October 20, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 20, 2013

So much for the “calm” winds predicted for yesterday – the white caps on Lake Lenore definitely told a different story. There were bugs, and fish ready to eat, but the all day breezes did not allow the former to be seen by the latter, so rises were few and far between, as the wind did not die down until well into dark. We had cold overnight temps, which will definitely slow the start to the action today, and are looking at actual fall temps in the mid 50s, with a mix of clouds and sun. NYC dropped the release a bit again today, which will certainly have an affect on the West, but the Main should not feel too much of a jolt.

Les Hughes holds a beautifully-colored Main Stem Rainbow caught on an Iso wet tied by Michael Johnson. Photo: Lindsey Flexner

Isonychia bicolor – Iso – Slate Drake – #12-2XL, #12

Stenonema species – Various Light Cahills – #14

Pseudocloeon species – BWO – #22 – sporadic

Ephemerella lata – Dark BWO – #18

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphurs – #16

Current Flow Conditions:

October 19, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 19, 2013

Interesting day on the river Friday. Even with the flow drop, the fish were active in the morning, and we were seeing bugs early, until the wind picked up around lunch time. There were some seriously stiff breezes which made casting fun, but the bugs reappeared in evening (Isos and Pseudos), and the fish were definitely up and on them. Today we are already starting cloudy, and there are rain showers predicted for later in the day and into the evening. The actual amount of precipitation does not look like much, but with calm winds and overcast skies, we could see some excellent hatching activity!

We’re glad to have guide Kevan Smaracko back from Alaska, and here he’s holding his girlfriend Tanya’s great WB Brown from this week! Photo: Bob Lewis

Isonychia bicolor – Iso – Slate Drake – #12-2XL, #12

Stenonema species – Various Light Cahills – #14

Pseudocloeon species – BWO – #22 – sporadic

Ephemerella lata – Dark BWO – #18

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphurs – #16

Current Flow Conditions:

October 18, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 18, 2013

Hey! Some Rain! The witchdoctors actually made a 100% chance of rain prediction for last night, and lo and behold, they were right! Unfortunately, it means that NYC is turning off the spigot. We’re back down to a 300 cfs release today, not sure what that means for the fish, as we are expecting a bit more cloud cover and rain this morning, yielding its way to sunshine in the afternoon. What an aweso me fall……for all those non-fisher-folk. Yesterday was a pretty decent day on the river, with bugs and active, happy fish once we hit the afternoon hours, once the sun dropped down a bit. I also want to say thanks to all of you continuing to read, even though I have been demoted on the “fishing prediction scale” from Nostradamus to Miss Cleo. I am always looking for a bit more consistency, let’s hope the river gives it to us today!

Kal Kallaugher with an awesome looking Brown from his float with Bob this past Wednesday. Photo: Bob Lewis

Isonychia bicolor – Iso – Slate Drake – #12-2XL, #12

Stenonema species – Various Light Cahills – #14

Pseudocloeon species – BWO – #22 – sporadic

Ephemerella lata – Dark BWO – #18

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphurs – #16

Current Flow Conditions:

October 17, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 17, 2013

A mixed bag out there yesterday, with the West seeing plenty of active fish subsurface with little bug activity, and the Main having the opposite! The fishing did pick up as the day progressed, and active feeders were found on the Main from Stockport down on both Stenos and Pseudos. The fish on the West had streamers on the mind, but were also happy to take a well-drifted nymph. Today, we’re back almost to 70 degrees, but with moderate to heavy clouds predicted. If it stays that way, the pseudos should be out in force on the West Branch as well, and the Main should continue to produce as well.

While some are colored up, plenty of our ‘bows almost have that steelhead look! Photo: Jeff White

Isonychia bicolor – Iso – Slate Drake – #12-2XL, #12

Stenonema species – Various Light Cahills – #14

Pseudocloeon species – BWO – #22 – sporadic

Ephemerella lata – Dark BWO – #18

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphurs – #16

Current Flow Conditions:

October 16, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 16, 2013

The Upper West Branch is now closed, and based on how it fished yesterday, it is not as sad as one would think. The increased water shocked the fish a bit, and they were slow to take, and slow to move, no matter what you were doing. The Main Stem however, fished pretty darn well. The dry fly fishing was spotty but there, and those who did swing nymphs and throw streamers saw some very active fish. Today we’ve got similar weather, and another baby bump in the flows from Cannonsville, but a few more thick clouds predicted, which will hopefully make the bugs a bit happier than yesterday, and get the fish off their lazy fins.

Feed ’em a streamer! Photo: Bruce Miller

What’s Hatching:

Isonychia bicolor – Iso – Slate Drake – #12-2XL, #12

Stenonema species – Various Light Cahills – #14

Pseudocloeon species – BWO – #22 – sporadic

Ephemerella lata – Dark BWO – #18

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphurs – #16

Current Flow Conditions:

October 15, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 15, 2013

While the cloud cover certainly materialized, it did not bring about the kind of fishing we hoped for yesterday, at least on the West Branch. There were smatterings of bugs, but no truly great hatches, and even the sub-surface bite was off as well – all likely a result of the flows being pumped up, which happened again last night, albeit by a tiny amount. Hopefully it will remain steady at that level, and the fish/bugs are not too disturbed by it. We have another cooler, cloudier day forecast that should encourage all off our winged and finned aquatic friends  to play nice today! Also, today is the last day of the season to fish from Deposit down to Monument Pool – it closes tomorrow! All the border waters from there downstream, as well as the Lower East Branch will remain open, leaving us plenty of water to stalk!

A colorful WB Brown caught by Chris Fielding. They are all getting to look like this! Photo by: George Fielding

What’s Hatching:

Isonychia bicolor – Iso – Slate Drake – #12-2XL, #12

Stenonema species – Various Light Cahills – #14

Pseudocloeon species – BWO – #22 – sporadic

Ephemerella lata – Dark BWO – #18

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphurs – #16

Current Flow Conditions:

October 14, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 14, 2013

What a beautiful day we had here yesterday…..if you’re anyone other than a fisherman! Bright, warm sun made for fantastic foliage viewing, but definitely depressed the bugs and fish until it started to head behind the hills. Very little was happening on the Main and East, but good flurries of hatches were seen on the West Branch, primarily pseudos, but with some stenos and the occasional iso thrown in for good measure. Today we again have the ambiguous forecast of “clouds and sun,” albeit with slightly cooler temps, in the mid-60s. IF those clouds do materialize, and with the bump in flow from Cannonsville, we could be seeing a productive day.

A newly-molted Steno spinner with its shuck. Go out and get the fish working! Photo by: Jeff White

What’s Hatching:

Isonychia bicolor – Iso – Slate Drake – #12-2XL, #12

Stenonema species – Various Light Cahills – #14

Pseudocloeon species – BWO – #22 – sporadic

Ephemerella lata – Dark BWO – #18

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphurs – #16

Current Flow Conditions:

October 13, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 13, 2013

My disdain for weathermen hit an all-time high yesterday. Or perhaps they have just changed the meaning of “mostly cloudy and calm” to “bright, beautiful cloudless skies with stiff breezes at times,” as that was what happened with the weather yesterday. Despite this, there was some insect activity during the bright part of the day, and there were some fish active on nymphs on the Main Stem and lower West. Definitely not the banner day we were looking for, that much is for sure. Today’s forecast is at least ambiguous, with the mysterious “Sun and Clouds” being the witchdoctors’ call. Our flow has been increased by a teaspoon to 314 CFS, which will hopefully continue to go up as Montague drops (they need to maintain 1,750 cfs down there). Otherwise, I just plan to wait and see what happens today. Regardless of the weather, at some point we will see our little winged friends show up, and hopefully the fish as well.

A nice, healthy, West Branch Rainbow. Photo Courtesy of Bruce Miller

What’s Hatching:

Isonychia bicolor – Iso – Slate Drake – #12-2XL, #12

Stenonema species – Various Light Cahills – #14

Pseudocloeon species – BWO – #22 – sporadic

Ephemerella lata – Dark BWO – #18

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphurs – #16

Current Flow Conditions:

October 12, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 12, 2013

A bit better out there yesterday for some, but there was definitely a dearth of bugs for others. The hatches definitely started later in the day, but also continued a bit longer into evening than they have been as of late, shutting down gradually from 6:30 on, instead of the “lightswitch” effect we’ve been having around 6 lately. The bugs themselves were the same – Isos, Hebes, Stenos, and Pseudos, with the fish focusing mostly on the first and last of that list. Today, we’re looking at mostly cloudy skies, with calm winds, and temps around 70. Constant pressure should also help to get the fish and bugs active, making for a good Saturday!

Ken House with a CHUNK of a brown – built more like a shad! Photo by: Jeff White

What’s Hatching:

Isonychia bicolor – Iso – Slate Drake – #12-2XL, #12

Stenonema species – Various Light Cahills – #14

Pseudocloeon species – BWO – #22 – sporadic

Ephemerella lata – Dark BWO – #18

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphurs – #16

Current Flow Conditions:

October 11, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 11, 2013

Sometimes, the fish are just bastards. With cloudy, misty skies and nice cooler temps, we actually had what we hoped for yesterday afternoon – bugs! Good numbers of Psuedos, Hebes, and even a decent flush or two of Isos came down the pipe. The fish were rising from about 3 o’clock on, but I am still trying to find someone who figured out what the heck they were eating. Early on, a few would take Iso duns or emergers, but that quickly ceased, and the mystery rises began. Pseudos going untouched, then an immediate sub-surface rise right afterwards. Emergers, wets, spinners – the didn’t want any of it. Sometimes I guess the river just needs to take you to school. We are expecting a similar day today, but with warmer temps predicted. I would predict we’ll see some of the same action timing-wise – let’s just hope the fish decide they want to cooperate a bit more!

A few of these were actually hatching as well, but the fish ignored them too. Photo by: Jeff White

What’s Hatching:

Isonychia bicolor – Iso – Slate Drake – #12-2XL, #12

Stenonema species – Various Light Cahills – #14

Pseudocloeon species – BWO – #22 – sporadic

Ephemerella lata – Dark BWO – #18

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphurs – #16

Current Flow Conditions:

October 10, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 10, 2013

Mixed bag on the water yesterday, depending on where you were fishing. The West had mediocre bug activity, but fish that were definitely hungry, and eager to eat. Occasional risers could be caught if cast to, taking our favorite – Iso duns. The Main was pretty quiet all afternoon, with very little hatching activity to speak of, and even fewer fish up and about. As the temp dropped yesterday evening, pretty much all activity ceased – light switch style.  Today we are looking a cool, cloudy day with passing showers here and there. The lower air pressure should get some of the fish up and moving again on the Main, and will hopefully encourage more fish on the West to show themselves as well!

Hey! We found a way to get Bruce to smile for the camera! Land a MONSTER Rainbow! Photo: Joe DeSole

What’s Hatching:

Isonychia bicolor – Iso – Slate Drake – #12-2XL, #12

Stenonema species – Various Light Cahills – #14

Pseudocloeon species – BWO – #22 – sporadic

Ephemerella lata – Dark BWO – #18

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphurs – #16

Current Flow Conditions:

October 9, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 9, 2013

Not too bad out there yesterday. It was definitely a pool-by-pool scenario, with certain areas fishing well, and others pretty quiet. The wind definitely pushed bugs back to the vegetation when it was up, but once the sun dropped down, it allowed for some pretty decent spinner action, along with decent duns popping off as well. Today, we’ve got more clouds in the forecast which is always a boon, with temps in the mid-60s. If the pressure remains constant we should see a repeat of yesterday’s hatching, but hopefully this time with a few more fish poking their heads up and looking for food!

Plenty of Stenos were showing up yesterday as well! Both duns and spinners. Photo: Bart Larmouth

What’s Hatching:

Isonychia bicolor – Iso – Slate Drake – #12-2XL, #12

Stenonema species – Various Light Cahills – #14

Pseudocloeon species – BWO – #22 – sporadic

Ephemerella lata – Dark BWO – #18

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphurs – #16

Current Flow Conditions: