Smethurst hit the Big D

TU TV will show Fall fishing on the Big D in 2010

Above, Frank Smethurst host of the popular fly fishing show demonstrates a reverse cast.

Smethurst is host of Trout Unlimited’s television program “On the Rise,” which takes him across the country fishing rivers and streams that have conservation success stories or environmental threats.

According to Smethurst, the Delaware River has both. But what struck him first was the beauty of the water and surrounding countryside.

“It compared really favorably to a lot of rivers I fished in the world,” Smethurst said.

Smethurst was guided by Lee Hartman, the Delaware River chairman for Pennsylvania Trout Unlimited and vice president of the Friends of the Upper Delaware. They fished 15 miles of the river from Stockport to Long Eddy in two days under a variety of conditions.

Smethurst landed one brown and six rainbow trout on the first day of filming under sunny skies. A cold front moved in on the second day and limited him to one trout, but it didn’t dampen his spirits.

“I was impressed with how fickle the Delaware can be,” Smethurst said. “When you hit a good day it’s really good, but on a rough day it can be as tough as anywhere. That’s part of the legend of the river.”

Hartman has been fishing the Delaware since 1973 and has worked tirelessly to protect the river and its fishery against a variety of threats.

When he learned that Smethurst would be filming an episode on the river, Hartman jumped at the opportunity to help out.

“The exposure of the show will help. We need to make everyone aware of what we have and what we need to protect,” Hartman said. “The purpose of the show is to raise awareness of the Delaware’s fishery, beauty and integrity, along with the threats.”

Read more at the Times Leader:

http://www.timesleader.com/sports/Delaware_hooks_TV_angler_10-11-2009.html

Can't wait to see it, but I hope no one else does...