Delaware River, Wayne County 4/24/21 - 4/29/21

[dryflyguy]

Spent 6 days on the Big D last week, hoping to hit some good Hendrickson hatches.

The flows were as low as I've seen them in quite a a while -
with the WB running at 500 CFS
And the main stem running at 1200 CFS at Lordville.
Water temps ranged from the upper 40's, to a high of 56 after the 2 warm days last tuesday and wednesday

I concentrated on the main stem, since it presented a rare opportunity for easy wading there.

The first few days last saturday and sunday were tough - quite windy and few bugs hatching.

Things started turning around on monday.
The coldest, windiest day of the week induced nice apple caddis and march brown hatches between 2 and 4 pm
Tues and Wed were a lot nicer weatherwise, but the hatches weren't as strong.
Thursday, with on/off rain all day, turned out to be the best.
Catching most fish on apple caddis - although there were a few spurts of hendricksons for like an hour.
And I caught a few fish on them.
The all day and overnight rain raised the river about 2 feet by Friday morning, and it was time to leave.

I ended up having 3 good days out of the 6 total, which isn't too bad for a fickle river like the D IMO

I never did hit a good Hendrickson hatch - likely because they were already over on the main stem.
Several people I talked with told me that they had started the 2nd week of april on it.
And were pretty much just finishing up on the upper reaches of the EB and WB, along with the Beaverkill.

In hindsight, I wish I had gone up a week earlier.
But I'll remember that for next year

 

[wbranch]

likely because they were already over on the main stem.

Yep, since it was a mild winter and a very low water April the Hendrickson's made their first appearance in late March down around Damascus. They are just a memory on the main and EB now. There are still duns emerging from Hale Eddy to the reservoir.

 

[JohnPowers]

Annual Hendrickson trip once again becomes the sulphur trip. Got usgs for stilesville, hale and the reservoir bookmarked. They all shot through the roof and have mostly platoed there. I’m going to die with a load of hendricksons. The week before my wife was away and somebody has to feed the pets. 1995 the whole long pool at the sgl rising. Fish taking red quills with the quills hanging off. Swhat keeps us hitting our heads with that same 2x4.

 

[dryflyguy]

I used to always plan my trips for Hendricksons up there the third or fourth week of April. (PA sections)

If it was a mild winter, the third week was good.
Harsher one, the fourth week worked

I thought this past winter was quite cold, and snowy - at least it was here in the burgh.
It certainly was a lot worse than the previous two.
And figured last week should be good.
Guess I was wrong

 

[MarkC]

The Hendricksons seem to care more about low water than temperature when it comes to hatching on the mainstem. I've hit them as early as the third week in March at Junction pool in very low 40 degree water with good fish feeding on them. This year we hit them the second week of April in 45 degree water with good feeding.

There is also a great Quill Gordon hatch that goes unfished most years.

I'm lucky to have my main office up there so I get to slip out at 3 just to check.

Mark C

 

[timmyt2]

Are the QGs before or after the hendricksons?

 

[MarkC]

About a week before Hendricksons, not fishable unless the water is low. Upper and Lower East and the Upper Main have the best hatch.

Mark C

 

[timmyt2]

Interesting thank you