Posted on September 21 2024
Those of you on the pay side who sneak a peek at the blog before it's posted on the Troutfitter page were no doubt disappointed last night. I was disappointed too, as I watched Stanford kick a last second field goal to beat Syracuse, in lieu of writing the blog.
Took a long walk to a section of the river I haven't fished in several years. Picking a hot sunny day for the trip just wasn't very smart. Was in a lather by the time I got there and sat on a rock out in the stream for a good hour before the first bugs hatched. Got takes from the first three fish that rose. One is wearing a brand spanking new olive that he acquired by streaking downstream and creating enough drag to break my 6x tippet. Landed the other two and thought it was going to be well worth the walk. It wasn't. There were bugs and there were splashy rises of educated fish taking the nymphs on the way up. Didn't get so much as a refusal until, when wading back downstream towards the car, I saw a fish sipping a good hundred yards down and across from me. Keeping my eye on the fish I banged my shin on the jagged edge of a shin high submerged rock, miraculously didn't take a bath, and finally got within range of a nice sixteen inch brown who slurped up my fly on the first business cast.
The increased flow from Pepacton has invigorated the EB and the BR, allowed the fish to resume residence in their home pools and provided me with a chance to visit many places I haven't fished in years. When I was lucky enough to be the first fisherman to show a fish a fly since back in June he almost always ate. It was both exciting and fun, but the party's over. Yes, you may find a happy sipper like the one in the tail out today, but most of the rising fish have felt the barb and will no longer be as eager to eat anything that floats by. In short, you'll earn every fish you catch.
I'll be taking a break for the next week, doctors visits, family obligations and tree stand erections will take the place of projects at the Lordville Estate and fly fishing. Hope to be back next Friday. If you're still fishing feel free to give us a report.
Dennis-Wow , what a tough day. Sorry things didn’t work out, Those little Olive are really difficult. Thanks for the report. Ed
I started out to fish at the 191 bridge but there were to many guys. I went to Bard Parker and saw fish rising. The water was covered with tiny little bugs and the fish were sipping. I tried pseudos and #20 BWO and couldn’t get a rise. I then moved down to the faster waters and it was dead. No fish rising in the fast water. I was blind casting an iso and nothing. I went back up stream At 6:45 pm to rising fish. I left at 7:30 with nothing but a seat on the bench!!
Dennis-Congrats. A 17” rainbow on the BR is a great fish. Thanks for the report. Good luck. Ed
I fished the main stem yesterday and had a ok day. I landed a 17 in rainbow and lost another one. I had 3 refusals. There were bugs flying around but not many on the water. I caught the fish on an iso emerger in a fast moving rift. I was blind casting. The bugs I saw were BWO and ISO. Hope to get out again this week and will report.
Angler119- it was a lot of work and thankfully you survived the run in with the rock, but you did have success. Congrats. I also am tied up next week so I won’t be fishing either. Dennis- Kudos on Leslie Gore. Hope you get out and have some great fishing. Ed
The cuse just could not defend that guy who caught the last first down catch. That ended the game .
Lesley Gore!!! Wow. You’re really going back!! I hope all goes well at home with the Drs. Visits. I will certainly post any fishing expeditions and my results.
Sound like you had a pretty good night.