June 6, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 6, 2016

We were hit with some good rain yesterday and the river flows are up this morning.  The upper West Branch in Stilesville is still low and should be clear above Oquaga Creek.  We do have color in the lower West Branch but we are dropping and should clear over the course of the day.  The other rivers are high and off color too so be careful and choose your wading spots carefully.  It looks great for streamers this morning but we should have decent water for dry fly fishing this evening – especially in the tailouts and edges.  The best news is the inflow into Cannonsville with the West Branch at Walton flowing in at 993 cfs. The rain did help the water temperatures drop on the lower East Branch and upper Mainstem.

What a difference one storm can make above the reservoir!

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 5, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 5, 2016

We finally had some rain overnight and the most of the river flows have bumped up slightly.  The air temperatures will be much lower today with highs only hitting the low 70’s.  Winds will gust to around 10 mph and we should get additional showers in the early evening.  All in all this looks like a very good fishing day.  Definitely bring your blue winged olive box.
Most of the reports show good bug hatching for most of the late afternoon but the fish seemed shy- especially during the periods of bright sun.  It came down to being in the right place at the right time and finding the rising fish.  Hopefully today’s weather makes the fish feel more comfortable to rise.  Gray Fox, Sulphurs, Isonychia, and tan caddis were the most common hatches.

Hope the rain keeps the reservoirs filled!

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 4, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 4, 2016

The rain in yesterday’s forecast seems to have missed us.  We had a few drops but nothing during the day that required a raincoat.  The cloud cover was nice and made the fish feel comfortable rising when there were bugs on the water.  We did get a negligible amount over night that bumped the flow on the rivers by a couple cfs.  There was definitely an improvement in the amount of green slime coming down the West Branch.  It’s not totally clear yet but we are seeing less each day.  We are seeing cahills, sulphurs, and green drakes hatching out there.  The isonychias are now showing up and people are catching fish on them. We are still catching most of the early fish on caddis before the mayflies begin to hatch.   The sulphurs are coming later in the evening so don’t leave the river early.  The weather forecast looks good today with highs in the low 80’s and a mix of clouds and sun.  The predicted thunderstorms look more likely to happen tomorrow.

Pat with a nice brown yesterday. Photo by Steve Shen

Hatching:
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 3, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 3, 2016

The forecast is calling for cooler air temperatures today with a high around 80.  Winds shouldn’t be an issue at all with winds around 5 mph.  We may see an early afternoon thunderstorm but that would be a welcome relief after the last few weeks.  It may end up being just under 1/2″ but most of that will soak up into the ground.
We had more cloud cover yesterday so it actually felt cooler than Wednesday.  Some sections of river saw brief daytime activity with a mix of stenos and cornutas.  Other sectios saw little during the day besides some caddis.  Luck of the drawer on where you went.  In the evening the sulphurs came mixed with a few green drakes and coffin flies.  The fish we found seemed to be eating the sulphur emergers just under the surface.  If we get hit with the thunderstorms today that may trigger decent olive hatches earlier so definitely carry those with you.
We are still dealing with the green slime on the West Branch but yesterday was definitely an improvement over the amount we saw Wednesday.  The lower East Branch and the Mainstem are both past the cutoff point for fishing this morning at 67 and 68 degrees respectively.

A nice brown from yesterday. Photo by Kevan Smaracko.

Hatching:
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 2, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 2, 2016

The release from Cannonsville Reservoir is 511 cfs this morning.  As expected the green slime floating down the river was a problem yesterday as the flow increased.  This should be less of an issue today as it filters out of the system.  The increased release has also dropped the temperature on the lower West Branch and we are starting off at 56 degrees this morning.  We had sporadic hatching of cahills, green drakes, and caddis during the day but most of the activity happened after the sun dropped behind the hills.  Once that happened the hatching increased and the fish were rising.  We are starting to see some coffin flies at dark too.
Today should be a cooler day with a partly cloudy sky.  Winds to 10 mph from the South.

Theo found some fish in the dark

Hatching:
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 1, 2016

Update: Delaware River Report / Conditions June 1, 2016

We have a release from Cannonsville.  Things are looking up for the weekend

The increased release should help the West Branch water temperatures

June 1, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 1, 2016

The recording for Cannonsville Reservoir has the release listed as 381 cfs this morning.  Lets hope that the release is increased to 500 cfs as soon as someone gets to the office this morning.  We will update the blog as things change.  We had decent numbers of Green Drakes, Dark Caddis, some sulphurs and Cahills on the river yesterday.  The bright sun and low water had the fish feeling a little shy during the day but there were targets if you were patient.  There is still some green slime coming down the West Branch making nymphing difficult.  Hopefully an increase in release will help flush that out.
Today looks like it will be an exact copy of yesterday with mostly sun and air temperatures approaching the mid- 80’s.  The night time temperatures are finally dropping back into the 50’s which should help the water temperatures.
The lower East Branch and the Mainstem are still not fishable.  Both rivers are starting off warm in the morning and peaking in the mid-70’s by the afternoon.

The lower West Branch is in the danger zone too with water temperatures reaching 67 yesterday.  Fish with your thermometer and move up river if the temps get too high.

Hatching:
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Light Brachycentrus sp. – #16 – 18 – Apple Caddis
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

May 31, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 31, 2016

Let’s hope we get the 500cfs release from Cannonsville tomorrow morning.  We are coming into a few days of cooler weather but that’s all relative.  We are still warmer than normal with air temperatures predicted to be 84 degrees today.  All of the thunderstorms missed us.  We’ve only had a few drops of rain over the last week or so.  The East Branch at Fishs Eddy is starting off at 67 degrees this morning and the Mainstem at Lordville is beginning at 70 degrees.  Skip those to rivers and use your thermometer to check temps if you fish the lower West Branch or the East Branch below Harvard.
We have been finding a lot of Green Drakes and Coffin Flies around so don’t leave the river too early.  You may also see some tan caddis (#16-20) some sulphurs (#16-18), and some light cahills #14.

Hatching:
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Light Brachycentrus sp. – #16 – 18 – Apple Caddis
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

May 30, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 30, 2016

The Mainstem and the Lower East Branch are both starting off over 70 degrees this morning and are not fishable for trout.  The lower West Branch is 62 degrees this morning so fish with your thermometer as the day goes on and temperatures rise.  The Upper West Branch and Upper East Branch are your best bets for cold water today.  Definitely check the water temperature on the Beaverkill today if you are fishing that river.  We had a light shower this morning but it wasn’t enough to bump the flows.  We will have cooler air temperatures today with a high in the mid 80’s.  The bright sun hitting the exposed rocks in the lower water will cause the water temps to rise despite the cooler air temperatures.

Hopefully we get the 500 cfs release on June 1st along with a cool down in the weather.

Lower West Branch temperatures are still higher than we’d like to see

Hatching:
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Light Brachycentrus sp. – #16 – 18 – Apple Caddis
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

May 29, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 29, 2016

The additional release from Cannonsville is a step forward in river management but it is not enough to protect the system.  While today will be cooler than yesterday we are still going to have sun and air temperatures around 90 degrees.  If you are going to fish today stay on the Upper West Branch and Upper East Branch.  Do not fish for trout on the Lower East Branch or the Mainstem at all.  Both rivers are over 70 degrees already this morning.  The lower West Branch is okay this morning at 61 degrees but temps will climb throughout the day.  Check with your thermometer before you fish it.  We will likely lose it to temperatures by mid day.  Even Harvard peaked at 70 degrees yesterday so check the Upper East with a thermometer and move closer to the dam as the day gets warmer.

Hale Eddy temps are okay

The Mainstem is not an option

Hatching:
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Light Brachycentrus sp. – #16 – 18 – Apple Caddis
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

May 28, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 28, 2016

The Cannonsville Release was bumped up to 381 yesterday to help lower the river temperatures.  As of right now we are still scheduled to increase to 500 cfs on June 1st.  The bump in flow did start to flush some of the green slime down making nymphing the upper WB difficult.  As you move lower down the river the slime has cleared out some and it is fishable.  Most of the dry fly action has been happening in the late afternoon into the evening- especially with the bright sun.  We di get hit by a thunderstorm last night.  It was very isolated and some areas received more ain than others.  Overall it soaked into the ground and the flows changed very little on the system.
You have a good chance of seeing tan caddis, march browns, gray fox, and sulphurs are hatching.  There have been some green drakes, cahills, and small olives spotted too.

Found:  Rod and reel on the lower West Branch.  If you lost one send us an email at: flyfish@thedelawareriverclub.com

Dave Z found a nice one despite the sun. Photo by Steve Shen

Hatching:
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Light Brachycentrus sp. – #16 – 18 – Apple Caddis
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

May 27, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 27, 2016

The thunderstorms missed us for the most part so the rivers are starting off this morning very similar to yesterday.  Unless you’re close to the dams fish with your thermometer.  The forecast is calling for air temperatures in the 80’s, winds only around 7 mph, and a 45% chance of an afternoon thunderstorm.  Right now we either need a good rain or a bump in the releases.  The hatches remain the same with tan caddis being the best pattern.  Nymphing the West Branch has been tough due to the green slime floating down.  That should flush out when we get a bump in the flows. The water temperature in Callicoon hit 74 degrees yesterday, Lordville hit 69 degrees,  The East Branch at Fishs Eddy hit 68 degrees, and even the lower West Branch hit 66 degrees.  The current storage for NYC’s drinking supply is 98.9%.  Normal storage on tis date is 98.2%

Found:  Rod and reel on the lower West Branch.  If you lost one send us an email at: flyfish@thedelawareriverclub.com

Ray taking advantage of the cloud cover yesterday. Photo by Steve Shen

Hatching:
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Light Brachycentrus sp. – #16 – 18 – Apple Caddis
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)