodday, of fall fishing for an old man.    

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