In Retrospect

It is no secret that trout stream conditions in 2005 were less than perfect. A huge high-water event coincided with the opening of the trout fishing season, after which we could not find a decent rainfall till September.

Streams such as the Beaverkill, the Willowemoc and the Lackawanna became mere trickles. The water temperatures in most streams became very stressful for trout. The east and west branches of the Delaware held up well due to cold water being released from their dams. However, trout fishing on the main stem was finished by mid June. Normally, in a dry spring and early summer, the rivermaster would have been calling for daily, heavy releases from the upstream dams that would have kept the main stem reasonably cool. This year however, a dangerous condition at the dam for Swinging Bridge Reservoir caused this body of water to be steadily drained for some weeks. This unexpected release of water satisfied the 1,750 cfs target at the Montague gauge without any additional releases from the upstream reservoirs.

For a time the NYSDEC attempted to cool the main stem by releasing copious amounts of water from what is called the “thermal relief stress bank.” By June 10 the DEC had to abandon this strategy because 50 percent of the bank had been used up. Temperatures in the main stem became extremely stressful for trout, forcing them to move upstream into the branches or to seek small, cold water thermal refuges in the main stem. No ethical fisher would target trout in the main stem under these conditions.

Barb and I did most of our trout fishing on the east branch of the Delaware this year. The east branch below the dam at Downsville ran at good levels with cool temperatures all year. In fact, in late August, the temperature of the east branch all the way down at its juncture with the Beaverkill was only sixty degrees. At that time, way down at Fish’s Eddy, the water temperature ran 68 degrees.

While I certainly did not catch any great quantity of trout this year, the quality of the catching was pretty good. In May, I released an 18-inch brown trout that I had taken on one of Mike Bachkosky’s patterns. In August, I released an 18-inch rainbow taken on a bead-head Isonychia nymph. The brown came from Fred White’s Eddy while the rainbow was taken at the first riff below, “The Jaws,” on the lower east branch.

Problems with river access occurred at times this year. Once again an attempt was made to close the public access on the main stem at Stockport. My last information on this access indicated it would not be closed. The access at Bumps Eddy on the east branch is still clouded. At first it was to be closed to fishers, then it was to remain open, then the narrow strip of land between the DOT property and the river was posted, closing the access. However, the landowner is now granting access to those who will sign a release form holding him harmless from lawsuits. I have corresponded with the landowner, and in his letter back to me, he does not sound like the Grinch who stole Christmas. Hopefully, a resolution for this access can be worked out by the DEC and reasonable individuals.

Now is the time of the year for fly tiers like myself to sit down at their fly-tying vices and put fur and feathers to the hook in a manner that will cause trout to wish to dine. How delighted I would be if only my finished products would look as fine as those given to me by Mr. Roy Ohman. Ah well, like getting to perform at Carnegie Hall, it just takes practice, practice, practice. A little talent would also help.

Let not your heart be troubled, there are only one hundred and seventy-two days till the opening of the 2006 trout season.