Shoulda gone to the Beaverkill

[Agust]

Took the day off to drop my son off at Wrestling camp. Ran into Rusty Spinner at Stellas during breakfast and and pretty much solidified my plans to fish over coffee and pancakes.

He had fished the Beaverkill and did well, but it was pretty much only a magic hour only deal. Fishing was dead until dark. The west branch was flowing at a nice wadeable level and folks had been seeing sulphers. If they were out, it would be action all day, and spinners until dead dark.

Dropped T off at the RAC, and was on the road by 11:30 from New Brunswick. Drop over the Willow, the BKill, the East Branch and was peeing in the reeds at Hale Eddy bridge by 2:15.

Water was cool, skies were mixed clouds and no one in sight. Decided to hit the upper gamelands and parked downstream of Hale Eddy in the "secret" spot Rusty showed me last year. Long story short, fished from 3-7, saw 6 flies and 3 fish rise, none more than once. Had to rush to shore a couple times to get out of the lightning, and had scattered rain and sun all day. Took a break to grab a beer and some supper and decided to head downstream. Ended up at the mainstem boat launch (By the nursery), again had the place to myself. Except for the three bears I saw swim across the river over the next 2 hours.

I had a great day of fishing, walked for a couple miles in cold water (yes wet wading) and did not encounter another angler and only saw one boat (A pontoon who was leaving the pool as I started the day). I find that the West Branch is a river I either do absolutely unbelievably on or it just beats the snot out of me. Yesterday was the latter, which means the chances of a great day are better next time.

In retrospect, would probably have been more productive if I went to the Beaverkill. Still no regrets for a day with the cell phone off, good beer, old cheese and Mexican chirizo for supper and wee dram of scotch on the banks of a trout stream.