July 7, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 7, 2020

The clouds finally moved in yesterday afternoon after a very clear day.  Today looks better with cloud cover already and a slight chance of some thunderstorms this afternoon.  We’ll take the cloud cover.  The high will be cooler at 84 degrees with wind 5 – 10 mph from the South.  The bugs are the same with small olives and sulphurs making up most of the food on top.  There are some isonychias and cahills out there too.  Nymphing or swinging wets is your best bet early.  There are afternoon hatches on the upper rivers close to the dams.  Think small bugs to start.

The lower Beaverkill, lower East Branch, and Mainstem temperatures are all starting off at 70 degrees or hotter today.   Give those rivers a break until they cool down.

First Delaware trout!  Bruce Miller photo

Chris found a good rainbow a dark

Hatching:
Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 6, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 6, 2020

The lower Beaverkill, lower East Branch, and Mainstem temperatures are all starting off at  70 degrees today.   Give those rivers a break until they cool down.

It’s going to be warm again but we should have some cloud cover and possible thunderstorms today.  The amount of rainfall should be less than 1/10″ and the wind will be light.  We may have some wind gusts to deal with if the storms hit us but that should be brief as they push through fast.  The release from Cannonsville was increased to 740 cfs yesterday but has been dropped to 625 ish (we guess).  The recording says 699 cfs but the flow at Stilesville as 637 this morning.  Daytime dry fly action is still best closest to the dam but we should see olives and sulphurs on the lower West in the evening.  Hopefully the colder water from the release and good cloud cover pushes those bugs earlier in the day.

Hatching:
Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 5, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 5, 2020

The release from Cannonsville was increased to just under 700 cfs yesterday and is probably being dropped back to 625 today.  We’re in for a hot one with the air temp hitting the high 80’s with a mix of sun and clouds.  There is only a 10% chance of any precipitation.  Wind will be 5 – 10 mph from the North.  The best chance of dry fly action during the day is still in the coldest water closest to the dams.  Last night there were some small olives and sulphurs coming off on the lower West after the sun dropped. It’s going to be a warm week but we do have a better chance of rain Tuesday and Wednesday.

The lower Beaverkill, lower East Branch, and Mainstem temperatures are all starting off at  70 degrees today.   Give those rivers a break until they cool down.

We got a little extra cold water last night

Hatching:
Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 4, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 4, 2020

A little rain must have hit the Beaverkill and caused a very minor bump in flow but otherwise most of the weather missed us again.  The release from Cannonsville is steady around 625 cfs.  Today’s weather looks a lot like yesterday’s with the air temp hitting the high 80’s, a mix of sun and clouds, and a slight possibility of an afternoon storm.  Wind will be 45 – 10 mph from the North.  The best daytime dry fly action will be closest to the dams in the coldest water.  People are finding some rising fish fish lower down in the mornings and evenings.

The lower Beaverkill, lower East Branch, and Mainstem temperatures are all starting off at  70 degrees today.   Give those rivers a break until they cool down.

A Jack Gartside tied patriotic FishHead

Hatching:
Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella
Dark Blue Sedge–  #16 – Psilotetra sp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 3, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 3, 2020

The released another brief pulse from Cannonsville overnight.  The flow at Hale Eddy is 822 cfs this morning but should drop during the day.  The recording says the release from Cannonsville is 699 cfs until further notice.  The flow at Stilesville is 629 cfs so we’ll have to watch the graph to see where we end up.  They are doing these pulses to prevent the water temp at Lordville from exceeding 75 degrees and “protect” the Mainstem.  The temperature target of 75 degrees used to be farther downstream in Hankins, NY.

On a brighter note we should have decent cloud cover today with the chance of some showers or afternoon storms.  Total rainfall will be negligible at less than 1/10″.  Wind will be 5 – 10 mph from the North.  We may see some larger gusts if the storms push through but it’s much easier to hide from with the trees leaved out.  As long as the release stays in the 400 to 500 cfs range the best daytime dry fly activity will be in the coldest river sections closest to the dams.  The lower West Branch will fish best for dries in the morning and again in the evening as the sun drops behind the hills.  Nymphing, swinging wets, and blind casting isonychias or cahills are all good bets when there is no surface activity.

The lower Beaverkill, lower East Branch, and Mainstem temperatures all peaked over 70 degrees yesterday.   Give those rivers a break until they cool down.

Steve Bechard from Rise Fishing Company found some willing rainbows yesterday

Hatching:
Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella
Dark Blue Sedge–  #16 – Psilotetra sp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 2, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 2, 2020

There was a pulse of cold water released from Cannonsville overnight.  The flow at Stilesville reached 690 cfs but is already dropping back this morning.  The release this morning is back down to 460 cfs.  This was likely done to keep the water temperature at Lordville from exceeding 75 degrees today.  These pulses are basically following the letter of the release plan but not necessarily the spirit of the release plan.

We had clouds and thunder yesterday but the rain fell around us and never hit us here on the lower West Branch.  Today will be warmer at 87 degrees with a mix of clouds and sunshine.  Wind will be 10 – 15 mph from the North.  We may see an afternoon thunderstorm but the predicted precip. is zero.  The best bet for dry fly fishing during the day is still the coldest water.  Evenings are fishing on the lower West.  Nymphing and wets have been good bets during the day before the hatches start.

The lower Beaverkill, lower East Branch, and Mainstem temperatures all peaked over 70 degrees yesterday.  Give those rivers a break until they cool down.

Cold water pulses like this satisfy the FFMP guidelines but don’t necessarily enhance the fishery

Hatching:
Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella
Dark Blue Sedge–  #16 – Psilotetra sp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 1, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 1, 2020

We did have some rain yesterday and a storm in the evening but most of the precip soaked into the ground and the bump in flows was negligible.  We have an 80% chance of rain today but the amount of rainfall should only be around 1/10th of an inch.  We should have good cloud cover with wind 5 – 10 mph from the North.  On paper it looks like a good olive day.  The daytime fishing has still been best in the coldest water.  Sulphurs and olives have been coming off in the afternoons.  Outside of that on the lower sections the normal summer nymphing and swinging wet flies should work until the hatches start in the evening.

The rain caused a minor bump in flows.

Hatching:
Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella
Dark Blue Sedge–  #16 – Psilotetra sp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

June 30, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 30, 2020

Today looks like one of the better days to be on the water.  We woke up to light rain and good cloud cover.  The light rain should end this morning and we may see some thunderstorms this afternoon.  Total rainfall should be less than 1/4″.  This is so much better than the sunshine we’ve be dealing with most of June.  Hopefully the olives hatch early today.  Daytime dry fly action has been best in the coldest water.  Sulphurs, tiny olives, and a lot of light blue winged olives have been around lately.  Isonychias and light cahills are accounting for some fish in the evening.

The lower Beaverkill, lower East Branch, and Mainstem temperatures all peaked over 70 degrees yesterday.   Give those rivers a break until they cool down.

Hatching:
Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella
Dark Blue Sedge–  #16 – Psilotetra sp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

June 29, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 29, 2020

We had a few storms pass through yesterday but not enough rain fell to really affect the river flows.  There were a few olives and cahills in the evening but the sulphurs held off on the lower West.  The day time sulphurs are coming off in the colder river sections and should settle in over the next couple of weeks.  Today will be in the low 80’s with sun mixed with clouds.  Wind will be 10 – 15 from the North.  Wet flies and nymphs will be the best bet early until the sulphurs hatch on the upper river in the afternoon.  The warm air temp and sunshine will probably push the temps over 70 degrees on the lower Beaverkill, lower Eat Branch, and Mainstem.

Hatching:
Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella
Dark Blue Sedge–  #16 – Psilotetra sp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

June 28, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 28, 2020

Yesterday’s rain was over by mid afternoon and added a little flow to the rivers.  A lot of it soaked right into the ground and the rivers stayed in good shape all day.  We had decent numbers of olives and sulphurs along with an occasional isonychia.  There was a bit of fog at times but the breeze blew it in and out.  There were some spinners on the water towards dark.  Today will be a little warmer with the possibility of storms in the afternoon.  Total rainfall will be less than 1/4″.  Wind will only be 5 – 10 mph from the West

Hatching:
Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella
Dark Blue Sedge–  #16 – Psilotetra sp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

June 27, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 27, 2020

Today will be an interesting day on the river.  Cloud cover and 100% chance of rain according to Wunderground.  We haven’t had a full day of clouds and rain in weeks.  We may see over 1/2″ fall but a lot of that will soak into the ground.  Wind will be 10 – 15 mph from the South.  We’re actually looking forward to the change from the mostly sunny and hot days we’ve been dealing with lately.  Definitely carry your olive box today.  Sulphurs, cahills, and isonychias should cover most of everything else you’ll see.  If the river does get some color to it streamers may work well in the beginning as the flow is rising.  If there is a dramatic change in flows we’ll do a mid day update but keep track of the latest info by clicking on the flow links below.  There is also a chance the storms will miss us like a lot of them seem to do.

The lower Beaverkill, lower East Branch, and Mainstem temperatures all peaked over 70 degrees yesterday.  The lower East at Fishs Eddy peaked close to 76 degrees.  Give those rivers a break until they cool down.

Hatching:
Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella
Dark Blue Sedge–  #16 – Psilotetra sp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

June 26, 2020

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 26, 2020

The lower Beaverkill, lower East Branch, and Mainstem temperatures all peaked over 70 degrees yesterday.  The lower East at Fishs Eddy peaked close to 76 degrees.  Give those rivers a break until they cool down. It’s not awesome that people are still floating down to Buckingham.

We finally got a little rain yesterday and it soaked right in to the ground.  The rivers are starting off pretty much the same as yesterday morning.  Today’s weather is even going to look like yesterday’s.  The air temp will reach 80 degrees, a mix of sun and clouds, and wind 5 – 10 from the West.  Since the weather will be about the same as yesterday it should fish the same.  If you’re looking for daytime dry fly activity head for the coldest water.  The lower sections will be better for nymphing / swinging wets until the sun drops and the sulphurs hatch.  There has been some early morning activity on left over spinners and some olives hatching. Blind casting isonychias and cahills in the riffles has produced some fish.  Nymphing is tough in Deposit due to the algae so if you do like to nymph stay lower on the WB.  We have a better chance of rain Saturday.

West Branch tmps remain good despite the weather and lower water

Hatching:
Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, stenocron sp., invaria
Sulphur – #16 – 18 – E. dorothea
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophillia sp.
Tan Caddis – #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olive – 16 -20 – E. attenuata, cornutella
Dark Blue Sedge–  #16 – Psilotetra sp.
Click on the gauge below for the most recent update: