A report from Jin
I arrived at the the Delaware with my guide Josh around noon. As usual, we took our time getting on the water because fishing usually picks up later in the day.
Bugs (various size Sulphurs) started to come off around 2pm and the fish started to rise. We made our way down the river, selectively casting to rising fish. This generally required a cast of 40 feet plus with a good long drift. I managed to get four hits on top but only landed one fish, a 15-inch brown. We saw him come up all the way from the bottom, open his mouth, and eat the fly. The anticipation was brutal. In fact, I pulled the fly away too quickly the first time and he was kind enough to give me a second chance.
We fished into the night but due to high winds and changing weather patterns the hatches slowed into the evening. We managed to land another small brown swinging nymphs and I also got a couple hits fishing streamers but did not land any fish.
The Delaware is famous for its big trout and resemblance to large western rivers. It reminds me very much of the Missouri River in Montana. But I like to fish the Delaware because it is one of the most challenging places to catch a fish and it humbles even the best fishermen. You can either go crazy here trying to catch fish or get hooked on the challenge. I suffer from a little of both at the moment.
DIRECTIONS: The East Branch of the Delaware River is divided into two sections by the Pepacton Reservoir. Below the Pepacton Reservoir, the East Branch is a tailwater fishery that supports wild populations of brown, rainbow, and occasional brook trout; plus seasonal anadromous runs of American shad with reports of occasional striped bass. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation stocks close to 3,000 brown trout annually in this stretch of river. Above the reservoir, over 5,000 brown trout are stocked annually in this section. Wild brown trout production exists. Public Fishing Access is granted via a permit immediately upstream of the reservoir to the village of Margaretville.