East and West Delaware

[dryflyguy]

BTW -

When I fished up there last month, I got checked by a wildlife officer - for the first time ever along the D!

I was at the Bard Parker access fishing the junction hole.
When I came in to the lot, there was truck that said police on it, parked right by my truck
And a fellow standing beside it dressed in what looked like a military uniform, that had police written in large letters across his chest.
I thought he was a municipal law enforcement officer.

When I approached , he asked to see my fishing license.
As I dug it out of my vest, I said to him "You guys check fishing licenses too?"
He then explained to me what he was.
NY enforcement certainly has a lot different look than our WCO's.

Funny thing - I've heard more than one people refer to our PA officers as "fish cops".
In NY, that's really what they're called I guess.....

 

[falcon]

I have been checked several times in the past 3 years twice by the Natoonal Park Service which is always interesting.

 

[Fish Sticks]

Cast a line with a hook in the water……License Required and must read regulation book before you fish.

Dump Buckets full of invasive species in PA’s waterways…….bucket required

 

[hooker-of-men]

No monsters, but I got a couple tonight to get the skunk off for first night of the trip. First East Branch trouts!

 

[krayfish2]

Very nice! Hopefully you get into one of the big boys that roam the system. How are you getting cell service? I'm usually zero service within a half mile of Sunoco 😂

 

[JimNovo]

Very nice! Hopefully you get into one of the big boys that roam the system. How are you getting cell service? I'm usually zero service within a half mile of Sunoco 😂

The lack of cell service up there is one of the best selling points of East Branch fishing.

 

[hooker-of-men]

Wifi at the air BNB. Headed back out shortly!

 

[wbranch]

"Its like a whole new system to explore. I don’t float, but wade, many times a couple miles a day. ."

Unless you have amazing endurance there are miles and miles of the WB that you are unable to access because of private property on river right and the RR tracks, highway, and dense foliage on river left. I floated from Balls Eddy to my cabin yesterday and other than the public access at the ramp there is no further public access until you get to Shehawken. That's about 3 miles. After the public access at Upprer Game Lands the next access is Hale Eddy and that is 3.5 miles.

 

[afishinado]

Since the Delaware River is deemed navigable, you are able to wade fish ON THE PA SIDE of the river up to the high water mark. New York access to the river is a gray area. See link below >

UPDATED June 2: Is New York's Delaware River Public or Private for Anglers? - Fly Fisherman

Some homeowners on the East Branch of the Delaware are asserting ownership of the riverbed to the center of the river. Updated with response from NY DEC.

www.flyfisherman.com

 

[Nocktavius]

"Its like a whole new system to explore. I don’t float, but wade, many times a couple miles a day. ."

Unless you have amazing endurance there are miles and miles of the WB that you are unable to access because of private property on river right and the RR tracks, highway, and dense foliage on river left. I floated from Balls Eddy to my cabin yesterday and other than the public access at the ramp there is no further public access until you get to Shehawken. That's about 3 miles. After the public access at Upprer Game Lands the next access is Hale Eddy and that is 3.5 miles.

I can think of at least 2 other access points between Balls and Shehawken that are even published in a guide book. Walking the RR tracks also has never resulted in anything unsavory on my part 🤷🏻‍♂️.

I’d love to have 20 grand for a fancy drift boat but honestly there’s already enough yahoos up there that seem to think smashing right through where I’m fishing is the correct approach. I almost chased after one yesterday and flipped them 🤣

 

[570 Flies]

Drift boats are definitely the way to go up there. Went up this weekend caught 10 fish that were over 20”. Can definitely get to more spots then wading

 

[Drifly]

I can think of at least 2 other access points between Balls and Shehawken that are even published in a guide book. Walking the RR tracks also has never resulted in anything unsavory on my part 🤷🏻‍♂️.

I’d love to have 20 grand for a fancy drift boat but honestly there’s already enough yahoos up there that seem to think smashing right through where I’m fishing is the correct approach. I almost chased after one yesterday and flipped them 🤣

Yes I can think of a couple as well and it’s also good to have some friends in areas that would otherwise be inaccessible. I’m always respectful of peoples property, but heck there’s a path up the NY side from UGL to beyond the small grey cabin even thru the knotweed.

 

[wbranch]

Drift boats are definitely the way to go up there. Went up this weekend caught 10 fish that were over 20”. Can definitely get to more spots then wading

Pictures please, otherwise it's just a fish story. I fished Sunday and landed six 17" - 20".

 

[McSneek]

I fished lower gamelands for awhile Tuesday afternoon and never saw a boat. Not many trailers at Balls Eddy or Shehawken. Hatches haven’t been coming off to any great extent. Everyone went somewhere else I guess. Nice fish wbranch! Here’s some East Branch fish porn from Tuesday morning

 

[Fly-Swatter]

Upper East rainbow from 6/18 that had the zoomies.

 

[570 Flies]

Pictures please, otherwise it's just a fish story. I fished Sunday and landed six 17" - 20".

Here are 3 that were 20”

 

[570 Flies]

Pictures please, otherwise it's just a fish story. I fished Sunday and landed six 17" - 20".

 

[brookieteeth]

Here are 3 that were 20”

that's a neat effect in that second pic, with the net mesh shadow over the top of the spots.

 

[wbranch]

Upper East rainbow from 6/18 that had the zoomies.

Nice rainbow. Above or below Route 17?

 

[wbranch]

Well done. Good fish.