Posted on September 16 2022
A bright sun beaming down from a cloudless sky, a sky high barometer and a piping wind out of the north is a combination that chills the heart of of most dry fly anglers in the best of times. Add no bugs to the equation and you begin to get the picture of why so few anglers are on the river.
Dutifully followed the directions on the fall fertilizer/weed killer bag and applied it to the dew dampened lawn this morning just after my 8:00AM call with Jean. The directions say that the milky spores that I bought at Tractor Supply last year at a 75% off close out sale (you need to put them on your lawn two years in a row) will have to wait until just before the next rain. With those two items on the "To Do List" resolved, I settled down with the laptop and studied ladder stands and see- through hunting tents (in case I'm uncomfortable using my little fold up seat and climbers that I screw into the tree). Before I knew it, it was time for lunch after which I headed up to Deposit where my river friend Mike and I pestered Dave while he was trying to act busy in the fly shop.
At 3:30 (after three trips to the bridge where I saw no risers (Dave said he saw four on his trip - clearly trying to get Mike and me out of the shop), I departed and drove over to the BK where, believe it or not a guided drift boat was anchored in the pool I planned to fish. Let me be clear, just because you have a right to do something, it doesn't make it right. To float the Beaverkill at any level is not right. In my 30 plus years on the river only one guide ever did and he paid the price. The BK is not a great trout stream. It has been between 70 and 80 degrees for the past ten weeks. But it has a history that to many is sacred and drift boats are not part of that history. There are over fifty miles of the Delaware system now cool enough for trout and high enough to float. When only one guide is on a river in the Delaware River System it's not because he's smarter than all the other guides it's either because he doesn't care about anyone but himself or he's not good enough to catch fish where other guides are fishing.
The fishing - Almost forgot. Left the BK and drove up the UEB, picked a place that was in shadow (the wind had also laid down) and waded in. There was what you would call a modest hatch of olives, hebes and caddis. The younger fish were up and found my flies to their liking. Caught a good number of 9/14 inch fish (both browns and rainbows) but never saw an adult fish rise. After the past few weeks, it was two hours of absolutely delightful fishing.
Will again be watching our granddaughter play volleyball tomorrow (12:00 and 5:00) which pretty much takes care of the fishing. Will answer questions (Dennis you are already over your quota) from home. If you're on the river this weekend, don't despair, it can't get any worse and the cold nights might in fact make it better.
This really makes me want to take my jon boat or canoe down the beaverkill. The gate keeping and legislating bothers me here— it’s proclaimed through the same channels that progressively damage the fishing experience on all these rivers and creeks. Instagram, YouTube, advertising, blogs… these are the real problem. The fly shops can’t have it both ways. You can’t cash in and remain righteous. That’s having the cake and eating it too.
I get really into dry fly fishing sporadically, I keep an eclectic outdoor recreation schedule. There’s no better way to catch fish as far as I’m concerned.
The Roscoe area is like an escape from the competitive, high pressure, extreme sport, Instagram influencer type of fishing clogging up the West Branch. That’s why people don’t like boats on the beaverkill. It’s not because of sacred history. There’s plenty of stuff in a modern fisherman’s truck not found 50 years ago. 1000 dollar rods, zip up waders, go pro cameras, flies tied in Vietnam.
The internet kind of ruined things. The fly shops don’t own the rivers and they’re largely responsible for the degradation of the system. I don’t blame anyone and I definitely would do the same thing—people gotta eat. This is the world we live in.
Why not widespread condemnation of fishing for profit? These rivers have been sold-out! It’s all business now. I’m not a guide or affiliated with any guide but, man, this post has me feeling for the guy in question.
Having followed this blog since late spring of this year I finally had to add a comment … it is such a pleasure and so refreshing. As you all know few persons are so giving with their experience especially with the skills it takes to catch fish on the upper Delaware system … and A119 is one of them. I had not been fishing the WBD for about 10 years but the quality of the dry fly fishery drew my fishing buddy and I back. I found this blog and A119s book (“A Season on the Delaware”) and it’s been very helpful. So thanks A119 for creating such a forum with Dave at Troutfitter. And not just for the fly fishing but also as an example for bringing people together in such a positive way during a time when our community and country need it. Please keep it all going. Tight lines everyone.
The post and comments were a nice finish to the work week, leaving my wife asking why I was smiling at my phone…
I try but cannot sort out fall fishing on the DR system. My big take away thus far is that I need to spend a lot more time learning the areas. But all insight is appreciated 119. Ty.
I can only guess who the guide might be or the shop he may have been booked thru….just proves my point that there are probably a handfull of real good quides in the system…. the rest are boat rowing opportunists…. floating the BK….. really… just bad!!!
A119 a master fly fisherman has to share his knowledge. It’s like Kung FU and grasshopper. How will I gain knowledge!!!!!
I hope you remember the tv show
Two-day shop ban enacted.