Fishing Balls Eddy in One Week

[fadeaway263]

Me the Prof and Webby will be throwing ISO's for a few days in one week. Excited to fish the WB of the Delaware for the first time. Two questions though...will the local stations carry the Phillies games? Is it worth it to pay for a NY license as well?

 

[TDB]

My guess is no on the Phillies games locally, but who cares - you are there for the brown trout!...🙂

NY license - it really depends. Are you going to float? How many days?, etc.. If you are wading and only fishing a couple of days then I wouldn't worry b/c there is plenty of PA water to keep you busy..

Have fun - Good luck! And don't base your opinion of the WBDE on your first trip there...

 

[fadeaway263]

TDB: 4 days three nights. Wading only. Fish for the "brownies" mon the 16th. It's an off day. But tues and wednesday its the giants WITH playoff implications.

 

[vcregular]

Maybe if the game is on ESPN? Otherwise I think you guys might be out of luck.

Also...chances are very high that the water is gonna stay where it is at right now, which could make wading very difficult. Not impossible, but definitely not easy if you are not familiar with the river and not an overly aggressive wader.

The reason for the continued high release. Very little if any rain in the forecast. And Wallenpaupack from the looks of things will not be generating much if any this month since the lake is already at its Sept 1 target level. This means that Cannonsville is pretty much the only place left to pull water from in order to satisfy the Montague 1750cfs target.

I plan on hitting it this weekend, but from a boat......

 

[TDB]

VC, we will be there with the boat this weekend as well - have to take advantage of the release.

As far as wading it at 1200, I don't think it will be much of a problem, but just be careful and plan your attack.

Since you are going to be there for 4 days I would get a NY license. IMO, there are more fish, better hatches, and better water in NY.

 

[sight_nymph_17109]

VC is echoing the same thing I've been telling you guys for a week. No boat = no WB at this flow. You'll have to stay on the main river below the junction pool, rent a canoe or pick new dates to go. If you guys haven't been up there before or have limited experience on the river, wading at any flow over 600-700 cfs could shorten your lifespan. If you're going to Balls Eddy access to fish, there's limited wading in the big flat even at 500 cfs (boat launch) and I'm not sure if you can even make it down to the riffles above dead man's pool with current flows. If you can, be very careful. At 1200, they will be moving. Bring 3/8 oz weights for your nymph rig. You only need a PA license on the main stem and it would be much more safe to fish. Park at the junction pool, walk down river 1 mile and fish away. I'd say go to St College, fish spring and fishing creeks. Wait for more favorable conditions on the WB and take someone that's been there before.

TBD,
It's their 1st trip up. They won't know where it's safe to go on foot at this flow. I'm saying "no, no" to wading for them. A little too risky.

 

[vcregular]

Yea, first timers and 1000cfs on the West Branch is tough. But doable. I could do it, but then again, I like Penns at 900cfs at the gage. :-D

TDB...sounds good! I've been waiting all season to float the damn thing.

 

[mcwillja]

Take Sights advice IMHO. Wading at levels above 1000 CFS for a first timer is not recommended at all.

 

[jayL]

I was there when it was 1000+ cfs and was unable to fish. I am sure I could have walked all day to find side channels and eddies, but it was just too high to wade.

I'd try to float. For $90, you can rent a drift boat for the day from west branch angler. It's worth it. They drop it off at the put in.

 

[afishinado]

I agree that 1000+/- cfs is too high to wade. Sight has good advice about sticking to the Main Stem. Since the water is high, and is likely to be high next week, the temps will be down (more cold water = cooler temps further downstream). I'm sure you can find some wade fishing from Shehawken, the Junction pool (as Sight mentioned), Equinunk, down to Lordville. Be very careful though!

 

[vcregular]

Yea, the mainstem is definitely an option. The question is though, how many fish moved up and out of there when the water was baking in June/July.

The riff above the Lordville can be fun to prospect with Isos. Lordeville is now getting down to the low-60s in the am. Sheesh!

 

[afishinado]

vcregular wrote:
Yea, the mainstem is definitely an option. [color=CC0000]The question is though, how many fish moved up and out of there when the water was baking in June/July.
[/color]
The riff above the Lordville can be fun to prospect with Isos. Lordeville is now getting down to the low-60s in the am. Sheesh!

I'm sure the fish are tired of dealing with all the traffic and congestion in the "Combat Zone" (Upper WB), and after a few weeks of cooler water downstream, have moved back to the "burbs" where they can relax a bit. Same for the anglers... ;-)

 

[fadeaway263]

sight_nymph_17109 wrote:
or pick new dates to go. .... Wait for more favorable conditions on the WB and take someone that's been there before.

TBD,
It's their 1st trip up. They won't know where it's safe to go on foot at this flow. I'm saying "no, no" to wading for them. A little too risky.

non refundable deposit so its next week or bust.

 

[sight_nymph_17109]

With any luck, the flow will drop but I think they were blowing that branch out the past 2 yrs late in the summer. If you get a canoe, just be smart about where you go with it. You'll be alright. I'd say rent a canoe and float from Shehawken to Buckingham everyday. That's 1/2 of WB and then 6 miles on the main. Since they've upped the flow, it's cooled the river down for quite a few miles. On the main, you'll be able to bank the canoe and wade fish. You can get a mix of 20" chubs and 20" trout! All will pull your line.

 

[englishprof]

The current discharge at Lordville is 1380 cfs. What's that mean for wading the main river? Thanks.

 

[englishprof]

Lordville water temperature - 16.4 ºC = 61.52 ºF. Not bad.

 

[sight_nymph_17109]

At 1350 cfs, you can tap dance across most sections without a care in the world. If you get to a place and it looks to deep to get out, that's cuz it is! There are some deep holes in the river but you'll figure them out quickly. Yes, it's 61 degrees right now but please remember it was in the high 70's not very long ago. I'm sure there are still plenty of fish down there and as the water temps cool, they'll leave the feeders/spring seepages and get back to work as usual. If you decide to float below Buckingham, bring some streamers too. You can get some good smallie action. This time of year, a majority of the rises will be tiny sips. If you aren't staring at the water when they rise, you'll never know they are there. Don't expect to clean house on the first trip up. It can / will humble most.

 

[Alpabuck]

Unless your some kinda expert fishing size 22 olives on 6x to those fish on the Main at these follows can make you wanna pull your hair out. It will be fun though.

 

[fadeaway263]

Hey Alpa you have got to change that Avatar. It's downright scary and probably something that offends wetnet too!

 

[TDB]

you may very well get the drop in water which will make wading a more viable option. some have the opinion that wading is too dangerous in those flows - I do not believe that is the case. It just pushes fish closer to the bank and (in a way) easier to catch! This is my experience, everyone has their opinion - I guess the answer might be to go and formulate your own opinion. either way, the fishing can be VERY difficult up there, especially if you don't have a boat.

The boat rental is a nice option, but it is not $90. It is about $125, plus the shuttle (if needed), $30.

Sounds like you are all in for the Delaware system given your non-refundable situation. I say go up and have a good time - just be careful...