Flies For Fish

Today was a day off from guiding....... so I drifted the Delaware with Sue and Onyx. And, naturally, did some recon for the upcoming trips. And, naturally, a few fish wanted to play during a quick hour of recon:-)

It is always a great day when you spend it on the water. It is even better when you spend it with PHWFF and a military family:-) I was blessed to take out a father and son for a trip.

We are right smack in the middle of a heat wave (water temp was 81!) so trout fishing downriver was out of the question. Instead we stalked smallmouth and other warm water species. Doug and his dad caught a bunch of fish from 5 species; smallmouth, chub, rock bass, red breasted sunfish and yellow perch.

I have been guiding a bunch on the Delaware, but the mini heat wave has forced guides to go to the West Branch because trout on the Main Stem are stressed thermally. I had some friends with me today, so we combined some sight seeing on the Lower Main with some smallmouth fishing. Took some nice ones...... the Briny Muddler picked this 17 incher (usually takes till later in the year to get the better fish.)

One of the most stunning brown trout I have ever seen:-)

Goods morning everyone - and particularly my flyfishing friends! It is getting closer to Hendrickson time. I just created the new Delaware River Report pdf for anyone interested. Every now nad then I post one here on fb, but to get the regularly (once the season hits, the go out weekly), pleas send me a pm with your email address and I will add you to the list. (The issue is sent as a single pdf but facebook does not accept pdf's so I changed it to a PNG file.)

This issue gets into the dry fly strategy I have found successful.

Long Island is a hotbed of flyfishing! River Bay Outfitters very own Paul McCain and Ken Arstark do an amazing job providing this show to the Long Island community. A lot of excellent, knowledgable fly fishing talent will be there to answer your questions in this more personal atmosphere. Let's learn from and support the local flyfishing community.

Speaking of local, just two hours north of NYC is one of the best trout and smallmouth fisheries in the lower 48. Good numbers of wild, beastly, and super challenging trout call the Delaware River home. These are special trout that are fully capable of tearing you will into your backing - and, as happened to me this year, even occasionally spooling you! In addition, lots of bulldog fighting smallmouth ambush from the ever-present boulders! If you would like more info, I am giving a talk, Seasons on the Delaware, at 1:15. I will be tying Hendricksons. Drop by, say hi and spend some time talking about fishing from LI to the Big D!

Including The Fly Tying Symposium, The Fly Fishing Shows, Beau's Shows in Virginia and Texas and the smaller events put on by local clubs, I love them all. They are a blessing to we privileged to attend. But there is one show that is dear to my heart for another reason. With the exception of four years away at college, my home base was Long Island. The passion for fly fishing and tying on Long Island is now supported by the Long Island Fly Fishing Expo. Under the guidance of Paul McCain and Ken Arstark, the show has grown greatly and feeds the hunger for fly fishing that Long Island has. This year's event is being held on Saturday, March 16th.

This year I will be giving an updated presentation called Seasons on The Delaware at 1:15. This show discusses the what you can catch and when you can catch and adds some skills that are needed on this legendary and challenging river. Everything from trout to warm water and dries to subsurface flies and streamers are discussed. During the day I will be tying an assortment of flies that are extremely effective with discriminating fish.

I look forward to seeing long time friends and meeting new ones.

If any fly fishing friends in the New England area are looking to spend a productive day (or three), check out the Fly Fishing Show in Marlborough, Massachusetts.

A lot of great speakers and vendors will be there, as well as manufacturers so you can tests their equipment (I want to check out the Scott Centric 9’6” 5 weight!

I will be there tying flies and doing a presentation on the Delaware River and another Atlantic Salmon fishing in Labrador. I will be tying Briny Muddlers, Soft Hackles, Sailboat Duns, BUMs, Barr Emergers and Unusuals. All will imitate Hendricksons. Drop by and say hello:-)