Author: Jeff White
Delaware River Report / Conditions April 24, 2017
Yesterday was the nicest day we’ve seen all year. Low winds, sunshine, and comfortable air temperatures. Today looks like a mirror image but with even less wind. 1 mph mid day from the East climbing to 8 mph in the evening. It’s going to be a great day on the water. The rivers are dropping back and there are a few people wading some sections. Streamers are still catching fish and we are seeing hendricksons, blue quills, and black caddis. The early hatches can be a bit sporadic in the beginning as they grow so be patient out there looking for risers.
Hatching:
Hendrickson – #12 – 14 – Ephemerella subvaria
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:
West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 1,690 cfs |
48° |
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 2,800 cfs |
43° |
East Branch at Harvard, NY | 749 cfs | 44° |
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 1,630 cfs |
48° |
Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 5,770 cfs |
47° |
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 761 cfs | 48° |
Cannonsville Reservoir Release | 1,499 cfs |
|
West Branch at 191 Bridge | N/A | 44° |
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) | 1,560 cfs |
|
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity | 100.6% | |
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity | 99.3% |
Delaware River Report / Conditions April 23, 2017
We found fish eating streamers and dry flies yesterday. It was a bit chilly in the afternoon but the bugs and fish didn’t seem to mind. White streamers worked well and for dry flies fish were hooked on blue quills and even hendricksons in some spots. It looked like the true start of the dry fly fishing. We should see that improve even more over the next week as the water drops, air temperatures increase, and water temperatures continue to rise. Today looks absolutely beautiful with air temperatures in the 60’s, sunshine, and very light winds. Wading will be safest and best still on the Beaverkill and Willowemoc. There are a few spots on the Delaware you can get out a bit and fish but you will definitely increase your chances of success by fishing from a boat. It’s so nice to see rising fish after that cold, cold March.
Hatching:
Hendrickson – #12 – 14 – Ephemerella subvaria
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:
West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 1,770 cfs |
45° |
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 3,110 cfs |
42° |
East Branch at Harvard, NY | 838 cfs | 42° |
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 1,840 cfs |
45° |
Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 6,650 cfs |
44° |
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 870 cfs | 44° |
Cannonsville Reservoir Release | 1,499 cfs |
|
West Branch at 191 Bridge | N/A | 43° |
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) | 1,560 cfs |
|
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity | 100.6% | |
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity | 99.3% |
Delaware River Report / Conditions April 22, 2017
The East Branch came through the storms in good shape and the West Branch has cleared up nicely overnight. Both rivers look great this morning. All of the rivers are running high and are definitely fishable from a boat. If you are looking to wade your best options are the upper Beaverkill and the Willowemoc. We are doing well on streamers in the high water. You may see some dry fly activity in the big, slow pools but streamers are the way to go today. White has been the color. If you happen to see a rising fish we are still seeing olives, blue quills, black caddis, and early stoneflies. Today feels like Spring with air temperatures in the low 50’s, winds 10 mph and below, and some great cloud cover. We shouldn’t see any additional rain today.
Hatching:
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:
West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 1,670 cfs |
46° |
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 3,450 cfs |
44° |
East Branch at Harvard, NY | 937 cfs | 46° |
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 2,180 cfs |
48° |
Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 7,950 cfs |
48° |
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 1,120 cfs | 48° |
Cannonsville Reservoir Release | 1,499 cfs |
|
West Branch at 191 Bridge | N/A | 46° |
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) | 1,850 cfs |
|
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity | 100.6% | |
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity | 99.3% |
Delaware River Report / Conditions April 21, 2017
We were hit with a couple of decent storms overnight. The rivers are up this morning. We have a lot of color in the West Branch but it looks fishable with streamers. The West should begin to clear up by this evening. Some of the feeder creeks have color while others look fine. We may see a little additional rain today but it shouldn’t amount to more than a sprinkle. The weather looks clear until Tuesday. Wading is not an option but boating is fine if you’re confident rowing the higher flows. The feeder creeks should peak and begin to drop today. We may see the spill increase. This could turn out to be a decent streamer day and weekend. Hopefully we see a larger flush of alewives coming over Cannonsville today as the reservoir inflow increases.
Hatching:
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:
West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 859 cfs |
42° |
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 4,660 cfs |
42° |
East Branch at Harvard, NY | 973 cfs | 47° |
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 1,770 cfs |
47° |
Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 5,270 cfs |
49° |
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 1,070 cfs | 50° |
Cannonsville Reservoir Release | 1,238 cfs |
|
West Branch at 191 Bridge | N/A | 46° |
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) | 2,050 cfs |
|
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity | 100.1% | |
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity | 99.2% |
Delaware River Report / Conditions April 20, 2017
The rain moved through yesterday and the rivers bumped a little overnight. We had some wind in the morning but by late afternoon it calmed down. We’re in great shape this morning and the West Branch is clear. Air temperatures should be in the low 60’s with some good cloud cover. Winds are negligible staying under 10 mph. We may see some showers but it looks like the potential is greatest after dark. Streamers and nymphs have been producing well. Today looks like a great dryfly day with the combination of low wind and cloud cover. We’ve been seeing a mix of blue quills, quill gordons, olives, and stoneflies (plus the oddball hendrickson in some sections).
Hatching:
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:
West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 805 cfs |
41° |
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 1,550 cfs |
43° |
East Branch at Harvard, NY | 620 cfs | 44° |
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 1,310 cfs |
47° |
Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 3,600 cfs |
47° |
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 560 cfs | 48° |
Cannonsville Reservoir Release | 1,238 cfs |
|
West Branch at 191 Bridge | N/A | 43° |
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) | 795 cfs |
|
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity | 100.5% | |
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity | 99.6% |
Delaware River Report / Conditions April 19, 2017
Yesterday turned out to be as beautiful as advertised. Great sun, warm temperatures and manageable winds all day long. We saw a nice mix of caddis, blue quills, and stoneflies in the late afternoon. Some people found some targets on top after lunch into the evening. Streamers are still producing and the nymphing is really picking up as the blue quill and hendrickson nymphs get more active and ready to hatch. We have some rain in the forecast this afternoon and tomorrow. Looking at the radar it seems to be scattered storms so it’s tough to tell exactly how much we will get. The wind should pick up when the front comes through late in the day and then drop back down. This is great for the river system. We always hope for a cool wet Spring to augment releases under the FFMP and overall that seems to be what we’re getting right now. If enough rain falls and reservoir spill increases we may have a nice mix of alewife fishing and dry fly action this weekend.
Hatching:
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:
West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 818 cfs |
41° |
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 1,430 cfs |
42° |
East Branch at Harvard, NY | 601 cfs | 44° |
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 1,230 cfs |
48° |
Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 3,320 cfs |
48° |
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 473 cfs | 48° |
Cannonsville Reservoir Release | 1,238 cfs |
|
West Branch at 191 Bridge | N/A | 42° |
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) | 639 cfs |
|
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity | 100.5% | |
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity | 99.6% |
Delaware River Report / Conditions April 18, 2017
The good news is we are seeing some blue quills mixed with the olives and quill gordons. Looking at the flows and water temperatures it seems like we are right on the edge of great dry fly fishing. Yesterday should have happened on top but the wind gusts made it tough. There were some one timers but the fish didn’t get the opportunity to get steady. Streamers are still working well and some nice fish were landed. Today looks incredible with air temperatures close to 60 degrees and winds gusting to 6 0r 7 mph. Water temperatures look great this morning and will climb nicely in the sunshine. Today should fish really well and we expect to find rising fish. We have some clouds and rain in the forecast beginning tomorrow.
Hatching:
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:
West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 901 cfs |
42° |
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 1,560 cfs |
41° |
East Branch at Harvard, NY | 625 cfs | 43° |
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 1,300 cfs |
47° |
Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 3,600 cfs |
50° |
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 531 cfs | 48° |
Cannonsville Reservoir Release | 1,238 cfs |
|
West Branch at 191 Bridge | N/A | 42° |
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) | 723 cfs |
|
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity | 100.5% | |
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity | 99.8% |
Cannonsville Update 4/17/2017
Delaware River Report / Conditions April 17, 2017
Update
They are currently testing some safety equipment at Cannonsville Dam so the release has been cut. Once the testing is over this afternoon the release will be increased back to normal. We still have runoff pushing through the system so there is water in the river and everything will be fine. We were hit with some good thunderstorms yesterday evening with high winds and brief heavy rains. The rivers are clear this morning and looking good. The rain didn’t seem to last long enough to muddy anything up. Today looks nice with high air temperatures approaching 60 with a mix of sun and clouds. We may have some wind gusts approach 15 mph but that seems pretty normal for April weather on the Delaware and shouldn’t affect the fish. The wind will be a pleasant 6 mph when it isn’t gusting.
Hatching:
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:
West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 207 cfs |
42° |
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 1,080 cfs |
42° |
East Branch at Harvard, NY | 712 cfs | 46° |
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 1,450 cfs |
52° |
Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 4,090 cfs |
50° |
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 634 cfs | 53° |
Cannonsville Reservoir Release | cfs |
|
West Branch at 191 Bridge | N/A | 44° |
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) | 882 cfs |
|
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity | 101.5% | |
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity | 100.3% |
Delaware River Report / Conditions April 16, 2017
We had some wind yesterday but that didn’t prevent people from catching fish. Streamers produced fish and some people landed a few fish on dry flies too. Water temperatures look great and the flows are dropping down to manageable levels. There are a few spots people are now wading the West Branch and nymphing has picked up. We saw olives mixed with the stoneflies on the water yesterday. The weather looks pretty normal for April over the next week with air temperatures in the 50’s. The hatching should improve by next weekend offering better dry fly shots. We may get a thunderstorm today that will drop just under 1/4″ of rain.
Hatching:
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:
West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 1,190 cfs |
42° |
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 1,910 cfs |
41° |
East Branch at Harvard, NY | 810 cfs | 42° |
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 1,510 cfs |
46° |
Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 4,380 cfs |
45° |
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 607 cfs | 48° |
Cannonsville Reservoir Release | 1,496 cfs |
|
West Branch at 191 Bridge | N/A | 41° |
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) | 833 cfs |
|
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity | 101.5% | |
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity | 100.3% |
Delaware River Report / Conditions April 15, 2017
The rivers are dropping quickly and the water temperatures are climbing. Things are looking good for this coming week. The nights have been cool but the days have been beautiful. We are starting off with sunshine this morning but we may see some clouds move in and a light shower this afternoon. late tonight / tomorrow looks like the best chance of rain with around 1/4″ predicted. Wind gusts will be around 12 mph today so definitely manageable and very Delaware Spring like.
The rivers fished well yesterday with most fish landed on streamers but there are people finding fish eating dries here and there. That will improve over the next couple of days as the water temperatures climb. The Beaverkill system is still your best bet for wading.
Hatching:
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:
West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 1,340 cfs |
41° |
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 2,140 cfs |
40° |
East Branch at Harvard, NY | 973 cfs | 40° |
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 1,670 cfs |
44° |
Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 4,900 cfs |
44° |
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 662 cfs | 44° |
Cannonsville Reservoir Release | 1,504 cfs |
|
West Branch at 191 Bridge | N/A | 40° |
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) | 877 cfs |
|
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity | 101.5% | |
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity | 100.3% |
Delaware River Report / Conditions April 14, 2017
Yesterday’s wind seemed quite a bit stronger than the forecast called for but fish were landed. Cannonsville, Pepacton, and Neversink Reservoirs are all still spilling but the levels are dropping and we should see that end over the next few days if we don’t get additional precipitation. The river levels are dropping back too but the best wading today will be on the Beaverkill and Willowemoc Rivers. The East, West, and Main are in perfect shape for boating. There are still alewives in the system and we’re seeing some caddis mixed with the stoneflies and olives. Streamers are still your best bet but bring a dry fly rod just in case. The rising will get more consistent as the water temperatures rise over the next week. Winds should be lower today and air temperatures in the high 50’s. We do have a possibility of some rain tomorrow.
Hatching:
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:
West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 1,650 cfs |
39° |
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 2,490 cfs |
39° |
East Branch at Harvard, NY | 1,260 cfs | 39° |
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 1,940 cfs |
42° |
Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 5,770 cfs |
42° |
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 756 cfs | 43° |
Cannonsville Reservoir Release | 1,490 cfs |
|
West Branch at 191 Bridge | N/A | 39° |
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) | 1,230 cfs |
|
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity | 102% | |
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity | 100.4% |