The weekend outlook.

 I awoke Thursday morning to a nice steady rain, we needed it. Looked out at the BR and it was up a bit but clear. Looked out a couple hours later and the change was remarkable. By noon it was at 7,000cfs and a roiling orange in color. DRC reported that the WB was muddy in front of their compound but the river at Hale Eddy wasn't that high.  Same with the east side of the system, Both the UEB and BK were up but seemed to be still at fishable levels.  The numbers just didn't add up until I walked outside and listened to the roar of little Humphries Brook. The heavy rain fell between Hale Eddy and East Branch.  The tributaries were all pouring huge amounts of water into the system while up north the rain amounts were more modest.

So what? Well by late afternoon the upper half of the WB was very fishable as was the BK and UEB. The drift boaters and almost all of the wade fishermen had concentrated on the WB above Oquaga Creek with almost every boat taking out at barking dog.

I drove over to the BK which was quite clear at Horton. A stop on the Willow, however, was a different story. The Willow had received more rain during the day and was sending muddy water down to the BK. Drove back to Deposit and found clear water but far too many boats and fishermen for my liking. Drove down river in hopes of escaping the crowd and saw an old friend donning his waders roadside. Stopped to talk and he was kind enough to invite me to join him in what turned out to be a very nice nights fishing. No boats, lots of sulfurs and enough rising fish to make anyone happy.

The outlook - Have fished to very nice sulfur hatches the last three nights. One night below Balls Eddy in the lower section, one in the middle section and one up top  above Hale Eddy.  The water temps throughout the system are ideal. The freestones have not had a lot of bugs before 7:00 but the fish are rested and not very fussy about what they eat. If the BR and or BE drop quickly enough for safe wading that's where I would fish. Had one good morning of fishing out of three tries and the afternoons, for me, were better spent tying flies or mowing the lawn. Eat an early dinner, pass on the cocktail hour until after fishing and be on the river by 7:00, you'll get in a days worth of catching even if you only stay 'til nine.