Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report

  Fluky little rainstorms continue to slow the descent of the water levels. One hit the Willow another Oquaga. Cannonsville is not spilling, but only because the release is equal to or greater than what the spill would be. The forecast is decent for the next week and perhaps the rivers will finally return to normal levels. I say it, but don't really believe it. The fishing has, unless or until the Dorotheas settle into their summer routine, become a late evening thing. Drove all over yesterday looking for bugs and rising fish without success. Today pretty much stayed in the 60's with a breeze that bent the tree branches. I spent the morning doing yard work without breaking a sweat. Had a 1:30  appointment for an oil change and tire rotation over in Equinunk at CL Repair. Wasn't able to finish a LA Times medium crossword before the car was ready to go. I wasn't. Drove back to Lordville, finished the crossword and caught a few zees before heading out to fish at 4:30. The ...

  It's only 8:15 and I'm back at the Lordville Estate writing the fishing report, and it will be short. Drove up to Deposit around 12:30 to see if the Dorotheas were going, they weren't. Returned to the LVE without seeing a bug or a rise and but two waders and four boats. At 4:00  I set out on an all river drive that even required a refueling stop. Saw a sulfur hatch above Corbett on the UEB but only yearlings up. Saw three wade fishermen on the drive up and on the way back there were five cars total at Powerline / Long Flat. No risers seen below the Corbett Bridge.  Drove up the BK until it was evident that there were neither bugs nor rising fish. Saw one fisherman.  Saw neither bugs, boats, rising fish or fishermen on the BR. Took a long walk along the EB, saw what might have been a rise. Returned to the Deposit area about 7:30 wind was blowing, saw 4 splashy rises in assorted places, and three Dorotheas blew by where I was standing. Parking lots empty. One boat in...

  After taking two personal days, (high water and mid 90's temps), I was anxious to get back down to the Lordville Estate, if for no other reason than to cut the grass before the next deluge. Got the grass cut, put things away, had lunch, looked out at the bright sunshine, a thermometer that read 88 degrees and said, "Why in hell should I go out looking for fish now", (it was 2:15). Ordered a book of NYT medium crosswords which was in the mail box when I arrived, (along with a partially built Carolina wren's nest), with a couple of lucky guesses I got all but three blanks, (two words), filled, in and before I knew it, it was 4:15, (might have rested my eyes a bit during the puzzle). With no further delays, I set out on a tour of the rivers. Drove up the PA side and there were no trailers at Buckingham, (and there shouldn't have been),well under 10 drift boats in sight on the WB, and half that number of wade fishermen on the entire system. Wildlife - Stopped the ca...

  Spent a couple hours on the phone with Tim Pokorny of the DEC, (Chris Van Maaren, gave him the unenviable job), and Jeff Skelding of FUDR. Tim heads the shocking program that has expanded to include the UEB/EB this year. When I talked with him the release had been increased to 900 cfs, it was later cut back into 700's so that they could increase it to 1,100 cfs tonight in an attempt to keep the temp at Lordville under the 75 degree cap tomorrow. The night time release is done so that the water, unheated by the sun, arrives downriver tomorrow during the hottest part of the day. Nothing is ever as simple as it seems to the average guy on the river. While I'm sure my calls contributed little to any of the decisions made, stirring the pot and letting the ones making the decisions know that people care, does serve a purpose. In any event NYC DEP, (aka Department of Environmental Protection), (if ever there was a misnomer), has been poked. To be sure preserving NYC's water supp...

  With the Cannonsville Reservoir spilling hot water, (the Stilesville gage shows the water temperature to already be approaching 70 degrees), and with the air temperature predicted to be in the mid- nineties for the next two days, the West Branch fishery will be threatened.  The FFMP plan states that if at any time after June 15th the reservoir is overflowing, NYC is required to maximise the release, (1,500 cfs), until the spill ceases and a specified void is created in the reservoir. They failed to do this last week, running only 800 cfs and have not as yet increased the flow following the latest spill. NYC's failure to abide by the FFMP regulations is putting both people's lives and property downstream of the reservoirs at risk from flooding. By failing to reduce the spill water they are also endangering the Delaware River trout fishery which brings millions of dollars into the communities along the river. If you live in the area call your state senator and representative a...