Posted on June 23 2023
Today was the co-longest day of the year, tying with yesterday. As far as I'm concerned it could have ended much sooner. Stood in the BR with bugs on the water and nothing to even throw at, let alone suffer the indignity of being refused. Everywhere I've fished this week the fish have been between difficult and impossible to get to eat a dry fly, and, the fish I've hooked, have proven to also be difficult to land.
What's going on? Well, perhaps we've had it much too good for much too long. The river is full of big fish. People who are on the river with some regularity have all seen it. Bugs on the water and big fish slopping like hogs. It's over. The big bugs are gone and the browns have switched to eating fish. Sure, once in a while a big brown will get a craving for a sulfur or olive but most of the fish eating sulfurs and olives will be one to three year old fish (seven to fifteen inches). If you're up for the challenge it's a great time to be on the river. If you are careful and observant you will get two or three shots at big browns a day. What you do with those chances will tell you how far you have come as a Delaware River dry fly fisherman (no one but you needs know). The rainbows, you ask? They love flies and if you fish water where they live, you'll have a good chance of hooking a good one at any time of the season.
Note to Ed Smith - Great news about your Achilles tendon, just hope you didn't jump for joy over the news. Us old timers take time to heel. Will be sure to let you know when there is a yellow glow on the water at the Red Barn.
My buddy Steve and I are heading to the Henry’s Fork next week. We plan it when the Delaware system gets quiet.
The water is sort of the Delaware of the west along with the Missouri. Incredible rainbows of a size you don’t see on the main stem. However the ranch fish are easier than the Upper Delaware!With the fishing going bad I foresee a tailing loops coming so I’ll add on to Dennis question. When on the BR do you find more fish rise in the riffles or is most of your fishing/success in the slower pools? Also when was the last time you nymphed? I’m guessing the Reagan Administration?
Correction.- the water temps on the Willow were 65 and dropping.Cloudy and cool evening
Angler119- Thanks for your kind thoughts. And there is no jumping in the near future. I appreciate you letting me know when the zone gets going. The red barn beckons. I did fish the Willow and Long Flat yesterday.Landed a 151/2 “ brown on a #26 bwo( yikes- I dropped it off a smaller spinner) and a 13”fish . Nothing doing on the UEB. Back to the Willow at 8. Water temp was 68 and dropping . My son in law is now “king of the stockers” landing around 15 fish on a #18 bwo. I got 4 fish including a 14”brown . Left the river at 9:30. We “zen” fishing the last 15 minutes in the dark . It was a lot of fun
A119 you are right. Early on I was catching fish from 15 -20 in. The last two weeks I haven’t caught a fish over 15in. I was wondering what was going on. Thank you!
Question! When fishing I’ve noticed more bugs and hatching bugs in riffles than in a slower current why is that??
Thanks