23rd annual fly fishing trip to the Upper Delaware

[Bucksnbows]

24 years ago this past February, our minister mentioned that he was organizing a fly fishing trip to the West Branch Delaware and would there be any in the congregation wanting to join him and two others he mentioned by name in early May of that year. My wife who was very pregnant at the time gave me a solid elbow to the ribs (true story). Needless to say, I met three new friends that day but had to wait until their second year to join them and I’ve been organizing it for the last maybe 20 years when our Pastor moved to Florida. We call ourselves the Trout Louts and we like to live large whenever together.  Some of us fish all over the world together and some can’t, but we all trek to the West Branch each May to test dry fly skills on one of the most pressured watersheds anywhere wild trout live. 
 

We continue to wade and drift the West, East and mainstem and we wade the Beaverkill and Willowemoc some years as well, conditions and hatches depending. I fished those all the last five days, floating only one time (Shehawkin to Buckingham).  Our oldest is 85 and he still fishes hard. Our youngest are in their 30s, a newly married couple.  
 

The weather was on the colder and at times wetter side, and the temps kept hatches on the low side. Depending on river, we had caddis, stones and mayflies. Mayflies we saw ranged from BWOs (multiple sizes), Hendricksons, March Browns, and some Sulphurs. Stones were yellow Sally’s and caddis were mostly grannom and apple. We never had a decent spinner fall any evening even though the wind was in check. 
 

Enjoy the pix…

Edited May 13, 2024 by Bucksnbows

[Bucksnbows]

If you’re paying attention to math, it’s our 23rd Trout Louts camp over the last 24 years. We had the lodge cancel for ‘20 when Covid hit. Next year will be our 24th together but over 25 years. Stupid Covid. 

Edited May 14, 2024 by Bucksnbows
Wrong numbers

[mowin]

7 minutes ago, Bucksnbows said:

25 years ago this past February, our minister mentioned that he was organizing a fly fishing trip to the West Branch Delaware and would there be any in the congregation wanting to join him and two others he mentioned by name in early May of that year. My wife who was very pregnant at the time gave me a solid elbow to the ribs (true story). Needless to say, I met three new friends that day but had to wait until their second year to join them and I’ve been organizing it for the last maybe 20 years when our Pastor moved to Florida. We call ourselves the Trout Louts and we like to live large whenever together.  Some of us fish all over the world together and some can’t, but we all trek to the West Branch each May to test dry fly skills on one of the most pressured watersheds anywhere wild trout live. 
 

We continue to wade and drift the West, East and mainstem and we wade the Beaverkill and Willowemoc some years as well, conditions and hatches depending. I fished those all the last five days, floating only one time (Shehawkin to Buckingham).  Our oldest is 85 and he still fishes hard. Our youngest are in their 30s, a newly married couple.  
 

The weather was on the colder and at times wetter side, and the temps kept hatches on the low side. Depending on river, we had caddis, stones and mayflies. Mayflies we saw ranged from BWOs (multiple sizes), Hendricksons, March Browns, and some Sulphurs. Stones were yellow Sally’s and caddis were mostly grannom and apple. We never had a decent spinner fall any evening even though the wind was in check. 
 

Enjoy the pix…

Great pics. What a fantastic tradition.  Looks like you had a great time fishing, eating and drinking.. 

[Bucksnbows]

We have unique bourbon glasses made each year and that’s our sticker we’ve had for years.  The photos we hung on the cabin wall are members we have lost over the years, including the father and son on the left. We always hold a toast to those now gone. 
 

We are carpenters and judges, salesmen and shrinks, engineers and firemen, dental hygienists and so much more, and we are all initially connected by one friend. 

[Bionic]

Looks like a great time had, and I recognize those cabins.

[Bucksnbows]

1 minute ago, Bionic said:

Looks like a great time had, and I recognize those cabins.

Long story short, reservations got screwed up this year. Next year we go back to The Lodge plus two cabins, April 30 through May 4th. We can get up to 20 that way. 

[crappyice]

Amazing- congrats on having such a tremendous tradition!

[Robhuntandfish]

That's a great tradition.  Me and 4 buddies from college did a trip like this for 20 years.  Then with kids and schedules it eventually fell apart.   Good on you all for keeping it up.   Looks great.   

[Bucksnbows]

Three of the crew retired up there (Starlight, PA and Hancock and Hale Eddy in NY). Two of them guide now in their retirement in their Hyde boats and the other owns that dark blue wooden custom built drift boat in the pix. 

[Bucksnbows]

Some of the menu: croquettes filled with ramp pesto, bear Bolognese, venison chili, smoked mahi flatbreads, bear cheddar garlic Brats, smoked trout, venison summer sausage, fiddlehead salad, and much more. Nearly all caught or killed and prepared by the Louts. 

[Chef]

Shehawken is an interesting starting point! I've started as low as balls but never started below that. Was that a half day float?

 

I feel like I've done balls to buckinhgam on a full day 

[Lawdwaz]

Outstanding……..you’re a lucky guy to have such a great group of guys and so many years of memories.    

[grampy]

What an awesome tradition and group of people throughout the years. So glad you are keeping it going! Looks to be a special time together. Pictures are spectacular! Thanks for sharing with us.

[Bucksnbows]

12 hours ago, Chef said:

Shehawken is an interesting starting point! I've started as low as balls but never started below that. Was that a half day float?

 

I feel like I've done balls to buckinhgam on a full day 

Yes, short float. We put in 3 boats and got on our way around 1pm and even though we anchored on many risers until we caught them or put them down, we arrived at Buck well before dark.  I’ve done about every combination of floats on the East, West and upper main that you can imagine over the decades. 
 

Balls to Buck is too far for my likes. I either pass up rising fish or I’m pushing oars for hours in the dark to get to our takeout. But I’ve done it a dozen times or more if I had to guess. Did it last year, in fact. 

[nywaw]

Awesome trip and tradition!  These always look tremendous every year!  Glad you and your buddies get up there to enjoy it!