Looking back

“Perhaps fishing, is for me, only an excuse to be near rivers and brooks. If so, I’m glad I thought of it.”

—Roderick Haig-Brown, “Fisherman’s Spring,” 1946

For me, the past fishing season was a disappointing one. It started with a bang on May 20, when I took a 16- and then a 17-inch brown trout within five minutes of each other. It ended with a whimper on October 10 at 6:00 p.m., as I stood chilled and disheartened in the currents of the East Branch of the Delaware after failing to hook even one of several trout that had been rising in front of me for over an hour. So many things I would have done, but clouds got in my way. They rained and dripped on everyone, ruining many a fishing day.

Unexpectedly, my three best fish came from the little North Branch of Callicoon Creek. They ranged between 16 and 17 inches and were all caught using a Copper John nymph, size 14. The huge flood event in late June caused a part of the Main Stem, in a stream 50 feet wide and hip deep, to bisect our property. At one point we had a beaver swimming about in one of our flower beds. The flooding resulted in a large reduction in the number of trout and acquatic insects in our local brooks and rivers. Despite the heavy June rainfall, stream flows other than the tail waters fell to very low levels, while water temperatures rose sharply. The West Branch and Main Stem ran high and off color most of the remaining season. With Kellam Bridge closed, it was a long haul to our favorite fishing areas.

Barb and I spent the month of August fishing the upper Willowemoc. Though the flow there was low, the water temperatures were cool enough to be fishable. Lower downstream, water temps were so high it was necessary to leave the fish alone as they struggled to survive in less than desirable habitat.

After the flood, the big problem for fly fishers was the scarcity of hatching insects. My fishing records keep repeating the phrase, “no bugs observed on the water or in the air.” In mid September, Norm McBride, the senior fish biologist from Region 4, gave me some sage advice for fishing the West Branch at Deposit. “Forget the dry fly, fish streamers.” Alas, though I followed Norm’s advice, I had but one hit and failed to hook that fish.

By late August we received some decent rainfall and the Beaverkill and Willowemoc became fishable for their entire length. Flows were up and temps were down, seemingly perfect conditions for the fly fishers. However, hatching bugs were as scarce as the proverbial hen’s teeth.

The Graham brothers spent the first week in October fishing the East Branch of the Delaware with Barb and me. Hallelujah! There were just enough bugs to cause the trout to feed at the surface. Unfortunately, even when those East Branch browns appear to be feeding like half-starved gourmands, they can still break your heart. On two occasions I managed to make perfectly accurate, drag-free casts to rising fish. Each time it appeared they had taken the fly, yet when I lifted, there was no one home. ARRGH! The Grahams and Barb fared no better.

My season ended a few days later on a chilly, overcast evening while fishing in the vicinity of Bumps Eddy, on the East Branch of the Delaware. Trout had been rising steadily. I had shown them a variety of flies but could not induce a take. I simply was unable to eliminate that old devil, drag, from my presentations. I might just as well have been throwing rocks at those trout instead of flies. As Mr. Mike Bachkosky, the super fly tier from Callicoon, says, “Sometimes the trout win.” Unfortunately for those fish, they have no way of knowing what a sore loser I am. I know where they live. When the sulphurs are hatching next May, I’ll be back. Revenge will be sweet.

The day after this column runs, Barb and I will celebrate our 59th wedding anniversary. After so many years, it’s hard to surprise that little girl. However, thanks to the kindness of Richard Bradley, of Fir Brook Flies & Supplies, I have something hidden in my creel she is not expecting. I can’t wait to see the look of astonishment on her face.

Till April, this column will only run on the second Thursday of the month.