Trout Camp 2014 day 3

After a late night I was not about to  get up early and hit it hard.  After a leisurely breakfast I went over to the familiar run of the last few days and started working it. My efforts were not rewarded so I headed up river for midday sulphers.  Fishing was good on top, one decent fish and enough smaller ones to keep the interest.

 Remnant clouds from the storms from yesterday. 

Got a little love on the swing from this little bow.

Was greeted with this placid scene when I arrived up river. 

 Then the sulphers started in earnest and pulsed a number of times throughout the afternoon.

 Fish were caught.

 Beautiful fish

 Some other visitors were spotted also.

After a good afternoon session I went to a different spot for the evening spinner fall which never happened.  Here are some sights from that evening.

Ended the evening tying some flies for the next day.  Tomorrow my buddy Danny was going to join in the festivities.

Trout Camp 2014 Day 2

My eyes opened to my mind pondering the possibilities of what to do on a new day.  After getting some breakfast and making lunch I headed out in search of fish.

I decided to go back to the spot that was so good to me the day before.  Instead of being sunny this day was awakening with thick ominous clouds.

 
 So I fished what was before me knowing that rain was on its way.  I hadn't fished in a big rain in too long a time.  I didn't know what lay ahead but I was just taking it as it came. 

 Some of the sights along the bank. I actually saw one of the coolest things I'd ever seen on the river this morning.  Two eagles approached each other locked talons and spiraled downward faster and faster before breaking off their aerial dance.   The run that looked so good in the drizzle produced two very soft hit but no hook ups.  As I walked out the rain started in earnest.  I headed upriver to see if any sulphers or BWO's might make an appearance. 

 Not looking good.

 Definitely not looking good.

 Despite the rain there were some interesting things to see along the banks. 

 The storm passed and the river didn't give up any fish for me but it didn't mud up either. There was a standing plan to meet up with a buddy on the river and fish his home water.  We met up got some provisions and headed to his camp to gear up and get his drift boat. 

 A classic fishing camp.

 Boat in tow it's off to the ramp. 

 Mike working a run. Things were happening down the pool so we got in the boat and set up on some good noses.   We ended up getting 3 nice fish at dusk. A fitting end to the day. 

After the activity died we headed back to camp and I had the best cheeseburger I've ever eaten.  We bs'd for a bit before headed off to bed.  I was tired from staying up so late but looking forward to day 3 of my trip. 

Trout Camp 2014 day 1

My son was going to overnight camp for a week , my wife was working so I pondered what to do.  Enter the time machine and poof I became a trout bum for  four and a half days.  I hadn't fished like this for trout in over 20 years.  As the date drew near excitement inched upwards.  I was going to hit the Delaware River with a new plan.  I have fished it during the summer for a day or so but this time I was going to fish it hard.  With the cool temps it opened up a whole new world of possibilities.  My plan was to break each day into 3 time periods.  Fish the am with the switch rod swinging soft hackles, then midday hit the sulpher hatch and then find a new locale for the evening and hopefully a spinner fall. 

On departure day the weather was looking sunny and pleasant.  After a few hours behind the wheel I arrived at the river, donned my gear and was greeted by an empty river surrounded by beautiful scenery.
 

Since I didn't really know what I was doing I decided to do what I normally do and that is to start at the top and work my way down.  Given the size of the run this was going to take a while.  I put on a medium soft hackle and started working my way down, cast step, cast step. 

 

                                                     A little action shot of the swing.





 Not too far down my reel started singing and a nice healthy rainbow came to hand.  A good fish and a good omen for the trip. 

 A little while later another good fish came to hand.

 

This was working out better than expected. During my efforts I also had two taps from fish that didn't actually take but that meant I was getting their attention.   Near the end of the run another fish hit and it was a big fish as I could barely move it.  After about a minute of fighting it the hook pulled free.  A part of me wanted just to see it but if that had happened then I'd be saying I just wanted to touch it, if that had happened I would have wanted a picture.  You get the idea.  It's often the ones that get away that keep us asking what if questions forever.

Lunch time approached so I headed up river and it was full on sulphers.  They were everywhere so much so that the ducks got in on the buffet line.  

 The action on this day was short in duration.  I couldn't get them to hit what normally works so I tried so alternative flies and found success.  I got three hits within a half hour and only landed one ~18" brown.  The other two that broke off were likely in the same range or slightly bigger.  All in all this was a great day.
 

As things settled down I checked into my room and headed off to a different part of the river.  Unfortunately not much happened at dark so on of my time slots didn't pay off but 2 of 3 was good by me. 

It was weird in that there were bugs but no noses except for the one hit wonders.  Nothing to really cast to. I even swung some soft hackles thinking I'll at least present something to them.  But nothing happened.  That is one of the mysteries of the Delaware.


 
Waiting for the action. 

With day one in the books it was off to bed and to get ready for day 2.  More to come on that later.