July
27-28, 2000
The prevailing east winds had no wishes in stopping on the east coast. Southeast,
northeast and just plain east wind. This has been going on for almost two
weeks. I decided to go in land and switch it up to some old stomping grounds.
After all the rain we've had I had major cabin fevor...and it's the summer!
So I got into my truck and drove off into the mountains of Upstate New York,
where I met up with my good fishing buddy, Jim Tynan. Both of us just needed
to get out into some open spaces away from New York and all the noise and
confusion that New Yorkers live on day to day.
We drove out of New York and up 17B past Monticello and straight to Swinging Bridge Reservoir (just before White Lake). Because of the wether forecast the lake was a ghost town, there were maybe three other boats. For this time of year, that is a miracle. No jet skiis, no bass tournaments, no screaming children who have had too much chocolate and Coca-cola. I was a guide on this lae years ago and I know every hole in this 7 mile lake. She's a long, narrow, deep lake with a dam. She holds great smallmouth bass, hybrid stripers, blue channel cats that will eat small children, largemouth bass and incredible crappie fishing in the Spring.
All we wanted to do is catch a few and go fishing. They wanted saw bellies on this day and the fish were pretty spooked, but we got a few here and there. It was just what the doctor ordered. A golden eagle was startled on a tree overhanging the lake as we went by...it blew our minds as it flew over our heads. Majestically gliding across the glass lake. We talked, caught a few and went over to El Monico's Italian restaurant which is only for people who want large portions not for people on a diet or looking at there cholesteral. This place smokes...add a double espresso, so you don't pass out on the road. Slept at Jim's cabin on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River. We slept like dogs...it doesn't get any better than this
Woke to the
pine trees at day break, drank my cup of Joe and made my decision to hit
the Delaware River by the horse farm between Callicoon and Damascus. No
one was on the river, which was a gift from our weather man who had predicted
rain. The water was gin clear...got to my stretch by the horse farm and
you could see the fish swimming along the bottom, trout, bass and some big
lunkers. Jim broke the ice with his fly rod. The fish were being very lathargic,
we could see them following his presentation from 20 feet away. It was pretty
cool to be able to watch the whole scenario from the cast to the strike.
Had a great day out on the river and just letting the day slip away and going with it's pace, forgetting the human rat race for a moment. There's nothing like river fishing, floating down, new opportunities of fish at every bend. Guys, I highly recommend that you mix it up once in a while and get back to the reasons that we enjoy this way of life (skip the word "sport"). Fishing is a great gift. As Jim would say, the fish were just the cream on the cake, getting outdoors and enjoying the lakes and river is what is gold.