The Complete Tangier has to admit to being a failure. In the last few days Kevin Burke had before school opened down in New York City, I tried twice more to get him his first trout on a fly. Kevin is the 14 year old that Barb and I became friendly with while assisting at last years Sportfishing and Acquatic Resource Education Program (SAREP) class. The class was held at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center. As the saying goes, "close but no cigar." On August 30, Kevin and I fished into dark in the Horton Brook Pool on the Beaver Kill. At 8:00 p.m., in the gloom, a fish took my fly, was on briefly, then I gave it a long line release. With complete darkness upon us, I suggested to Kevin that it was time to reel up and head back to Roscoe. I did not wish to alarm his mother by failing to return him on time.

He pleaded, "Just a few more casts."

I could not deny him his request. I understood how he felt. Did not John Buchan, known to some as, Lord Grey of Fallodon once write that, "fishing is the pursuit of something that is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." Kevin was still hoping.

At once, Kevin cried out excitedly, "I've got one."

Sure enough, his rod was bent in a nice arc. However, even as I took in the scene, the rod snapped back to straight and Kevin glumly announced that the trout was off. For Kevin, a truly crushing blow from fate, as his next cast to a trout probably will not occur until 2001. We both dejectedly reeled in our lines, climbed the bank and returned to Roscoe. Like the Brooklyn Dodger fans of old, Kevin would have to wait until next year.

On September 6 the Tangler fished one of the Delaware's tributaries. Upon reaching the stream bank that evening I was pleasantly surprised by the number of spinners in the air over the water. A spinner is the mature stage of the mayfly. After the mating process, the males fall to the water, there to be eaten by the trout. The females either drop or dip their eggs into the water and then suffer the same fate. The flies were not only numerous, but there were a number of species present. They ranged in size from the large Isonychias to a very tiny mayfly with a bright green body. Wings and all, this little fly was not more than an eighth of an inch tall. The most numerous fly appeared to be one with a yellow body, about a size 16. Miracle of miracles, I just happened to have two of these in one of my many fly boxes. In 45 minutes, before stygian darkness shut me down, the Tangler caught two Rainbows and one Brown trout. I lost two others and missed at least half a dozen strikes. The fish were of no great size, but they put a nice bend in the one weight rod I was using. At seven-and-one-half feet and only one-and-three-eighth ounces, this rod is the next to the lightest manufactured in this country. The manufacturer rates this rod as using a one weight line. With the recommended line weight, I find this rod to be very wimpy. Using a two weight does little to improve its casting performance. Aha, put a three weight on it and the wimp turns into a tiger, capable of throwing tight loops 35 to 40 feet across the brook. If you are dissatisfied with the manner in which a rod casts, I suggest you try a line one or two steps up from what the manufacturer suggests. You may be pleasantly surprised.

The river flows have been quite low recently. This is due to the fact that GPU Energy is releasing large quantities of water down the Lackawaxen. This is being done in an attempt to lower the Lake Wallenpaupack level which is too high for this time of year. Once the proper level is reached, GPU intends to shut down the Lackawaxen flows. When that happens, the City will have to ramp up its releases to around 1,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). However, come September 15, if GPU is still releasing water, the City could cut back to the minimum daily release of only 45 cfs. Will the City insist on cutting the flow to 45 cfs on September 15 only to have to turn around in a very short time and send 1,000 cfs hurtling down the river to meet the Rivermasters demands? Since the City is aware of GPU's intentions, why not send down 200 to 250 cfs until Wallenpaupack shuts down. This would avoid the yoyo effect of first cutting back to 45 cfs and then ramping up to 1,000 cfs. This sort of yoyo flow management is very damaging to the aquatic life in the river. Will the City act sensibly and responsibly or will they insist on the mandated low flows of 45 cfs on September 15? Stay tuned.

The days are getting shorter. Time is running out. Go fishing today!