West Branch/main stem - 8/19 - 8/21

[Wbranch]

Arrived WB 6:00 a.m. Tuesday. Went to BP to throw streamers and did see a few risers in middle of pool. Then about 7:00 it started to rain very hard so I hid out under some bushes until it let up and went back to the WB . Met a fellow staying on river and asked him if he wanted to float with me on the main since the WB was running 760 cfs and only 50 degrees.

Put in at Shehawken at 11:00 and we immediately saw it was very windy. Very strong downstream wind. Water temperature only 58 at Bard-Parker. Didn't have to row at all as wind was so strong - just steered the boat. Fishing was very poor. There were virtually no bugs and I only saw one rising trout during the entire float. I anchored up in many pools to wait for rising fish but never saw a fish. Second Heaven looks great, the riffle at the head of Lake Lenore has good water and looked very fishy. Stockport, Cemetery, Knight's etc all looked good. No bugs = no fish.

Was getting tired of being beat up by the wind and bored with no risers so I rowed out at 4:00 and went back to WB. Sulfurs got on water by 5:00 and lasted pretty much to dark. Had many targets to cast too.

Wednesday I fished the WB and had a very good day and rose many and landed a few 11" - 14". They ate a variety of bugs. including sulfur nymphs, sulfur emergers, CDC caddis, and some duns. Since the water is so cold there is very little surface activity until 1:00 or 2:00 p.m. It really doesn't pay to get to the river until much later unless you enjoy nymphing . Although I don't mind sitting on the bank scanning the water for bugs and rising fish.