HydeLowRider
Member
Good evening.
Well, I made the 250 mile one way trip to fish West Branch - Gameland area and was pleasantly surprised at the water temps on Saturday. Water temps were a lovely 63 or so in the area above Balls Eddy (DC -- I tried fishing your recommended areas). Bluebird sky, no humidity.
I saw some drowned Pseudo Spinners and Psuedo Duns periodically floating by. If you like fishing for small (and I mean 6 inch Brownies) trout, this was the night. Don't get me wrong. Once in a while I would see a 14 incher swallow an emerger for kicks.
I purposely left the West Branch of the Delaware River - Gamelands Area - around 8:30 p.m. last night and focused on the StockPort pool of the Mainstem. It is surprising how some of the fly fisherman cannot see rises or do not like to fish into the darkness. While I am watching the water for targets, and believe me there were targets in the fading light, other anglers were just complaining about not seeing any targets. What gives? They are leaving and I see at least 4 targets within a 30-foot radius from the bank. Two casts, after seeing a breaking fish 20 feet away from my position, I cover the fish and he takes my patented Sulphur Emerger. Of course, I miss the take in the fading light. Note to myself -- do not test new products like a furled leader - at night.
The fishing seemed to be better on the Mainstem. While leaving Stockport last night, a kick boat angler was unpacking while just completing his fishing in the Lake area of the Upper Mainstem. He hooked and landed a 24" Brown on a CDC Sulphur pattern that evening in the Lake pool above Stockport. Great news for this D.R.C. patron. FYI, a ton of Hydospyche Caddis with a mixed in bunch of Little Yellow Sallies -- and I mean a ton of caddis - swarmed the guy's headlights while he and I were chatting about his lifetime catch.
It must be tough as a guide to provide a service, knowing that the number of targets and size of targets are better from dusk onward.
Being the hardcore fishing guy, I hit the Stockport at 7:00 a.m-ish until 9ish this morning. Very few random targets, noticed some small psedos duns n the size 20ish range. Notice one large stonefly buzzing around the bank. Cloud cover was moving in and out, but my hope for rain and consistent cloud cover did not seem to materialize. You got to love the Hancock weather patterns. Water temps around 62.
What I learned:
1.) The only way to really fish this river system is to fish it and stop bitching. However, the only time to hit it, unless the weather is nasty (the nastier the better -- fyi I am use to it being married -- this coming from a bad Catholic fly fisherman addict - so attitude management is a new hobby) is during nasty weather and late evening onward.
2.) Watch the water BEFORE fishing. Yeah, I know, guys want to hit now because it is there. This reminds me of the young bull and older bull sitting on top of the hill checking out the female species - well you get the drift. Fish are there.
3.) I am glad I have a boat -- but pisseed that I did not use it Saturday night. DC -- Next Wednesday or Thursday evening?
4.) The Summer season is here. Small flies, light tippets and pinpoint casting are a must. Of course, you can always pitch streamers and nymphs if that is your bag.
I guess my strategy for the next few months is to fish the evening onward. Comments, suggestions?
Sincerely,
Well, I made the 250 mile one way trip to fish West Branch - Gameland area and was pleasantly surprised at the water temps on Saturday. Water temps were a lovely 63 or so in the area above Balls Eddy (DC -- I tried fishing your recommended areas). Bluebird sky, no humidity.
I saw some drowned Pseudo Spinners and Psuedo Duns periodically floating by. If you like fishing for small (and I mean 6 inch Brownies) trout, this was the night. Don't get me wrong. Once in a while I would see a 14 incher swallow an emerger for kicks.
I purposely left the West Branch of the Delaware River - Gamelands Area - around 8:30 p.m. last night and focused on the StockPort pool of the Mainstem. It is surprising how some of the fly fisherman cannot see rises or do not like to fish into the darkness. While I am watching the water for targets, and believe me there were targets in the fading light, other anglers were just complaining about not seeing any targets. What gives? They are leaving and I see at least 4 targets within a 30-foot radius from the bank. Two casts, after seeing a breaking fish 20 feet away from my position, I cover the fish and he takes my patented Sulphur Emerger. Of course, I miss the take in the fading light. Note to myself -- do not test new products like a furled leader - at night.
The fishing seemed to be better on the Mainstem. While leaving Stockport last night, a kick boat angler was unpacking while just completing his fishing in the Lake area of the Upper Mainstem. He hooked and landed a 24" Brown on a CDC Sulphur pattern that evening in the Lake pool above Stockport. Great news for this D.R.C. patron. FYI, a ton of Hydospyche Caddis with a mixed in bunch of Little Yellow Sallies -- and I mean a ton of caddis - swarmed the guy's headlights while he and I were chatting about his lifetime catch.
It must be tough as a guide to provide a service, knowing that the number of targets and size of targets are better from dusk onward.
Being the hardcore fishing guy, I hit the Stockport at 7:00 a.m-ish until 9ish this morning. Very few random targets, noticed some small psedos duns n the size 20ish range. Notice one large stonefly buzzing around the bank. Cloud cover was moving in and out, but my hope for rain and consistent cloud cover did not seem to materialize. You got to love the Hancock weather patterns. Water temps around 62.
What I learned:
1.) The only way to really fish this river system is to fish it and stop bitching. However, the only time to hit it, unless the weather is nasty (the nastier the better -- fyi I am use to it being married -- this coming from a bad Catholic fly fisherman addict - so attitude management is a new hobby) is during nasty weather and late evening onward.
2.) Watch the water BEFORE fishing. Yeah, I know, guys want to hit now because it is there. This reminds me of the young bull and older bull sitting on top of the hill checking out the female species - well you get the drift. Fish are there.
3.) I am glad I have a boat -- but pisseed that I did not use it Saturday night. DC -- Next Wednesday or Thursday evening?
4.) The Summer season is here. Small flies, light tippets and pinpoint casting are a must. Of course, you can always pitch streamers and nymphs if that is your bag.
I guess my strategy for the next few months is to fish the evening onward. Comments, suggestions?
Sincerely,
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