Delaware River, Northampton County, 9/27/17

[Nymph-wristed]

It's been too hot to target trout in SEPA, or NEPA for that matter,and it was close to 90 again today under mostly sunny skies and very little breeze. More importantly, I figured Fredrick would be happy that I chased warmwater fish, and I actually do love smallmouth bass, especially river fish.

Gage was 3.2 at Riegelsville, so decent wading for the Delaware.
Water temp at Frenchtown was close to 80 F.
I had obligations in the morning, so I fished 11 AM to about 2:30 PM

Fish responded well to a basic olive bugger in about size 4, swinging in the current and bounced through holes I could reach. I also got a couple on a black conehead muddler fishing upstream in deep hole behind a boulder field.

Most of the 10 to 12 bass I landed were average Big D smallies, but I tangled with at least 3 in the 16 inch range, which was fun. I guess I should have started doing this a couple weeks ago, huh, as cool weather is returning??

 

[Dave_W]

Good to see a Delaware River WW report - been too long.

A thorough report with some very nice pics - thanks!

 

[Fredrick]

Nymph-wristed wrote:
It's been too hot to target trout in SEPA, or NEPA for that matter,and it was close to 90 again today under mostly sunny skies and very little breeze. More importantly, I figured Fredrick would be happy that I chased warmwater fish, and I actually do love smallmouth bass, especially river fish.


I have to admit when I read the title of the post I surely thought I would read about some trout fishing. Then I started to read your report and it was like watching your son learn how to ride a bike for the first time I got a little teary eyed :lol:

 

[afishinado]

Agree with you guys. Tell me from the pics of both the scenery and the fish that that wasn't a good time!

If the flow and/or temps aren't right for trout, fish for smallies or something else. If you learn to adapt to the conditions and expand your horizons, you can just about always have fun fishing some where for some thing.

I look forward to the changing seasons and look at it as an opportunity rather than a fallback plan. And you never know, at some point you may not look at it as settling for a Plan B.

Good job Nymph-wristed!

 

[Nymph-wristed]

Thanks, guys. I borrowed from John Gierach a bit on my blog post about this trip: I like fishing for [smallmouth] because I like where they live...

 

[Nymph-wristed]

Fredrick wrote:

I have to admit when I read the title of the post I surely thought I would read about some trout fishing. Then I started to read your report and it was like watching your son learn how to ride a bike for the first time I got a little teary eyed :lol:

Thanks for the laugh. I think I made my old man, a sworn bass fisherman, happy too. I am still not going to Marsh Creek with him, though...