Upper Delaware, Delaware County NY, 9/13-9/14/14

fisherboy3

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Well, finally got up to the Upper D for one last hoorah before it slows down up there. Drove up Saturday and met my buddy Ben for a drift on the West Branch and Upper Main. Dropped in at Balls eddy and started nymphing for only 2 dinks to show. It started to rain as they forecasted but it came down for a solid 3 and a 1/2 hours. Started chuckin streamers in the off color water, for only one roll and one hookup of a 15 inch brown that eventually got off. Once we got onto the upper main around Bard Parker it stopped raining. The bugs were there, the fish were there and it turned into an awesome night. Good hatches of Iso's, psuedos, cahills, caddis and even a few big golden drakes. Right below Bard Parker in the long flat we found some fish rising, but they were cruising and rising. Fish seemed to key in on the psuedos which is almost impossible to get them to eat since there were blanket hatches in some spots. Got one nice bow to start on a cahill spinner. As we floated down stream the fish started to come up, and i mean they were all over. If we didnt have to float all the way to Buckingham, i couldve easily stayed in the long flats below Bard Parker all day. Only a few boats on the river due to the rain, so the fish werent really picky. As we rowed down toward the eil weir at cemetary pool, we found one BIG fish rising in a small foam line caused by a rock sticking out. Prime spot for a big brown. Tossed a size 14 rusty spinner at it and on the third cast he ate it. I could tell it was a big fish as soon as I hooked him because of the way he ran, and you could see he was well fed because of the reddish brown color in the tail. He was on for about 20 seconds, and BING! he broke me off. Oh well. As we got to the cemetary pool there were a few waders so that was off. The flat below the cemetary pool was lit up with fish, and not just suckers like it usually is. Hooked one small bow, a 17 inch bow and an 18 inch bow. As we got around to Knights i had another 17 inch bow and a 13 inch brown. Over all not a bad night at all.

The next day brought me to a section of stream right above the bridge on the East Branch in Hancock. Nymphed up 2 nice bows and moved on. Went up to Thayer Hollow and the Corn Field for a few smaller browns on 18 rusty spinners. Felt good to get away from the busy life in the Bronx and LI for solitude and some good fishing. Pics are attached.- Kev
 

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Nice. I hope to make it up in the fist couple days of October. Late season can be hit / miss for fishing but it beautiful and peaceful at that time of the year. Pseudo hatch does suck but they eat the hell out of them. Can't believe you got smaller fish up in Thayer. Usually holds some good ones. With my luck, hurricane 2 days prior to trip and 5000 cfs flows. LOL
 
Andy,

The only decent fish i saw up in thayer was eating psuedos.... Freakin hate them. I tossed some 22 olives at him but he didnt want them. Couldnt tell what he was eating but i would guess it was psuedos. There were some cahills and isos on the water and i tossed them, but they werent interested in bigger stuff. I was really debating whether to drive back to the stockport ramp and wade down to cemetary pool, but with the higher flows on the main it probably wouldnt have been a good idea in the dark. Let me know when you go up there ill definitely be interested in meeting up. -Kev
 
Andy,

Check your pms. Turns out ill be up there the 3rd and 4th also.-Kev
 
I am going to be up there 3,4,5 as well. My buddy has a place right off the Corbett Bridge area.
 
Dumb question what do the Psuedos look like? I was up there this past weekend tons of small olives but they seemed to be ignoring them. Saw some peach flies as well but couldn't figure them out on the EB.

*Googled it and found them. Didn't realize the 22-28 olives were called something different*
 
since I'm reasonably sure eastern browns get the same urges as Montana ones I'm wondering why the next month won't be some of the best fishing of the year ?
For the big ones, on streamers,anyway.
 
We've canned the WB trip twice. I have to be able to wade the game lands. What's with the levels. Are they drawing down cannonsville to accommodate anticipated hurricaine season or what. Is the EB worth a trip? Correct me if I'm wrong but Buckingham looks to have very limited wading possibilities.
 
JohnPowers wrote:
We've canned the WB trip twice. I have to be able to wade the game lands. What's with the levels. Are they drawing down cannonsville to accommodate anticipated hurricaine season or what. Is the EB worth a trip? Correct me if I'm wrong but Buckingham looks to have very limited wading possibilities.

Yeah - it's running 1200 CFS right now, and that would be tough.
I like it to be under 1,000 CFS - preferably down to around 600-700 - for decent wading.

No idea why it's so high now
The rainfall on this side of the state, has been as sparse as its been all year.
Maybe NE PA has been getting pounded though?
 
The reason for the high release is to satisfy the 1750cfs target at Montague, NJ. The river master directs this release. Similar releases were being directed for a short time by the DRBC from Beltzville to satisfy the lower Lehigh and Trenton - - which is 3k. Those releases from Beltz are great for the lower Lehigh.

Word is some rain is on the way, but we shall see. Not sure how far west it will get.
 
VC is correct. There's been very little rain up there so it's not run off. The Beaverkill shows how dry it's been.... 62 cfs at Cooks Falls is a crying shame.

John, PM coming your way.
 
Very nice report Fisherboy3
Sounds like a great trip
 
John,
I was there 2 weeks ago and the EB up in Harvard was at 145. now its at 103, it should still fish in certain sections but just be careful wading. Fish are more spooky. There were a lot of fish rising up in Long Flat, Ill be back again. If you arent a decent wader, the Main Stem might not be for you. As for me, ill be at bard parker, and most likely stockport. The WB was at 1350 when i was there last, and the eb was at 145, and guys were still wading stockport. Now the EB and WB are down from then, shouldnt be too bad. In the Upper Delaware book by Paul Weamer when the flows are between 1000-1500 on the Upper Main the wading is good. If youre nervous bring a staff. If youd like a buddy, ill be up there as well. Let me know.-Kev
 
I will be giving it a go the first weekend in October. The river fished great two and three weeks ago.
 
Where's the report from this past weekend? They've been messing with the release something fierce. It's all over the map. Imagine it's starting to get cloudy as silt gets pulled off the bottom of Cannonsville. East is really low. Looks bad enough I almost got talked into SR mudsharkin.
 
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