Posted on June 06 2023
With the cooler weather seemingly locked in for the next week, anglers are provided with a window of opportunity to fish the freestones before they shut down for the summer. The WB has been pounded by both boats and wade fishermen since before the first Hendrickson hatched and the "Sulfur Zone" will only get worse as the Invaria and Dorthea set up residence there. Believe me when I say you will find much easier fish to catch if you can kick the WB habit.
The seasons are progressing. The deer have shed their moth eaten winter coats and are now a bright orangey red color. Have yet to see fawn. Last Thursday I watched what I believe to be two yearling does walk through the back yard. One was slim and trim, the other bulging out on both sides. Mom obviously didn't give her "the talk". There have been young geese for several weeks, amazing how fast they grow. Saw my first hatchling mergansers last Thursday, a combined brood with two moms last night, and three separate broods today. Everyone should get one free "flock shot" included when they buy a fishing license.
The bugs - Someone else will have to help out here. Have seen a few of everything but no blanket hatches. Have missed the stones entirely and haven't driven up rte. 30 to check out the drake hatch at Long Flat. There were brown drakes on my screens last week and again this morning. Green Drakes apparently don't like my screens. Sulfurs have been seen from Stilesville to junction pool. Even saw a few left overs on the BR last night. There are enough bugs almost everywhere to get the fish up and feeding in the evening. The morning bugs have been hit or miss but there are usually enough to get a few fish up.
The fishing - All I know is that I've done what I've always done, found an empty pool and gone fishing, its been good. The size of the fish I am catching has been getting smaller. In a way it is reassuring, because there are two year old fish that haven't been eaten by the big guys. During the day it seems that the smaller fish are more comfortable feeding and that there just aren't enough bugs to get most of the big guys up. In the evening, however, the senior partners come to the table and the fun begins.
FYI - Average quit time for A-119 is now after 9:00pm.
Fished the upper WB last night and it was deserted of both fisherman and bugs. Few feeding fish and not many bugs at all. I landed 2 fish on a sulfur emerger. One was 16 in the other 12. I had 5 refusals and left the river at 8pm.
I am taking your advice and looking for fish elsewhere. A change of scenery is a good thing.
Thanks for the info