Week of June June 28, 2026: Summer Mode: Enter the Heat Dome
Happy Belated Father’s Day to all the dads, father figures, and mentors! I can tell you, being a dad can be pretty great. I use the extra good will and attention on Father’s Day to bring my kids camping to start the summer, which was why there was no report last week. We skipped our usual spot at High Point State Park for a riverside campground on the Delaware (PA side, near Callicoon). We didn’t catch many fish, but made a few memories.
The fishing in New Jersey rivers was severely limited to early mornings. Daybreak temperatures were still 67 or above, even after some rain. Low flows continue and, from what I have seen, most fish have found their thermal springs or deep pools to wait out the warm water. For the trout especially, low oxygen in the water is the natural result of high ambient temperatures. For us, it may be like breathing at high altitude or, worse, in a smoky room or vacuum. Still, 67 - 70 may be an okay window in deep pools below riffles. A recent trip to the KLG exhibited this behavior and the fish were skittish. There were a few rise forms, but small bass seemed to be nipping at flies, rather than trout I was almost certain were hunkering down in the shadows. Still - on an overcast day in the 70s, it’s hard to resist seeing what is going on, even if the fish are conspicuously absent.
I have spent some time at the casting docks at Round Valley Reservoir; there are some nice fish that make their way into the little harbor. Of course, having a water craft increases real estate, but the docks offer an opportunity to stretch out your cast and practice making tight loops, even if the fish are cooperating. I’d like to explore the rest of the bank fishing opportunities in the other section of the reservoir. Fellow SBO staff, Sam and Conor, have found some nice fish from paddle boards and kayaks and soon will break out the kayak and hopefully join them. Small ponds can be fun for a spell, too. I waded out into Mountain Farm pond, near Crystal Springs and Teetertown Preserve, and fooled around with some perch and bass in the drizzle. It is full of weeds, algae, and the accompanying smell, but was the most consistent action I had all week.
The coming week doesn’t look good for fishing our local rivers. What the heck is a “heat dome” anyway? Well, the visual speaks for itself and we are in for some seriously high heat index, so please take care out there. This is, however, a perfect time to throw some meat for small and large mouth bass: poppers in the morning and evening and big, flashy streamers all day. We have several from Rio on the carousel on the counter in the shop, but appreciate the time and TLC that AJ D.(i_dew_flies), Sam M. (FliesbySam) and Eric C. (JunkFlyco) put into crafting articulated streamers and topwater flies for big fish. Eric brought in two really nice top-water choices, including a micro-moorish mouse, that are light enough to cast with a 5 wt.
Hopefully, things will return to normal temperatures in July - it is an exciting year for our country! I am heading back to the Catskills for some fireworks on the 4th before some bigger adventures this year, so there’s only one more report about New Jersey from me until August. It’s the summer-of-Roy and I am taking my mid-life crisis fishing trip to several exciting destinations. Abraham has permitted me to send some reports from the road. I will share what I see and learn.
Stay cool this week and I’ll see you out there!
Roy B.