Musing On A Summer Rain Before Dawn

I enjoy the sound of rain on my metal roof, sitting here predawn, and silently thanking God and Nature for these gifts…

It has been a good summer so far with about a week remaining in August. The tailwaters, which are the lifeblood of my summer fishing, have remained steady though at lower flows at times. July’s rainfall was a full three inches above the statistical average, and this rain could bring August’s to a happy plus inch. The result is that the Delaware reservoirs have been refilled somewhat rather than depleted day after day, and that is a very good thing.

The rains have added to the tailwater flows too of course, making things better for the fishing at the expense of somewhat higher water temperatures. Higher flows increase aeration and thus oxygenation in these rivers, so I think it evens out to a more comfortable situation for our precious wild trout.

As of Friday, Cannonsville Reservoir was 79.0 percent of capacity, well above than the levels we tend to see after three weeks of August. Frequent anglers have gotten used to muddied water in the West Branch and down into the Upper Delaware at this time of year, and dry fly fishermen aren’t joyful when we find it. I am hoping the rivers remain clear as September comes in and, such I am hoping here, it comes with nice cool nights and moderate afternoons and continued regular rainfall. I confess, I like to wade and fish the Mainstem in September.

I like to stock my vest with Isonychia, Light Cahills, Hebes and small olives and wander along the wide river with the gentle wading levels common to September. The mountainsides turn to the colors of autumn slowly under blue, clear skies, and the wild rainbows will come and sip one of those dry flies if you can put your fly in front of them quickly. I learned long ago that Delaware rainbows are movers, and if you dawdle when you need to cast quickly and accurately you may miss the opportunity. I like the challenge of that game.

When it isn’t one of those hot, dry years we have seen too frequently, September is truly sublime. After spending a lot of my summer days on the rivers, I feel like myself again. My legs are stronger, and I feel the itch to get out and wander along the big river. I began this abbreviated fishing season with a trophy wild rainbow, and I want to renew the acquaintance.

Long comfortable afternoons on that river seem to be the perfect way to wind up the dry fly season. True, I will continue my dry fly season on through October if the weather allows, but the later part of that season is and should be a celebration, and nobody says a celebration has to be a short-term occasion.