October 17, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 17, 2017

It was cold yesterday.  It was windy.  It actually fished better than it has in days.  Maybe the pressure settled as the front came through or the fish settled down in the Yo Yo releases but either way they were happy to chase streamers and rise in  some sections when the wind would die down.  Some would only chase but there were enough fish willing to commit to make it worth fishing in 49 degrees, 15 mph wind, and light rain.  Today should be nicer with air temperatures in the mid 50’s and a bit of sunshine.  Wind will be much more manageable around 5 – 7 mph.

Jamie stuck it out yesterday. Photo by Bob Lewis

Hatching:

Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
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 16, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 16, 2017

The wind made fishing tough yesterday.  It felt like upstream 15 mph all day long.  That kind of wind makes it tough to set the boat and to cast.  If you found a place to hide it was comfortable.  The wind pushed most people to streamers and nymphs with mixed results.  We are in the midst of a decent weather change so the front may have something to do with it.  We had a little rain overnight but the real story today is going to be the air temperature.  We dropped back in to the 40’s overnight and will only climb into the low 50’s today.  Tonight we drop back into the high 20’s.  The we gradually warm up during the week to temps in the high 60’s and low 70’s.  The wind may start off high this morning but at least it’s downstream today.  It may start off as a streamer day but we may see some surface activity if the wind drops in the late afternoon.

Hatching:

Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
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 15, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 15, 2017

Yesterday looked decent on paper but never really reached it’s dry fly potential.  We had clouds, winds were tolerable and things looked good.  We did have rising water on the West Branch and Mainstem as a result of the recent Yo Yo releases.  Today looks similar weather wise but the water has been pretty steady for 24 hours.  Hopefully things settle down and the olives and isonychias come today.  In the meantime there were a lot of people throwing streamers on the West with mixed results.  Fish were landed but not as many as expected.  Today is a new day.
The Yo Yo releases need to stop

Hatching:

Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
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 14, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 14, 2017

We were staring at graphs all day wondering where they thought the water was going to come from or when they were going to increase the Cannonsville release.  It was another Yo Yo move.  The release is now 853 cfs to help meet the Montague Flow Target.  We had decent cloud cover for most of yesterday with some very, very light precipitation in the evening.  People landed fish on isonychias, caddis, and tiny olives.  We heard it was the most isonychias people had seen in a while.  Today is going to be warmer with more sun.  The hatches should remain the same.  Streamers become an option again in the higher West Branch flows.

Hatching:

Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
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 13, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 13, 2017

The release from Cannonsville Reservoir has been dropped to 282 cfs.  Tomorrow there should be a push of water coming out of Rio Reservoir that may be counted on to help meet the Montague Flow Target.  Lake Wallenpaupack still lists a zero generation schedule through Sunday night.  We are coming off a cool night and heading into a cool day so water temperatures should tay in good shape.  We should see clouds for most of today.  There is some very light precipitation in the weekend’s forecast but we’ll be happy with just the clouds.  Olives are definitely still the mainstay on most of the system.  Hebes, isonychias, and just a few cahill / stenos are holding on.  Caddis are everywhere but the fish seem to eat most of them under the surface.

Hatching:

Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
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 12, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 12, 2017

The release from Cannonsville has been dropped to 481 cfs until further notice.  This is a good level for wading and floating.   The lower flow should concentrate the olives making them more appealing and easier for the fish to rise to.  It will make it skinny in spots on the Mainstem since the East Branch has little water right now.  We are starting off with clouds this morning that should give way to sun in the afternoon.  Once the sun pops look for shaded banks like always.  The West is dropping fairly quickly so wading should be no problem even this morning.  Nymphing will pick up in the lower water levels too.  It looks like the rain is done for the next week but we should have clouds in and out- plus they change the forecast every hour.

Hatching:

Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
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 11, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 11, 2017

Today looks like a good fishing day.  We should have clouds moving in by late afternoon with some very light rain without much accumulation.  Winds should stay low between 5 – 10 mph.  The West Branch is still running over 900 cfs at Hale Eddy.  It is possible to wade some areas but the better wading will be on the other rivers in the System.  The West is pin perfect shape for throwing streamers from a boat.  Usually by the second day of a release increase enough of the algae has filtered out to make it doable.  Some of the bigger pools may have a fish or two rising in the afternoon so definitely bring a dry fly rod.  If you fish the lower East Branch keep an eye on the water temperature.  It crept up towards 68 degrees yesterday afternoon in the sunshine.

Hatching:

Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
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 10, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 10, 2017

The release from Cannonsville Reservoir has been increased to 917 cfs this morning.  This flush of water will bring additional color and algae in the water – especially on the upper WB.  Dry fly and nymph fishing will be better on the East, Main, and Beaverkill.  Streamers have been working well on the West and that should continue with the higher flow.  We my have some sun this afternoon but overall it looks like we’re in for a cloudy week with maybe some light rain here and there.  There were a few olives and isonychias on the water yesterday but most of our fish were landed on caddis fished in the riffles.  The bushes are loaded with them so it’s a good time to work the shaded banks when they get active.

And we’re back up

Hatching:

Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
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 9, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 9, 2017

The release from Cannonsville is back up to 535 cfs this morning.  The release was dropped below 2oo cfs yesterday due to either total incompetence or total disregard of the downstream users.  It almost looks like they thought the release from Rio Reservoir combined with the forecasted rain would meet the Montague Flow Target and they could save a few gallons of water in Cannonsville.  Lake Wallenpaupack does not seem to be a player in this one.  Add in the precipitous drop in release with no thought of ramping it down gradually and we’re going with a mix of 20% incompetence and 80% disregard for the downstream users.  These situations are so unnecessary it really feels mean spirited.  Our reservoir system is still 3% above normal capacity for early October.

So 535 cfs is not too bad for today since it keeps the riverbed wet.  We should see a bit more rain but the total amount in the forecast has been reduced to right around 1/4″.  It looks like we have a bit of rain and clouds ahead of us this week.  If DEP can control their instinct to shut it down every time there is a heavy dew we should have some good fishing ahead of us.  Keep the olive box handy.

Hatching:

Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
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 8, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 8, 2017

When we walked outside this morning rain was actually falling.  It’s been a while.  We actually have quite a bit of rain in the forecast over the next few days.  The powers that be feel the runoff will be enough to meet the flow target in Montague so the release from Cannonsville has been decreased to 309 cfs.  Hopefully the forecast is correct since a lot of the initial rain will soak into the ground.  So things look good this morning.  Dropping water, overcast sky, intermittent light rain, and decent water temps sound real good.  We’re still seeing decent olives and caddis with a few isonychias and hebes on the water.  It feels like a fishing day.  Go fishing

Danny’s first Delaware trout. Photo by Samantha Dennis

Hatching:

Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
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 7, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 7, 2017

There were enough small olives and caddis on the water to get some fish looking up in the evening.  The steadiest fish were on the slower edges and tailouts.  If you found a fish eating they didn’t seem picky on pattern, just presentation.  The Main has had more isonychias and hebes so if you’re looking for bigger bugs start there and watch the shaded sides of the river.  The East is low but that makes it nice to blind cast isonychias and cahills in the riffles and seams.  The flows remain pretty much the same as yesterday so parts of the West Branch are wadeable but it’s definitely easier on the Mainstem and East Branch.  Throwing streamers on the West has been okay- much better before the sun hits the water so earlier is definitely better.  Our rain has been pushed off until tomorrow so we’ll be dealing with mostly sun this afternoon.

Hatching:

Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
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 6, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 6, 2017

We had clouds for most of the morning but by mid-afternoon they gave way to a blue sky.  Nymphing seemed to be the most productive method with some risers showing in the late afternoon.  It really helped to concentrate on shaded areas and dropoffs.  Think small on the nymphs to match the olives that are hatching.  And we’ll say this all Fall- swing caddis pupa and wet flies to match the caddis emerging and diving to lay eggs.  We’re see a lot of diving egg layers this time of year.  It looks like the rain pushed off until Sunday and Monday but we should still have cloud cover today and tomorrow.  Winds should be light today.

Hatching:

Slate Drake #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
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: