West Branch of Delaware, Deposit NY, 7/10/10

[streamer-stripper]

We use a guy that charges $30 for the shuttle and he is very reliable.

You guys crack me up with those stories.. This is good stuff. Get a drift boat and pay the shuttle fees, your life (and fishing) will be so much better - trust me!

 

[sight_nymph_17109]

ss,

I love my pontoon. Things just got a little out of whack. We'll get it right next time. I use the gals at the diner. They move my car and walk the dog. They are very good to me.

 

[jerseygeorge]

Jay-

No hard feelings. I sold the Kayak and bought a Scadden pontoon and have not fished it yet. Probably this weekend. I use Hank as a shuttle driver, it is great to come around that final bend late in the day and see your car there. Even better to see your keys there.

BTW - anyone know how far downstream is fishable in July? I am never there at this time of the season.

BTW2 - Last year putting in at Hale Eddy there was a nice copperhead right on the ramp. Keep your eyes open up there.

 

[sight_nymph_17109]

GG,

With the current flow, you can probably fish as far down as Stockport but it would have to be on the PA side only and early/late. If they start letting more water out, it stays fishable to Buckingham but wouldn't do it right now.

Which Scadden did you get? We've got 3 guys w/ the Skykomish and one w/ the H2 version. It's comfy and quite handy. It will take a little getting used to. Not as nimble as a yak.

BTW, we put in at Norboard and the fishing was great down to Hale Eddy. The EB, Beaverkill and Main were blown out from heavy rains. The WB was PACKED. Made floating tough. Good luck. We may hit it again in late August. Jump onboard. You're on the hook for beer though. 🙂

 

[jdaddy]

He's not on the hook for beer if he has a nice big trailer!

 

[sight_nymph_17109]

What good does it do when it's sitting at the launch spot? LMAO

 

[jerseygeorge]

The Yak was not as nimble as you think. When you are floating down river, spot a target and want to stop you can only put one blade in the water at a time. With oars you can put on the brakes. So I wind up turning around, paddling up river and turning around to position. The first 78 times you do that you do not turn quick enough, or paddle far enough upstream so you are not in position. The fish is still feeding and laughing at you. So you paddle back up higher to get in position. The anchor is a problem also. It is not easy to hold in a river. I made a mount, and it worked awesome, but submarining the stern of the craft is always a consideration.

Then there is fly rod in hands time. I think with the pontoon, and a pair of flippers I will spend a lot more time fishing.

I bought the outcast x5 from Scadden, and no, the chick in the picture had nothing to do with my decision. OK, we are all friends here, actually the chick in the picture had everything to do with my decision....

http://www.northforkoutdoors.com/Outlawx5gallery.html

 

[jayL]

Flippers are pretty common out west, but everyone around here has told me that they're not a good option for eastern rivers. I may give them a try as well... there are some bigger pools where they'd be nice.

 

[littlelehigh]

Holy chit I gotta get me one of those! F the pontoon a full chested blonde....... Well I'll buy the pontoon if she comes with 🙂

 

[gfen]

littlelehigh wrote:
Holy chit I gotta get me one of those! F the pontoon a full chested blonde....... Well I'll buy the pontoon if she comes with 🙂

Let's get back to that drift boat, I won't send this screenshot to your lovely missus if that $20/trip cost goes into effect.

Get cracking, I'll mark next weekend free. 😉

I seriously, again, want one of these things. Not the blonde, that just looks like more trouble.

 

[sight_nymph_17109]

Good news gfen, he did it!! LL just sent me a pic of his new boat. He's starting guided float trips next week.

 

[jerseygeorge]

Heck, we could fit about 10 in that thing!

 

[sight_nymph_17109]

I seats 12 and has a microwave and a wet bar! He knows how to do it right! LOLOL.

if wbranch comes, he's got a real drift boat not a pretend one like mentioned above.

 

[bam]

Any reports of tricos yet? I'll be up there tomorrow and Sunday and heard they started on the lower WB, but have no idea where or what time...

 

[sight_nymph_17109]

I heard they were up there a few weeks back when we did our float. We started below the 17 bridge around Deposit and I don't believe they make it that far up river so we didn't see any.

Here's some reports....

The West Branch is clear with a decent release. Slop, crud or whatever you call it can be a problem at times-more so in the upper reaches. It did have a little color from storms yesterday but remained fishable even then. The upper area of the no-kill can get crowded at times-more so on the weekends. The release rate was decreased to 387 yesterday at 7 a.m. from 456 cfs on Wednesday. Hatches are usually mid to late afternoon with Sulphurs and small Olives. Some Tricos are about in the a.m. The East Branch remains at a steady flow with decent water temps. The hatches on this river vary more. Look for midges, small Olives and Tricos in the a.m. witth spinners, Sulphurs and Olives close to dark


DRC is saying that tricos are on the lower section of the river. 2 recent reports below.

7/22/10 report:
Rain overnight has brought higher flows and slightly cooler water all across the board today. These higher flows, combined with off-colored water and overcast skies, should be a perfect opportunity to bring out the streamers. Fish them as close to the bank as possible and be ready for a strike. However, don’t rule out the possibility of dry fly fishing as today could be another awesome day for BWO’s and Sulphurs on the West Branch. With lower-water clarity you may even be able to get away with throwing flies on 5 or 6X tippet. As always, work slowly and take your time when covering any section of water.

7/23/10 report:
Today looks like it is going to be a good morning with light rain and mild air temperatures. Although the rain may stick around for the better part of the day, today has potential to be a great olive day again throughout the afternoon, sulphurs should show up in good numbers during the day as well. Streamer fishing can be very good on rainy days like today, also keep a good eye out for Iso’s and Iso spinners. The West Branch is still flowing around 430 cfs at Hale Eddy which is a very good level for those looking to wade fish. With the cooler air temperatures and rain over the past couple of days, water temperatures look good on the entire West Branch.

 

[Alpabuck]

I was there 7/22 fished from hale to 191. Very few bugs but some olives hardly anything on top till 8pm. American nymphed the crap of the riffles with pt's and my secert hares ear caught 16-18in rainbows all day.....fun trip! If your looking for bugs move up above hale!

 

[Alpabuck]

sight_nymph_17109 wrote:
I heard they were up there a few weeks back when we did our float. We started below the 17 bridge around Deposit and I don't believe they make it that far up river so we didn't see any.

Here's some reports....

The West Branch is clear with a decent release. Slop, crud or whatever you call it can be a problem at times-more so in the upper reaches. It did have a little color from storms yesterday but remained fishable even then. The upper area of the no-kill can get crowded at times-more so on the weekends. The release rate was decreased to 387 yesterday at 7 a.m. from 456 cfs on Wednesday. Hatches are usually mid to late afternoon with Sulphurs and small Olives. Some Tricos are about in the a.m. The East Branch remains at a steady flow with decent water temps. The hatches on this river vary more. Look for midges, small Olives and Tricos in the a.m. witth spinners, Sulphurs and Olives close to dark


DRC is saying that tricos are on the lower section of the river. 2 recent reports below.

7/22/10 report:
Rain overnight has brought higher flows and slightly cooler water all across the board today. These higher flows, combined with off-colored water and overcast skies, should be a perfect opportunity to bring out the streamers. Fish them as close to the bank as possible and be ready for a strike. However, don’t rule out the possibility of dry fly fishing as today could be another awesome day for BWO’s and Sulphurs on the West Branch. With lower-water clarity you may even be able to get away with throwing flies on 5 or 6X tippet. As always, work slowly and take your time when covering any section of water.

7/23/10 report:
Today looks like it is going to be a good morning with light rain and mild air temperatures. Although the rain may stick around for the better part of the day, today has potential to be a great olive day again throughout the afternoon, sulphurs should show up in good numbers during the day as well. Streamer fishing can be very good on rainy days like today, also keep a good eye out for Iso’s and Iso spinners. The West Branch is still flowing around 430 cfs at Hale Eddy which is a very good level for those looking to wade fish. With the cooler air temperatures and rain over the past couple of days, water temperatures look good on the entire West Branch.

There is never a need to go below 5x on that river! Have a nice day!

 

[bam]

Thanks. You going to be out? Thought about bringing the pontoons, but decided to hoof it instead...

 

[sight_nymph_17109]

Floating in pontoon on the 30th 31st. Come on along.

Alpa,
Agree w/ staying above Hale Eddy for hatches unless you are looking a dusk. BTW, other guy wrote that tippet comment. I'll go to 6x with small olives or other tiny stuff. Otherwise, I stay w/ 5x.

 

[cmkrachen]

here here on the 5x comment...i love listening to stories who lost "monsters" then ask what tippet and they say 7 or 8 x...i just laugh and move on....