The Tow Path

Wow! We made it through another winter

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 02:41:00 +0000

This winter was a rough one. Record snowfalls. Broken legs. Thankfully I'm getting better just in time to go fishing. I going to go up to Roscoe this weekend and see if I can muscle into a easy wading spot or two and drown a few flies. Who knows.

There been a lot of noise this winter over gas drilling. There a lot of scare tactics from the anti side reminissant of the 70s. Red herring stuff. Gas is here. They beefed up one pipeline and built another. It's not going to happen it's happening. Our world is changing. Farms are disappearing. Suburban sprawl isn't far behind. We have to manage our future. We need to promote outdoor life. Fishing. Hunting. Real conservation and stewardship.

Let's go fishin'.

It looks like a good week ahead

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 03:31:00 +0000

At least foe access to the river. PPL has posted this coming week's schedule. Generation isn't scheduled to start until noon every day. that will allow for fishing right up to about 2 o'clock. Why didn't they do that when I was on vacation 2 weeks ago. I'm gonna fish on Sunday. What hatches , if any, are on right now? I should know but I'm swamped.

This has been another year of big rains. It's been that way for nearly the last 10 years. How has it affected your fishing?

PPL Updates Schedule - In Our Favor!

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:52:00 +0000

I just checked the schedule for power runs and noticed that PPL has decided not to run power on Sunday. I'll see you there.

Delaware River Water Trail Map

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:29:00 +0000

Here's a Delaware River Boater's map. A nice job. You'll need Acrobat Reader.

In the summer when the trout are sleepy and PPL is running full bore a canoe trip on the Delaware can be a fantastic experience. Bald Eagles. Smallies. Trout!

Did I mention the smallies.

Do it on a weekday.

Possible Conservation areas for Lackawaxen River and Middle Creek

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:16:00 +0000

Here' map that show possible conservation areas for the Lackawaxen River and Middle Creek. Its a pdf file that you can download. You'll need Acrobat Reader. The credit is on the pdf.

Oil Leak on the Banks of the Lackawaxen

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:01:00 +0000

Heres a story in the Pike County Press by Pat Camuso detailing a hydraulic fluid spill by Penn Dot at Mollies Pool. A well written piece.

New Hosting Site for LackawaxenRiver.com/The Tow Path

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:59:00 +0000

Good news. Less down time faster response. And Wind Powered.

Weird Fish

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Sat, 23 May 2009 03:14:00 +0000

I like to complain. It's like scratching an itch. I doesn't solve anything but it makes me feel better. But not this time.

I haven't had a lot of time to fly fish the Lackawaxen River this spring. Just a few short outings. I've been lucky and have caught fish every outing. I caught a beautiful Brook Trout and a beautiful Brown trout. I also caught 4 or 5 Rainbows. One was a nice fish. The others. Well, the others were from a horror movie.
One fish expired when I netted it. Its just started bleeding and died. On inspection it was nearly fin-less. No dorsal fin and only one pec fin. Okay he got picked on in school. It happens right? I've caught 3 other deformed rainbows without fins or with sores. Okay the sore were probably from having been caught before or rooting for nymphs. One had no pec fins and no dorsal fin. Un fortunately I don't have any photos. From now on I'm going to kill any weird fish I catch so I can have documented evidence.

This is absurd. The state has decided that fisherman and hunters are ghouls. Bureaucratic cynicism has produced a uncaring and cruel system that raises and distributes the damaged fish that I have caught. I would like to hear from anybody else that has caught similar low grade trout this year.

Opening Day

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:23:00 +0000

Opening day on the Lackawaxen River was absolutely beautiful, except for the wind part. I hadn't got my license so I stopped at Bright's Shop and got my new computer license. Hideous. The heritage of the trout stamp is lost in PA forever I guess. I'm an artist and though I never would have entered the trout stamp competition it means one less opportunity for art to be part of everyday culture.

Here's a picture of Mollies. They're stacking in. Not like 20 years ago but more than the last several years. Probably a positive result of the Monster Trout Derby. I talked to one guy who had caught a big 'Bow' in the morning. It's that morning action time of year. I saw a lot of Caddis flies. The ones with the grey wing and black body. I didn't fish. Just as I was about to put on my waders on I discovered a dime sized mouse hole. Oh well. Next week.

The other shot is the dollar hole, the head of the pool.

Monster Trout Derby

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:00:00 +0000

This story in The News Eagle
The Business Owners of Lackawaxen Township and G. Anderson Homes are sponsoring the third annual Monster Trout Derby, open to all anglers, with approximately $2,500 in prizes being offered. There is no entry fee for the public and no pre-registration. All that an angler needs to do is catch any one of the 100 monster trout being stocked in the Lackawaxen River between Hawley and the Village of Lackawaxen.

Signs of spring

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 02:10:00 +0000

New signs along the Lackawaxen River. Remember the old signs: CAUTION RIVER LEVEL RISES RAPIDLY. To the point. Even a dash of the dangerous.

So here's a new sign from PPL. The level of the Lackawaxen river below the plant is subject to rapid elevation change.

I wonder if the lawyer that wrote that has ever gotten caught in the rapid elevation change

NYC continues o ignore upstate responsibilities

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:57:00 +0000

Here's an interesting story from the record online site. Again NYC ignores it watershed. If fish the Neversink or many other NYC controlled stream read this story.

Ecotourism?

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:16:00 +0000

Please read this story for the language used.

Fantastic! Federal Money... goes to federal agency.

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:59:00 +0000

Like so much of 'Federal Money' for our region heres some more being recycled to a Federal Dept. Sort of like paying yourself to research new car prices.

It's a new year.

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:29:00 +0000

I'm hoping that this year will be a better year for me than last. One thing I'm gonna do is is expand my fishing beyond the Lackawaxen River. I'm not turning my back on the Lackawaxen but maybe moving upstream. I've notice on the PFBC's trout stocking page that they are stocking up in Honesdale from KMART to Dyberry Creek. I'm also expecting to try the West Branch of the Lackawaxen River above the Prompton Reservoir and Van Aukens Creek. The stocking page has the great feature of including latitude and longitude which when clicked open in a Google Map page. Cool.

What the hell is this??

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:37:00 +0000

This is a Nubbin Post. When the road was The Delaware and Hudson Canal the barges on the canal were towed by mule. The tow ropes were wrapped around these posts. The stone is not local. When you're passing by one on the tow path stop and have a look. You can still see the grooves made by the ropes over hundred years ago.

The Partys' Over

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:12:00 +0000

It's been a long time since I've posted because I been stoned. No not that kind of stoned, well maybe. I've been Kidney stoned and thus painkiller stoned. What a drag. and it happened while I was fishing in the Lackawaxen. Boy what a drag. Not only for the misery and pain but I missed all the spring hatches.

The spring season is over. How do I know. PPL is back to all day power generation. With the tubes starting around 7, there should still be some early morning fishing. The little yellow stones and newspaper caddis have produced big for me during June in the past. Get on the stream around 6 or earlier. When the sun hit the pool, go home.

Just a little complaining. Last Thursday evening I made the 45 min run to the Lacky and when I hit Rowland corner I was floored. The tubes were running full bore. This was after I checked the site earlier and had called the 800 number the previous day to confirm that they weren't supposed to be running. I wasn't alone there were 20 to 30 guys and ladies watching the water with as much disappointment as mine. Thanks PPL. Heres another good citizen award. ..|.,

A Beautiful Day on the Lackawaxen River. Where's all the fisherman?

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:15:00 +0000

On Saturday I took a few hours and went over to the the Lackawaxen River. I was a little apprehensive about the mobs of 'Monster Derby' folks but when I got there it was just a typical early season Saturday. A few guys in the regular spots. A mix of spinning and fly gear. A light easterly breeze. I went to one of my early season spots and found the the Jolly Green Giant had already been there. I wondered if he had caught a Monster Trout. I bounced the bottom for about twenty minutes without any luck. I moved down stream to a bigger pool and found a few fish snapping at emergers. There was a nice if not extraordinary caddis hatch. I haven't witnessed a hatch like this for several years. At times it was like being in a snow storm. The caddis was about a size 14 with a apple green body and medium gray wing. I got one good rise from a dry. I had little luck with sparkle pupa patterns or small green wooly buggas. I notice a few black stones landing on me so I tried a couple of good imitations. No luck. It was turning out to be one of those 'what are they eating?' days, I tied on a rather odd sparse stone pattern and had no luck with about 30 casts. As I retrieved it a a fairly fast pace to change patterns - Bang - I hooked a very pretty 9" brown. That turned out to be the only taker. Oh well it's early yet.

PPL is giving us a break this week and not scheduling any power runs. That and the weather forecast bode well for for those lucky enough to fish during the week. I can't get on the stream 'til Friday so leave a few Monster Trout for me.

The usual stuff

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:19:00 +0000

Opening weekend was beautiful. I missed Saturday the better day to running errands. But I did get out on Sunday. I got cold even though I was all bundled up. Yeah, but I was fishing! This weekend is opening day or Turkey Season so the morning should be less crowded than the afternoon. Water levels should be good and for what they're saying right now it may even be hot.

Pretty good charts

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:08:00 +0000

The charts show that we can expect a pretty normal opening day. Water at or just above 50°. High water wadable only by the stout of heart. Streamers, nymphs, live bait and spinners will probably do best. Rain is forcast for the weekend but they're wrong a lot of the time. Good Luck.

If you want to follow these charts during the season go to my site, www.lackawaxenriver.com and follow the USGS button in the upper right.

Monster Trout Derby

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:59:00 +0000

PIKE COUNTY – Sponsored by the Business Owners of Lackawaxen Township. Catch one of 100 monster trout stocked with tags between Hawley and the Village of Lackawaxen to win $2,500 in prizes. No entry fee. Anglers must take their catch to Angler's Roost, Lackawaxen, or Wallenpaupack Sport Shop, Routes 6 & 590 for weight, certification and photos. Contact: mountainman@ltis.net or 570/6858-2010.

Lots of water and a new swinging bridge

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:09:00 +0000

I took a drive up the Lacawaxen on the Tow Path this weekend. It seemed like a million years had passed since last summer. There was a lot of water coming down and the snow is almost all melted. The lake is pretty full as is is Prompton Reservoir. The tow path is in good shape with a few bad potholes and no new winter damage. There is a new swinging bridge.

Last week we took a drive up the West Branch of the the Lackawaxen River. This apparently isn't stocked but there has to be a few brookies and smallies in there. A really nice ride to do off season or when the tubes are blasting. I'd like to drift a few craw-dads up there. Anyway it won't be long now. 3 weeks, thats all. I can't wait.

The Delaware River Power Line Story Continues

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 01:34:00 +0000

This is a good article from Hudson Valley Press Online. It offers a good definition of New York Regional Interconnection's (NYRI) upper hand.
Power lines, ethanol trash plants, what else can they throw at us. This is what happens when states are run by slimy pols. Pols that care more for urban votes than the environment. The real environment that we live in. When I say pols, politicians, I have little respect for any of them. I take that back, I have no respect. Bait fisherman are way above politians.

Reservoirs not always villains

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 03:55:00 +0000

A really good news story from the Times Herald-Record online.

Chemical refinery proposed for banks of the Lackawaxen

jkingston@lackawaxenriver.com (Jim) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 02:23:00 +0000

Here's a news story from the Wayne independent.

Potential Investors Look At Ethanol Site
Wayne Independent - Honesdale,PA,USA
The proposed property is located behind Kost Tire and Muffler on Route 6, east of Honesdale, on the opposite side of the Lackawaxen River.

Ethanol. Isn't that from corn, or beets or cane. What the biggest Wayne county crop. Hay? Or Bull crap?