Air Temps 45-59F. Water Temp 47F. Overcast with scattered rain showers.
After checking and double checking the forecasted releases from FEW and Beltzville for the weekend, I decided to float from Walnutport to Northampton with my brother Dave and Nathan K. Swallows were everywhere and sporadic Hendricksons were on the water in the riffles. The USACE must have changed their mind at the last minute as the 400 CFS release that the posted on thursday for the weekend was changed to 900 CFS. Water level was above average (4000 CFS at Walnutport) but much lower than the 10,000 CFS earlier in the week. Water clarity was good but fishing was terrible. One 11″ brown trout was lost and no other fish were seen. Hopefully inflow to FEW and Beltzville will decrease this week and allow for some better fishing opportunities. Reports from the Upper Gorge were terrible also; this information proves our point that you can’t drop the water from 6,000 CFS to 3,000 CFS and then to 400 CFS and expect good fishing. Both of the “special” angler friendly releases from FEW (the first 2 weekends of trout season) have been a bust. With all of the “bonus” whitewater days so far this year, perhaps the rain gods will make up for it with some ”bonus” fishing days in June. We can only hope. For now it seems that most of the fish have been traumatized by the 6,000 CFS releases resulting in 10,000 CFS on the lower river. LRSA postponed stocking of the Glen Onoko to Palmerton section of the river due to the high water; stocking has been rescheduled for Sunday May 1st. Angling opportunities will be limited (drift boat only) again this week as the release at FEW was increased to 1,400 CFS earlier this morning (April 25th). When conditions improve, anglers should expect the blue quills, quill gordans and hendrickson hatches to be well under way. PK.
