West Branch Delaware River 04/28-05/01, Delaware County

[mcwillja]

headed down to camp to fish the West Branch last week wed thru sat. We got blown off the water wednesday and thursday which is pretty typical this time of year. I managed to nymph two nice trout on thursday but between my friend and I that was it.

Friday and saturday was a different story. We managed many fish in the 15-21 inch range and had bugs and fish rising sporadically throughout the day. The hendrickson's hatched around 3:00 p.m. but the fish seemed to take olives instead. There was also some great action on size 16 and 14 rusty spinners early in the morning and about an hour before dark. There were some blanket caddis hatches at times that the fish seemed to totally ignore.

 

[JackM]

Nice fish and pics. Looks like it may have been on the cool side by your garments.

 

[Alpabuck]

Some Nice fat Brownies way to go!

 

[David]

Beautiful fish! Great job!

 

[wbranch]

Nice pictures and the first is especially a trophy however pictures of big trout with the name of the specific river only exacerbates the already over crowded conditions one runs into on weekends, and more often lately, during the week. I too was unable to cast to a single fish last Wednesday and left for home by noon on Thursday due to the incessant wind on the waters I fished in the Catskills.

 

[govtmule]

great fish!!.....I hear you wbranch but the WB ain't no secret, arguably the best water (upper delaware) in the east...by the way, I'll be there next week!

jeff

 

[afishinado]

I hear you too WB. I fished the D since I was a kid in the 70's and can't believe the pressure it now receives. There are probably more fish now then back in the day, but fishing it was a lot more fun.

The silver lining is, when it was a secret, there was no one to stand up to fight for it. Now that the word is out, there are thousands of eyes on it every day to look out for it. Too many eyes IMO, but so it goes...

 

[mcwillja]

Thanks for the nice responses guys. However, I can't take credit for that pig brown. I took that picture of my friend who caught it.

I hear what Wbranch is saying and I normally don't post my pics of nicer fish in less published rivers or streams, but like others have said the upper D is no secret. It is going to be crowded whether people post pics or not.

I fish the West Branch a lot and have never had a problem finding a place to fish. Sometimes you just have to walk but it is big water and a lot of room if your're willing to walk a little or a lot.

Jason

 

[wbranch]

"I hear you wbranch but the WB ain't no secret"

I know it isn't a secret but that doesn't mean we need more guys fishing it does it??

My screen name pretty much lets you know something about me. I have a cabin on the WB and have fished it since 1969 and the main stem since 1966. I fished the WB before there was a No-Kill and can remember very bad drought years when the WB was virtually a tepid trickle and other years with the broken valve and summer flows in the 1000 cfs range where I had to wear long Johns in Bard- Parker.

I agree though with many that the overall fishing is better now than it was then. Back then a good fish was 15" and a great fish was 19". Now I yawn at 15" and don't get too excited at 19" but I've become jaded.

If any forum members can fish during the week PM me as I have a Hyde LP plus a two man kayak and typically fish Tue, Wed, and Thu and just refuse to pay $25 - $35 for a shuttle and would enjoy a float partner - no cleats in the boat please.

PS - I've been up the last two weeks and have been blown off the water on four out of five days. Won't be going up in the future if weather is projecting sustained wind of more than 12 mph.

 

[tomgamber]

I am still trying to figure out why some people have more of a right to fish it then others. If its too crowded, and the pressure if bad for the fishery, stay away from it. But I think asking others to stay away so someone else can fish it is silly.

BTW this is a short hop from NYC. One might be more effective preaching up north.

 

[vcregular]

Flotilla!

 

[wbranch]

Tom wrote;

"I am still trying to figure out why some people have more of a right to fish it then others."

Who said, or wrote, that Tom? Not me and it wasn't even implied. Everyone who finds out about any place to fish is entitled to fish there and break the fish's necks if it's legal. My point is why bring even more lurkers to places that are already very crowded and the crowds detract from the esthetics of the activity.

I'm very lucky to not only own a cabin but to be able to fish during the week when it is the least likely to be crowded. I posted for all the other guys who often only have the weekends to fish. Two of my closest fishing friends, who are still working, were up Saturday and Sunday. Without mentioning a specific river, or section of a river, they told me that on Saturday afternoon, in one piece of water that happened to be productive, there were ten guide boats with two clients in each boat, and a dozen wading anglers all in a piece of water no more than 200 yards long. On some large Western rivers that would be considered crowded - on floatable NYS waters that is downright mobbed.

I don't want to fight with any of you guys and am not being selfish because as I said I fish when most of you are working and dreaming about coming up. I often see few people and there are days when I don't see anyone so if you know where to go, and when to go there, one can still enjoy solitude on rivers not much more than two hours form a huge metropolis.

 

[jerseygeorge]

Wbranch- Just sold my Kayak, bought a Scadden. Fish during the week, would love to partner up and save paying $35 for a shuttle!

I am really happy catching the 15" fish. They were not present for a few years, and are back in big numbers. I think that is good news for the river, and those concerned about the longterm effects of the 06 flood.

I think most forget that there are about 40 or so miles of fishable river (maybe more), not just the WB. There are fish all the way down to Lordville, and will be for awhile.

jg

 

[tomgamber]

...pictures of big trout with the name of the specific river only exacerbates the already over crowded conditions one runs into on weekends, and more often lately, during the week...

...I know it isn't a secret but that doesn't mean we need more guys fishing it does it??...

No, you did not come right out and say that. But the all too familiar implication is there. I am not begrudging you your right to feel that way. I am just at a loss to understand how someone can love something so much and not want others to as well. Its more prevalent with old timers (no offense) where they've been fishing something for decades and when the next generation or the one below that discovers it, just like the old timer's generation did, that is somehow bad. Those old timers are gonna pass on some day and there batter be someone to look out for that water when they are gone.

I am not really fighting with you as much as I'm chuckling sarcastically out loud. Its what forums are for.

 

[afishinado]

Tom,

There's nothing wrong with "longing for the old days" and remembering when you had a run or pool all to yourself with fish rising all over, I reminisce about that all the time. I'm a little selfish in that way, too.

Reality is the River is now crowded with anglers, guides, drift boats, pontoons, canoes, etc. The fish are there but you must now work find a decent spot. But as I said before, "so it goes" the word is out.

I'm sure posting on the Internet about the River adds to the pressure, but also there are books, magazines, guides advertising, etc. also directing anglers to fish there. I do believe instant communication aspect of the Internet has more of an effect. The word of a great hatch or great fishing tends to drive anglers to the "hotspots". Hey, I check on the conditions and find out how the hatches are Internet before I make a trip, and so do many others. I'm as guilty as everyone. My PM button was lit up like a Christmas tree the last few weeks with members interested in fishing the D. I'm not complaining, it's all fun!

wbranch wrote:
"I fished the WB before there was a No-Kill and can remember very bad drought years when the WB was virtually a tepid trickle and other years with the broken valve and summer flows in the 1000 cfs range where I had to wear long Johns in Bard- Parker."

WB, if what you wrote above about the flow happened now, you would have thousands screaming bloody murder. Some concessions have been made to make the flow more angler and fish friendly, although we have a long way to go.

Also, without it's popularity with anglers, you would never have any special regulations to protect the fish in the River. lol...if few anglers fished it, I suppose you would need any....

It's all a trade-off. Good fishing to all!

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

Is it just me or could wbranch and this guy be brothers :lol:

 

[3wt7X]

I don't know if those two could be brothers, but I am dead certain that the trout in those pictures are at least distant cousins. 🙂

Sorry...I could not resist.

 

[sight_nymph_17109]

Just spent 6 days on the D and branches. I spent 50% of my day navigating my boat around waders and other guide boats. When I packed it in and wade fished on the WB, I had to stop every 10-15 minutes as driftboats went by. There was barely any difference in crowds from Friday to Wednesday. Holy S&@t has that place become busy/popular. 15-20 yrs ago, I could fish a full 12 hour day on the WB and not see more than 3 other guys. It's tough to find a quiet spot up there anymore.

Afish,
That TCX is a sweet rod. Too bad my ability isn't nearly on level with the rod's ability. I was able to reach some fish that I wouldn't have gotten to before. I may actually prefer that Legend elite though.... hmmm

PS> We should really stop talking about the D or I'll need to find a new place to frustrate me. 🙂

 

[wbranch]

afishinado pasted this comment of mine;

"I fished the WB before there was a No-Kill and can remember very bad drought years when the WB was virtually a tepid trickle and other years with the broken valve and summer flows in the 1000 cfs range where I had to wear long Johns in Bard- Parker."

That is just a comment on condtions I experienced a few decades ago. I'm not complaining, or crying, or longing for "the good old days".

Tom,

Yea, I'm an old timer, fished the BK the first time July 05, 1965. Been fly fishing for fifty years and thoroughly enjoy sharing my experience with younger guys. Work part time at a Gander Mountain and provide a five week intro to fly tying during the winter as well as offer advice to new FF's relative to rods, lines, technique, casting, whatever. You seem to fancy yourself to be able read more into my post than was intended - if you want to think there was an implication in my original post that I don't want anyone to fish the waters I fish then I guess there is nothing I can do to change that.

BTW if you read my profile you'll see this comment next to "Other Info" "Interested in mentoring any newbies who are able to fish Tuesday through Thursday only." I wouldn't of written that if I didn't want to share my passion with others.

If you are ever planning to be up during the week PM me a few days in advance and if you want we can get together and throw some flies.

That guy with the blue bandanna is one good looking dude and it ain't a bad brown either. Yes, it's me, on a MT river. I have posted MT pictures before on some forums and will likely continue to do so. I've gone to MT about thirty-five times in forty-two years. The first four years I'd quit my job and drive my VW Campmobile out and base in Livingston for June, July, and August. One of the spring creeks was free and the other had two sessions per day, at $10 per session.

There are many more anglers on the MT rivers now then there were back in the late 1960's but I still find great dry fly fishing to larger than average trout and never feel like I don't have enough water to fish or there are too many people on the rivers.

There was a period when my ego, and bravado, was bigger than my common sense and I posted quite a few pictures of large trout on various forums. By and large nobody took offense until one time I mentioned the name of a specific pool. In retrospect I suppose it was stupid to not only post a picture of a big trout but then I named the location of the event.

Now I seldom post a photo and if I do I always underestimate the length and never mention where it was caught. But if someone wants to do that it is there perogative. Live and let live is my motto.

 

[JackM]

wbranch, I kinda got the same read on your post as afish, when I read this:

"... however pictures of big trout with the name of the specific river only exacerbates the already over crowded conditions one runs into on weekends, and more often lately, during the week."

I credit you for first congratulating the poster, but when this is the first reply to a stream report, it does come off as a complaint against the poster's decision to report on the conditions of the stream. I guess he could have posted himself holding a 10 inch trout (though I hear that trout are born in the Delaware at 15") instead.

By the way, is the river getting so crowded that nobody goes there anymore?