April 19,20, 21,22, 23, 24, 25 and April 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, May 1, 2

The Delaware River in the N.E. corner of Pa flows between the Endless Mountains of PA and the Catskills of NY, only  a 2-1/2 hour drive from NYC.  The Delaware system includes the fabulous West Branch, the East Branch and the Main Stem Delaware , which flows 365 miles to the sea.  All rivers are big, wide and gentle for wading.

The Upper Delaware system includes about 150 miles of blue ribbon wild trout water, all wadeable and also floatable with drift boats.  A few years back Outdoor Life Magazine ranked the West Branch the #2 wild trout river in North America , after the Big Horn.  It’s pretty hard to beat the Missouri, Bitterroot and Clark Fork in Montana, but I would definitely rank it as one of the top 5 rivers in the world for catching big wild brown and rainbow trout on dry flies.  Expect to hook big browns and rainbows between 16 and 24 inches on dry flies.  The insect diversity of the Delaware is truly amazing with hatches of mayflies, caddis and stoneflies practically every day from early April until late October.  This river has a wider window of opportunity than almost any river I know.

We are talking big, clear, tailwater rivers here with lots of gentle riffles and long pools with highly selective trout!  The correct fly and presentation is a must to hook these big guys.  Except for the Missouri in Montana , you will catch more big trout on the West Branch with a small dry fly than any other trout river (See photos of Delaware trout here)!

We stay at the Delaware River Club right on the West Branch with plenty of private access.  Big clean rooms, super friendly staff and great guides (who I personally trained myself) that know the rivers and the bugs intimately.  Most of our fishing will be from drift boats, but you will have plenty of opportunities to wade if you desire!

I have scheduled my Delaware trips for late April, 2009, because the fish have been unmolested all winter long and they really go on a tear when the first heavy hatches appear.  During this time, you can expect heavy hatches of #12, #14 Hendrickson (E. subvaria) both light and dark, Blue Quill #16, #18 (paraleps), Baetis #16, #18 and Brachycentrus Caddis #14, #16 both the apple green and the charcoal varieties.  Excellent fly patterns are available for these hatches in all the stages; dun, emerger, spinner and nymph at the Delaware River Club Fly Shop on the premises.

Best hatching starts around 1:00 PM into dark.  We will be on the river by 11:00 AM and fish until dusk, around 8:00 PM during this time of the year.  Breakfast will be at 8:00-9:00 AM .  Lunch will be on the river and cocktails and hors’d vours will start at 8:30 PM at the club, followed by a delicious 6 course dinner.  Wine, beer and other beverages are included in the price.

Trip price includes 7days, 6 nights and 5 guided float trips, two persons per guide, floating and wading the West Branch, East Branch and the Big “D”!  Two persons per suite which has 2 bedrooms and one full bath so you will have your own bedroom, also includes a living room with cable TV, refrigerator and fly tying table if you’d like to tie your own flies!  Also, price includes 3 meals per day plus the cocktail hour.  Price includes everything except gratuities for staff and guides and of course your fly shop bill and incidentals.

All inclusive price is $2,195, that’s $1,000 deposit at registration.  Balance is due March 1, 2009 . This is the biggest bargin in the country for a week of guided fishing and accommodations on one of the best dry fly rivers in the world!!

To register, send a $1,000 deposit to Al Caucci Flyfishing, 1250 Winterdale Road, Starlight, PA. 18461 or call Al or Betti at (570)-635-5897 or email alcaucci@hancock.net for more details.