April 27, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 27, 2017

Dry fly time is here!   Yesterday was the day we were waiting for.  Hendricksons on the water and fish eating on top.  It seems everyone we talked to found and landed fish on dry flies.  Besides the hendricksons some sections of river saw decent blue quill hatches.  Definitely carry your small black caddis patterns too.  The best part is that yesterday was only the beginning.  The forecast looks great for the rest of the week with only slight chances of showers, come cloud cover, and manageable winds.  the water levels are dropping and looking better each day.  The reservoir spills are subsiding so we may get some decent wading levels in the next few days.

John with beautiful dry fly brown. Photo by Jared Makowski

Hatching:
Hendrickson – #12 – 14 – Ephemerella subvaria
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.

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April 26, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 26, 2017

The rivers look good this morning.  We did have some rain overnight but either we received less than predicted or the ground and vegetation absorbed most of it.  All the rivers around Hancock are running clear.  There is a slight bump in flows on the Beaverkill but so far it’s negligible.  The West Branch and the Mainstem are both still dropping as the runoff and spill subsides.  Streamers are still catching fish and the hatches are getting better each day.  Hendricksons, blue quills, and black caddis are definite must haves right now.  The weather looks great today with overcast skies and winds gusting to 5 mph.  Looking at the week long forecast we should see really good fishing through the weekend.

Slowly dropping back to normal.  Hopefully we will be wading soon

Hatching:
Hendrickson – #12 – 14 – Ephemerella subvaria
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

April 25, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 25, 2017

The dry fly fishing we’ve been waiting for has begun.  Yesterday seemed to be the first day the fish were happy and really eating on top.  We had a good mix of blue quills and hendricksons out there in the afternoon.  It took a while to get going but once the water warmed up enough things started to happen.  We have warm temperatures ahead so it should just get better and better over the next week.  The rivers are still dropping back and we’re seeing more people wading even if it’s along the edges.  We do have some rain coming this afternoon with a shot of .43″ as a possibility.  So far we are seeing a light shower and everything looks fine.  The greatest possibility of receiving the rain comes after dark.  After tonight the rest of the week looks fairly dry with a few light showers and warm air temperatures.

It’s time

Water temps are looking great

Hatching:
Hendrickson – #12 – 14 – Ephemerella subvaria
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

April 24, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 24, 2017

Yesterday was the nicest day we’ve seen all year.  Low winds, sunshine, and comfortable air temperatures.  Today looks like a mirror image but with even less wind.  1 mph mid day from the East climbing to 8 mph in the evening.  It’s going to be a great day on the water.  The rivers are dropping back and there are a few people wading some sections.  Streamers are still catching fish and we are seeing hendricksons, blue quills, and black caddis.  The early hatches can be a bit sporadic in the beginning as they grow so be patient out there looking for risers.

Dave with a nice fish from the weekend. Photo by Dan Treadwell

Hatching:
Hendrickson – #12 – 14 – Ephemerella subvaria
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

April 23, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 23, 2017

We found fish eating streamers and dry flies yesterday.  It was a bit chilly in the afternoon but the bugs and fish didn’t seem to mind.  White streamers worked well and for dry flies fish were hooked on blue quills and even hendricksons in some spots.  It looked like the true start of the dry fly fishing.  We should see that improve even  more over the next week as the water drops, air temperatures increase, and water temperatures continue to rise.  Today looks absolutely beautiful with air temperatures in the 60’s, sunshine, and very light winds.   Wading will be safest and best still on the Beaverkill and Willowemoc.  There are a few spots on the Delaware you can get out a bit and fish but you will definitely increase your chances of success by fishing from a boat.  It’s so nice to see rising fish after that cold, cold March.

Tim with a dry fly caught rainbow yesterday. Photo by Bruce Miller

Hatching:
Hendrickson – #12 – 14 – Ephemerella subvaria
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

April 22, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 22, 2017

The East Branch came through the storms in good shape and the West Branch has cleared up nicely overnight.  Both rivers look great this morning.  All of the rivers are running high and are definitely fishable from a boat.  If you are looking to wade your best options are the upper Beaverkill and the Willowemoc.  We are doing well on streamers in the high water.  You may see some dry fly activity in the big, slow pools but streamers are the way to go today.  White has been the color.  If you happen to see a rising fish we are still seeing olives, blue quills, black caddis, and early stoneflies.  Today feels like Spring with air temperatures in the low 50’s, winds 10 mph and below, and some great cloud cover.  We shouldn’t see any additional rain today.

Tim found a few nice fish yesterday on streamers. Photo by Bruce Miller

Hatching:
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

April 21, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 21, 2017

We were hit with a couple of decent storms overnight.  The rivers are up this morning.  We have a lot of color in the West Branch but it looks fishable with streamers.  The West should begin to clear up by this evening.  Some of the feeder creeks have color while others look fine.   We may see a little additional rain today but it shouldn’t amount to more than a sprinkle.  The weather looks clear until Tuesday.  Wading is not an option but boating is fine if you’re confident rowing the higher flows.    The feeder creeks should peak and begin to drop today.  We may see the spill increase.  This could turn out to be a decent streamer day and weekend.  Hopefully we see a larger flush of alewives coming over Cannonsville today as the reservoir inflow increases.

Steve with a nice streamer brown yesterday. Photo by Bob Lewis

Hatching:
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

April 20, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 20, 2017

The rain moved through yesterday and the rivers bumped a little overnight. We had some wind in the morning but by late afternoon it calmed down. We’re in great shape this morning and the West Branch is clear.  Air temperatures should be in the low 60’s with some good cloud cover.  Winds are negligible staying under 10 mph.  We may see some showers but it looks like the potential is greatest after dark.  Streamers and nymphs have been producing well.  Today looks like a great dryfly day with the combination of low wind and cloud cover.  We’ve been seeing a mix of blue quills, quill gordons, olives, and stoneflies (plus the oddball hendrickson in some sections).

Definitely bring your blue quill patterns today

Hatching:
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

April 19, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 19, 2017

Yesterday turned out to be as beautiful as advertised.  Great sun, warm temperatures and manageable winds all day long.  We saw a nice mix of caddis, blue quills, and stoneflies in the late afternoon.  Some people found some targets on top after lunch into the evening.  Streamers are still producing and the nymphing is really picking up as the blue quill and hendrickson nymphs get more active and ready to hatch.  We have some rain in the forecast this afternoon and tomorrow.  Looking at the radar it seems to be scattered storms so it’s tough to tell exactly how much we will get.    The wind should pick up when the front comes through late in the day and then drop back down.  This is great for the river system.  We always hope for a cool wet Spring to augment releases under the FFMP and overall that seems to be what we’re getting right now.  If enough rain falls and reservoir spill increases we may have a nice mix of alewife fishing and dry fly action this weekend.

Mainstem water temperatures are looking great for mid April

Hatching:
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

April 18, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 18, 2017

The good news is we are seeing some blue quills mixed with the olives and quill gordons.  Looking at the flows and water temperatures it seems like we are right on the edge of great dry fly fishing.  Yesterday should have happened on top but the wind gusts made it tough. There were some one timers but the fish didn’t get the opportunity to get steady. Streamers are still working well and some nice fish were landed.  Today looks incredible with air temperatures close to 60 degrees and winds gusting to 6 0r 7 mph.  Water temperatures look great this morning and will climb nicely in the sunshine.  Today should fish really well and we expect to find rising fish.  We have some clouds and rain in the forecast beginning tomorrow.

Chris with a nice streamer fish yesterday. Photo by Jared Makowski

Hatching:
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

April 17, 2017

Cannonsville Update 4/17/2017

April 17, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 17, 2017

Update

They are currently testing some safety equipment at Cannonsville Dam so the release has been cut.  Once the testing is over this afternoon the release will be increased back to normal.  We still have runoff pushing through the system so there is water in the river and everything will be fine.    We were hit with some good thunderstorms yesterday evening with high winds and brief heavy rains.  The rivers are clear this morning and looking good.  The rain didn’t seem to last long enough to muddy anything up.  Today looks nice with high air temperatures approaching 60 with a mix of sun and clouds.  We may have some wind gusts approach 15 mph but that seems pretty normal for April weather on the Delaware and shouldn’t affect the fish.  The wind will be a pleasant 6 mph when it isn’t gusting.

All of us took yesterday off to be with family so here’s Ben with a nice fish from Saturday. Photo by Bruce Miller

Hatching:
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.
Tiny Black Stonefly – #18 – Capniidae sp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update: