Week of August 10th 2025: Dry Fly in August
The heat, at least for the time being, has abated. It’s been great for outdoorsy type folks, including anglers, but the beautiful days and crisp nights have not included any precipitation in quite some time and it shows. Walks along the South Branch, Musky, and even along the banks of still water show how quickly the levels go down.
Early in the week I was able to get out in the kayak and float the Delaware River from Dingman’s Fall to Eshbak boat launch and it was a blast. The target fish was smallmouth bass and they were there. It is not easy to cast a streamer from a sit-in kayak, but it is possible. It was not long before the first smallie took my heaviest zonker and they remained fairly consistent throughout the six hour float. We stopped twice to fish riffles and found some suckers and chub mixed in. In fact, one of my larger fish was a river chub in the soft water between the riffle and the bank during our stop for lunch.
Another successful pattern that day was what I call the “Bro-flies” or a “Bro Streamer.” This a streamer tied with a heavy, slotted tungsten bead (I like black nickel) on a jig hook, #10 - #6, with a blended body of different dubbing in green, white, grey, orange, or brown with either a pine squirrel or rabbit fur zonker strip, like a zonker. I also tied one with marabou for the tail when caught without zonker strips and found they work just as well. Keep the rather loosely dubbed body together with wraps of a medium wire in gold, red, or green. They are not as pretty as some other streamers, but jigged or swung, they do the trick.
Then, with each morning and low temperatures, I took some time to fish the general regulation area on the South Branch. Lo and behold, a nice tucked away hole exposed a rising trout. There appeared to be some Tricos doing their thing in the rays of sunshine that broke through and dappled the pool around 7:30, but I didn’t have any. I tied on my old favorite for small streams - the renegade, a bi-color fly in the realm of a Griffith’s gnat. On the second cast I was happy to see a fully finned rainbow on the end of my line.
After last week’s dearth of fish on the Musky, I am psyched to see and hear from others out there about other fish surviving the heat and predation during July. There are some days near ninety degrees in the forecast. Keep those thermometers handy.
See you out there, Roy B.
Stop by, Wednesday to Sunday, before you venture to see what is out there. We carry several poppers in various colors and sizes and other flies crafted to entice bass and panfish. One pattern I have neglected this summer has been hoppers and this week I aim to correct that. Visit our section of terrestrials after you see the crawfish and Krousers.
If you are looking for a serious discount - try your luck with a Fly Tying Mystery Bag - a forty dollar value for ten bucks! You may not see exactly what is in the mystery bag, but each contains packs of feathers, fur, beads, synthetics and beads.
NEW PATAGONIA SOCKS are here! IYKYK. New jackets, vests, shirts, and other Patagonia apparel are in stock. Be sure to see what’s available - including what few items are left from last year’s line - now priced to move. Find clothes to layer for mornings on the West Branch while wading in 46 degree tailwater goodness or the new sun shirt, for 40+ UPF protection on the kayak or paddle board - two styles in stock.
The summer is here to enjoy for a few more weeks. Stop by before your next trip.
See you out there, Roy B.