Fresh Water Fishing
Fishing In The Delaware River
Seven years after fishing in the Salt Waters of the Pacific Ocean, my son started Fly Fishing in the Fresh Waters of the Delaware River. He caught this 14” Rainbow Trout with a Green Drake #10 and a 5 weight 10′ Lefty Kreh Fly Rod in the Junction Pool in the town of Hancock of the East Branch. This deep pool is excellent holding water and best fished from the east side; however, when the water is high, it is nearly impossible to cross the river.
A True Paradise For All (Fly) Fishing Lovers……
The East Branch of the Delaware River above the reservoir is a quaint little freestone harboring 9- to 12-inch browns and rainbows, which are mostly stockers. Easy wading and abundant fish populations make this stretch an ideal choice, specially for novices. There are some large browns that are caught in the fall during their spawning migration up from the reservoir. The upper stretch below the dam, which runs about sixteen miles, resembles a spring creek. The river consists mostly of long and glassy pools with weeded bottoms with harbor abundant populations of insects and crustaceans. Brook trout dominate the upper stretches and brown trout increase in population further downstream. Large brown trout, some up to 26 inches, are taken from the East Branch, especially by those who are adept at stealth approaches and matching the hatches.
Most striped bass on the Delaware are caught from late summer into early fall at night. Heavy tackle, up to a 9-weight, is advisable. Large flies, such as Zonkers in size 4 and minnow patterns up to 1/0, are recommended. Most stripers are in the 18-28-inch size but on occasion a large fish will keep things interesting. Anglers should fish with very large white streamers (Zonkers in size 2) on sink-tip lines (200 grain is preferred) along the banks and around grassy knolls, ideally from boats during high water. The fall is also an excellent time to catch some very large trout.
Since the river is large, long casts are frequently made to reach rising fish. Windy conditions are quite common, a five-weight fished on a nine-foot high modulus graphite rod is preferred. As a rule of thumb, try to get as close as possible to rising fish. The shorter the line, the less currents will have to be dealt with and therefore, less drag on the fly. If long casts must be made, move up and above the target and make a quartering downstream cast. However, just before the fly lands, bring the rod back and allow the fly to land a few feet above the target. Then instead of mending, bring the rod gradually forward in the direction of the current so the line will not drag the fly. Moreover, strip out line to float the fly downstream; this allows a lot of water to cover below with minimal effort. Just cast quartering downstream and start stripping out line without creating too much slack line in case you need to set the hook. Good Luck and many returns…
Camping Safety Tips
Avoid camping accidents in the great outdoors with these helpful camping tips. Bring First Aid and Survival Kits, Emergency Weather Radio. Family camping & camping tips for a safer camping trip. Camping Food lists and a great list of Outdoor Resources.Camping is a safe and fun activity enjoyed by millions every year. Every day to day activity we spend our time on has its ups and downs. Big problems are very unlikely, but some safety awareness can help you deal with the little things that pop up, so you the little irritations that life brings us now and then won’t become trip busters. Here are some camping safety tips.
Check the weather forecast for the area, because weather can be unpredictable.
….Be alert to approaching storms, dress properly, and seek appropriate shelter.
….Take enough food, clothing, and equipment to keep you comfortable in case of emergency.
….Tell someone where you will be, and when you plan to be home, in case someone needs to find you.
….Plan to return to camp well before dark. Remember that daylight hours are shorter in the fall and winter.
….Poisonous snakes, ticks and poisonous plants may be found along trails. Exercise caution. ….Always plan where to meet should one of your family members get separated.
….Avoid tick bites by staying on trails and avoiding grassy, brushy areas. Wear light colored clothing so ticks can be seen. Tuck shirts into pants and pant legs into socks. Do not wear shorts on the trails. If a tick is attached to your skin, grab it with tweezers and remove it. Do not crush the tick’s body, as this can force bacteria into your skin. Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. If you think part of the tick has remained in the skin, or if you think the tick has been attached for longer than 48 hours, seek medical attention. Be alert to a subsequent fever or skin rash. Report these to the doctor.
….Check your first aid kits before each trip. Replace any missing items, like band aids, and check expiration dates on medicines and ointments.
Camping and Wildlife Communing with nature means living amidst wild creatures. Songbirds, chipmunks, squirrels, deer and antelope are all great fun to watch. So are skunks, opossum, coyotes and bears if you are able to camp in their neck of the woods. But wild is “wild” and wild animals are happiest and healthiest when the are left wild. Here are some tips for safely enjoying the wildlife around you.
….Do not feed or approach wildlife. This can lead to abnormal and potentially dangerous animal behavior.
….Don’t corner a wild animal. This might cause it to attack. Back away slowly if the animal does not flee. Report sick or aggressive animals. Many areas are affected by rabies.Prevent animals from getting into your food. Consider placing it in your vehicle, or hanging it in a tree (12 feet high, 4 feet from tree trunk).
….Do not attract animals to your campsite by leaving food out. Keep your campsite clean and free of food smells by disposing of all food wastes in the park trash receptacles. Lock all opened food in plastic containers or in your car. And never, ever, leave food in your tent. That includes candy and cookies. You’ll sleep more soundly if you know everything is safely out of animals’ reach.
Camping check lists make every trip much more enjoyable in several ways:
First, the whole family gets involved together in making out your camping check list. Everyone’s excitement and anticipation will increase. Making out your check list months ahead is one way of really starting your vacation early.
Second, check lists help you organize and pack your camping gear. The check list reminds you what to bring, and where to pack it. When you are getting ready to go, you can easily see what errands you need to run in order to pick up those last few items.
Third, check lists help you remember to take everything with you.
…. Never put your tent away wet. Set it up at home and air dry it before storing. This will prevent the coating from being deteriorated by mildew.
….Leaky tent flies can be revitalized with Nikwax Tent & Gear Proof. This puts a durable water repellency coat on the outside of your rainfly that helps shed rainwater. Listen folks — there is no tent that we have found that is “guaranteed not to leak”. Coleman’s WeatherTec system is the best guarantee you can find.
….Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. The UV radiation in sunlight can degrade nylon, causing fading and eventually weakening the fabric. Don’t leave your tent set up in the backyard for days on end, and consider treating your rainfly with SnoSeal’s UV Block.
Camping gear tips, camping check lists, camping tips and ideas, recipes, links to parks and campgrounds. Helping campers buy and organize camping gear. RLF Sporting Goods specializes in helping the new camper, but even experienced campers will find new information here, as well as great deals on camping, hiking and fishing gear at our online Sporting Goods store.
Camping In The Adirondacks
We think that camping in the Adirondacks is the best place to camp. It is full of places for camping. I remember when I was 10 years old, my parents rented an RV. Away we went, starting from Long Island driving all the way upstate to the Adirondacks. It was an experience I would never forget. Living in Long Island I thought it was beautiful enough, but seeing those endless, humongous mountains, I thought I was in a different world. Well, we stopped at many different campsites along our journey. I remember Dad pulled into a place in Tupper Lake and said that we would stay here for the night, so he could get some sleep. It was so dark, we just stayed in the motor home and we went to sleep. When we all got up the next morning, my Mother opened the door and she almost fell out into the Lake. My Dad didn’t realize that he parked so close to the Lake that night before. Imagine that, he almost ended our adventure in Tupper Lake. It wasn’t funny then, but as years went by, looking back we always laughed about that. Ever since that vacation, my parents loved the Adirondacks so much, they decided to buy some property and make a camp for us to go to. So for years we spent a lot of Summers swimming, hiking, fishing, in the Fall we would travel over to Vermont to pick apples every Columbus weekend, Winter days we would go up there and enjoy the crisp, cold outdoors. As I look back in life, those years driving up to the Adirondacks and spending time in the essence of tranquility, I am very thankful that my parents chose the Adirondacks for a vacation. As for me, and where my children and their children live, it is Upstate NY.
New York State is home of 8,355 campsites.
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