June 29, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 29, 2016

It seems like we received all of the rain we usually get in June in one shot last night.  The West Branch is dropping quickly but it is running brown this morning.  It should clear by tomorrow.  Today looks like a streamer day with a shot of dries maybe in the afternoon.  The West Branch peaked at 1400 cfs but has now dropped back to 750 cfs.  The upper West above the reservoir peaked over 800 cfs and has already dropped back to 220 cfs.  It seems like it was a very localized storm with the West Branch drainage taking the brunt of the precipitation for a change.
The West Should be okay to fish in Stilesville.  It is running 510 cfs this morning.  You should see sulphurs, cahills, and isonychias up there. Most of the color should be coming in from Oquaga Creek in Deposit.

The West Branch is dropping quickly and should clear quickly

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 28, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 28, 2016

We finally received some rain yesterday after what seems like a very long dry spell.  Most of the precipitation soaked into the ground but there is enough runoff to raise the rivers slightly.  There is no color in the system this morning and the rivers are still in decent shape for wading and floating.  The water temperatures dropped lower overnight with the cooler air temperatures.  The West Branch and upper East Branch are still in great shape.  The lower East Branch and the Mainstem both had water temperatures peak over 70 degrees yesterday so avoid those rivers despite the slightly lower water temperatures this morning.  Sulphurs, cahills, olives, and isonychias are still on the menu with #16 – 18 sulphurs being the most common mayfly we are seeing.
We have cloud cover this morning with some more rain in the forecast.  This could push the hatches up a bit during the day on the lower West Branch and bring out more olives.

The inflow at Walton increased slightly with the rain. Hopefully we get more rain today

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 27, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 27, 2016

The Cannonsville release is 500  cfs this morning.  The West Branch is in great shape for floating and wading.  We are seeing more fish rise during the day and the sulphur hatches have been decent.  They are beginning early on the upper river and later in the afternoon on the lower river.  We are still seeing some cahills, olives, and isonychias mixed in too.  Winds hsould be low today and we are looking at a 50% chance of thunderstorms.  This will be a welcome relief from the constant bright sun we’ve been dealing with lately.  The upper West Branch is basically dry fly only due to the algae floating down.  Nymphing is possible on the lower West.  Stay on the West or the Upper East Branch.  The lower East water temperature peaked around 76 degree again yesterday. The Mainstem at Lordville also peaked over 70 degrees.

Jacqueline and Nathan on the West Branch yesterday. Photo by Samantha Dennis

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 26, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 26, 2016

The release from Cannonsville Reservoir has been dropped back to 500 cfs this morning. They are either going to run water from lake Wallenpaupack or from Rio Reservoir to make up the difference for the Montague flow target.  This still leaves the West Branch in great shape. It is still at a decent level for floating and wading.  We are seeing sulphurs hatching and fish eating tehm during the day on sections of the upper West.  The bright sunshine is holding back the lower West until evening when the sun drops behind the hills.  Nymphing in the morning has been productive- plus you’ll get a shot of seeing some hatching or fish rising to left over spinners.  The upper West has too much algea to nymph so definitely stick to the lower sections.  The Mainstem temps are over 70 degrees during the day so avoid fishing down there.  The lower East Branch temperatures peaked close to 76 degrees at Fishs Eddy yesterday.  Stick to the West Branch or the upper East Branch.
Sulphurs, cahills, isonychias , and blue winged olives.

Preston with a nice brown on the West Branch. Photo by Kevan Smaracko

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 25, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 25, 2016

We had another small release bump from Cannonsville Reservoir overnight.  The current release is 599 cfs until further notice.  This is likely due to downstream flow target needs.  We had decent mid-afternoon hatches of sulphurs on some sections of river yesterday with a few cahills and isonychias thrown in for good measure.  Other sections were quiet until evening when the sun dropped behind the hills.  The algae is making nymphing tough on the upper West Branch but it has been working on the lower sections.  Swinging isonychia wet flies has been working in the riffles before the hatches start.
We are back in a warming trend with air temperatures approaching the high 80’s today.  Winds will be less than 5 mph.  The cool nights have been helping and we should drop back into the 50’s this evening.

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 24, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 24, 2016

The release from Cannonsville Reservoir is 560 cfs this morning.  We are still under Table 4G of the FFMP so the extra water is likely being released to meet downstream flow targets.  Hatching was decent yesterday with sulphurs coming off in decent numbers on some sections of river.  The cloud cover made the fish comfortable and we had decent surface activity.
We are still getting some cool nights with air temperatures in the 50’s with daytime temps in the 80’s.  We have sunshine for the next couple of days.  Winds look low through the weekend with the highest gusts only reaching 8 mph on Sunday afternoon.  Nymphing has been productive in the mornings before the hatches start.  Shaded areas have been fishing well as have isonychias blind casted in the riffles.  The increased release may add more algae to the water at first but a lot of that should filter down in the next 24 hours.

The increased release is likely for downstream flow targets

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 23, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 23, 2016

Yesterday we had another afternoon of sun and wind.  Nymphing was productive in the morning and luckily by late afternoon the wind died back to a reasonable level.  There were sporadic hatches of sulphurs, olives, and a few isonychias.  There were fish eating during the day but mostly in shaded areas and edges.  Once the sun dropped the fish were happier and the dry fly fishing improved.  The hatching seems to vary from pool to pool right now so if you’re not seeing decent sulphurs by mid-evening move around and check out different areas.  Mid day has been tough with the bright sun so there is no need to rush
Today’s forecast is calling for more cloud cover although it looks like most of the rain is going south of us.  It seems all of the rain goes south of us.

Don’t leave the river too early. Photo by Mike Brewer

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 22, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 22, 2016

We ended up with a few more clouds than expected yesterday.  We had flushes of sulphurs in the afternoon and some fish were eating on top.  Shaded areas definitely fished better early.  In the evening it seemed to depend on where you were fishing.  Some people saw another flush of sulphurs mixed with isonychias while other pools seemed quiet.  There are fish eating so if you don’t see any action move around and look for fish in other areas.  We are mainly fishing sulphurs #16-18, cahills #14, and isonychias #12-2xl.
Today is going to be much cooler with air temperatures only reaching the high 70’s.  The lower East Branch and Mainstem are still too hot to fish so stick to the West Branch and the upper East Branch.

Temps on the West Branch remain great despite the heat

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 21, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 21, 2016

We received a little rain over night but most of it soaked into the ground barely causing a bump in the flows.  Any precipitation is a help.  Today should be cooler with air temperatures in the low 80’s.  The low tonight will be in the 50’s which should help the rivers keep cooler.  We saw decent sulphurs and cahills hatching sporadically throughout the day.  There were fish feeding on top but you definitely had to hunt for the active ones.  The dryfly fishing improved after the sun dropped behind the hills through dark.  We did see some isonychias hatching but a small sulphur cripple seemed to be the answer.

Ethan with a nice fish from Sunday. Photo by Kevan Smaracko

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 20, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 20, 2016

Yesterday was another bright, sunny, hot day.  We did have a few more clouds than expected  which was a nice change.  Nymphing was productive early and then we had the same hatching we’ve been seeing over the last few days. Sulphurs, olives, isonychias, cahills, and a few caddis mixed in.  Some people are finding fish  rising mid- day while others aren’t seeing much until the sun drops behind the hills.  The daytime activity seems to vary from pool to pool so either be patient or move around a it until you find working fish.  Nymphing on the upper West Branch has been tough due to the algae but that is filtered out well enough on the lower sections.

While the forecast is calling for cooler air temperatures today that still means 90 degrees.  We have some clouds this morning and it looks like we may have a shot at a thunderstorm or two.  Let’s hope that forecast is correct.  Bring a raincoat today just in case.  The lower East Branch and Mainstem are both still too hot to fish.  We either need a major break in the weather or larger releases to change that.

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 19, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 19, 2016

Nymphing was definitely the best option yesterday in the sun but there was some surface activity in the mid-afternoon.  There were small flushes of sulphurs and olives that brough some fish to the surface.  The caddis seemed to appear later in the evening as the sun dropped behind hills and the air temperature dropped a bit.  There were fish caught but you had to make the most out of each opportunity.
Fish the West Branch and the upper East Branch.  The Mainstem and lower East Branch both peaked over 70 degrees yesterday and both are starting off high again this morning. It looks like another day of sun and high air temperatures.

Thorn with a nice fish in the sun yesterday. Photo by Theo May

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 18, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 18, 2016

Another day of sunshine and warm weather. There were fish rising sporadically despite the sun offering some people dry fly fishing during the day.  Things picked up once the sun dropped behind the hills.  Sulphurs, cahills, caddis, plus a few isonychias were around.  Nymphing worked well during the day with people finding good success in the riffles.  Today looks like a mirror image of yesterday but a little warmer.  Patience should pay off today.
We are only fishing the West Branch and upper East Branch at this time.  The Mainstem and lower East Branch are too warm.

Ron with a nice fish this week. Photo by Samantha Dennis

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)