Summertime Sulphurs
As the scorching heat of summer envelops the Delaware river, it becomes increasingly challenging for fishermen to find success. The water temperatures reach the uncomfortable mid 70 degrees, and the once eager trout now seek refuge in cooler waters. This results in a swarm of anglers gathering on the narrow west branch section of the river. But even finding a spot to cast a line on this stretch of water proves to be a daunting task.
As the sun beats down on the Upper Delaware River in early June, a flurry of tiny insects known as sulphurs make their appearance. These delicate mayflies, no larger than a size 14 hook, are eagerly sought after by the fish below. The surface of the river is alive with activity as trout leap and dart, their fins glinting in the sunlight. With fervor, they devour these prolific insects both on the surface and just beneath it. It's a feeding frenzy during this hatch, a true testament to the sheer enjoyment these creatures find in this abundant food source.
But even amidst the chaos of the sulfur hatch, there is another, more revered insect that makes its presence known: the Green Drake. At a much larger size, this fly would seem like an easy meal for the hungry trout. Yet, to my surprise, they seem to almost ignore it in favor of the smaller sulfurs. I used to struggle to understand this behavior - why would a creature whose very survival depends on efficiently obtaining energy turn down such a substantial meal? But now I understand - it's because there are simply more sulfurs on the water and the hatch is more consistent offering then trout a recognizable food source.
Trout are instinctual animals, and their familiarity with these sulfurs and other multi-brooded insects like Blue Winged Olives is what drives their consistent feeding behavior. They know these insects well and feel comfortable in relying on them as a constant food source.
The thought of having great fishing on the Delaware river with plentiful hatches of mayflies all season was exhilarating. The image of trout rising to feed on these two prolific mayflies filled me with excitement. However, reality often falls short of expectations. As the season progresses, both the sulfurs and BWO's shrink in size, forcing fly fishers to adapt their tactics. By fall, the BWO's can be as small as a size 24, making for some challenging yet rewarding angling experience. The sulfurs also undergo a transformation, with the Dorothea hatch causing them to decrease in hook size to 16 and 18. While this hatch starts off promisingly, it becomes increasingly difficult as the flies remain on the water for longer periods of time. Patience and precision are key when attempting to fool these clever trout.
Ephemerella dorothea dorothea is a small species of Sulphur commonly found in the Eastern region These mayflies are challenging to fish for in Eastern waters, often coinciding with larger and longer-lasting hatches of the Ephemerella invaria. In Pennsylvania, they emerge in late May and progress through the Catskills in early June, reaching their peak in mid-June further north. However, it can last until early July in certain areas. These insects are highly sought after for dry fly fishing, making it difficult to match their exact hatch. The nymphs can also drift below the surface before trying to break free, and once they do, it takes them a considerable amount of time to crawl out of their shucks and dry their wings. This makes low-floating patterns like Comparaduns ideal for imitations. On top of all this, they are also prone to becoming cripples, leading trout to selectively feed on their crippled or stillborn counterparts. To add to the confusion, this can all occur during the spinner fall, particularly in the East. These Sulphurs typically emerge from smooth and slow-moving water, allowing trout ample time to inspect their prey. With rising trout being selective towards floating nymphs, emergers, duns, cripples, or spinners, this hatch presents one of the most puzzling challenges in fly fishing. Additionally, their small size (size 16-18 hooks) makes them susceptible to microdrag, requiring precise observation and presentation for successful fishing.
After hatching, duns typically transform into spinners within two days and return to the stream. Once they have mated, both males and females fall onto the water, exhausted. Females may drop their eggs from above the stream, but sometimes end up in the water still carrying their egg sacs. Trout may become picky and only go for spinners with tiny yellow dots near their tails. Anglers can use patterns designed to mimic this behavior to catch trout Best Time: DuskHabitat: Spinners prefer riffles or any broken water in spring creeks without riffles.
The behaviors of nymphs, typical of the Ephemerellidae family, include increased activity leading up to their emergence. Unfortunately, many are eaten by trout long before reaching the surface. They can be found in various stream sections and pools, but they thrive best in slower-moving areas with gravel, sand, and vegetation as substrate.
As the early season emerges and the warm rays of sun spread over the Sulphur Hatch, eager fishermen gather with their rods and lines in hand. The Invarias flutter above the water's surface, tempting the skilled anglers to cast their conventional Compara Duns, Catskill flies, and spit wing patterns. And indeed, these tried and true methods prove successful.
But as the season progresses into July and August, a shift occurs. The trout have been exposed to smaller Dorothea mayflies for a longer period of time, causing them to become more selective in their feeding habits. Compounded by the heavy fishing pressure during this peak time, things become more complicated for even the most experienced fishermen.
Thus, it is wise to come prepared with an assortment of flys - cripples, emerger patterns, spinners, and small nymphs as droppers - in order to increase your chances of success during this trying time of year.
Now that you are loaded up with your expertly tied flies, the next challenge lies in outsmarting the cunning and elusive Delaware River trout. The upper Delaware River is renowned for its difficulty, as it has become a popular and heavily fished area over the last decade or so. This river has always been a favorite among anglers, with well-known names like Lefty Kreh, Al Caucci, Dave Brandt, Art Flick, Lee Wulff, and many more having honed their skills here. These pioneers truly set the bar for catching trout on the challenging Delaware River System. However, as more and more anglers and guides have discovered this hidden gem of the east, the pressure on its trout has increased. And with this pressure comes a price: as these creatures become increasingly familiar with angling tactics and pressure, they also become incredibly selective and wary. Whether this is due to their intelligence or instinct is a debate for another time and article.
Let’s focus on the situation at hand and how we can fool this sophisticated creature into eating our fly.
A skilled angler always begins by taking a moment to quietly observe the elegant movements and habits of the elusive trout. The angler must exercise patience and caution in order to avoid startling the timid fish and causing them to dart away. As you watch, take note of how the trout are feeding - are they delicately sipping at the water's surface, rolling in a smooth motion or eagerly gulping? These actions can provide valuable insight into what stage of life cycle the insects they are feeding on are in. If they are gulping, it is likely that they are dining on adult mayflies (also called Duns). If you see them rolling, it is probable that they are consuming emergers or nymphs just below the surface. And if they are sipping, they may be indulging in spent spinners resting on top of the water's surface. Taking the time to carefully observe and decipher these clues can greatly increase your chances of success on your fishing excursion.
After successfully figuring out the trout's preferred food, it is now time to present the perfect fly to the infamous and elusive Delaware river trout. With confident hands, you pull out your line and delicately tie on a 5x tippet, hoping it would be the winning combination. Anticipation builds as you cast out your line, watching as your fly lands and floats directly over the trout's head. But instead of taking the fly, the trout simply ignored it. Disappointed, you cast again, this time witnessing a natural fly being devoured by a nearby trout while your own offering remained untouched. Confusion sets in - why didn't the trout eat my fly? The answer is simple: most likely, your fly was dragged by the current and did not accurately mimic the natural movement of its prey. So what can be done? While it could be an issue with the fly itself, in my experience it is often due to one's positioning in relation to the trout. Slowly and patiently change your location so that you are upstream of the trout, then make a downstream presentation so that your fly reaches the target before your tippet, leader, and fly line. Also be sure to use enough leader and tippet length so that you are as far away from your fly line as possible while still maintaining your casting ability.
When fly fishing, it is crucial to accurately feed the line downstream and extend your drift as far as you are comfortable. The cunning Delaware River trout will trail your fly with a keen eye, inspecting it until it appears perfect in their estimation. I have witnessed many successful catches from employing this downstream feeding technique, known as the complex rise. However, if your fly is rejected by the discerning trout, it is imperative to carefully let the fly swing past them before picking up your line, so as not to startle or spook them.
If your attempts at catching a particular trout prove fruitless, consider switching to a lighter tippet. But take caution, for this is often when the large, elusive fish seize the opportunity to strike and test your angling skills.
For nearly 35 years, I have been honing my craft on the upper Delaware River system. And though I am tempted to say that the fishing was easier and less competitive in the past, I continue to return to these waters with each passing day. The challenge presented by these intelligent and sly trout only serves to make me a better angler, and for that I am grateful.
So go out there and put your skills to the test against these majestic trout of the upper Delaware. The satisfaction of a successful catch will be well worth the effort and perseverance.
