Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report

 With my printer refusing to print crosswords and sudokus, there was not much more for me to do today, but go for another drive and talk with anglers, (mostly my age), who were all happy to still be upright and above ground, out experiencing some of the most beautiful weather imaginable after a long cold winter cooped up inside. They've done the dance before and none seemed disappointed that there were no bugs or rising fish to throw at. The downside - Degree days matter and this winter, the iced over river did not provide enough degree days to allow nymphs to mature. We've had six straight days where the water got up to, or over 50 degrees, (over 60 today), and yet nothing but micro caddis and stone flies are hatching.   The upside - There have been dandelions in bloom on the south facing banks of homes in Hancock for the last three days, (regular readers will know that the "south bank dandelions" precede the streamside ones by up to a week). Saw my first mayfly toda...

 Did yard cleanup work until noon, made a sandwich and took off for another ride. Managed to look at the EB and BK early, (lots of stone flies and micro caddis on the BK), before getting back on 17 and heading for the Neversink, where I put on my waders and a pair of new, but much too tight, felt bottomed neoprene booties. Sat on the shore for an hour without seeing a fish rise or a mayfly hatch, pulled the plug and headed back west on 17.  Skipped the Willow, but stopped during prime time for paraleps and Hendricksons at several spots on the BK, BE, WB, and even the BR without seeing a single mayfly hatch or trout rise. Its still early days, BUT, the water has been over 50 for almost a week and there should be some bugs starting to hatch. At 83, its no fun watching, "Your Life Run Down", (at least not without a rising fish to throw at). Did see a Golden Eagle circling over the Lordville pool while enjoying the 80 degree temperature out on the back porch. It was so warn I had...

 Tended to some business items early this morning and was out the door at 11:15 with a car packed with enough food for the week.  Dropped off some of our home grown tomatoes, (from Florida), at the Troutfitter, unpacked the car at the Lordville Estate and was back on the road heading east by 1:30. Turns out I needn't have rushed. Stopped at all my regular "look see" spots on the EB, BK and the Willow both on the way out and on the way back. The only difference being that it was dead calm heading east and it blew 15/20 on the way back. Saw some micro caddis, a few little black stones and not a single may fly. Saw a grand total of two fish rise, one on the BK, and one at Jaws, technically he was in the UEB water.   The fishing - Never gave a thought to putting the waders on. Saw four fishermen on the BK, and one boat on the WB below Balls Eddy. DRC has had  pictures of some very large trout caught on streamers, but the absence of fishermen today is clear evidence ...

 Drove down to Deposit for a 9:15 haircut appointment at Vicky's on Thursday morning. Stopped at the Troutfitter to chat with Dave who said the streamer fishing from boats has produced some very big browns. By 11:30 I was unlocking the front door of the Lordville Estate. The yard had quite a few dead branches from my neighbors Norway maple but the town plow had mercifully left the road in place and I was spared the job of raking it off the lawn. Turned on the well pump and the pressure tank began to fill, (always a good sign), went outside and turned off the two spigots as soon as the water began to flow. Did the same upstairs noting that the hot water side wasn't yet running. Went downstairs and saw why. The 35 year old hot water heater had called it quits and was dumping water out on the cellar floor through a hole in the bottom of the tank. Shut off the water flow to the tank and called Gary Hubert the plumber  that keeps both the water and sewer lines flowing at the Troutf...

 This will be short. Going down to the fishing camp tomorrow and will report on the fridge and hot water tank. John H asked about trigger fish. I've caught some in the keys on bait and yes, I've fished for them in the Bahamas. Found them to be not very spooky, but fussy about what they eat. They feed on crustaceans, shrimp and even gnaw on coral. They have very sharp teeth, but very small mouths, try the smallest flies you've got and don't move the fly very much. Got several to eat when the tide went slack and the bonefish were nowhere to be seen. In case someone is wondering, they are good to eat, their skin will dull the sharpest knife, and they have a sharp point that sticks up on their dorsal fin, which is probably why there isn't a pelican that will try to eat one, (how do the young pelicans know this?)   

Jean and I left Long Key Saturday morning at 2:45am, and within 5 minutes were in a line of five cars following a construction truck (they work on the roads at night), with blinking yellow lights, moving along US-1 at 35 mph. Got on the Florida Turnpike at 4:00am and ten minutes later the low air warning light came on showing but 26 lbs. of air in the right rear tire. Car has neither jack nor spare, and the can of "Fix a Flat" was in the storage compartment buried under a loaded freezer. Found an open Convenience store/gas station with an air pump and for $3.00 put 40 lbs. of air in the tire. Back on the turnpike, we drove for two hours and watched the tire pressure slowly drop to 32 lbs. Stopped at Ft. Pierce where there are several gas stations and two truck stops, none of which were open for service. Bought a can of "Fix A Flat" but was unable to get more than about 10 seconds worth of the stuff into the tire before it stopped working. Spent an additional $2.50 f...