4.19-20.03 Report - Upper Delaware River System
Saturday - Floated from Balls Eddy to Buck on Saturday. Long day on
the water - 11:30am-7:45ish. Tons of bugs - especially in the West Branch,
olives, little black stones, caddis - brown/black. No fish rising at
all in the WB - as we got into the main stem, the bugs came and went
and we did not see a rising fish until about dark prior to take-out.
They were eating, I think little black caddis and there was also midge
pupa in the water as well. And a lot of them as well - all over the
surface film. Missed one there on a caddis. They were extremely wary
of pressure. Pretty much threw streamers throughout the day - Aaron
and Ryan with missed 3 nice fish on streamers - two hit it short or
they missed setting the hook - both of these they saw come after the
fly, which got them a little too pumped to set the hook arly I think.
The third fish completely ripped off the entire leader - this was in
the main stem so I bet it was a big fish. The leader was gone all the
way to the knot to the fly line - surface explosion and all. The one
fish we did get on a streamer was a beauty - 20" brown - sucked
down the fly about 1.5" into its mouth. It came outta the main
stem. Biggest fish to date in the boat this year. Nice job Aaron.
Sunday - We hammered down through from Balls Eddy to the now closed
Orvis shop. Passed three drift boats in the first 15 minutes - the river
is already getting lots of pressure. Nothing happening at all - not
as many bugs as the day before. Water temps ranged from 43-49ish both
days. Lots of sun both days, some wind Sat, more wind Sunday. A beautiful
couple of days to be on the water. |