Angler 119's Delaware River Fishing Report
Rainy Days And Rainbows Always Make Me Glad!
Posted on June 15 2023
With the drift boaters concentrating on the middle and lower sections of the WB and the BR down to Buckingham, and the water temps in all of the freestone sections right around 60 degrees, it's a great opportunity for wade fishermen to get away from the crowd, enjoy fishing to...
A Peaceful Easy Feeling
Posted on June 14 2023
Spent the day catching up on work around the fishing camp and yard. Found time to reorganize my spinner box, tossed a couple dozen flies that were either beyond repair or poorly tied to begin with and then sat down and tied a dozen new ones. Went through my fishing...
You never know 'til you go.
Posted on June 13 2023
With rain scheduled for late afternoon I decided to fish the BR in the morning. Was on the water a little before nine and was back in the fishing camp before noon. There were almost no bugs and only an occasional riser. In the time I was there, at least...
How To Catch a Delaware River Grand Slam.
Posted on June 12 2023
After a couple days off I was ready to go. Stopped in Deposit at about 10:30 on the way down and saw rising fish off the town bridge. Suited up and had at 'em. There were a few tiny olives on the water and it turned out that they were...
Why make catching fish harder than it needs to be?
Posted on June 11 2023
I've said most of this before, but year after year questions come up about which fly or pattern works best. There are several things I know for sure that will help you catch more fish. 1- If an angler catches a fish on a particular pattern he gains confidence in...
Wind Knots & Tailing Loops
Posted on June 10 2023
Home watching grandson's lacrosse team advance to state final with a convincing win. Ride home was in light traffic on an interstate strewn with yearling deer carcasses, sad. Dr.'s appointment went well and he scheduled me for my next appointment in six months so I guess I can buy green...
Travelling to the beat of a different drum.
Posted on June 09 2023
Today was a replay of yesterday with mostly minor changes. The red line on the porch thermometer was just below the black 40 line at 6:15 this morning. The temp hung at 54 until after noon when it crept up to 58. There were clouds instead of the heavy smoke...
Fishing that was worth waiting for!
Posted on June 08 2023
With the temperature at 41 degrees on the back porch this morning, I threw a couple logs on the fire and worked on the crosswords. The forest fires up in Canada may trigger the next ice age (you heard it here first). The smoke from the fires has taken the...
Smoke gets in your eyes.
Posted on June 07 2023
A strange day to be on the river for sure. The smoke from the Canadian fires seemed to get denser and denser as the day wore on. Have now watched the sun turn into a glowing orange ball in the sky at 6:00 pm the last two nights. If I...
Big Bug Season Is Going, Going - - -
Posted on June 06 2023
With the cooler weather seemingly locked in for the next week, anglers are provided with a window of opportunity to fish the freestones before they shut down for the summer. The WB has been pounded by both boats and wade fishermen since before the first Hendrickson hatched and the "Sulfur...
They don't come easy.
Posted on June 05 2023
With the heat wave broken and my Drs appointment on Friday rather than Tuesday it was a sure bet I would head back down today. The volleyball granddaughter is on a ten day tour of Europe with her North Dakota State team and there was a game scheduled today at...
Wind Knots & Tailing Loops.
Posted on June 03 2023
Was surprised by how few questions have appeared since the last Q & A session. Dennis - Cornuta are the largest olives (think 16's), that I'm aware of. They can be seen most any time but mid mornings in late May - early June on the freestones is when I...
A celebratory PM was duly consumed.
Posted on June 02 2023
I could do a few rants today, they would be justified, but it upsets Jean and they serve no purpose. Just don't tell me NYCEP didn't say if the project is a go, we will max the releases from all three Delaware River Reservoirs on June first ( I asked...
Will the aqueduct project be a go, or a no?
Posted on June 01 2023
Last week when I made my somewhat shaky return from a bout with "Montezuma's Revenge", it was at two easy access pools on the Beaverkill. Not to be a sentimental sop but the first thing I noticed was that the toads were singing their hearts out. No, not for me...
Fox and toad updates coming next.
Posted on May 31 2023
It was as an idyllic a morning as you could ever find on the Delaware River System. Early morning sun and not a hint of at breeze. Water temp 64 degrees. Not a boat or fisherman in sight. An adult bald eagle flew up and down the river before landing...
The Bench Beckons.
Posted on May 30 2023
Let there be no doubt about it, day after day of hot, dry and sunny weather, coupled with reduced releases and increased fishing pressure have made catching a fish cause for celebration. Even the DRC's glut of "fish of the day" pictures came to a screeching halt yesterday. The bright...
Learn to love your bad casts.
Posted on May 29 2023
If you read yesterdays report and were on the river today there is no way you would believe a word I said. I didn't get out this morning when the rivers were the coolest. Was two hours later than yesterday getting to the river, there were still Hendricksons and apple...
There just aren't enough pockets in a fishing vest to be ready for a day like today.
Posted on May 28 2023
My plans for an early start this morning went out the window when dawn didn't crack for me until 8:30. Was on the road by 9:45 and had light traffic all the way down, arriving at 11:50. Decided to mow the lawn before lunch and was done and ready for...
The bugs are hatching, its time to start catching.
Posted on May 26 2023
It was not the day I expected at all. Finished turning over and breaking up the soil in the garden, pruned some limbs off the flowering quince, talked myself into waiting until Saturday to mow the lawn (will be at granddaughters graduation tomorrow), had lunch and was ready to go...
Its Got To Be The Going Not The Getting There That's Good.
Posted on May 25 2023
There's no question I tried to do too much yesterday. The proof? Was up about six this morning did a few little chores and at 8:20 I went into the bedroom to wait for Jeans 8:30 call. Hung up from the call and maybe just closed my eyes for a...
Easy does it.
Posted on May 24 2023
Drove down to the camp this morning - uneventfully. When I left on the 13th the grass needed mowing, the apricots on one of the trees were about the size and shape of a prune pit, there were lots of baby peaches, the apple blossoms were falling and the whole...
Angler 119 Update
Posted on May 21 2023
David from the Troutfitter called the other day and said he was sick of answering questions about A-119's health. He suggested I do a medical update but to leave out the details. A-119's medical report - I have basically been in a bed next to the john for the last...
Unhooking the Hooker
Posted on May 16 2023
While it certainly isn't time for another Wind Knots & Tailing Loops page, I'm still back home in Lafayette suffering from an intestinal malady which has required me to be not more than 15 feet from the loo. Thought I would try describing the hook removal procedure which I rely...
Wind knots & Tailing loops.
Posted on May 14 2023
Back home attempting to cross items off a to do list that has filled the page due to my extended stay at the Lordville Estate. At the moment I'm taking a break in the recliner with my feet up and the PC in my lap. Seems like a good time...
You land rainbows when they are done, not before.
Posted on May 13 2023
After eight days at the fishing camp, I'm ready to head home. I'll need a fork lift to get the laundry bag into the car, I'm a wee bit tired and I miss Jean. The week has been a bit disappointing because of the high water which limited wade fishing...
A visit with an old friend comes to an end.
Posted on May 12 2023
With the late evening Wednesday we were slow getting out of the gate this morning. Decided to take a look at the EB and the BK both of which are now wade able but solidly in the doldrums. Saw no bugs or risers on the EB but there were enough...
Warm water and bright sun made for a July fishing day.
Posted on May 11 2023
With the water levels still limiting wading opportunities, we rented a drift boat (Mark has a drift boat he uses when the TVA is generating power on his home river the South Holston). We did the Barking Dog to Balls Eddy float but rowed straight down to Hale Eddy skipping...
There's a reason no one will fish with me.
Posted on May 10 2023
It had been over ten years since I last floated down the Delaware in a drift boat. Mark Stauffer who has endured my presence in a bonefish skiff for many years was passing through on his way to visit his parents wanted to give the Delaware a try. With the ...
Amazing how quickly trout remember to look carefully before they eat.
Posted on May 09 2023
With a float of the WB on tap for tomorrow, I spent the better part of the today driving around looking at water where it was about to happen or where it had already happened. The wind, as usual, saved its best efforts for the peak of the Hendrickson hatch,...
The pendulum swings to the WB!
Posted on May 08 2023
Spent the morning mowing the grass, attacking the knot weed that threatens to block my view of the river and tying flies, just in case I get to fish again. The rivers are dropping, slowly, and as of now, the Willow is at a nice level to fish. The BK...
Patience is a scarce commodity.
Posted on May 07 2023
Arrived at the Lordville Estate about 1:00, unpacked, made up a batch of hummingbird food, filled the feeder, ate lunch and headed out to got reacquainted with the river system after a week of no fishing. The WB, UEB, EB and BR are fishable only by boat. The Willow can...
More than you need to know about A-119.
Posted on May 06 2023
Chris asked multiple part question that, after being unable to fish for the last seven days, at least gives me something to write about. On the personal side, I was born and have spent my entire life in upstate (Syracuse area) New York. Went to Syracuse University undergrad and law...
And now you know the rest of the story.
Posted on May 04 2023
Brian who must be as frustrated as I am with the high water conditions, asked the best question. What will be the effect of the proposed increased flows during the aqueduct repair? Didn't look it up but my recollection of the 2015 "leak panic" was that they did a test...
Killin' Time Is Killin" Me.
Posted on May 03 2023
It's 7:30 Tuesday night, and I'm sitting at the kitchen table at the Lordville Estate, Perfect Manhattan in hand, prepared to do a "Wind Knots & Tailing Loops" page except that no one has asked any real questions. Dennis, who asks more than twice as many questions as anybody else,...
How high's the water momma?
Posted on May 01 2023
WB -8,000 cfs
EB - 10,000 cfs
BR - 20,000cfs
BK - 5,000cfs
Both reservoirs spilling.
Go out and shoot a turkey.
FUDR's One Bugger's will have lots of company on the water this weekend.
Posted on April 29 2023
Today was the last day of fishing for me this month. Looked back through my diary and was surprised to see that I haven't caught a single trout in either the UEB or WB yet this year. The high releases on the WB and initially on the UEB got me...
Listen to the rivers and they'll tell you where to go.
Posted on April 28 2023
With both reservoirs being allowed to spill, the decision on where to fish became more complicated. 650 cfs at Harvard is certainly wade able but is not ideal and probably will result in some people putting in drift boats and floating. The water temp at Harvard (50 degrees) indicates that...
It's A Great Day To Be Alive!
Posted on April 27 2023
If the DRC said it was a nice day to be on the river today - they lied. Woke this morning to a sparkling white lawn covered with a heavy frost (temp 28). Thankfully the sun came out and tried its best to warm things up. Air temp got to...
Some days you have to work for 'em, and that's not all bad.
Posted on April 26 2023
Today was one of those marginal days, temperature wise. It got cold last night and the water temps were way below Hendrickson hatch level this morning.. It was partly cloudy and the wind was from the north. Would the water temp get to 50 degrees? That was the question almost...
As promised.
Posted on April 25 2023
So where did I fish? First some background. The action last week was on the freestones (BK,BR,EB). Why? Much warmer water and the bugs hatched there most of the week. Yesterday, the BK was at 1200 cfs, too high to wade safely. At 3,600 cfs I know of only a...
Changes keep on changing.
Posted on April 25 2023
They keep changing the rules. After record breaking heat on Thursday and Friday in which every Hendrickson, pseudo, Apple caddis and Grannom hatched (at least where I was), and you could wade anywhere you wanted, and the fish fed like hogs at the trough, it all changed. Lets just say...
Experience the joy of being the one to meet the bugs and fish, when no one else is there.
Posted on April 23 2023
People, I do my best to provide you with enough information to make good decisions on when and where to fish. It became evident last year that it is better if my comments on where to fish are more general and less specific. Water temps, water levels, air temps, wind,...
Keeping it in perspective - helps.
Posted on April 22 2023
Left the fishing camp this morning at about 11:30. Caddis hatch in the morning on bright sunny days and I wanted to be there. I was. From noon until I left at almost 6:00, there were caddis hatching in profusion (both grannom and apple). The water was full of empty...
The Delaware River - A Better Place To Be
Posted on April 21 2023
If there was ever a day to be on the river, this was it. The cold front departed, the sun came out, the wind took the day off, the water warmed up, the bugs hatched and the fish ate, all day long! Knew the cold had suppressed the bugs and...
Keep you eye on the prize.
Posted on April 20 2023
For a fly-fisherman there wasn't much to look forward to today. On the weekend the weatherman predicted two cold days (Monday and Tuesday) with a nice warmup today and another 80 plus degree day scheduled for Friday. As of last night, today's prediction had gone steadily down hill. The predicted...
All my life's a circle.
Posted on April 19 2023
Awoke this morning full of enthusiasm born of yesterdays success. Spent time repairing three flies that were a little worse for the wear, sharpened one dull hook point, and tied half a dozen new Hendricksons. While I was at the bench the sun poked through the clouds and I was...
Tomorrow morning I'm tying more Hendricksons!
Posted on April 18 2023
When I left for home Saturday morning everything was ready to burst into bloom. The forsythia across the road, my red buds, the apricot trees (actually some of their blooms had already opened), the plum trees, and the peach trees. Drove back down this morning in a chilly drizzle with...
Sometimes not everyone is doing their part.
Posted on April 15 2023
The NYC DEP out did themselves last night. They reduced the out-flows from both Cannonsville and Pepactin and in the process totally disregarded the mandated step down procedure for releases. In both cases they they just cranked the valve down to the new desired flow and let the flow drop...
Things are looking up, a few of them are fish.
Posted on April 14 2023
Drove home early yesterday morning for my appointment to get new tires and brakes. The bill came to just $50.00 dollars more than the cost of my first car (a VW Bug). Spent a pleasant evening with Jean, packed up the car in the morning and headed back down to...
Get you a boat and be ready to float!
Posted on April 12 2023
Attended the meeting last night about the repair work scheduled to be done this year on the aqueduct that runs water from the Delaware River System reservoirs(Cannonsville, Pepacton and Neversink) down to NYC. There are two leaks, the biggest of which is under the Hudson River. A new two plus...