Delaware River Report / Conditions June 1, 2017

Starlight is without power again this morning so we will post a regular report as soon as possible.  Penelec says 10 am.

Now for the release news.  The latest we have heard is that there was no agreement to extend FFMP.  According to the release hotline the current release this morning is still 305 cfs.  That is / was the release being used under FFMP Chart 4C for the last week or so.  That’s the best news.  There is runoff and spill adding to the release so the river is in good shape this morning.

There is definitely a lot of water in the system so hopefully DEP continues to use the FFMP until the principles can agree on a plan moving forward.  The cool weather will stick around at least for the next week or so and that has been a big help.  Hopefully the principles reach an agreement soon.

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 31, 2017

We had some rain yesterday and a brief thunderstorm this morning.  The flows have come up throughout the system but everything looks good this morning.  The levels are still good for wading and floating.  The West, East, and Mainstem around Hancock all look clear.  There is a chance of another brief storm today but the rainfall total in the forecast is only .15″ so we should be fine through the day.  The overcast sky and rain have really helped the fishing over the last couple of days.  Olives, march browns, cahills, gray fox, sulphurs, and caddis have all been on the menu.  The olives have ranged in size from #18  to #26 so definitely carry a lot of those patterns today.

 

Theo with a nice brown on a dry yesterday.  Photo by Steve Shen

Theo with a nice brown on a dry yesterday. Photo by Steve Shen

Hatching:
Sulphur – #16 – Ephemerella dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

West Branch at Stilesville, NY 290 cfs
47°
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY 621 cfs
50°
East Branch at Harvard, NY 344 cfs 50°
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY 1,160 cfs
54°
Mainstem at Lordville, NY 2,050 cfs
56°
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY 500 cfs 54°
Cannonsville Reservoir Release 300 cfs
West Branch at 191 Bridge  N/A 53°
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) 1,140 cfs
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity 100.1%
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity 100%

 

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 30, 2017

Yesterdays rain caused a small bump in flows but the rivers look good this morning and are wadeable.  The flows are already dropping back and we are clear.  The forecast is calling for additional rain but it seems that the amount predicted each day gets downgraded.  Today looks like .15″ unless there is an oddball thunderstorm so we should come through just fine.  The cloud cover and cool temperatures have helped and we are seeing decent hatches of olives, march browns, gray fox, and sulphurs in the evenings.  Caddis are still fishing well and nymphing / swinging wets has been decent before the dry fly activity starts.

 

Andrew's fish from the weekend.  Photo by Bob Lewis

Andrew’s fish from the weekend. Photo by Bob Lewis

Hatching:
Sulphur – #16 – Ephemerella dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Hendrickson – #16 – Ephemerella X (a few still around the West Branch)
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

West Branch at Stilesville, NY 261 cfs
45°
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY 419 cfs
49°
East Branch at Harvard, NY 188 cfs 51°
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY 1,050 cfs
55°
Mainstem at Lordville, NY 1,630 cfs
56°
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY 543 cfs 55°
Cannonsville Reservoir Release 303 cfs
West Branch at 191 Bridge  N/A 53°
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) 511 cfs
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity 100.6%
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity 99.9%

 

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 29, 2017

We woke up to some rain this morning.  The amount of precipitation in today’s forecast has been decreased and it looks like we should end up with around 1/4″.  If they are accurate we may see a minor bum in flows but nothing dramatic and the rivers should stay clear and easy to wade.  It definitely feels and looks like a blue wing olive day so have those patterns in #16 – 26.  People are catching fish on March Browns both by finding fish eating them and using them as searching patterns.  The sulphurs have been an evening hatch and keeping us on the water late.  Caddis have still been the mainstay on the river with a lot of different species hatching.  There’s a healthy mix of bugs out there.  Nymphing has improved in the lower flows with small flies working best.

 

Hatching:
Sulphur – #16 – Ephemerella dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Hendrickson – #16 – Ephemerella X (a few still around the West Branch)
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

West Branch at Stilesville, NY 261 cfs
45°
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY 415 cfs
51°
East Branch at Harvard, NY 173 cfs 54°
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY 716 cfs
58°
Mainstem at Lordville, NY 1,270 cfs
60°
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY 339 cfs 57°
Cannonsville Reservoir Release 303 cfs
West Branch at 191 Bridge  N/A 56°
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) 302 cfs
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity 100.6%
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity 99.9%

 

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 28, 2017

There is a good mix of bugs right now with small olives,  caddis, and march browns making up a good part of the food supply.  We are seeing alot of different caddis but have been most successful on tan #16 -18 patterns.  We did find fish eating march browns so that should just get better and better this week.  The sulphur hatch is growing and should offer some decent evening fishing.  There are still a few small hendricksons on the upper river sections and a few hendrickson spinners around at night.  The weather looks good today with clouds, air temperatures close to 70, and wind gusts staying under 10 mph.  We may see up to 1/4″ of rain which will be good for the rivers if it actually hits us.

 

Bruce and Richard with a nice brown yesterday.  Photo by Tamar Franklin

Bruce and Richard with a nice brown yesterday. Photo by Tamar Franklin

Hatching:
Sulphur – #16 – Ephemerella dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Hendrickson – #16 – Ephemerella X (a few still around the West Branch)
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

West Branch at Stilesville, NY 274 cfs
46°
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY 427 cfs
49°
East Branch at Harvard, NY 185 cfs 53°
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY 795 cfs
57°
Mainstem at Lordville, NY 1,370 cfs
58°
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY 362 cfs 56°
Cannonsville Reservoir Release 303 cfs
West Branch at 191 Bridge  N/A 54°
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) 387 cfs
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity 100.6%
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity 99.9%

 

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 27, 2017

There was a little bump overnight in flows on the Beaverkill and the West Branch above the reservoir.  It wasn’t much of a bump and they are both already dropping.  The rivers look clear in Hancock and everything is in good shape for the weekend.  We have a little mist this morning but there is no precipitation in today’s forecast- just clouds and light winds around 5 mph.  The sulphur hatch seems to be progressing nicely and we are seeing a few more cahills hatching in some areas.  Caddis are still the bread and butter of the river right now so definitely have that box loaded and ready.

 

Bob Lewis at prime time

Bob Lewis at prime time

Hatching:
Sulphur – #16 – Ephemerella dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Hendrickson – #16 – Ephemerella X (a few still around the West Branch)
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

West Branch at Stilesville, NY 280 cfs
47°
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY 456 cfs
50°
East Branch at Harvard, NY 188 cfs 53°
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY 948 cfs
57°
Mainstem at Lordville, NY 1,580 cfs
58°
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY 459 cfs 55°
Cannonsville Reservoir Release 300 cfs
West Branch at 191 Bridge  N/A 54°
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) 502 cfs
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity 100.6%
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity 99.9%

 

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 26, 2017

It looks like most of the rain slid NW of us and after the morning showers we settled into a nice overcast day.  The rivers bumped a little but not enough to really make a difference.  They are already dropping back and everything looks clear this morning.  The color was fine throughout the day yesterday.  That is the third big forecasted rain storm to miss us in the last few weeks.  We had had a little rain this morning but it is not going to even bump the river.  We are still fishing a lot of caddis mixed with a few March Browns and Gray Fox.  The sulphurs are starting and will end up being the next big hatch within the next week.  Some sections are seeing fishable numbers of cahills too.  This looks like a good weekend to fish.  They are downgrading the amount of rain in the forecast and the rivers are in decent shape for wading and floating.

 

Jim with a nice rainbow yesterday.  Photo by Steve Shen

Jim with a nice rainbow yesterday. Photo by Steve Shen

Hatching:
Sulphur – #16 – Ephemerella dorothea
Hendrickson – #16 – Ephemerella X
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Apple Green Caddis #16 – 20 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

West Branch at Stilesville, NY 317 cfs
49°
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY 534 cfs
51°
East Branch at Harvard, NY 209 cfs 52°
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY 857 cfs
56°
Mainstem at Lordville, NY 1,590 cfs
57°
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY 375 cfs 56°
Cannonsville Reservoir Release 299 cfs
West Branch at 191 Bridge  N/A 55°
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) 431 cfs
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity 100.6%
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity 99.9%

 

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 25, 2017

It looks like Pepacton Reservoir has stopped spilling and Cannonsville is coming close.  The spill over Cannonsville is only 162 cfs with a release of 299.  The wind picked up a bit yesterday afternoon as the front came through .  Nymphing was the answer in the wind but there were dry fly fish landed on caddis and small olives.  The March Browns are still coming and that may be a good option if you find some wind protected areas on the Mainstem.  It looks like some afternoon rain heading our way but so far it’s been a light mist.  The last two storms missed us so we’ll see what happens.  If the rain spreads out over a long period the West Branch should come through just fine.  Hopefully most of it will soak into the ground.

 

Mike with a nice one yesterday.  Photo by Steve Shen

Mike with a nice one yesterday. Photo by Steve Shen

Hatching:
Sulphur – #16 – Ephemerella dorothea
Hendrickson – #16 – Ephemerella X
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Apple Green Caddis #16 – 20 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

West Branch at Stilesville, NY 370 cfs
52°
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY 561 cfs
52°
East Branch at Harvard, NY 197 cfs 55°
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY 773 cfs
58°
Mainstem at Lordville, NY 1,490 cfs
60°
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY 327 cfs 56°
Cannonsville Reservoir Release 299 cfs
West Branch at 191 Bridge  N/A 55°
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) 407 cfs
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity 100.9%
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity 99.9%

 

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 24, 2017

All the river levels are good and water temperatures are looking great this morning.  We have some sun shining which should help get the mid-day caddis active.  Hopefully some end up on the water offering a chance of earlier dry fly fishing.  There are a few hendricksons holding on in the upper sections and March Browns are moving up the system.  the sulphur hatch should get better towards the weekend so don’t get off the river early.  The nymphing has picked up with the lower water levels and the fish are eating smaller nymphs that match the olives and sulphurs hatching.  We  may see some rain over the next few days but the ground should absorb most of the precipitation.  The weather people seem to be changing the forecast every few hours and it seems like they are wrong most of the time anyway.  They definitely called the last two storms wrong and they missed us completely.

 

Louis with a wide bodied rainbow yesterday. Photo by Bruce Miller

Louis with a wide bodied rainbow yesterday. Photo by Bruce Miller

Hatching:
Sulphur – #16 – Ephemerella dorothea
Hendrickson – #16 – Ephemerella X
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Apple Green Caddis #16 – 20 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

West Branch at Stilesville, NY 569 cfs
53°
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY 704 cfs
52°
East Branch at Harvard, NY 206 cfs 52°
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY 826 cfs
55°
Mainstem at Lordville, NY 1,720 cfs
57°
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY 359 cfs 54°
Cannonsville Reservoir Release 251 cfs
West Branch at 191 Bridge  N/A 55°
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) 470 cfs
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity 101%
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity 100%

 

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 23, 2017

There are a few hendricksons left but the caddis and march browns were the main hatches yesterday.  There are a few sulphurs and cahills showing up on the warmer stretches that should make the dry fly fishing good towards the weekend.  The water throughout the system has now dropped back to comfortable wade levels and temperatures remain good.  Today looks like a good fishing day with low winds, air temperatures in the low 70’s, and mostly sunshine.  The sun should bring more caddis out of the trees giving the fish more food to find.

 

Louis with a nice rainbow.  Photo by Bruce Miller

Louis with a nice rainbow. Photo by Bruce Miller

Hatching:
Sulphur – #16 – Ephemerella dorothea
Hendrickson – #16 – Ephemerella X
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Apple Green Caddis #16 – 20 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

West Branch at Stilesville, NY 655 cfs
54°
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY 688 cfs
51°
East Branch at Harvard, NY 247 cfs 51°
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY 914 cfs
54°
Mainstem at Lordville, NY 1,830 cfs
55°
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY 390 cfs 53°
Cannonsville Reservoir Release 251 cfs
West Branch at 191 Bridge  N/A 52°
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) 539 cfs
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity 101.1%
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity 100.1%

 

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 22, 2017

The flows are still dropping throughout the system and wading is no longer an issue this morning.  Water temperatures look good with most of the system in the mid 50’s.  Hendricksons are still holding on in some sections and the March Brown hatch is progressing with some fish eating them.  We have seen huge amounts of caddis lately and the fish have been rising to them when they are are on the surface.  Today feels like a great blue winged olive day so definitely have that box ready.  The lower water levels have made nymphing a more viable option and we are catching fish before the hatch on the mayfly nymphs and caddis pupa.  We should see some rain showers today but the forecasted totals are negligible.  Air temperatures will be around 60 which is a welcome relief after the July-type temperatures over the weekend.

Bruce Miller ending the weekend with a chunky brown

Bruce Miller ending the weekend with a chunky brown

Hatching:
Hendrickson – #12 – 14 – Ephemerella subvaria
Hendrickson – #16 – Ephemerella X
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Apple Green Caddis #16 – 20 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

West Branch at Stilesville, NY 655 cfs
54°
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY 746 cfs
52°
East Branch at Harvard, NY 285 cfs 54°
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY 1,000 cfs
56°
Mainstem at Lordville, NY 2,040 cfs
58°
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY 403 cfs 55°
Cannonsville Reservoir Release 251 cfs
West Branch at 191 Bridge  N/A 54°
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) 544 cfs
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity 101.6%
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity 100.2%

 

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 21, 2017

The flows have dropped back throughout the system and we have more safe wadeable water than we’ve seen all season.  The West Branch has finally dropped below 1,000 cfs and is looking good this morning. We’ve had cool nights that have kept the water temperatures in check despite the sun and hot air temperatures.  There are still some hendricksons around and a lot of caddis.  Bring a lot of caddis patterns.  Hendrickson spinners are still making a good showing on the upper rivers.  The March Brown hatch is making it’s way up river and should get stronger over the next week.  A few cahills are showing here and there and the sulphurs can’t be too far behind.  It looks like the next few days will have clouds and rain but the amount of precipitation looks low overall.

Jack's first Delaware dry fly fish was an awesome one!  Photo by Steve Shen

Jack’s first Delaware dry fly fish was an awesome one! Photo by Steve Shen

Hatching:
Hendrickson – #12 – 14 – Ephemerella subvaria
Hendrickson – #16 – Ephemerella X
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Apple Green Caddis #16 – 20 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

West Branch at Stilesville, NY 723 cfs
56°
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY 864 cfs
53°
East Branch at Harvard, NY 348 cfs 52°
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY 1,110 cfs
55°
Mainstem at Lordville, NY 2,290 cfs
58°
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY 444 cfs 55°
Cannonsville Reservoir Release 251 cfs
West Branch at 191 Bridge  N/A 54°
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) 617 cfs
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity 101.6%
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity 100.2%

 

Close