"Look
at all of them" Bonnie exclaimed from her seat in the canoe as I beached my
trusty Old Town on a sand bar upstream of the rising fish. Gathering up my
4-weight, I eased in at the head of the riffle, a good cast above the rising
fish. It took several drifts to connect, but when I did I could tell it was a
very good fish. The 4-weight bowed and the big brown took flight. "This is
the biggest trout Ive ever hooked on a dry fly" I said as Bonnie watched
me play the fish, "and one of two things is going to happen, Ill land
him or Im going to lose him and feel real bad about it." The fish
performed several aerial maneuvers and some good reel-singing runs trying to
free himself of the size #18 Sulphur Dun in his upper jaw before I finally
brought him to hand. He was a beautiful wild brown trout and the colors and
markings on his side were incredible.

This scene is probably common on many rivers in
the West, but a brown that size on a dry fly is not an everyday occurrence here
in New York State. That fish is a good example of the excellent fishing that can
be had on tailwater rivers like the West Branch of the Delaware River where I
found him. Outflows from a dam, in particular those that are released from the
cold water at the bottom of the impoundment, can provide fantastic trout fishing
throughout the summer months, even during hot weather.

The
best way to enjoy one of these rivers is a summertime drift trip. Drifting a
tailwater can get you away from crowds of anglers working the pools and riffles
at the places along the river with the easiest automobile access, and it is a
lot of fun for other family members who might want to tag along for the scenery.

Driftboats are a common sight on many western
trout rivers, but they arent as common here in the eastern part of the
country. Most anglers do not have access to a driftboat, unless they hire a
guide. My favorite method of drifting is by canoe. It is also possible to run
solo, or group drift trips using kickboats. Either way is fine. Of course, if
you own a driftboat, that is certainly the most comfortable way to drift and
fish a river.

The
first problem with drifting a tailwater river is a logistical one, how do you go
and have a vehicle waiting for you where you want to get out? If there is a
local fly shop on the stream, chances are that they will offer a shuttle service
for anglers who want to float the river. If there isnt a nearby fly shop,
check the campgrounds in the area for shuttle services. A shuttle service will
drop you and your equipment off upstream, and then park your vehicle at the
designated pull-out point.

There are a couple of items that can make for a
much more pleasurable drift. First of all, rig the canoe with an anchor that is
capable of gripping the cobble bottom found on most trout streams. If you spot a
pod of rising fish in the middle of a deep pool, you can stop the boat and cast
to them. There are several companies that sell roller devices similar to those
found on driftboats where you can drop anchor quickly when fish are spotted. A
similar rig will work on a kickboat as well.

An approved personal floatation device for
everyone onboard the canoe, or for yourself in the case of a kick boat is a must
and is required by law in many areas. I prefer inflatable vests, but any type
will do.

Obviously, anchoring a canoe or kickboat in a
section of river with a lot of current is a bad idea and it has gotten some
people killed over the years. If the pool is calm and flat, anchoring is OK.
Never try to anchor in a strong current. The results can be disastrous, and no
trout is worth that.

Another
item that is indispensable is a map of the river you are going to drift. It is
tough to get lost on a drift trip, but the map allows you to track your progress
along the river and better estimate how much time is left in the drift. It also
points out side channels and other areas of the river that might not get much
pressure. Side channels can provide some great fishing.

Dont forget your camera!. Often you will come
around a bend in the river and spot a Great Blue Heron or some other form of
unusual wildlife that offers a good photo opportunity. Its also handy in case
you catch a nice fish.

When drifting a river, etiquette is important.
Bank anglers should be given as wide a berth as possible when you pass them. I
try and stay as far from a wading fisherman (or woman) when I pass with the
canoe as I possibly can. Sometimes they cant be avoided, and if there are a
bunch of anglers on a pool, you can often pull up and pull the canoe through the
shallows behind them. A drifting angler has way more access, and shouldnt
bother other anglers who have limited portions of the river to fish. There are
always more trout around the next bend!

As
far as the fly fishing goes, tailwaters are different than the natural flows.
During July and August, many trout streams are too warm to fish. Not so with
tailwaters. In fact the air temperature can be 90 degrees, but the water can be
so cold that a pair of neoprene waders is needed to fish comfortably. Because of
the temperature variation, fly hatches on tailwaters often differs from the
hatches found on natural flow trout streams at the same time. Checking ahead
with area shops for hatches and conditions is a must.

The really nice thing about the tailwater rivers
in the Eastern United States is that the trout typically have better growth
rates than those in other waters so the chances of catching big trout are very
good.

A relaxing drift trip down a tailwater river is a
great way to enjoy a summer afternoon. Seeing scenery that is unavailable to
wading anglers, in addition to having a chance to catch a couple really nice
trout, makes for great fun on a warm summer day.