Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report

 Yesterday's "drive by" did nothing to boost my enthusiasm for the fishing, neither did the absence of bugs under the porch light, and the thunderstorms that passed through during the night. Awoke this morning to see muddy water flowing by on the BR, checked the USGS gages and where I was going to fish was not an issue, (above Oquaga or back home in my trout pond). Walked out on the back porch to turn off the light and got my first pleasant surprise, there were over thirty isos on the screens along with several october caddis, (aka pumpkin caddis), two stone flies and a miscellaneous assortment of other bugs. With the rivers up and muddy, (BR at 5,000 cfs), there was nothing I could do about the isos except tie some, but my spirits were clearly lifted. Drove up to Deposit and had my pick of the pools, there was a greater danger of running into JimF or Mike the Cop, (all of us driving around looking for a rising fish), than there was of finding someone in the pool you want...

 It's not that I couldn't have driven back down Monday morning, fished two days, then driven back to Lafayette for the Wednesday appointments, just didn't think it was worth it, had things that needed doing back home, and sometimes I just like to spend time with Jean.  Wasn't able to head for Lordville until 3:30, drove on dry roads all the way until leaving Hancock,  where a mist required wipers to be put on intermittent, low. The main objective today was to get the hay in the barn. The lawn could have been mowed Friday but wasn't, and today it was wet and a good 8/9 inches tall. Had to go slowly and only cut about one half a swath of new grass on each pass. It was 6:45 before I put the mower in the garage. Headed for the home pool with two rods, only to find a fisherman ensconced in the prime spot. Not having fished since Friday, I then decided to take a tour and assess the situation. Went up the PA side, crossed over into NY, and headed back to Lordville. Stopped...

 It's been an interesting couple of days. Two serious storms skirted downtown Lordville, (pavement under the trees was dry), one went to the north and one to the south. River out back was muddy all day today from the Beaverkill which shot up from 200 cfs to 800 cfs. It's now back to 475 cfs, clearing and fishable. Did the rise in water move fish? You'll have to find out for yourself, 'cause I'm heading home, return to be delayed by a doctors appointment to take care of a trigger fingers problem, (two of them are locking up). The bugs - Hopefully I'm just trying to rush the season, fall bugs need cold water temps and we just don't have them. Ants? You have to be lucky. Last year I got in on what was a massive ant flight and had a great day. I haven't seen an ant on the water yet this year. Just so you know, many of the ant flights are local, if you find ants on the water stay and fish them. Several times in the past I've left ants on the water to go t...

 With a strong thunderstorm watch posted for the area from 6:00 until 9:00 tonight it's doubtful that I'll even wet a line. It's 3:45 now and a good time to answer some questions. James - wants to know about algae, is it good or bad? I've written about it many times. It comes from the reservoir. The WB drainage area includes many dairy farms, cows and fertilizer both enrich the water that flows into the reservoir and sunshine does the rest. Growing algae gives off oxygen, dying algae CO2, from a fishing standpoint it's at best annoying to all fishermen. Nymphing and streamer fishing is virtually impossible above say Hale Eddy when the algae is at it's worst. The fish probably love it. James -Danaghers, (a long time Delaware fisherman who passed away a few years ago), owned the log cabin overlooking the WB on the bend below the Mens Club. Brian - Asked about blind casting. Have written several pages on this. Hopefully Dave at the Troutfitter or one of the Assoc. ...

 Encouraged by both the bugs on the water and the fish in the net last night, I woke up this morning with the thought of seeing if I could find some fish eating tricos. It was chilly and I had plenty of time before the spinner fall but I ended up working in the yard and it was noon before I came in for lunch. Drove off at two with no clear idea of what I was going to do. Drove up to Deposit, not to fish, but to consult with Lloyd Hornbeck about the stripers. We ended up talking for an hour. Left Hornbeck's and drove over to the Troutfitter to say hi to Dave and there were three cars in the lot. Detoured up route 8 and came down river road. Saw a couple bugs on the water, no rises and a lone fisherman standing in the Red Barn pool. Came back to the shop and it was closed. The bugs - - - - - - - . The fishing - Was almost as bad. Fished another spot on the BR, from 5:00 until 7:30 saw two rises out where I couldn't reach them and one, two, or three fish quietly taking something I...

 Can't help but notice that the length of the days are shrinking like a cheap cotton tee that got put in the dryer. Close to three minutes a day. Was back in the car tonight at 8:12, in June it was 9:45. Spent idle time weeding my "flower garden", others would call it a weed patch, to which I have no defense. It has an array of blooming plants that deer won't touch, Daffodils, Iris, (three colors), lilies, columbine, foxglove, (two colors), Cardinal Flower, (the Hummingbirds favorite), and a new red one that Jean gave me that I haven't learned the name of yet. There are flowers blooming among the weeds all season long. Didn't head out to fish until 2:00 and once again headed east to the BK. Water was in the mid sixties, I'd seen iso husks on the rocks and, and, and - - - it was a bust. In a good rainbow run, not far from a thermal refuge, there were no flies hatching, no husks on the rocks and most likely no fish in the river where I was fishing. If you...