Recommended Spots to Wade and Decent Chance of Fish This Fall On the Delaware

[gpuharic56]

I am the Cadet in charge of the West Point Fly Fishing Club. Looking for some basic tips on locations on the Delaware River to wade and have decent chance of getting on some fish. Looking to go sometime here in the next few weeks to scout it out for myself. Any tips of general locations and targeting strategies this time of year would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone for the help and advice!

 

[JimNovo]

The Delaware is a big system…where were you thinking of going? West Branch up near Deposit? Main Stem near Hancock? Beaverkill/Willow near Roscoe?

 

[gpuharic56]

I believe west branch below the reservoir.

 

[krayfish2]

Flow is up from typical early fall conditions.

Upper wb should be ok to wade with some caution. Same for the middle and lower wb. Upper eb would be very iffy at these flows. Lower eb would be fine to wade but access is the problem. The main is ok for wading with a little common sense and caution. Again, access issues could be a problem. The beaverkill is pretty low but the temperatures have cool enough that you'll find fish moving all over the system.

The one thing that I will stress is property rights. People up there don't play around. If you trespass, you are getting a visit from the owner and a DEC officer or state trooper. Just because you see other cars parked there doesn't mean you can go in because they may have permission or be friends of the owner.

I would not overlook the neversink unique area, the beaverkill, lackawaxen or lackawanna. Any one of those could produce a fish of a lifetime.

 

[gpuharic56]

Thank you very much. We fish the Neversink quite often. For those spots you mentioned that could be ok on the wb, what are the approximate borders? (e.g. hale eddy to junction pool)

 

[JimNovo]

Some good maps that point out some good access spots…

 

[JimNovo]

How many of your club are going to fish?

 

[gpuharic56]

That is very helpful thank you! I am not sure yet, just wanted to go myself to see if it is worth bringing the club one trip. Any helpful tips for the fall?

 

[krayfish2]

I don't mean to sound like an ******* but there's no secret fly or special tip. Be in the water by 9:00 and stay until dark if you're not seeing action, move around and find water where there is action. Have to put your time in in order to reap the rewards. Olives are going to be a mainstay anywhere you go. If you're looking for browns stay over on the west side.

You're trying to figure out if it is worth the trip and you will be the only one able to determine that. I've been driving three and a half hours each way for 35 years and argue that you'll be hard-pressed to find a better fishery east of the Mississippi. 50% of the people I've taken there have hated it because they're not used to fishing something that large or that diverse. Might be your cup of tea but it might not be. You will want to be prepared to get in position and throw seven different patterns over a fish that refuses every cast for 3 hours. You will also want to be prepared to spend an hour stalking a fish that's feeding on top only to make one cast and have it be over.

 

[gpuharic56]

Haha that is well understood. I have had my fair share of fishless days on the river. Just was looking for slight tips regarding this river since I have never fished it. All of this was very helpful though. Thank you.

 

[JimNovo]

Last page as requested…

 

[krayfish2]

Here's one tip that might save your life.....

"Hey, found a feeder and followed it to the river. Figured that I'd wade out there because there's probably a gravel bar or something.". NOPE, you're going swimming. 50-75% of the feeders are gouged out 10' deep in front of them. One step and the bottom vanishes. Don't do it

 

[hooker-of-men]

I think you and your group will have fun and find it worth it. I've, of course, been to plenty of rivers where I took the skunk and left feeling like there weren't even fish there to catch. I sometimes come away from that feeling it wasn't worth it.

The trips I've had on the Delaware, especially the West Branch, have never felt like that; even if I'm not catching tons, the fish are generally making it known they're around and plentiful. The fish give you a challenge to work with, so you're not just swinging in the dark. (And I'm not working off honey holes or some secret spot - I was given the maps above (likely from the same posters who provided them here) and I poke around those spots.)

Even when fish aren't rising, I've had Delaware trout cruise by right in front of me that were so damn big they legitimately startled me. You might be getting sick of staring at a bobber, but you suddenly kinda think: Yeah, I'll keep casting. It's worth it.

 

[krayfish2]

Sounds like you are the village of Deposit hype man. 🤣🤣

It's probably been over 20 years but I remember standing near the sewer plant there in town trying to reach a couple of small slippers in the back eddy. I managed to tippy toe my way onto a boulder but water was still equal with my bottom rib. While trying to tie on a small olive, I dropped it. When I look down to see if I could grab the fly before it drifted away, the only thing I saw was a giant trout down by my wading boots that had a 10" sucker sideways in its mouth

 

[hooker-of-men]

Sounds like you are the village of Deposit hype man. 🤣🤣

It's probably been over 20 years but I remember standing near the sewer plant there in town trying to reach a couple of small slippers in the back eddy. I managed to tippy toe my way onto a boulder but water was still equal with my bottom rib. While trying to tie on a small olive, I dropped it. When I look down to see if I could grab the fly before it drifted away, the only thing I saw was a giant trout down by my wading boots that had a 10" sucker sideways in its mouth

I don't doubt it!

I was actually thinking particularly of a fish I saw down at the Hancock parking lot. My buddy and I had finished up for the afternoon and were watching a guide anchored with a client over on the far side. As we're standing there, this fish cruised right up into the shallows on our side that was so big that I think I peed myself a little.

 

[Kms]

This may be useful. River conditions and current hatches in s ny

River Conditions / Blog – The Delaware River Club

thedelawareriverclub.com

 

[Oregon_OwlII]

Be aware that PA and NY have reciprocity agreements, so you can fish the PA side with a NY license. I tend to go to the Balls Eddy Access and the PA Gamelands (public access) just north of the Balls Eddy Access. In the Fall, wear ORANGE as it will be hunting season in the gamelands. There are well-worn paths down to the river. As a plan B, you also might consider the east Branch, where the Beaverkill flows into the East Branch.

 

[Fly-Swatter]

You will want to be prepared to get in position and throw seven different patterns over a fish that refuses every cast for 3 hours. You will also want to be prepared to spend an hour stalking a fish that's feeding on top only to catch it and find out it's a fallfish.

There, I fixed that for you. 🤣 🤣

 

[krayfish2]

Haha that is well understood. I have had my fair share of fishless days on the river. Just was looking for slight tips regarding this river since I have never fished it. All of this was very helpful though. Thank you.

How did this trip go?

 

[Duriensbane]

Question about parking. Looking at alot of the maps and pictures i can get from google, i know im planning on starting at the Balls Eddy launch, but after that if i plan on moving would parking at the Delaware River Club (which is closed currently) ok or should i just drive down to the bridge and fish there? Also considering going up stream to the gamelands since large game is currently closed in prep for rifle.