Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report

First order of business - An apology to anyone who gave up a day of fishing in the "Sulfur Zone" on my say so. The river cleared by morning and the entire "Sulfur Zone" was in good shape. I try, but I'm obviously not always right. The mid-day sulfurs are going with greater consistency and are numerous enough that the fish are once again feeding on them. Todays hatch started before my 12:30 arrival and went until about 3:00.  There were lots of feeding fish where I was but not many of the big boys were up. Hooked a big rainbow right off the bat and he came unstuck on the fourth jump. Not five minutes later I hooked and landed a 15 inch bow. After that things quieted down. Most of the fish feeding on top in the bright sun were two and three year olds (11/16 inches) and that's what I caught. After working in the yard in the morning it was just delightful to be standing in the cold water casting at rising trout. The real fishing - It didn't start until after...

  Drove up to Deposit about 12:30. On the way I saw a red fox standing in the middle of rte.97 in Hancock just past the fire station. Had to put the brakes on but he finally trotted off into the mowed field. The roads from Lordville to Hale Eddy were dry. They were wet by the time I reached the west bound rest area and in Deposit there was evidence of a good rain. Drove down to the Men's Club along the fog shrouded river and stopped at the Lee Conklin plaque to look out at the river. It was running clear and there were some sulfurs hatching. Drove back up to the pasture pool (Red Barn) and there was but one car parked with two wade anglers and one drift boat fishing (the drift boat wasn't fishing but you know what I mean). The water was clear. Drove back to the Troutfitter and Dave asked about the water which I said looked good. Walked out on the bridge and almost half of the river was coffee with two creams from Butler Brook. Went back to the Troutfitter to tell Dave and one o...

  With rain predicted for most of Thursday I decided to take care of some outside work this morning. Tied some flies and by noon I was ready to go. Decided to take a look at the UEB and see if there were any sulfurs up above Corbett. Got as far as the Sunoco Station in East Branch and was surprised to find the river muddy. Apparently it got hit by a thunderstorm around midnight which raised the level at Harvard to 400cfs. A nice fishing level - if - the water was clear. Scrubbed the drive up rte.30 and headed for Deposit where I planned to fish in the evening. Made arrangements with the proprietor of the Troutfitter Inn for a two hour room rental after fishing (promised I wouldn't dirty the sheets) and at 4:00 I went fishing.  There were a few sulfurs still/already (take your pick) hatching and a corresponding number of rising fish. Had no trouble getting rising fish to come up and look at my flies but getting them to eat was difficult as usual. After an hour or so both the ha...

  The storm that went through during the night pushed the gage at Hale Eddy up to, 1,400cfs with 500cfs of it coming as a chocolate milk shake from Oquaga.  I don't care how many times DRC tells you that the Stilesville gage is at 500cfs and the water is clear down to Oquaga, don't believe it. Sometimes you can fish there, but don't drive here expecting to do so based on the DRC report. There are two tribs (Cold Springs Brook and Butler Brook) that pour muddy water into the WB one above the Stilesville Parking area and one below it. Monday they had the river colored up above Oquaga and they probably did this morning. I don't know, 'cause I had no intention of driving up to find out. Stayed at camp and crossed things off my new to-do list. With the BR (Big River a/k/a Main Stem)  also colored and high this morning I decided it was as good a time as any to give the UEB a try. At 5:00 with the temps in the fishable range in all the eastern water I set out on a tour. Ac...

  The weather forecasters made it an interesting day. Looked at 8:00 and the prediction was for a partly cloudy day with a slight chance of a thunderstorm late. Checked again at eleven before leaving to fish and they were predicting one to two inches of rain with thunderstorms starting at 11:00 and intensifying as the day went on. Left the fishing camp at 11:30 with thunder rumbling and dark skies to the north. Almost turned around (should have) at Hancock but continued my journey up to Deposit, driving through a good shower in the process. Sat inside the Troutfitter with several other anglers while a t-boomer went by. It rained but not hard enough that I gave any thought to muddy water. When the rain let up I went fishing. Saw rising fish and sulfurs on the water in the pool below the iron bridge. Drove downstream below Oquaga and was surprised that it was colored. There were lots of sulfurs on the water and rising fish. I put on my stuff (vest under the raincoat) and went fishing...

  Things went smoother than I expected this morning, got the bills paid, found everything on my grocery list, found Mink oil at Tractor Supply, only took seven minutes to gas up at BJ's, and was on the way down at noon. Stopped at Deposit and found I was in time for at least part of the sulfur hatch. Fished from 1:40 until 3:30 and didn't see more than four rises that weren't to my fly. Five fish came to my fly, two ate and I landed them both, One 8, the other 18. Drove down to Lordville, unpacked and put things away, watered the garden, chatted with the neighbors and at 5:00 decided to have the sauerbraten that Jean made out of a venison roast, thanks Jean, even the croutons were great. With the meal finished and cleaned up I checked out the stream temps and decided to go low. Where I fished I saw one olive and half a dozen iso's and no risers until close to 9:00. But, the fish were hungry and looking up. Hooked a dozen yearlings. The little 'bows were all between ...