Upper Delaware River, Wayne County, 5/11/2017

[SurfCowboyXX]

It was a good day for me. I made the (absolute) last-second call to play hookie and go fish. I went by myself, because I needed a little adventure, and rowing/fishing a river with fairly high water by yourself is a little dangerous, so danger=adventure. It was a good call. Shehawken to Buckingham from noonish until 7:00 pm. Overcast with light winds for about 50% of the time, with occasional pushes of stronger wind for a few minutes at a time--nothing too challenging. There were fewer than 6 trailers at the ramp when I put in. I saw maybe four or five other boats all day.

Once again, bug soup. I saw some black stones (size 12), apple caddis, blue quills (18), what looked to be a tan caddis (16), a fair number of olives (18), and the occasional March brown (12). Of course, there were the Hendricksons (14, but starting to size down to 16). Every fish I caught, I caught on one version or other of a Hendrickson emerger. Most folks expected a spinner fall with the way the weather was playing, but where I was, it didn't occur.

I found sporadic risers once I got downstream of the Junction Pool around 1:30-2:00, so I just went headhunting. I pulled three fish before the braids, losing one that was just freaking heartbreaking--it felt like a striper. The smallest of the three was just at 20", and I got him on an upstream presentation. It was freaking nuts. It is damn near impossible to land those big fish on your own once they get out in the current. I needed to pull anchor and chase the huge one, but I don't know how I'd have done it. None of the ones I landed were bigger than 22", but I'm certain the one I lost was big enough to eat muskies.

The rises seemed to get more consistent as I went, but it seemed that a fair number were suckers. I caught two suckers around 14" each. Even the suckers in that river get huge. I decided to spend less time in the slowest water, as that's where I was catching suckers. Once I got about 2/3 of the way through, the fish were definitely onto the Hendricksons, but neither myself nor any of the guides I spoke with knew exactly what was going on. Everyone was making the play, but the fish weren't playing back. I collected some samples from the film and found a lot of drowned and crippled flies. I changed my fly, and that did the trick. Every good presentation after that resulted in a fish, and every fish was freaking huge. Again, nothing bigger than 22", and no rainbows (dammit!), but just amazing.

As I got just upstream of the ramp in the bend (around 6:30-6:45), I saw a lone head off by itself and very, very quietly got myself into position. He was holding behind a shelf rock, drifting laterally back and forth across an area maybe 2' wide, just gracefully sipping emergers one after the other. He sucked mine down, and we were off to the races. He was the biggest dry fly fish I ever hooked (the second biggest I lost upstream of the braids). Backing city. I couldn't get on top of him. He got down in the deep current, and I could feel the thrum of the 5x as I put all the pressure I felt like I could on the rod. My left arm was fully cramped from having to do that 10 times already (10 times!), but I was giving it my all. I really wanted that fish. But he got me what felt like under a rock on his big run (I had him so close twice--dammit!), and he broke my tippet. I just reeled all the way up and paddled the remaining little bit to the ramp.

I would have been heartbroken (and in a way I am) over having lost the two biggest fish of the day (and the two biggest dry fly fish I've ever hooked), but I've also never had such a good day with big fish on dry flies. I took a few pictures of one of the first fish I caught, but I just didn't feel comfortable holding so many fish out of the water only to snap a pic with nobody in it but the fish. I just felt cheap and stupid doing it. Better to get them right back in the water, especially considering how long the battles were to get them in. I recorded the first big fish I lost on the GoPro, but I doubt I'll ever watch it (it would be like watching a snuff film of my aspirations and ego). If I find any photos of the small fish that came out well (none in my phone did), I'll post them.

I've never seen so many big fish eating bugs on top. They are obviously starving. Making stupid mistakes, as well (like eating my presentations). Many were still fairly thin towards their tails, so they've got the feedbag on. And they are fighting like Ali. Hopefully the weather tomorrow doesn't screw things up too bad.

I hope the boys at the Jam have as good a day this weekend as I had yesterday.

 

[krayfish2]

You passed my buddy Morgan. He was doing the same float. He simply sent a text that said "fishing was pretty solid today".

They aren't starving. The water hasn't gotten out of the 40's very often so far. They are just getting to looking up now. The fish do have a tendency toward be more accommodating early in the year or when the water is up. Once it drops and they get pressure, back to the same 'ol same 'ol.

The forecast is for 1.25" - 1.7" between Friday night and Sunday afternoon. It will likely stain the water for 2 days on the branches and 3-4 days lower on the Main. Lakes will also pick up in spillage again. This is a bad spring for wade fishermen but it makes floating easier as you don't have to zig zag around them. Lol

 

[SurfCowboyXX]

I just couldn't believe how many big heads were out and actually eating. Which guy was Morgan? The one with the gorgeous handmade wooden boat or the guy with the lightning fast Stealthcraft? I played hopscotch with them and two guides (one in a Ro, the other either in a Steathcraft or a Hyde, I forget). Or was Morgan the dude with the pontoon? I think he saw me lose my first giant.

 

[Dave_W]

Wow! A day to remember.

 

[afishinado]

Yeah Cowboy....last week you told me the only way to get big fish was stripping streamers like Roland Martin. :roll: You learned a lesson. I told you you can catch great quality fish on dries.

Good for you....you hit it on the right day.

The best hatch on the D is the henrickson hatch. Not because of the bugs themselves, but because of the timing. It's the first really big mayfly hatch and the fish haven't been harassed on top for a long while by all the fly-fishing jamokes.

They wise up real soon and become very shy...especially the bigger ones.

 

[wbranch]

afishinado wrote;

The best hatch on the D is the henrickson hatch. Not because of the bugs themselves, but because of the timing. It's the first really big mayfly hatch and the fish haven't been harassed on top for a long while by all the fly-fishing jamokes.

I have fished the Delaware system for fifty-one years. Based on at least 100 days of fishing to Hendricksons over the last half century the above comment is 100% spot on.

The fish spend the entire winter in a state of semi consciousness. Just kidding but they don't feed very much and the food they do consume pretty much has to drift right in front of them. When the water temps hit 50-52 for 2-3 consecutive days the nymphs begin to become active and some duns begin to emerge.

Big trout are aggressive and very hungry after the long winter. It makes sense that the biggest trout in a river system are going to be looking up and positioning themselves in areas where they still have safety, an escape route to cover or deeper water, and a steady supply of emerging, and fully emerged, duns to calmly sip to for a couple of hours everyday.

They have not yet been cast to by hundreds, if not thousands, of anglers of all different levels of skill. They likely have not been caught, or hooked, since the prior fall so they are less cautious and much more apt to eat a not so perfectly cast fly on a slightly heavier tippet than they will succumb to a month from now.

So guys the honeymoon will soon be over for big pushover trout on #12 - #14 flies and 4X tippets. Enjoy it while you can.

 

[krayfish2]

Surf,
He's got the grey on grey 2 tone clacka

Wbranch announcement "honeymoon is soon over". Funny as hell but also accurate

 

[KGStine]

Surf,
In my experience, the memories of big fish I lost are more vivid and longer remembered than the memories of big fish I landed. Also, I find myself thinking of the lost fish more often.
Great report, thanks!

 

[mcwillja]

I must be sick but my favorite time to fish is dead summer during the sulphurs when the fIsh are ridiculously shy. I just find it more satisfying when you catch one of those fish.

 

[fisherboy3]

Yea cant wait to be throwing size 20 dortheas to fish that have been harassed for the last 4 months...

 

[krayfish2]

How about a cool drizzly day in early September when the water is low /clear and there are blankets of #24-#28 Pseudos? That's when you try for a half-hour before you go to the Mirabito, buy a 12 pack and go watch TV. Lol

 

[wbranch]

Surfcowboy wrote;

The rises seemed to get more consistent as I went, but it seemed that a fair number were suckers.

Hmm, suckers rising to dry flies? Well that is quite unusual. As a matter of fact I have never caught a sucker on a dry fly. You sure they weren't big fallfish, aka chubs?

 

[fisherboy3]

Andy,

Either its low flows, the main is wadeable, the lower east is still too warm, or theyre blowing 1400 out of stilesville. Lol.

 

[krayfish2]

Matt,
Can't answer for the original poster but I've been unfortunate enough catch suckers on a dead drifted floating rapala, on nymphs and once on a dry fly.

 

[moon1284]

He's talking about fallfish or what I call them creek chubs

 

[troutbert]

moon1284 wrote:
He's talking about fallfish or what I call them creek chubs

Suckers, fallfish, and creek chubs are 3 different fish.

 

[afishinado]

Anglers often use the word "chub" to include both creek chub and fallfish. They are closely related:

CREEK CHUB
Semotilus atromaculatus

SPECIES OVERVIEW
The Creek Chub is one of the most common stream fishes in central and eastern North America, and it is found in all of Pennsylvania’s watersheds. Creek Chubs are usually associated with transitional streams–streams that contain water temperatures typically warmer than coldwater streams and cooler than warmwater streams. Their adaptability has allowed them to establish and maintain a statewide distribution. Creek Chubs are a popular bait fish.

IDENTIFICATION
The Creek Chub may attain a length of 10 inches, but the length averages closer to four inches. The body is nearly cylindrical, tapering at the head and tail. The back is light to dark-olive, shading to silvery on the sides with purple-violet reflections above a silvery-white belly. The dorsal fin has a dark spot at the lower front corner. The head and body of breeding males are tinged with rose-purple, blue, yellow or orange. A single row of six to 12 large tubercles extends backward from the front of the snout to a point above and just behind each eye. Smaller tubercles are found on the gill cover and on the first six to eight rays of the pectoral fins.

Young Creek Chubs are more silvery than adults. The young also have the spot on the dorsal fin. A narrow black band extends along the middle of each side from the eye to the caudal fin base. It ends in a dark spot.

HABITAT
Creek Chubs prefer the deeper pools of small and mediumsized streams, but they can also be found in lakes and ponds.

LIFE HISTORY
Creek Chubs spawn in spring when water temperatures reach about 55 degrees. Males build nests by pushing pebbles with their snouts and carrying them in their mouths. The nest is a row of gravel in line with the current flow. Males dig a depression at the downstream end of the pebble line. Some Creek Chub nests can be as long as about six feet. Males vigorously defend their nests. Young Creek Chubs feed on aquatic invertebrates. Adult Creek Chubs eat small fish, larger invertebrates and crayfish.




FALLFISH
Semotilus corporalis

SPECIES OVERVIEW
The Fallfish is a species of the East Coast, ranging from Canada to Virginia. The Fallfish lives in the Susquehanna, Delaware and Potomac River watersheds in Pennsylvania. It is Pennsylvania’s largest native minnow. Its name “corporalis” is a Latin word that means “bodily,” but it could also reference the military rank and the fish’s aggressive behavior.

IDENTIFICATION
Fallfish may attain lengths of about 18 inches, but they average half that. The back is olive-brown to black, shading to silvery on the sides. The belly is white. The side scales in adults are marked with a dark triangular bar at the front corners, so they appear outlined. Fallfish less than four inches are silvery with a prominent wide, dark band extending along the middle of each side. This band extends from the eye to the base of the caudal fin where it ends in a large spot. The caudal fin is forked with sharp-pointed lobes. The Fallfish has a small barbel between the lip and snout, like the Pearl Dace and Creek Chub.

HABITAT
Fallfish prefer clear, clean, gravelly pools and slower-flow areas of large streams. They can also be found in lakes.

LIFE HISTORY
Fallfish spawn when water temperatures reach about 58 degrees. The male clears an area and digs a small pit. Then he gathers pebbles and gravel in his mouth and builds a mound. In still water, mounds are round, but in flowing water, the nest angles downstream. The largest nests can be six feet across and a foot or two high. Eggs hatch in about six days. Males vigorously defend the nests with displays that include flaring the gill covers and spreading the fins. Fallfish live about 10 years.

Link to source: PFBC species of fish

 

[krayfish2]

Agree, he's talking about chub /fallfish or some fubfish hybrid. Lol. When I said I had a sucker take a dead drifted rapala, it was 100% a sucker, aka vacuum head fish. I've also had them take dries and we joked that they saw the fly, rose through water column and then flipped onto their back so they could eat the fly.

If you catch a bunch of them, you can slice off the mouths, bread and fry them. Freshwater calamari.

 

[salvelinus]

krayfish2 wrote:
If you catch a bunch of them, you can slice off the mouths, bread and fry them. Freshwater calamari.

Sounds good with some chicken feet.

 

[SurfCowboyXX]

Yeah, it was a fallfish, not a sucker. I just call them suckers, because it doesn't matter to me what they are if they aren't trout.

Unless I have something going on of which I'm unaware, I'll be back up there on Saturday to see what I can do. I probably should start trying some different floats, but I really like Shehawken to Buckingham, and there's a part of me that wants to learn every rock in it. That said, I'm betting downstream of Buckingham is even more open water and fewer fishermen, and I'd probably be better off trying down there before the water warms up. What say you Kray and wbranch? Am I making sense here?