West Branch Flotilla

[hatchman]

I had to go upstate on business today and while driving over the No Kill in Deposit it looked like the invasion of Normandy LoL! It might have been just the time of day,right around noon on a Friday,but there sure were a fair amount of drift boats and Pontoons bobbing down the river .I have not had a chance to fish the West Branch much this year,and have been thinking about a driftboat or cataraft purchase myself,but by the looks of the amount of boats on the river today I am starting to think twice.I'm not trying to start a bitching post about boat traffic on the West Branch,but does it seem like there is a fair amount more boats on the river than years past.I have an older 22' center console that I bought a few years ago and have not used,and was thinking of selling it on ebay and buying a drift boat.It would not just be for the Delaware.I guess we are lucky we just have the drift boats,I shudder to think what it would be like if jet boats were used,like on some rivers out west and in Canada.

 

[dcabarle]

I think the issue right now is that many fish have moved from the East / Main into the WB, and people know it. The water hasn't been above 70 (Hancock) since July 21st. I'm not sure how many or if any trout moved back into the main or east in the past few weeks, but if I had to guess, I doubt many have moved.

Between Deposit and Shehawken, there's a lot of water to cover and alot of water for the fish to move around in.

What to expect this weekend on the WB... Lot's of people. If you're wading or floating, please be courteous to other anglers you might encounter. Why ruin someone's day.

 

[hatchman]

I guess that is the case.It could also have been coincidence,that many people launched at a fairly similiar time,which would make it look as many as it did at the time I passed.I did not see anyone on the Beaverkill though,not even a soul at Junction pool,that is rare,usually find atleast some bait or spin fisherman there.I still plan on buying a drift boat,but am leaning more towards a cataraft.I am actually thinking about buying the pontoons,and building the frame myself,which could put a 16' three person cataraft with an aluminum frame,and aluminum diamond plate floor together for around $1200.I have the tig and mig welders and a plasma cutter,and most of the aluminum frame pieces,and you can buy the frame plans online.I think that will be a winter project.I like driftboats,but the idea of spending $7000 to upwards of $10,000 for a big rowboat is a little hard to justify to my better half( unless you are a guide,and make your living with it)!Even used you are looking at $3500 and up,which is not too bad,but most that pop up used are out west.

 

[Big_Spinner]

Great fishing yesterday on the West Branch.

There were 4 trailers at Balls Eddy last night, so not that crowded.

Looks like good water releases for the forseeable future.

Jim

 

[hatchman]

That's great to hear Jim,I'm glad the releases are doing what they are supposed to be doing.I went by Deposit right around noon,and I saw roughly 5 or 6 boats and pontoons from just above the rte.17 bridge to as far as I could see below it,I was driving by at around 70mph,so it is a rough estimate.Next season I will be drifting down the river myself,a little to busy with work this year to do as much fishing as I would like.One thing I won't be doing is drifting down on the weekends,I have never been much of a weekend fisherman,not into the crowds,I know it can get crowded on the weekdays too,but not like the weekends.Glad you had a great day

 

[BobHoog]

Did you hear?

Did anyone hear about a letter that was goigng around asking people to stop fishing the WB temporarily? I have this from a reliable source, the letter said something about the water flows not being adiquate. I don't know if I am getting my chain yanked or what, but I was planning on heading up next weekend.

 

[Big_Spinner]

Hi Bob,

The WURM (Watershed Use/Resource Management Committee) of the Upper Delaware Council wrote a letter to DEC and various agencies suggesting that fishing be stopped in thermal refuge areas on the Main Stem from Hancock to Callicoon due to high water temperatures and low flow. Trout were terribly stressed in that sction of the river.

I would suggest fishing the branches this weekend. Although we now have good cold water releases from Cannonsville, the mainstem could use a break for a couple of weeks.

Fishing has been good on the EB and WB with nice hatches.

Jim