This, That And The Grammarian.

 

For about a week I was content congratulating myself on yet another perfect report, not a single one of the Grammarian's terse comments, (listing the days typos or spelling errors), was to be found). Then reality sunk in. On June 27, the second T was added to Corbet. Not a single correction has been made since. I reread some of the reports and found errors, thus confirming my suspicion. The Grammarian who has upgraded the finished product here at A-119 since March 28th of 2024, without missing a day, is no longer on the job, having left as silently as he appeared. Since I have no other means of doing so, I'm taking this opportunity to thank you for your contributions to the reports. You are of course welcome should you choose to return, but needn't feel any obligation to do so.

 Steve - I haven't seen a rattle snake since the two road kills in downtown Lordville back in May. 

The failure of NYC to comply with FFMA regulations requiring them to maximize the drawdown after June 15th to create a void in the reservoir did not put the fish at risk as much as those who live downstream who would, without the void, remain at risk of serious flooding.

D Von and Andrew - It wasn't me in either case. When asked, I fess up. 

R Wells & Others - Everyone agrees that the fishing pressure on the Delaware River System is intense. We are blessed with close to ninety miles of river,  (depending on how much of the BK and Willow you include), during the major hatches and again in the fall. Much of which is under fished. In the summer the tailwaters still provide thirty miles of fishable water. Much of that is also under fished. It's the "Sulfur Zone", where you can fish to rising fish every day for almost two months in the middle of the afternoon that the pressure gets obscene. The fish in the river this year have been less beaten up than usual due to the highwater. For reasons that to me are not altogether clear, there has been a decline in the number of fish feeding on the surface in the sulfur zone so far this season. No one likes to see fish with multiple hook wounds in their mouths. Nor is it as much fun to hook fish that are too tired to fight. That said, most all of the fish survive, the wounds heal, they will spawn this fall and come spring they will once again be a challenge for fishermen to catch. The simplest way to reduce pressure in the "Sulfur Zone" is to fish the rest of the tailwaters.

Don k - Kudos for recognizing Harry Chapin, my all time favorite wordsmith. To the best of my knowledge Keith is the only other Chapin fan still alive and reading the reports.    

Stripers - Have received many reports of striper sightings this year, (I've seen but one dead one). There are people currently targeting them in the river. Stripers like to eat rainbows and hopefully those fishing for them are taking any stripers caught home to eat. 

Dennis - Wants to know why there are no bugs during the day, just at night, (he's perhaps forgetting about the sulfurs and olives that hatch daily in the coldest water). Long before man first put feathers on a hook, the bugs had worked out the best time for them to hatch. Water temperature, survival from predators, mating success being three of the key factors in determining hatch times.

Jim N- Among other things, wants a prediction on the summer sulfur hatch. Jim, it is clearly beyond my pay grade to offer a meaningful prediction. Fly hatches vary significantly from year to year for more reasons than anyone could imagine, floods, siltation, extreme fluctuations in water temp, chemical pollutants, etc., etc. I did see a huge number of sulfur husks floating by me at Hale Eddy one night last week. I still have the proof ball you wanted and will be happy to try to describe which fly worked so well on four trout during a twenty minute period one day last week.

NHCDCH - Wants to know if color matters in trout flies. I try to match the color of insects when tying my flies as does almost every one else, but trout are, for the most part, looking up into a very bright sky as a background which tends to mute colors. I think the basic silhouette of the fly is the most important thing, and I know that if a fish starts for a fly and sees the tail fibers bent into the bend of the hook you will get an indignant refusal every time.

Jim D - Perhaps you over estimate my children's concern for my well being. The only question I got concerning the delivery and removal of the dehumidifier's was whether or not I notice the banana peel on the third step, (from the top), of the cellar stairs. Kids!