Well the weather channel was correct and we had a pretty decent thunderstorm overnight.  The West Branch at Hale Eddy hit 1,700 cfs but is dropping quickly and is 1,200 cfs this morning.  We’ll continue to drop throughout the day.  As it gets lower it will level out a bit and not drop as fast.  We should be in fine shape for the weekend.  Judging by the bugs on the door this morning the rain pushed lots of olives, sulphurs, and isonychias to hatch.  The best news is that we are on a cooling trend. The high will be in the 70’s today and the nights are going to be in the 50’s.  The runoff is warmer than the release but the rivers will cool as the water drops.  Today looks like a good streamer day but bring a dry fly rod for the big slower pools.

Les Hughes sent us this picture of Anne from the weekend. Awesome fish!

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
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:

A big thanks to Pig Farm Ink.  Five guys jumped in a van and drove 15 hours straight to pull garbage out of a river they’ve never seen before. Our river.  Their next stop is a river cleanup Saturday August 26th in Swanton, VT at the Missisquoi Wildlife Refuge.  Followed by a flytying event in Central Park on Tuesday August 29th.  These guys are driving around introducing people to flyfishing and cleaning rivers.  Let’s help them keep it going.  To support them shop for Pig Farm Ink gear here http://pigfarmink.com/ or just Paypal them some beer and gas money to us at flyfish@thedelawareriverclub.com.  Put a note on it for Pig Farm and we’ll get it to them.

All the volunteers did an awesome job. 71 tires and a dog house

Today looks like it will be a mirror image of yesterday.  Fog in the morning with sun breaking through.  It’s going to be hot with highs in the mid 80’s.  Luckily we are on a cooling trend beginning tonight setting us up for great weather over the weekend.  We should have some nights down in the high 40’s which should cool some of the river sections out of reach of the WB 500 cfs release. Small olives still seem to be the key with some sulphurs and cahills mixed in.  There have been some fish landed on tricos in the morning but be patient- it’s been tough to pin down the timing of the spinner fall.

Hatching: Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp. Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp. Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp. Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon 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:

Yesterday started off with decent fog and clouds blocking the sun.  That gave way to sun in the afternoon.  The West Branch fished well with streamers before the sun broke through.  We’ve been starting with dark patterns and then switching to light based on the fish’s mood.  In the afternoon people were catching some fish blind casting bigger olives and cahills.  The river flows have dropped back to better levels and we are clearing.  We are definitely clear enough to fish and the West should continue to drop slowly this morning.  It’s going to be a mix of clouds and sun today and a little warmer than yesterday.

Bruce with a nice one yesterday. Photo by Bob Lewis

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
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:

Thanks to all of the people who joined the River Cleanup yesterday.  There is a lot less garbage in the river his morning due to all of their hard work.  Dette’s won the competition with a lot of tires and boats full of trash.  In total there is dumpster less trash out there plus 71 tires removed from the system.  Thanks to all of the participants, Pig Farm Ink, Troegs Brewing, Costa Del Mar, and Simms.  It was pretty awesome to see 40 people who love the Delaware get out there and make good things happen for the system.  Next year’s cleanup will be bigger and better!

Yesterday was a mix of weather.  We had fog and decent clouds in the morning.  Add in the off color water and it was perfect for streamers.  The rest of the day was a mix of sun and clouds trading back and forth for a bit. After dark we were hit with a brief storm that was heavy for a bit.  That’s why the West Branch is flowing at 900 cfs this morning.  It has peaked and is dropping back already this morning.  This is going to be a good morning to get out there before the fog burns off and throw streamers.  We should see some sun today mixed with a few clouds.  Winds will be under 10 mph with air temperatures reaching the high 70’s.   There are a lot of olives on the building this morning so definitely keep that box handy in case of risers.

Jeff and Dave with a big Tiger yesterday morning. Photo by Bruce Miller

Jared found some tires, toys, and lawn furniture in the river!

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
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:

Yesterday we had a nice steady rain with a couple of periods of heavier stuff.  The ground soaked up most of it and the rivers held together well. It finally caught up to some of the feeder creeks in the late afternoon and we had some color and the West Branch shot up to 1,400 cfs at Hale Eddy.  Once the rain stopped the West Branch dropped back just as fast and we are already down to 756 cfs this morning.  The WB above Oquaga Creek barely budged and is in normal shape. This looks like a good streamer morning if you can get out before the sun burns through the fog and hits the water.  We should see a mix of sun and clouds today with negligible winds.  There is a chance of an afternoon storm but the precipitation should be .04″.  Hopefully we see more clouds than sun and it pushes the olives to hatch on the lower WB.

Today is our river cleanup day so stop by if you’re in the area to meet some cool people from Pig Farm Ink and Troegs Brewery.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
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:

We woke up to a light rain this morning but so far it’s soaked into the ground.  It looks like the first round of heavy weather went south of us.  There is the potential for a few storms this afternoon but they’re going to be isolated so we’ll have to wait and see.  It’s nice to see the clouds and light rain after the last few days of sun.  This has been The Summer of Olives and this definitely feels like another olive day.  Hopefully the weather pushes a few more sulphurs, isonychias, golden drakes, and cahills.  We’ve seen isolated decent hatching of those but it would be nice to see it river wide.  These humid days always have to potential to bring out the flying ants too.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
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:

The forecast has changed a bit and Accuweather has now pushed today’s rain to tonight and tomorrow.  We’ll have fog this morning breaking up into partly sunny skies.  Winds should be fine at 5 mph and gusts only to 7 mph.  It looks like most of the clouds will come in right around dark.  If the forecast holds stick to the normal Summer program.  If you’re looking for daytime dry fly fishing stay above Hale Eddy on the West Branch or above Harvard on the East Branch.  We should still see the normal sulphurs and olives.  If you want to nymph stay below Hale Eddy on the West due to the algae.  If the forecast is correct we should see good olive weather tomorrow opening up more river miles to daytime hatching.  For something totally different check out the smallmouth fishing on the lower Mainstem.  A river smallmouth fight is hard to beat.

Last nights top water eater

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
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:

The sun was out for most of the afternoon but it gave way to a light evening rain.  The river flows bumped slightly but not enough to really matter.  We’re still looking good with the 500 cfs release on the West Branch.  Air temperatures should stay in the high 70’s today with sunshine.  The best day time dry fly fishing will be on the upper West Branch and upper East Branch.  look for the coldest water.  There are still olives and sulphurs hatching.  The lower West Branch is definitely better for nymphing.  The dry fly activity will mostly be after the sun drops behind the hills.  Olives and a few Cahills have been around.

This Saturday. There will be beer

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
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:

So far today looks like a decent one.  The flows have dropped back and we woke up to a light rain.  We should see intermittent clouds and sun with a chance of a small thunderstorm.  Winds should stay around 6 mph according to Accuweather.  Precipitation should be less than 1/10″.  This feels like an olive day.  Otherwise we are in the same pattern of olives and sulphurs on the upper river sections and olives in the evening on the lower sections.  There is a shot of Golden Drakes and Cahills (a lot of Stenocrons) on any section.  We are even finding some Cahills mixed with the White Flies down in Callicoon while we’re smallmouth fishing.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
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:

At some point one of the localized storms hit a feeder and the West Branch had some color in it by the afternoon.  It stayed fishable but was definitely unexpected. When the sun broke through the clouds it was definitely hot.  Hopefully people found some shaded banks to work.  The WB is looking good this morning.  The runoff has subsided and the flow at Hale Eddy is 575 cfs.  We’re mostly fishing small olives with some sulphurs mixed in.  Wunderground is forecasting a mostly cloudy sky with air temperatures in the high 70’s.  Winds should stay very low.

The flow at Hale Eddy is dropping back to normal

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
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:

We had some rain overnight and the river flows bumped up slightly.  We are already dropping back this morning and the rivers look clear in Hancock.  Most of the storms slid North of us and we ended up with more afternoon sunshine than originally forecasted.  The lower West Branch had some little olives in the evening while the upper West had a mix of some sulphurs and olives.  The upper West is your best bet for dry flies.  If you want to nymph stay lower due to the algae.  Wunderground is calling for a partly cloudy sky with winds under 10 mph.  That probably means sunshine so head up river for daytime dryfly action or look for areas that get early afternoon shade.  The lower Mainstem looks good for smallmouth with decent flows and temperatures in Callicoon.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
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:

We were hit with a storm yesterday afternoon but the system looks to be in fine shape here in Hancock.  The West Branch flow barely bumped and remains in good shape for wading and floating.  The Beaverkill flow bumped to 589 cfs so the lower East Branch and Mainstem will rise a bit today.  We have a slight chance of an brief afternoon storm today but the probability looks less than 50% and the amount of rain should be negligible.  There is quite a bit of fog on the water this morning and some clouds hanging around.  Winds should stay under 10 mph.  Wunderground doesn’t show much sunshine in the forecast so it looks like a decent olive day.  We’ll still see the sulphurs on the upper WB and hopefully the weather pushes the Cahills and Isonychias.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
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: