Fly Fishing Report for the Upper Delaware and Catskill Rivers

WEEKEND OUTLOOK

This weekend should offer us fly fishermen some good opportunity to chase Trout again. The recent heavy rainfall has all of our rivers still running at much higher than normal summer flows. The rain that cam through was also accompanied by much cooler night time temperatures which have all of our rivers running cooler than what is normal for the last week of July. Currently all of our trout rivers are having water temperatures in the low 60's.

The higher, cooler water has been a great break from the heat for our wild trout population. Currently there is an increased amount of activity with feeding trout in most areas of the system. The same conditions that are currently improving the Trout game are greatly slowing the activity of our other summer game fish. The Smallmouth Bass action has slowed down quickly and the hot popper activity is now challenging....

First the trout -

There are options in all of our rivers now for chasing trout. The conditions are good and they should remain good through the weekend. We are not forecast to get back to 80 degree air temps. until Tuesday. Our guides have been on the water throughout the recent high water and can report both a good streamer bite and increased surface activity.

I was on the water yesterday for an evening float and my guests had fairly steady action. We had plenty of rising fish to target. Most of the fish that came to net on dry flies were 12" to 14" browns that were not too difficult to fool on BWO'S and Sulfur Cripples. We also added a few nice fish on streamers including a Tiger Trout that went about 16".

Overall the action is good all day. There is however an extremely good streamer bite both early and late day. The action right at and after dark is hot!.

NOW the Bass

The Smallmouth Bass action will be challenging for the next few days. Both the high water and colder water have an impact. It is far more difficult to present both flies and soft baits in 2800+ cfs. than it was last week at about 1000 cfs. The water temps in the low 60's will also have the smallies acting sluggish early in the day. If you plan on fishing smallies fish the afternoon hours. Look for the best action in the shallows and along the banks. Fishing the portion of the river that is in the full sun may have some added benefit for the next few days. AS is always the case with smallies fish very slow. We always have the best luck on baits that are barely moving.

Over the next few days our guides plan on moving all of our Bass trips further down the Main Delaware to insure fishing in the warmest water available.

We have a few openings starting this Sunday. We are also taking advance boking for August and the popular Autumn season. Give us a call today 607-290-4022