West Branch Report 8/22-8/25

[flyman23]

Hit the West Branch this past weekend. It was some tough fishing. Everyone I spoke to was having a slow time of it. Fished hard the whole weekend, had some hits, missed a few and landed 2 small rainbows. Monday morning before we left I went out and finally managed a nice 17" brown. Some bugs and only saw a few sporatic risers. The highlight of the trip was that my wife, who just stated flyfishing, landed a nice West Branch rainbow.

On a down side, I went to hit a spot I know where I never see to many people and usually manage to get into some fish. When we pulled up, in the parking area was a beat up old suv and an old short school bus converted into some kind of half assed RV. There were 6 guys fishing salmon eggs and worms and told us that they have been coming there every weekend. I might add that they were keeping what they caught. Now at the risk of sounding like an elitist flyfisher, I really belive that the Delaware system should be artifictial lure, single hook, catch and release. I mean in this area of the country, where there are not many places that you can catch a wild fish, much less a trout of the size and strength of these, I think it could be managed better. Water flows included. I have no problem with someone keeping fish but there are hundreds of places you can go and catch stocked fish that are put there for that purpose. Oh well, enough of my rant.

On a more interesting note, for the first time we saw 3 bald eagles. That was a thrill. Coming back form fishing the gamelands the one evening, a large black bear crossed the path about 25 yards in front of us. Well, I know the theory on what to do when encountering a bear and all went well, however, I must say we were glad to get back to the truck.

Know I'm going to concentrate on tying up some salmon flies.

 

[oasis man]

Flyman,
If you were at the Bard Parker lot to access the junction pool, I have seen many people using salmon eggs at this time of year. It upsets me too, but somehow the fishery has survived so far.
OM

 

[brachycentrus]

I totally agree that the WB at least in NY should be catch and release, artificials single hook only.
Anyone familiar with the procedure to petition NY for a rules change?


There has been a lot of carnage up there for the last several years especially from the bait guys.

I heard something about 3 guys fishing last week in the middle of the night, with bait rigs, 3 hooks on the leader with waxworms, up in the No Kill, threatening the land owner from across river who confronted them, who then called the State Police.

From what I understnd, 2 were arrested and one ran like a girl and got away.


Pa. is trying to implement an egg ban. I read the proposal, but it isnt clear if it is for all waters or only on Erie tribs.
Here is the link.
http://www.fish.state.pa.us/rulemakings/205nprp.pdf

 

[JeffK]

I have heard pretty reliable rumors of guys using brown trout eggs ripped from henfish in the Lake Ontario tribs to catch plenty of fish in the Delaware system. Guys up by Pulaski swear by brown trout eggs for both steelies and inland trout. With people from all over fishing the Pulaski area brownie eggs have made their way down to streams all over the Northeast.

Many negative aspects here from snagging brown hens, to leaving the carcasses to rot after the eggs have been removed, to overfishing. PA sounds like they are on the right track with this issue.

That said, some harvest should not harm the populations and I hope state regulations are sufficient to prevent over-fishing. Most fly fishermen recoil from seeing any fish on a stringer, but a few legal fish for the table should be OK. Poaching is another matter and cannot be tolerated.

 

[onemorecast]

Pa. is trying to implement an egg ban. I read the proposal, but it isnt clear if it is for all waters or only on Erie tribs.
Here is the link.
http://www.fish.state.pa.us/rulemakings/205nprp.pdf

An excerpt:

§63.53. Egg collection.
It is unlawful to take eggs from a fish taken from waters of this Commonwealth outside the Lake Erie watershed or to possess these eggs or use them as bait. Eggs taken from lawfully harvested fish from the Lake Erie watershed may be possessed and used as bait in the Lake Erie watershed only. This section does not prohibit the possession of eggs contained within
a lawfully harvested fish that is possessed for the purpose of human consumption.

I read the rule as it being legal to harvest eggs & use them ONLY within the Lake Erie watershed. I think it should be reworded as it is confusing. And the caveat at the end limits it's benefits to no-kill areas, which I am guessing were being fished by otherwise non C&R anglers, expressly for the purpose of harvesting eggs.

 

[brachycentrus]

I have heard pretty reliable rumors of guys using brown trout eggs ripped from henfish in the Lake Ontario tribs to catch plenty of fish in the Delaware system. Guys up by Pulaski swear by brown trout eggs for both steelies and inland trout. With people from all over fishing the Pulaski area brownie eggs have made their way down to streams all over the Northeast.

Many negative aspects here from snagging brown hens, to leaving the carcasses to rot after the eggs have been removed, to overfishing. PA sounds like they are on the right track with this issue.

That said, some harvest should not harm the populations and I hope state regulations are sufficient to prevent over-fishing. Most fly fishermen recoil from seeing any fish on a stringer, but a few legal fish for the table should be OK. Poaching is another matter and cannot be tolerated.

Please dont assume that either state regulations or the state has the best interest of the fishery in mind.
NY especially has proven over and over that they have neither the will or inclination to manage the UD as a wild trout fishery.