Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report

 After yesterdays sub par afternoon hatch by the bugs, I decided to sit back, watch the weather, (cloudy with a 50% chance of showers), and make a decision on where to fish close to the prevailing hatch time of 3:00 pm. Dark clouds interspersed with brighter skies and even bursts of sunshine filled up the morning and early afternoon hours. The temperature climbed into the mid eighties all without a drop of rain, at least in Lordville. At 1:30, I'd had enough waiting, got in the car and drove to East Branch and then up route 30 all the way to Downsville. It didn't rain. Never saw a single person fishing on the UEB, never saw a bug hatch, did see one rise. On the return trip there was a pickup at Long Flat and a car parked at the head of Buck Horn. I got back to Lordville about 4:00 and took a nap. Departed Lordville at 6:00 hoping to find a place on the WB with some bugs and rising fish. With all of the freestones too warm to fish and quite possibly done until fall, I decided I ...

 Clearly we are, if not around the bend, at least entering the turn. Haven't been up to Long Flat and Powerline in a while, if anyone wants to report on the drake hatch up there, please do. My sense of "things" tells me that it is still a thing, but I won't stand in line to fish it and that it won't last much longer. Spent the afternoon "hatch", (if I could make the print on hatch any smaller I would), fishing an area that sees constant pressure, up in Deposit. There were a smattering of Hendricksons, a few non descript caddis and some Invarias. The sun was bright and it was hot. The fish were having none of it. Saw a handful of rising fish for not more than fifteen minutes. Totals for the two hour effort, three refusals and one nice 18 inch rainbow. Went back to the Estate and fell asleep. Awoke at 6:15, uncertain whether I wanted to fish or not. Mapped out a drive-by route of four places I would fish, if there were no other anglers fishing. First spot ...

 Had a busy morning in Syracuse. Stopped at the Dermatologists where Rachael took, (in my opinion), a little too much pleasure in applying the liquid nitrogen to what she referred to as Actinic Keratoses on the top of my head. Second stop was to pick up supplies to refurbish the larder at the Lordville Estate. Was too early for my dentist appointment, so stopped at my old grammar school friend's house for a cup of coffee and a recap of his horse's most recent race. At 11:30 I was in the dentist chair saying aah. Learned that I would need a new crown on old #29 but probably not a root canal. Buoyed by the news, I called the car dealer and was able to move up my appointment to pick up the new car from 1:30 to noon. It took an hour and a half to sign the papers and get me familiar enough with the car to get it off the dealers lot. By the time I got home and loaded up the food and fishing gear it was evident that I'd missed the afternoon fishing. Arrived at the fishing camp abo...

 Make no mistake about it, the river system needs rain and cooler temps RIGHT NOW. Unfortunately, the forecast for the next ten days shows temps 10 to 20 degrees above the 70 degree high, 50 degree low which is normal for this time of year. The BE water was into the mid 70s today, and is both too low to float and too warm to fish. The BK went above 70 briefly today and will hit 70 on a regular basis in the coming ten days. The WB is getting the 500 cfs release but the tribs have all but dried up. With the big bugs all but done on the BR, and the UEB and the EB too low to float, the number of boats attempting to get down the WB at less than 600cfs will be a sight NOT TO BEHOLD. At 600cfs the WB is easily wadeable and there are also sure to be hoards of wade fishermen adding to the problem. What to do? Fishermen leave your weapons at home, if you are coming bring your quaaludes. If you can come anytime, (retirees, trust babies and the super rich), wait for rain and cooler temps. Guid...

 Tried a triple header today and am not likely to try one again. Morning trip was to the EB in town. It proved to be just as barren of bugs and rising fish as was the trip to the top of the EB last night.  Came back to the fishing camp, had lunch, and fell asleep in the recliner making me an hour late for the afternoon shift which took place on the WB just upstream from where I fished yesterday. Fished 3:00  to 5:00 but all but one of the fish were caught in the first hour. As was the case yesterday, there were modest hatches of caddis, Invaria and Hendricksons and as is the case almost always, the fish preferred the Hendricksons. Ate my second sandwich in the car and rested a bit before heading out for the nightcap at 6:30. Found Invaria on the water in sufficient quantities to justify a bit of feeding, but the trout felt otherwise. Caught two fish blind casting an Invaria emerger and when the bugs stopped hatching, I left. Drove downstream and spent the last 30 minutes ...

 It was an interesting day. There were no drift boats or wade fishermen above Balls Eddy except for those addicted to the river between Cold Springs Brook and Butler Brook, (AKA the Red Barn area). Stepped into the river above Hale Eddy about 3:00 and was surprised to find bugs and rising fish. Had a place to myself with caddis, Invaria and even a few Hendricksons hatching and rising fish to throw at. There weren't a lot of any of the bugs but the fish were hungry and were more than willing to come up and pass judgement on what you were throwing. Got half a dozen fish to the net with a non counter, a 13 inch brown and four rainbows all between 17 and 18 inches. Surprised the buttons on my shirt didn't pop off I was so full of my self. And then - At six- thirty, in the bright 84 degree sun, I descended a steep rocky trail into the BE a short ways below Jaws, which is much farther upstream than I was last night. Was hoping to catch up with the Green Drake upstream march, find egg...