Week of April 19, 2026: Swings

The fishing has been very good, or, in the words of one of our guides Kayla, “Phenomenal.” That's her trout above!  Stocking continues and the heat wave that occurred last week brought out the Blue Quills, BWOs, and plenty of caddis.  There are not great numbers on the “big rivers,” the Musky, SBR, or Pequest, but the tributaries have had noticeable amounts in the air.  Nymphs, wets, streamers will work throughout the day.  If you see mayflies in the air, and cannot “match the hatch,” an Adams or Elk Hair caddis are safe options, as is a BWO or Griffith’s gnat.  Keep Red and Blue Quills handy if you (or the trout) are finicky.  Hendrickson nymphs and bead head pheasant tails and variants (blow torch, Frenchies, etc.,) can make for a happy angler.  Don’t be afraid to swing an unweighted nymph or wet fly on a bare fly line.  Cast upstream at 45 degrees and expect a hit on the swing, the ol’ Leisenring Lift, as the line pulls the fly towards the surface downstream. 

The heat brought the action, but also some mild alarm.  I took a temp on Tuesday evening and the water was already 68 degrees - at 6 pm on a mid-April evening.  Yikes.  I went back on Friday afternoon around 3:30 and my thermometer read 67.  For the conservation minded, it was time to take a break.  I headed to a boat launch on the Main stem of the Delaware and tried my luck for shad.  My luck didn’t show up, but it was fun to try long casts on a warm evening in the setting sun.

This week has begun with an about face - the heat wave broke, which is good for the water temps, and the rain has returned and there’s even a freeze warning early on.  Temps remain more temperate and a few overcast days are reminiscent of April weather we hope for.

Get out there!  April and May are the time of year for those who prefer dries and wets to nymphs.  Challenge yourself with a long cast to a rising trout (under a branch) or send a hi-vis parachute through a tight channel to see if you can bring up a wild brown.  As busy as the rivers have been, it is worth staying (or showing up) late.

Remember - Tuesday hours have shifted - 11 - 7 pm.  Guide trips are available and  Trout Fest is in the offing. 

See you out there,

Roy B.