West Branch Chester Ck, Chester Ck. Del. Co. 5/28/2011

[Van_Cleaver]

Started in the heat of the day, around 11:30. Water was 68 and clear, no real hatches. Moved fish right away landing about four and missing a few on my way down to the main branch. My pet spot was fishing tough but the fish were there, and biting well, but not foolishly. At one point I rolled four in a row, but made up for it by hooking and bringing to hand three in five casts. I was drifting a bh caddis with an ant dropper (6x) and giving occaisional subtle twitches. The hardest part was roll casting and mending in order to get a drift, but without spooking the fish. Favorite moment was when I drifted to a trout about ten feet from me with no reaction. Clipped on a no. 6 football shot and hooked up on the first drift, a fat 14'' brown in very nice condition. Went into the really fast water and landed another nice bow and missed a couple. Took a late lunch break and moved the truck south a bit. Water wa 71 according to my thermometer, though the fish weren't acting stessed. Covered a lot of water and managed several more; they started hitting well right when I was leaving (of couse) and I took fish from runs I had already covered on the way back to my truck. Left aroud 6, and though it wasn't exotic water, I did educate a bunch, and got some good exercise, too!

 

[mooney4]

Hi Van, I have to say your all over the place, hitting a lot of water. Did you catch any Brookies on the W Branch?

 

[Van_Cleaver]

I didn't catch any brookies, but didn't fish there for long; a lot of my favorite holes from years past were silted it badly. On the plus side, the area where the dam was removed is looking like real trout water again. Mostly rainbows, with a couple of very nice looking browns mixed in. I did cover a lot of water, and there seemed to be trout in most of the likely looking spots. BTW, I would rather I had more gainfull employment, but........

 

[mooney4]

Oh, sorry no wonder your getting so much stream time in. I was just curious about the brookies since I'm part of Delco Anglers who raise the brooks. Its a sad yet joyous time when we have to set them free into the streams. Keep up the reports. Im kinda new to the fly fishing world and am still trying to figure out what to tie onto my line when im on the water.

Thanks again