August 13, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 13, 2017

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:

August 12, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 12, 2017

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:

August 11, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 11, 2017

Today looks like a really good day to be on the water.  We have cloud cover already.  Winds should be light and stay under 10 mph.  There is a chance of a couple storms moving through but so far there isn’t much on the radar.  Wunderground is showing the best potential for storms is overnight so hopefully we will keep the clouds, low wind, and maybe a light rain.  The aair temperature is staying in the 70’s today.  It definitely looks like an olive day but we’ve been seeing decent sulphurs and cahills on these types of days so have those patterns handy.  Golden Drakes are showing here and there too.  The overcast sky should help the nymphing on the lower West Branch before the hatching starts.

Ed has been having a good few days on the Delaware

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:

August 10, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 10, 2017

Today will pretty much be like yesterday.  We’re looking at more sun today with warmer air temperatures.  Winds look less than 5 mph.  Mid-day dry fly action should be best above Hale Eddy.  Nymphing will be better below Hale.  The dry fly action on the lower river will pick up towards evening.  Think shade and drop offs.  Besides the sulphurs and olives of every size carry a few cahills, isonychias, and golden drakes. Keep an eye out for flying ants.  We usually look for real humid weather but it’s about that time of year.  The water temperatures on the lower East Branch, lower Beaverkill, and Mainstem all shot up yesterday due to the sun and air temps.  They are starting off warm this morning.  Let’s give them a break.

Ron and Ed with a nice rainbow to the net yesterday

We should have some rain moving in tomorrow afternoon and lasting into the weekend.

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:

August 9, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 9, 2017

We had decent cloud cover for most of yesterday until the afternoon when the sun broke through.  No rain though so the rivers are dropping back to normal and everything is in decent shape for wading this morning.  We’re going to have more sun and warmer air temperatures today.  If you’re looking for mid day dry fly action head up to Deposit and Stilesville on the West Branch or above Harvard on the East Branch.  Sulphurs and little olives will be your best bets.  If you’d like to nymph mid day stay below Hale Eddy on the WB to avoid the green algae.  Smaller nymphs have been working better over the last couple of days.  Winds should be 6 mph or less today.  The dry fly fishing on the lower WEB should pick up as the sun drops behind the hills or look for pools that get mid afternoon shade.  The lower EB, lower Beaverkill, and Mainstem will heat up quicker today with the sunshine.  Check the water temps with a thermometer first.

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:

August 8, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 8, 2017

We had a nice steady rain all day yesterday.  We haven’t seen a good rain like that in quite a while.  The rivers stayed in good shape all day.  Water temperatures dropped back due to the cooler air temperatures, rain, and cloud cover.  Some people did well on streamers and nymphs while others found fish eating olives and sulphurs.  Things are looking good this morning.   There are some white flies beginning to show on the lower sections.  Today looks great.  We will have a little more sun but there should be some clouds around.  Winds will be 10 mph or less and we are keeping the cooler air temperatures with a high around 70.  The water temperatures may come up on the Mainstem, lower East and lower Beaverkill but they look really good this morning.  Overall we should keep the cooler temperatures through the weekend.

Joe with a hefty brown yesterday. Photo by Bruce Miller

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
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:

August 7, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 7, 2017

The river cleared up pretty well and we had some sun poking through the clouds in the afternoon.  We’re in our normal summer program so afternoon sulphurs and olives on the upper river sections and evening olives and cahills on the lower sections. Clouds and rain will push the bugs a little earlier on the lower sections. Nymphing is definitely better on the lower sections due to the algae in Deposit.  We’re coming off a cool night and the daytime temperatures will stay in the low to mid 60’s today.  So far we’ve only had a brief shower but we should see more rain over the next few hours.  They have been decreasing the predicted rain totals since yesterday.  This should be a decent streamer day on the lower West Branch but we should see some decent dry fly action too.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
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:

August 6, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 6, 2017

Oquaga Creek was pushing a lot of water into the West Branch yesterday.  The river was a chalky color rather than brown making it decent for throwing streamers.  We found mixing up the streamer selection made the difference and finally settled on small, dark patterns.  The water was clear enough for fish to rise and there were some eating in the evening when the olives hatched.  The Upper West Branch above Oquaga was in fine shape and had the normal hatches of sulphurs and olives.  We are coming off a cool night so the water temperatures are starting off a couple of degrees cooler this morning.  Today looks good with partly cloudy skies and air temperatures in the low 70’s.  Winds should stay in the single digits.

Tim with a nice one yesterday. Photo by Bruce MIller

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
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:

August 5, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 5, 2017

We had some very localized thunderstorms yesterday that did add some water to the system.  The West Branch is climbing at Hale Eddy but is clear enough to fish this morning in Hancock.  Stilesville is still pretty steady and is flowing at 526 cfs- the same as yesterday morning.  Streamers could be a good choice early with the higher flows on the lower West Branch.  So far it is clear enough for the fish to rise if the olives and cahills hatch in the afternoon.  The river above Oquaga Creek should be fine and hold the usual mix of afternoon olives and sulphurs.  We should see cloud cover most of the day but no rain.  There is a slight chance of a passing shower but it looks slim.

Denis is the evening fog. Photo by Samantha Dennis

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
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:

August 4, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 4, 2017

The thunderstorms in yesterday’s forecast missed us.  The rivers are still dropping this morning and everything is clear.  We’re still fishing sulphurs and olives on the upper river sections with cahills and a few isonycias mixed in- heavier on the cahills.  There have been some golden drakes around but the majority of the fishing is on smaller flies.  There are Tricos around but spinners have been more productive in the morning.  Water temperatures remain good on the West Branch and Upper East Branch.  The lower East, lower Beaverkill, and Mainstem have all warmed up again after the last few days.  We may see some afternoon thunderstorms today but we’ll see.  A lot of them have been sliding either north or south of us.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
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:

August 3, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 3, 2017

Well the weather report said there was a chance of a thunderstorm yesterday.  We definitely got one.  We had a good rain, wind, and a little hail.  We lost power for a few hours in the afternoon but everything returned to normal by the evening.  Balls Creek seemed to be the only one spewing color in the afternoon.  That’s due to some construction farther upstream.  That cleared by dark and all of the rivers look good this morning.  The flows bumped slightly on the eastern drainage and all of the river temps are starting off a few degrees colder than yesterday. The upper West Branch had the usual small olives and sulphurs.  The lower West definitely fished better with nymphs.  Today looks decent with cloud cover and air temperatures in the high 70’s.  Winds should stay under 5 mph.  There is another chance of a late afternoon thunderstorm but we’ll have to watch the radar to see how it tracks.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
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:

August 2, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 2, 2017

Yesterday the clouds appeared later than expected.  We had to deal with the sunshine early but we even saw a very brief late afternoon shower.  Sulphurs and olives were the main hatches on the upper West Branch.  The sunshine and water temps pushed the hatching late on the West.  Nymphing has been the most productive method on the lower section until the sun drops behind the hills.  We may see some storms move through today.  If they track over us we may see some earlier hatching below Hale Eddy.  The total amount of precipitation in the forecast is negligible so we’re really counting on the cloud cover.  The Mainstem, lower East Branch and lower Beaverkill are all warming up after the last few days of heat and sun.  Stick to the upper East and the West Branch.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
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: