Posted on July 13 2023
On September 30th last year I wrote a piece on mortgaging the future. I said this year would make most people happy because there would be more big trout in the WB than ever before, and there are. I also said that there would be fewer fish in the river this year and I believe that is true. Also said it will get worse before it gets better as the 2018 year class of browns treats bugs as hors d'oeuvre's and yearling trout as the main course.
Haven't talked to the DEC marine biologist yet, (hoping he returns my call tomorrow) but based on my personal experience in the last two weeks fishing the WB, the proportion of big fish is way out of line. One of the reasons the fishing is so hard is that there are very few two (11/12 inches) and three (14/15 inches) year old fish in the river. In my six days of fishing (three last week and three this week) 18 of the 41 fish I have caught (44%) have been over 17 inches long. For the individual fisherman who want to catch a "lifer" fish, this is a good thing. For the river system, not so much. Browns live a long time and they eat lots of fish. The near term prospects of a healthy pyramid shaped fishery where the most populated year classes are the younger ones, is probably not in the cards.
The sulfurs are hatching, more every day. Big fish are rising to them, with some of the subtlest rises you will ever see. Fished today in a "Sulfur Zone" pool with a dozen big fish within easy reach. In three hours I hooked and landed two that were both 18 inchers and had three refuse my flies. Did catch one eight inch brown. In the evening I hooked five fish, landed one yearling and two fish both over 17 inches.
The big fish have learned from their mistakes. They are hard to fool. If you are able to get one to eat and bring him to net you deserve a pat on the back and a celebratory drink of your choice. If you like ice cream cones, stop at the Cow Lick and while your there buy me a cone with two scoops of pralines and cream.
Perhaps the flow plan has reached its zenith as far as big wild trout are concerned. Without the “stocking” of the west. Branch (and mainstem) from dam overflows most springs, the river has settled into what it will be for the foreseeable future, which ain’t bad.
I’m finding very good numbers of browns in the 11-15" range all through the entire WB.. They are particularly strong from the PA Gamelands down.
Angler119, Just started reading some of your reports, very comprehensive! Was wondering do you count what looks like a take with no hook up as a refusal?
I’m just 3 1/2 years in to fly fishing. The Delaware has intimidated me every time I come here from Western N.Y. if I splurge and get a guild I have some success. Other times I get blanked. This week was one of those weeks. Monday PM thru Wednesday 5:00( left when it started raining) saw one fish in the net on Wednesday (not my net) at the farm pool. A couple of the evening I was surrounded by rising fish- 3 of the 4 buddy’s (experienced Delaware anglers) I was with were shut out too. I know the Delaware is world class for the best anglers but this week was demoralizing. I’m the 1st to admit I have a ton to learn but I rarely got a take and only a few refusals this time.And I changed flys to patterns recommended to me by veteran Delaware anglers many many times. Makes me question it it’s worth me coming back… admit defeat and fight my battles somewhere else.
Plan to come up next week with my special sulphur patterns. They worked last year at this time on the Upper WB, which, of course, means absolutely nothing.
Jack
I fished the upper WB last night and I had a good night till the fog rolled in. I netted a 19 in. Brown and had 10 refusals. I was in the game and it felt good.
I just checked my diary I am 8 fish behind of where I was last year at this time.
Thanks for the info
Your experience with fish sizes in the WBr is the same as mine. It started to become noticeable last year. They can be really tough on dries, especially now, but that’s what it’s all about.