Things are looking kinda dry out in these parts as of late. A quick look at the numbers for the Delaware River show a flow of 3120 cfs. That's a trickle of what we see in the spring during the runoff and rainy season. I remember my best days fishing were when the chart was rolling over 40,000.
Following the ASMFC meeting I realized how long it had been since I had some waders on. So after burning off some more lead paint in preparation for some new coats I took a short ride to the river. Low is an understatement. I easily made my way across the river looking for some deeper water to cast a fly into. I surely thought I'd have some luck, but I didn't. Not a tap.
I also realized that I have take some time to get ready for the MV trip next week. I have two days of work at the hospital, stuff to get done around the house, and maybe a run down for an overnight at Cape May. My truck is loaded to the gills with just about everything from fishing stuff, tools, and even things from when I cleared out my office at Essex County College a month or so ago.
The water temps are running around 73 degrees which is far better than those 85 plus degree days we saw in the summer. Any holdover striped bass surely are seeking refuge in the faster and better oxygenated water or deeper and cooler holes. While some still target them through the summer I feel it's best to lay off them. If it's by-catch then fine, but to target them not so much. But to each his own.
Luckily the dissolved oxygen is right where it should be, 8.2, with the higher the better. There were times when parts of the river had less than 1, which was just a dead zone of water without much life. Cool water with plenty of oxygen is what striped bass need.
And then there's the turbidity. It's now about 1, which is pretty much gin clear. My best days this spring were when it was over 15. The happy medium is around 8. The best times I feel are when there's visibility, but not too much. Higher flows mean higher turbidity, generally, and fish are holding in spots out of the current, and need to make quick decisions as baits move downstream past them.
I went and checked to see if we were in a drought here in Mercer County. The weather has been beautiful but there hasn't been much for rain as of late. Interestingly the NJ DEP lists Hunterdon and Mercer Counties as "South-west" New Jersey,
I thought we'd be more like Central-west. I don't consider us any kind of south. But yes we are dry but not droughty. According to the NJ DEP rainfall monitor my neighborhood has had .53 inches of rain in the last 72 hours, but it was weeks without a drop from the sky.
And for any readers of this blog who happen to be on the Vineyard this week don't miss a fun night tonight at Kismet Outfitters in Edgartown. My buds, The Two Joe's,
Calcevechia and Cordeiro, not Chiavarone and Armenti, will be battling it out on the vices tonight. It'll be "The Clash of the Regal Vices". Joe said they'll have some swag as a give away and flies on hand to purchase. I wish I was up there for the hang with those guys this week. If you're fishing The Derby and need some go to's for those bonito and albies stop by Kismet tonight.