And Then Along Came Jones - - -

 

Had to go back to August first to find the last time I answered questions -my apologies to those who have waited for answers.

Terry V. wanted to know what they are eating when they are rising but won't look at your fly. Easy - flies without hooks in them. If the rises are boils the fish are feeding on nymphs in the water column, if the rises are sips they could very well be eating the dreaded Delaware River midges.

Several Ed's had questions - The most dependable olive hatches usually happen as the sulfur hatch wanes. A cold water surge, cold nights, cloudy, (smokey), overcast days with a drizzle are the best bets. The up river area from Stilesville to the Deposit bridge is the coldest part of the stream and  when the sun is off the water it's generally too cold for bugs to hatch.

Harry L. - You can get a copy of Paul Weamer's book about fly hatches and flies of New York, (the little orange book), at the Troutfitter's. It tells you when and where hatches occur. If there are flies on the water pick them up and compare them to the photos in Weamer's book. 

Steve - All quiet on the rattlesnake front. With the cold nights they will be heading back to the southern facing hills.

Ed J.- The DEC has conducted an extensive shocking program on the WB for the last several years, targeting numerous places about 4 times a year. This is the info I previously suggested you might help us out by obtaining using the freedom of information law.

Jack - I fish with fluorocarbon all the time, use both straight and down eyed hooks and I often see my leader sticking up in the air right by the fly or floating on the surface film no matter what I do. 

John - Some big flies, especially spinners, (no pun intended), will spin while you are false casting, I find it easier to change flies than tippets.

Either John or Jack asked, (two times), why everyone crowds into the red barn pool. Some like the comradery, for some it's easy access. Almost every year the pool has more fish in it than any other pool on the river. Why? During the course of the year the water  being released from the reservoir usually has a period where the oxygen is depleted, and the may fly and caddis nymphs are killed. Above Cold Springs Brook it is rare to find anything but midges and alewives. The  oxygenated water from Cold Springs Brook supports fly life, and rising trout can be found along the far bank of the river down to the Red Barn where the riff completes the reoxygenation process. The pool is a bug factory and the fish know it.

As the season winds down both the number of fishermen and the number of people commenting on the reports decline. I was surprised to find a dozen comments on Friday's page. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and is free to express them here. Ed, as an experienced fly-fisherman you certainly know the importance of a good presentation, yours need work. To those responding to Ed's comments, please try to make your points with factual information rather than by personally attacking someone making a comment.  

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