I Get Around.

 

Drove up the PA side the last two days and it's plain to see that the big bug season is over. The takeouts hold a more modest number of trailers, haven't seen a drift boat go by the fishing camp in over a week, nomadic guides are departing for rivers out west or in Alaska, and there are some boats sitting in the yard at Crosscurrents all day long.

So, how was the "big bug season"? It depends on who you ask, and even then, I'm not sure. For wade fishermen, myself included, it was a disaster. High water has kept us out of the fray from the beginning of May. There are still wade fishermen who don't know if last year's Christmas present, (the new waders), even fits. The drifters should have enjoyed a spectacular season, plenty of water, no waders to row around, nothing but FUN, FUN, FUN, or was it? Talked with one guy who said he was selling his boat because he was sick of the lines at both the put ins and the takeouts, boats moving downriver not fifty yards apart, with boats anchored up at the "good spots".

Was it really that bad? Well, yes. In April the Hendrickson hatch was for most people, a "no show". The low water was great for the wade fishermen, but most of the the drifters opted to fish only the BR. When May arrived, so did the rain, (over 8 inches), wade fishermen went home, boat fishermen had the river to themselves, sometimes it was too high, or "stained", (as some are like to say), but they had lots of water and could fish wherever they wanted, without a bit of concern about the waders. If any drifters are among us, we would like to know how you have done in this most unusual season to date. 

What lies ahead? For sure less boats, and if it doesn't rain, more wade fishermen. The high water has covered the rocks and kept the freestones cooler and fishable, the high water should have flushed out much of the mud the tribs added during the winter, there is still lots of river with fish in it, so spread out and enjoy some solitude until summer water temps bring us all together again in the "Sulfur Zone".

WOULDN'T IT BE NICE if a modest amount of rain and the smoke from the Canadian forest fires kept it cool enough for fish to remain in some of the freestone water like they did the last time Canada blew smoke our way?  

The fishing - Wasn't much. Started at 5:00, fished three different places on three different rivers, saw good bugs and smart fish on the WB, no bugs or fish on the EB, and smart fish eating carefully very late on the BK.  Ended up with four nice rainbows, left flies in two others and one just came unstuck.

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