Posted on July 29 2022
This is the time of the season when it is the hardest to write an interesting and informative fishing report. Why? Because it's the same old, same old. By now you know when and where the sulfurs are hatching. You know it's a good sulfur hatch this year and that there are rising fish from noon until dark with a slower period between four and six. You know there are tiny olives and brownies (just pick up a few and look), isos (don't even bother putting one on in the S.Z., the fish won't give it a sniff), and yes Green Drakes up where the water is really cold (you don't need your G.D.'s either - see isos above). So why am I writing? Because if I don't the Orvis fishing report page sneaks up above mine and I have to scroll down just to see if anyone has written a comment.
The fishing outlook (see above) and seek out water that isn't being pounded from dawn 'till dusk. Get away from the red barn, those fish may be the hardest trout on the planet to catch on a dry fly. Go down river at 7:00 pm, yes even as far as junction pool, where you can stand in the east branch water and fish to the fish in the WB water. The river is full of more fish sixteen inches and over than I have seen in my 35 plus years fishing the Delaware River system. If you have the skill and the will there is no limit to the fun you can have catching them.
If you have any questions best put them in the comments as I'll be doing a "Wind Knots and Tailing Loops" page over the weekend.
Just a word of thanks to those who have taken the time to comment favorably on here about A Season On The Delaware, there seems to be a spurt in sales (it doesn't take many sales to create a spurt) at Amazon whenever someone says something nice about the book.
I have been Flyfishing for about 55 years and consider myself to be a pretty decent flyfisherman. I also have been fortunate over the years to fish with several superb fisherman in various streams in the East and in the west. I had the pleasure of observing Angler 119 in action and believe me he is an incredible and highly accomplished fisherman . Among the best I have ever seen. Heed his advice, the man has paid his dues and honed his skills to be a world class flyfisherman.. P. S. This was not a paid promotional announcement. I am not related to or employed by Angler 119 or any affiliated agencies
Your reports are fantastic. As one who does fairly well on the Delaware considering how tough it is to fool those trout on a daily basis, I questioned your reports as I have never seen anyone catch as many fish as you seem too on a daily basis. Then I stopped in the shop and talked to your son. Now I don’t question your reports I just accept that legends exist and you are one of them. What I will say to the gentlemen above who has had little success I will say the same thing I tell my father who continually struggles up there….it’s all about the casting period! WB trout demand drag free casts fly first. Anything else you are wasting your time! Then after the perfect cast you gotta get lucky with the perfect fly!
My take on it. First for the good news, there is a hatch going on. Now for the bad news, there is a hatch going on. That fish that you see rising may have eaten 50-100 duns yesterday, 50-100 duns the day before that and the day before that and… well, you get the idea. That fish may not necessarily recognize your Sulphur imitation as something it should eat. The other day I fished for 6 hours on the West Branch and caught and landed 8 fish. That ratio of casts to hookups may have been more like 600 or a 1,000 to one! I considered it one of my better days on the Delaware lol.
So how do you increase your chances of a hook up? First, in the early stage of a hatch a few fish will start taking the duns. If you can focus on working a feeding fish, then you may have a good chance of a take since that fish may not yet be fixated on exactly the size and shape of the naturals vs. your fly (that is my theory anyway!)
Next, in an article in Fly Fishing magazine where guides from the Delaware River were interviewed a few years ago , they all used 12- 15 foot leaders ( including the tippet). I always felt that a long leader is more important to use than a shorter leader terminating in 6X (you can argue that point). Next, when you start seeing duns, pick one up out of the water. Having an insect net that attaches to my fishing net is an easy way for me to capture one. The other day the “Sulphurs” looked like whitish flies with a pale green body, almost like a pale morning dun. Yet I remember in other years their appearing more yellow. Does this mean there are variations? I do not know, but the best way to start fishing is by using an artificial that is based on what is actually on the water. See you on the WB next week!
Angler119. Thanks for the report. Even though it may seem “ the same old same old” I look forward to hearing from you every morning. And a “plug” for “A Season on the Delaware”I’ve read it and reread it- love the stories, the observations on fishing and the natural world,etc. One question— do you prefer a monofilament or fluorocarbon tippet material and how long a tippet do you use when fishing size 18 or 20 dry flies? I guess that was really two questions . Thanks
Thanks so much for all the informative commentary! I can attest to the Season on the Delaware book. I have gone back to the specific dates of the book when planning a trip to the Delaware system to get an idea of what might be happening at that specific time of year on the rivers and it’s been very helpful.
I admire your fish catching ability as you seldom, if ever, get skunked. Not so with me as my log is filled with zeros. I fish the same Sulphur hatches as you with flies blanketing the water and pods of fish feeding like crazy, yet I can’t get them to take my fly. I know they’re feeding on duns as I can see the whiteish wings disappearing in the rise forms. I’ve tried all types of ties from soft hackles, parachutes, thorax, Catskill to Comparaduns; different sizes and stages; BWOs and other appropriate insects and everything else I could think of with minimal success. I use 6-X Fluro exclusively. I’ve been fly fishing for 76 years and don’t have a solution. I’d appreciate your thoughts on this subject as I have to be missing something????
Nice writing and spot on….
Great shop too – looking forward to heading up again and booking a room.
As you know I usually have lots of questions and I don’t want to disappoint you.
1 are you using 6xor 7x now that the fishing has gotten tough?
2 when you fish in the morning what time is best to hit the water. Is there hatches in the mornings? The morning fishing intrigues me. I would think you would have the river to yourself and I like that.
Thanks for answering these questions!!
Where is the red barn?