Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report

  If you are wondering, most guides are on either the EB or the BR. Why? That's the question. For starters both the WB and the UEB are quite low and difficult to navigate without interfering with wade fishermen and banging the bottom of an expensive drift boat. There is, however, a second reason. The EB and BR almost always warm up first and everyone wants to be the first to fish the Hendricksons. This morning four boats went by the fishing camp between 10:30 and 11:30, a good two hours earlier than usual, and two more were anchored in the home pool. Hmm. I know that the guides know, and that I should have taken the hint and headed downstream, but I had already decided to spend the day, either driving over to the Neversink, or doing a recon of the river system. Making what was probably the second mistake of the day, I opted for the drive around. Used 2/3s of a tank of gas, and saw but one fish rise, (once), before 4:00pm, and not more than a dozen paraleps on the water all day. Hea...

  Not wanting to be accused of whining, (or mewling either for that matter), I'll start with the positive. While driving through downtown Hancock around noon today I saw dandelions in full bloom along the south facing banks of the houses on Main Street. Those who regularly read A-119's offerings know that Hendricksons and dandelions go together like bees and honey. If the dandelions are in bloom along the banks of the river where you want to fish, tie on a Hendrickson. Sadly that is not true of the Main Street Hendricksons, who, because of their southern hillside exposure, get a few days head start. Take heart, within the next week both bankside dandelions and Hendricksons should be in full swing. Took a drive around the system at Hendrickson time, (3:00 pm), and saw many  fishermen, but nothing else. Between 3:00 and 4:00 none of my stops along the BE, UEB, Beaverkill and WB lead to sightings of either bugs or risers. To be sure there were lots of wade fishermen, (all streams...

  Looked at the forecast on Tuesday morning, worked around the fishing camp until noon in beautiful 65 degree weather, and then packed up and headed back to Lafayette. Temperature dropped to a low of 43 on the way home with winds in 30/40 mph range. Woke to a day long lake effect snow storm Wednesday, and I don't care how many fish people may have caught, I'm glad I wasn't here fishing. There was bright sunshine, but chilly temps this morning. Arrived in Deposit around 11:30, where the temp was up to 47 degrees but a biting northwest wind was cutting the smoke off just above the top of the chimney by the Deposit exit. Decided to stay in Deposit where I could get a little protection from the wind.  The fishing - I've gotten reports of fish feeding at about 1:00 and for a change I was there on time. Saw a pod of fish rising in an unprotected windy spot. There were at least a dozen fish going like it was chow time at the fish hatchery. Suited up, got into position, and pro...

  Today the weatherman did me no favors. Intended to do the spraying for brown rot on the fruit trees this morning before the wind picked up, but the radar showed a line of rain scheduled to sweep through the area between 10:00 and 11:00.  The clouds arrived about 11:00 and the sun reappeared at 12:15 without a drop of rain falling. I finished up the spraying at 2:00 and headed for Deposit knowing that I was over an hour late. The number of fishermen was only half of Sunday's total, but they pretty much had all the spots where there were rising fish yesterday covered. Saw a lone riser in the pool above the Men's Club and passed, stopped at the Troutfitter and chatted with Dave for a few minutes, walked out on the town bridge and saw "Mike the Cop" cast to a riser. Decided I'd suit up and go down and say hello to a fellow octogenarian, (would love to know how many of us are still out there fishing the Delaware).  The fishing - Waded in above Mike and was greeted by...

  Since purchasing the Lordville Estate back in '91, there have been a few years where I avoided a skunking, alas, this year isn't going to be one of them. Spent Saturday watching an all day drizzle with the red stuff in the thermometer unable to even get out of the thirties. Drove into town and got a new battery for the lawn mower, a new nozzle for the faucet in the bathroom and some five minute epoxy for my rod repair project. Completed all of the projects and spent the late afternoon and evening reading a novel on my kindle. When the sun came through the clouds about 11:00 this morning I went out and finished removing the rocks the RR had strewn into my yard when installing new rails last fall. Came in, had lunch, with the intention of going back out and spraying the fruit trees with a fungicide designed to hold the brown rot at bay. With the wind blowing 15/20 out of the north, the spraying was a non-starter. Left with no other alternatives, I decided to take a ride. Saw tr...