This Week, There Are Better Places To Be.

This promises to be a week like I've never seen on the Delaware River System. Today was to be the coolest day and the car reported 88 on the drive up to Deposit. Forecasted highs for Tuesday through Friday are 88, 94, 97, 94. A surge is being sent down the WB from Cannonsville  to try to keep the USGS temperature gage at Lordville at or below 75. The current reading is 74. With the predicted temps, a lot of water will need to be released this week. The thermal releases are normally done in the evening and the cold water travels downstream during the dark of night, arriving at Lordville during the warmest part of the day. It's the best program I've seen, it increases the number of trout able to live in the BR by creating a large, (but artificial), thermal refuge. The problem being created, by what is sure to be a record breaking heatwave, is that the bank of water that can be released is limited, July is historically the hottest month and we aren't even there yet. The severity of the predicted temperatures coupled with the low water conditions in the BK and the Willow may well result in some fish mortality in both rivers.

The outlook - For the week, grim. I don't care how cold the water is, mid to high nineties will make it unpleasant to be in a boat, or anywhere where you are not at least three feet deep in cold water. If you have AC stay home and use it, there will be sulfurs all of July and most of August.

The fishing - Is, as always, difficult. Got to the river at 1:30 and found lots of bugs just down from Deposit, by 2:00, they were gone. Moved up river and joined the chorus line,( at the end, thank you, can't kick very high anymore). Was advised by an angler, who is well acquainted with the area, that the hatch there was just starting. Fished there from 3:15 until almost 6:00. The Invaria are still hatching, the fish are rising and as always are tough to fool, but it is entertaining. Went down river for the 7:00 to 9:00 shift. It wasn't crowded, (for good reason), there were a few Dorotheas, but almost all the fish rising were yearlings. Just before dark there were a few spinners on the water and some better sized trout made an appearance. Overall it was nothing to write home about, and for the next few days, it's likely to get worse.       

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