Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report

 Having been soaked to the skin twice within an hour yesterday, I resolved to keep a close watch on the weather today. The weatherman said showers, and thunderstorms, ( some severe), starting at 2:00 and lasting until 5:00. His prediction was perfect. Twice I started for a pool only to retreat to the car after hearing the thunder or seeing both the dark clouds and the number of drift boats and wade fishermen already there. Both times I made it back to the car before the rain. At 4:56 the sun came out. Where was I? Filling my gallon water jugs at the Lordville spring. At 7:00 I went out again and drove up the river catching glimpses of both drift boats and wade fishermen  in the dense fog that enveloped the river after the afternoon rains. Some days it's just not meant to be. The rain is once again pounding down on the porch roof as I write amen to a fishless Friday.  A large number of guides have departed. Yes, Barking Dog, Balls Eddy, and Shehawken are busy, but Stockpor...

 After three days of basically driving up and down the WB, (lets forget about yesterday's mid afternoon excursion up route 30), felt I had a handle on what bugs were hatching and where. Found sulfurs hatching and a few fish rising about 2:00, got two refusals and landed a rainbow. When the hatch didn't seem to be building, I reeled it in and moved downstream into the middle section of the WB. Where seemingly almost every trout in the river was up feeding on a mixed hatch of sulfurs and Hendricksons. I would guess most people would have called it a sulfur hatch 'cause they show up much better but there were lots of Hendricksons. Had fish to throw at from 10 feet away to as far as I could cast. Got more refusals than you would think possible, hooked seven fish, lost one not five feet from the net and landed the other six. The action lasted from about 3:00 until 4:45, had to keep sticking the reel in the water to keep it from overheating, (I kid). At 5:00, things were dead see...

 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...