West Branch Delaware, Deposit Ny

[Flydrifter74]

On Saturday myself and a buddy drove to Deposite NY to fish the West Branch Special Regs section for our first time. We had a great time and the scenery was nice. The only problem was the constent cleaning of the leaders and flies from all the green junk that was floating down the river. My buddy caught a beautifull brownie and lost 2 others and i got skunked. Their was a good amount of anglers and not many were catching fish. In the after noon the Sulfers were in full swing emerging from the water bring some rises from the trout. It was a nice morning 61 air temps and water was 43, got up to 86 and water went up to 56. We'll be heading back up in August and looking forward to it. Also if you go don't forget to clean all your gear because Of Didymo alage.

 

[krayfish2]

Flydrifter74

The only problem was the constent cleaning of the leaders and flies from all the green junk that was floating down the river.

I had planned to head up this weekend and your post from above is exactly what I didn't bother. They also took the release from 500 to 485 then to 815 before dropping it back to 775. The bump in the flow probably knocked a lot of algae loose. It takes a day for that stuff to get flushed out but the slime will continue to be an issue for several more weeks. Lower sun angle and a big surge in flows is needed to clear it out. The green stuff you were seeing wasn't didymo, just the standard green slime algae which is a PITA.

 

[Brianh]

I was there Thursday and saw the same. Lots of green algae and some nice action when the Sulfers popped. Luckily I had the lower rt. 17 pool all to myself until the afternoon.

 

[moon1284]

I was there this past weekend also. Mainly fished from Stilesville to Indian Country. Action was very good from before dawn until dusk. The slowest time for me seemed to be between 9-12.

Lots of fisherman out in the heat.

The best thing I saw on the trip was a stealthcraft at the house across from indian country with a (damaged) outboard. I didn't see any of the mayhem, just the consequences. I'm going on a limb and guessing it was a night time trip and alcohol was involved...

 

[JackM]

What is "indian country?"

 

[moon1284]

It is a NYS parking area just downstream of Deposit. I'm not sure the real name of it, I always called it Indian Country.

 

[afishinado]

moon1284 wrote:
It is a NYS parking area just downstream of Deposit. I'm not sure the real name of it, I always called it Indian Country.

Barking Dog (not making it up..that's the real name)

 

[afishinado]

JackM wrote:
What is "indian country?"

Back east it's the wild west.....

 

[moon1284]

Yes sir. And the outboard was torn up. I floated that stretch multiple times and didn't see it on the water. I think they ran it at night, they had to know what they were doing.

Pm me if you want a pic, I don't want to put it online and blast anyone.

 

[krayfish2]

Soundsike have to start carrying 100' of aircraft cable in the boat. I can toss that out and row across if I see them coming. That should take them a few hours to untangle. My last float on the main encountered 4 motor boats with the highest one being by "the wall" above Buck. What's next, Skeet Reese going by me a full throttle and dropping power poles in a pod of rising fish?

Email sent

 

[Flydrifter74]

I just remembered, 3 younger guys in a boat with an outboard running up the river that were fly fishing. You could hear the prop hitting the rocks and they were having a hard time. They came up past me and killed the motor, as they tilted the motor you could see that the propellers were 3/4 the way missing. I looked at my buddy and just shook my head.

 

[Midge22]

Honest ?, IS the boats with motors issue just because of time of year, or are you all just against boats (drift or any other kind) with motors on the upper d?

No dog in this fight as i haven't saved enough for a boat yet, but being unfamiliar with the upper d, im not sure what the issue is with boat motors

 

[moon1284]

Midge-

The best answer I can give you is that if it isn't an unwritten rule not to use a motor in the upper D, its very poor form. It is also very expensive because any motor used will be badly damaged.

 

[krayfish2]

Midge,

The water is public so as long as it's legal by the states (NY, PA or both), you're good to go. There is also an understanding / some unwritten rules. Kayaks, pontoons, etc. on the Beaverkill is a big no no. It would be like floating Paradise upper lot to the lower lot in the middle of the sulphurs or floating Penn's during the drakes. Won't go over real well.

Over the last 2 years, I've seen more and more guys with trolling motors on the D.
If you're over 65 or have a physical impairment, OK. If you are using it to get to the next pool before the other boats or because you're too lazy to row, you suck. For a couple of years, there's been a guy in a blue and woodgrain canoe on the main using a jet. Yep, fires it up and races to the next pool before you. He sends 1' rollers to the banks and pretty much puts the feeding fish down. You can't get away from him because he'll always jump in front of you to the next pool. If you try to wait him out, he will come ripping back up river an hour later at full throttle. Needless to say, I'm not a fan. To use a jet on the WB raises the bar for being a tool. Hopefully they grenaded the motor. If not, someone will fire a rock at their heads in the near future.

There's currently a movement to get a system in place limiting the number of boats launching each day. I'll give you one guess who the greedy guide is that's spearheading it. Just another attempt to make the public pay HIM to fish HIS river. No wonder he's so disliked.

 

[ryansheehan]

krayfish2 wrote:
Midge,

The water is public so as long as it's legal by the states (NY, PA or both), you're good to go. There is also an understanding / some unwritten rules. Kayaks, pontoons, etc. on the Beaverkill is a big no no. It would be like floating Paradise upper lot to the lower lot in the middle of the sulphurs or floating Penn's during the drakes. Won't go over real well.

Over the last 2 years, I've seen more and more guys with trolling motors on the D.
If you're over 65 or have a physical impairment, OK. If you are using it to get to the next pool before the other boats or because you're too lazy to row, you suck. For a couple of years, there's been a guy in a blue and woodgrain canoe on the main using a jet. Yep, fires it up and races to the next pool before you. He sends 1' rollers to the banks and pretty much puts the feeding fish down. You can't get away from him because he'll always jump in front of you to the next pool. If you try to wait him out, he will come ripping back up river an hour later at full throttle. Needless to say, I'm not a fan. To use a jet on the WB raises the bar for being a tool. Hopefully they grenaded the motor. If not, someone will fire a rock at their heads in the near future.

There's currently a movement to get a system in place limiting the number of boats launching each day. I'll give you one guess who the greedy guide is that's spearheading it. Just another attempt to make the public pay HIM to fish HIS river. No wonder he's so disliked.

I remember that canoe well, apparently he was guiding while not licensed (this may have been 15 years ago). The guide I was with said he got busted by the dnr. Nice looking boat though.

 

[Midge22]

Makes sense. Just wasnt sure if it was law or just one of those things you shouldnt do. regardless, it wouldnt be a problem if they are good about it, but the hole jumping is ridiculous. ive heard of people using motors on drift boats just to start higher in the system where there are no ramps etc.

 

[afishinado]

Yep. The rivers,streams and lakes are to be shared by all, but it comes down to common sense and common courtesy...by all and everywhere.

Don't run a jet boat through an area with dozens of anglers wading midstream and/or dozens of fishing boats and small craft.

Conversely, don't fish or expect to fish undisturbed in an area near or below a boat launch for folks to use for their canoes, yaks, tubes, jet skis, or power boats.

I've fished the D river since I was a little kid in the 60's. Folks get it there. The upper mainstem right up to the dam in the WB is pretty much off limits to power boats / jet boats.

Even the commercial canoe/boat rental companies get it, and operate only on the lower river just above Callicoon.

Don't fish the lower river if you don't want to fish amongst a hundreds of canoers and yakkers and tubers.

Don't launch your pleasure craft in Stilesville and weave in and out and between wading anglers and drift boats.

 

[wbranch]

Andy wrote;

If you're over 65 or have a physical impairment, OK. If you are using it to get to the next pool before the other boats or because you're too lazy to row, you suck.

Hi Andy, It seems you have an issue with anyone using a motor, even if it electric, and not one causing a wake or ruckus. I don't think using an electric motor has anything to do with how old someone is or whether or not they may have a physical impairment. In my mind it has to do with why should I bust my butt trying to row down river with a 15 - 20 mph up river wind. This happened to me a couple of times in my Hyde and it can be almost impossible to get off the river.

I put my motor on my boat well before I was 65 years old. I like the motor. It is quiet and when no one is around I can fish any of the long pools on the main stem and drift down and then turn on the motor and run back up to the top and fish them again. I have sometimes put in at Buckingham and run up river to the Wall and spent the entire day there. Use the anchor to drop down on rising fish and when I got down near the ramp run all the way back up and do it again.

I like the convenience of the motor but hardly use it all the time. If the flows are 1400 cfs or more I never take the motor. At those flows on the main stem the current is strong enough that you don't really have to row that much to get down river.

The main stem is open water. I checked with the Feds about it and they told me a boat can be powered by any size motor, propeller or jet. I agree there seems to be an unwritten rule about no gasoline powered boats from Deposit to Lordville and I agree with that. I have a Yamaha jet drive on my 16' Lowe bass boat but I'm not going to drop it into Shehawken and run up and down the river.

BTW I have seen quite a few guide boats with electric motors and they don't suck. I promise to keep the jet on the Susky.

 

[AFISHN]

Getting back to "Indian country" ,the former NYS parking lot down steam of Deposit......before that area became a NYS parking lot that area was loaded with Indian artifacts.
E.G.From 1972 through 1980,I probably collected over 100 arrow heads and VARIOUS Indian ARTIFACTS from that area.
I'm speculating that may be the reason for the name"Indian Country".

BTW:When the Tocks Island Environmental Impact Study was being written(60's or early 70's),the gentleman who supervised the field work on the Indian sites gave me a copy of the maps showing the major Native American sites from Port Jervis to Deposit.Wish I had that gold mine of info now!!!!

 

[Stimey]

I think "Indian Country" refers to Indian Country Blue Stone the slate plant along the access road. Some people also call it barking dog......