Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report

  This is the climax of the "Big Bug Season". It starts for most fishermen with the Hendricksons which are followed by March Browns, Gray Foxes, Spring Sulfurs, Isos, Yellow Stones, Green Drakes and Brown Drakes. The river system is huge and is made up of  both freestones and tailwater rivers. The variations in water temperatures between the freestones and the much colder tailwaters makes it possible to fish Hendricksons duns one night and a Green Drake spinner fall the next, (I just did.) I'm going to list some notes from my fishing log for the past week to show you what you can expect. Keep in mind that for two of the days the air temp was a good 20 degrees above normal, and that water temps in the freestone portions of the system were over 70 degrees and were not fished. Sunday 5/19 - Arrived at EB at 7:00, fished until 9:00. March Browns on water upon arrival, no fish up until 8:30. Sulfurs came late and fish were up and feeding on the sulfurs. Monday 5/20 - Fished WB...

  The day dawned dark and foggy with a light rain. There was thunder and lightning across the river to the south where the major portion of the rain storm passed. By late morning the sun poked through the clouds and hopes of an olive day disappeared. Left the fishing camp about 1:15 and headed east which was not a good choice as the bright sun stifled any bug hatching until late in the evening. By three I had one 14 inch rainbow. Got on rte.17 and headed west so that I could at least fish in cold water. Saw numerous boats, most of which were being rowed with sports sitting, and a good number of anglers wade fishing in and around the game lands. By the time I arrived in Deposit the Hendrickson/caddis hatch should have been well underway with bugs on the water and rising fish. Not today. The unseasonably warm weather has put a pause on the fish catching bonanza and will hopefully quell the need to scroll through half a dozen pictures of "successful" anglers on the DRC report pa...

  With temps twenty degrees above normal and the freestones looking like they would be over 70 degrees by midafternoon, I decided to do a split day. Walked in to a hard to reach place on the BR where you are almost certain to see eagles and deer, with bears and rattlesnakes a distinct possibility. Saw none of the above. Water level was ideal but the bugs were nowhere to be seen and rising trout were outnumbered by lamprey eels. Ended up landing two sixteen inch rainbows who were clearly not on a weight watchers program. Was soaking wet (not from rain) when I got back to the car at noon. Drove up to Deposit about two and saw a few caddis and Hendricksons with more than enough boats and fishermen. The few fish that were up feeding were surrounded by anglers. I returned to the Lordville Estate tied a few flies and read a book until almost seven. With the freestones all now over 70 degrees,  fishing them should not be an option. At 70 degrees the water does not hold enough oxygen ...

 The trip home for my physical took most of the day. Five hours on the road, an hour and a half at the doctors office, lunch with an old friend at Ruston's Diner, (cholesterol capital of the world), and the fixing of a loose wire in the outlet that was powering our internet, TV, and phones.  Arrived back (in Deposit) at 4:00pm. A drive up and down the river told me that whatever had been happening was no longer happening. Decided to save my energy for what is now the apex of the fishing day, (7:00pm until you just can't see a damn thing), (which is now a little after nine). Made another tactical error, second in two days, if anyone is keeping track. Selected a pool that is just full of fish, (trust me I know), however, the sun sets on this pool much like it does just above the upper game lands, (never), there are hills and valleys along the Delaware and I'm sure anyone who has fished the upper game lands knows the sun sets this time of year in the exact bottom of a V shaped...

  Mowed the lawn this Morning, it took an extra fifteen minutes because it had grown so much since last Tuesday. Spent almost an hour trying to lend order to my fishing vest. Too many boxes and the drakes are still not on board, fun times. With the bright sunshine I reluctantly headed for Deposit where I found one of the Troutfitter regulars stocking up on flies, (he did not buy a pair of scissors). Took my time getting to the stream and at about 2:00, found lots of caddis, some Hendricksons, and rising fish.  Fished my way around a small island and didn't have a single boat, or fisherman to contend with. There were boats and fishermen to be sure but not the madness that was last week. The rising fish ate enough of my offerings, (caddis and Hendricksons), to make the afternoon a success. With the bright sun, I was in no hurry to get to my evening destination. Fished a pool on the EB in the bright sun. Rose fish on each of my first two casts, (both refusals), and then fished fo...

 My schedule this week is a muddled mess. I have two things written on my calendar for the month of May, both are this Tuesday. The meeting at FUDR about the work on the pipeline starts at 10:00 and my physical exam is in Syracuse at 1:00. Will not be able to attend the meeting at FUDR. If anyone goes, please provide us with an update in the comments section. Drove down after a second grandson's graduation party. Enjoyed chatting with son Rick who runs the Syracuse Troutfitter, our daughter-in-law, and both grandchildren, but 81 year old arses don't handle hard wooden picnic table benches as well as they use to. Was on the road by four and drove right on by Deposit and Hancock, (been in the company of more than enough people and boats lately). Saw the first ragged robin in the ditches around Binghamton on the way down. It's the precursor of the drake hatch. Tried four pools. One was occupied by three people and I dnf, the others had but one fishermen (me), bugs, rising fish...