November 1, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions November 1, 2017

The rivers are dropping and are looking better.   The West Branch is back to normal levels already.  Today is going to be cooler with a light shower in the afternoon.  No real accumulation is expected so the rivers should keep dropping.  We’ll look around for the isonychia spinners but we should have olives until it gets real cold.  Tomorrow we should see air temperatures in the 60’s.  This has been a crazy, crazy weather year.  Winds look fine over the next few days.  If the olives don’t show nymphing the riffles should work well. Water temperatures are decent and the fish are  active.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

October 31, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 31, 2017

The rivers have dropped back quite a bit from yesterday.  There was some flooding along the Willowemoc and Beaverkill but things seem to have settled down.  The West Branch at Hale Eddy is already flowing under 1,000 cfs this morning and should continue to drop throughout the day.  A lot of people in the Northeast are still without power but we seem to have come through fine in Hancock.  Air temps have cooled down a it but are still above normal for the end of October. When the winds are calm we are seeing decent caddis and tiny olives in spots.  There are some isonychia spinners around but the wind and rain have played havoc on the spinner falls the last few days.  We’ll supposed to have some wind today so it may be good start off with streamers and then go to nymphs and wets on the West.  If you can find a wind protected spot in the afternoon you have a shot of seeing a fish rise that you can mark.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

October 30, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 30, 2017

The Eastern side of the drainage is blown.    The Beaverkill just hooked and is flowing at 19,500 cfs.  The flow at Fishs Eddy is around 23,000 cfs.  The West Branch came up but no where near the change experienced over there.  The high flows have not hit the gauge at Lordville but that will happen soon.  It looks like a lot of the rain has passed with just a few minor showers left.   If you’re in the area be careful.  There could be some flooding in the feeder creeks too.  The Beaverkill is still over National Flood Stage Level.  If you’re planning on fishing give it a few days to drop.  Right now the Beaverkill and East are at a dangerous level.  There are probably logs and junk floating down the rivers thats best not to get hit by.  Plus the 25 mph wind gusts in today’s forecast.  If you are in the area today go visit the Catskill Flyfishing Center or check out one of the local breweries.  The West Branch will calm down quickly.  Stay safe.  Tomorrow is another day.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

October 29, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 29, 2017

We were defeated by the wind.  There were good numbers of isonychia spinners gathering on the West Branch last night.  They were going to fall.  Fish were going to eat.  One good gust of wind and they went back to the trees.  The wind was tough and overall it would have been a good day to nymph or swing wets.  There were enough bugs out that there was a shot at dry fly fishing if you found a protected area.  The bushes are still full of caddis and the olives will hang around for a while still.  It looks like we are all getting the same storm today.  It looks like it’ll be off the a slow start and building towards the afternoon.  Hopefully there is a window to fish  before the wind and rain come later.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

October 28, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 28, 2017

The release from Cannonsville Reservoir is 232 cfs.  they are counting on the rain tomorrow to meet the Montague Flow Target.  Wunderground still shows a 100% chance of a lot of rain tomorrow afternoon.  In the meantime today looks like it will be an exact copy of yesterday.  Air temperatures in the 60’s, a few clouds, and some winds that will drop back towards dark.  There are still caddis, a few isonychias, and of course olives around.  Yesterday looked like a good day to nymph or swing wets.  Most of the bugs we saw hatching got of the surface quickly in the sun and wind.  There were some fish rising but you had to look hard for a consistent riser.  Big slow pools have produced the best for us.  A lot of the fish have been moving so be patient

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

October 27, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 27, 2017

The release from Cannonsville Reservoir is 456 cfs this morning.  It is scheduled to drop at 8 Am to 379 cfs and again at 10 Am to 348 cfs until further notice.  The forecast is calling for quite a bit of rain on Sunday- actually a few inches that should be enough to meet the Montague Flow Target.  In the meantime today and tomorrow look decent with sunshine and air temps around 60 degrees.  We may see some winds around 15 mph tomorrow afternoon as the front moves in but overall it doesn’t look too bad.  Yesterday was raw and windy in the afternoon.  It looked like a good day to swing streamers through the bigger pools or nymph the drop offs on the Mainstem or lower East Branch.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

October 26, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 26, 2017

The release from Cannonsville has been increased a bit to 843 cfs.  The flow on the lower East Branch and and on the Beaverkill have dropped dramatically since yesterday morning.  The runoff from the rain is subsiding and the West was likely increased to help meet the Montague Flow Target.  We had some caddis and isonychia spinners in the air last evening.  There were some fish eating on top but it looked like they were chasing the caddis pupa or the diving egg laying caddis.  Nymphing and wets would be the most successful methods.  There is still color in the West Branch coming out of the dam.  It’s definitely fishable and it makes it a little more tempting to through streamers.  We should have clouds for most of the day.  There may be some wind but there are enough leaves out there that you can still find sheltered areas if you need to.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Olive Sulphur – #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

October 25, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 25, 2017

We had some rain in the morning but by afternoon we had sunshine, periods of no wind, and warm air temperatures.    We were able to fish until dark without having any high water issues.  Honestly it was kind of weird after listening to the doom and gloom weather reports.  The Beaverkill / East Branch has come up quite a bit from a relative standpoint but they are both at fishable levels this morning.  The release from Cannonsville is now 659 cfs leaving Hale Eddy with a flow of just over 700 cfs.  Wunderground shows us much cooler than yesterday but 60 degrees is 60 degrees in late October.  Winds should be light staying under 10 mph.  We did see some isonychia spinners last night but there were more tiny olive spinners in the air than anything else.  Some caddis showed up towards dark but the olives were what the fish wanted.

Hatching:

Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Olive Sulphur – #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

October 24, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 24, 2017

The release from Cannonsville is 232 cs this morning.  They are anticipating the rain adding enough flow to meet the Montague Flow Target.  The latest forecast from Wunderground has us receiving right aroun 1/2″ today.  It’s a big storm and looks like the rainfall totals could o either way with a little move north or south.  Wind will be the real story on the river today.  We should see 15 – 20 mph gusts from the South as this front pushes through.  There are some areas that offer some wind protection but count on nymphing or throwing streamers early.  The wind should drop to a more reasonable 10 mph in the afternoon giving us a shot at seeing some rising fish.  There are a few isonychias and heptagenia still hanging around and we’ve definitely seen the spinners but the real story is the tiny olives.  #20 – #26 emergers and spinners.

Hatching:

Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Olive Sulphur – #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

October 23, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 23, 2017

The release from Cannonsville has been reduced to  487 cfs and will drop a bit more this morning.  They are likely thinking the rain tonight and tomorrow will add enough water to help meet the Montague Flow Target.  Wunderground has the probability of rain as 100% tomorrow.  That’s a pretty gutsy forecast around here.  Along with the front bringing the rain we will have some wind.  There are enough leaves left along the river that there should be some protected areas.  Nymphing and streamers both produced a few fish over the weekend.  The dry fly fish have been moving around a lot eating tiny olives.

The Cannonsville Release Schedule for today:
7 Am – 487 cfs
8 Am – 410 cfs
10 Am – 333 cfs until further notice

Steve and Ethan with a West Branch fish. Photo by Bob Lewis

Hatching:

Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Olive Sulphur – #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

October 22, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 22, 2017

The release from Cannonsville is 908 cfs until further notice.  Originally we heard it was going to drop dramatically at midnight based on the rain forecast for Tuesday.  Depending on which station you watch we are getting no rain on Tuesday, a fair amount of rain, or a lot of rain.  It seems to change every hour.  So we’re are expecting a drop but do not know when it will start or how long it will take, or where it will end up.  Today looks like it will be the last with air temperatures in the 70’s and then we settle in the comfortable 60’s for he week.  Olives and streamers seem to be the main choices but definitely have a few caddis and isonychia spinners.

Hatching:

Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Olive Sulphur – #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

October 21, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 21, 2017

We are looking at another sunny day with air temperatures reaching the low 70’s!  Yesterday was nice but windy.  Today’s wind should be light and variable peaking around 5 mph according to Wunderground.  It looks like another pleasant week ahead with temperatures staying a bit high for the end of October.  We’re still seeing olives and a few heptagenia and isonychias.  The dry fly fishing has been better on the wider streams  in the slower pools.  The West Branch is still running high from the release and has some color to it.  There is still good streamer opportunity on the West with a possibility of finding a few risers.

Hatching:

Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Olive Sulphur – #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update: