June 15, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 15, 2016

The sunshine during the day yesterday made the fish a little shy but we did see sproadic mid-day hatching of sulphurs and cahills mixed with some caddis.  There were some fish eating them but the surface activity was much better in shaded areas.  Things picked up when the sun dropped behind the hills and the fish felt more comfortable rising.  Nymphing was productive during the day with fish eating in the riffles.
Today looks like a mirror image of yesterday with warm air temperatures and sunshine.  Winds will be negligible at 4 mph.  We have a slight chance of very light showers over the next few days but the cloud cover will certainly help the fishing.  Temperatures remain decent throughout the system but most rivers are starting off a few degrees warmer this morning.  Fishs Eddy peaked at 66 degrees yesterday, Lordville peaked at 64 degrees yesterday and Callicoon peaked at 68 degrees.  All will likely peak higher today so if you are fishing the lower sections of the East Branch or Mainstem use your thermometer.

Larry holding a nice brown from yesterday. Photo by Michael Brewer

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
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 14, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 14, 2016

It looks like the heavy winds are finally behind us and we are settling into early summer weather.  Today’s forecast is calling for 75 degrees and wind under 10 mph.  It sounds like a great day to be on the water.  Look for caddis mixed with dead spinners in the morning followed by an afternoon to evening sulphur / cahill hatch.  The sun may push the hatches back until it drops behind the hills so don’t leave the river too early.  The winds drop to almost nothing in the evening so it could be a good spinner night too.  Before the hatches begin both nymphing and blind casting isonychia patterns in the riffles have been working well.  Use smaller nymphs to imitate the sulphurs.  We have a chance of some light rain later in the week which could make for a great weekend.

Tanya with a great Delaware rainbow yesterday. Photo by Kevan Smaracko

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
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 13, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 13, 2016

The forecast had the wind nailed yesterday.  Gusts were definitely in the 20’s making dry fly fishing tough.  Nymphing was an option and some fish were caught.    The skies looked threatening at times but most of the rain missed us.  We had a few drops here and there but not enough to move the river flows up.  Today looks like a mirror image of yesterday with slightly less wind.  Nymphing will be your best option again but if we get some wind breaks watch for fish eating caddis in the riffles – especially once the sun pops out.  On a good note most of the heavy wind should happen during the day and looks like it may drop as evening approaches.  That should be the best bet for day fly activity if the sulphurs hatch as the sun drops behind the hills.
The winds drop tomorrow and the rest of the week looks great with warmer air temperatures.

Ray with a nice fish from the weekend. Photo by Samantha Dennis

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
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 12, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 12, 2016

Yesterday’s weather forecast was way off.  We had more sun, less wind, less rain, and certainly didn’t see anything resembling a “tornado” out there.  While we were hoping for a day of overcast skies and light rain that was not to be.   Overall it was a pleasant day to be on the water.  We did have enough cloud cover to get some fish happy earlier in the day.  As soon as the sun popped the fish stopped until the clouds came back so it definitely called for patience.  The river seemed to fish by section yesterday.  Some of us saw olives and caddis during the day and very little in the evening while other people saw little during the day and decent sulphurs as the sun dropped.  It was definitely a day to be flexible with your planning and timing.  Nymphing worked well before the hatches although you will still find some green slime on the upper West Branch.  Definitely not as much junk in the water as we saw a week ago.

If the Forecast is correct we’ll have cooler air temperatures today with highs only reaching the mid 60’s.  Wind may be an issue with wind gusts predicted at 20 mph but the trees are leafed out so it’s easier to find wind protected spots now than it was a few weeks ago.  Hopefully they have messed up the forecast again and the winds will be lower than predicted.

Theo and Lucinda taking advantage of some cloud cover yesterday.

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
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 11, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 11, 2016

We are coming off another cool night so water temperatures look great throughout the system.  The water temperature in Callicoon peaked in the mid 60’s yesterday which is great for mid-June.  We should have some cloud cover today with an 80% chance of precipitation around 1 PM.  Rainfall totals should be around 1/4″ which will help keep the rivers in good shape.  Winds will be manageable with gusts around 10 mph.  All in all it looks like a good fishing day.
Sulphurs, Isonychias, and caddis.  You may run into flushes of cahills depending on what river section you fish.  Nymphing has been working well in the morning before the hatches begin.  Today’s forecast says Blue Winged Olives so carry that box with light and dark flies #16 -24 just in case.

Tim with a brown yesterday. Photo by Samantha Dennis

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
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 10, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 10, 2016

Another chilly night means the water temperatures continue to stay cool even though the levels are dropping. The air temperatures are starting to rise and we will have some decent wind to contend with this afternoon. The release from Cannonsville remains at 500 cfs so the West Branch and upper Main Stem are both wade and boat friendly. We’re still seeing good numbers of Sulphurs, Isonychia, Stenos and Light Blue Winged Olives.

Geoff with a beautiful brown and a good cigar. Photo by Bob Lewis

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
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 9, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 9, 2016

We had some rain showers yesterday morning but the heaviest precipitation fell to the south. The rivers are dropping down to the levels we had before Sunday’s rain and are fine for floating or wading. The cool nights have helped to lower the water temperatures throughout the system. The East Branch and Main Stem are finally cooling down. Today looks like a sunnier version of yesterday with strong wind gusts and another cool evening. The hatching remains the same with Sulphurs, Isos, Tan Caddis and Olives.

Jared netted a good looking brown yesterday.

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
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 8, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 8, 2016

The thunderstorms yesterday mostly hit the West Branch. Luckily they were brief, the river did not get muddy and is up only a small amount. The cool night has the water temperatures starting off a little lower today. These next few days of milder air temperatures and lows in the 40’s will help the system stay fishable. Sulphurs, Isonychia, Light Blue Winged Olives and tan caddis were the most common hatches.

Bob with a nice rainbow.

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
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 7, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 7, 2016

All of the the rivers in the system have dropped back considerably overnight and all seem to be in good shape this morning.  The West Branch looks great at 726 cfs at Hale and is clear. The forecast for the week is looking great with a chance of rain almost every day and much cooler nights.  A couple of nighttime air temperatures down in the 40’s and 50’s will be great for the water temperatures on the lower East Branch and on the Mainstem.  Unless we get a good rain the rivers will continue to drop over the next few days. There is no major accumulation predicted in the forecast.
There was a decent sulphur hatch yesterday in the evening mixed with a few stenos and caddis. Streamers fished well early with a lot of chases and some eats.

Grant with a healthy fish yesterday. Photo by Bruce Miller

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
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 6, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 6, 2016

We were hit with some good rain yesterday and the river flows are up this morning.  The upper West Branch in Stilesville is still low and should be clear above Oquaga Creek.  We do have color in the lower West Branch but we are dropping and should clear over the course of the day.  The other rivers are high and off color too so be careful and choose your wading spots carefully.  It looks great for streamers this morning but we should have decent water for dry fly fishing this evening – especially in the tailouts and edges.  The best news is the inflow into Cannonsville with the West Branch at Walton flowing in at 993 cfs. The rain did help the water temperatures drop on the lower East Branch and upper Mainstem.

What a difference one storm can make above the reservoir!

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
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 5, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 5, 2016

We finally had some rain overnight and the most of the river flows have bumped up slightly.  The air temperatures will be much lower today with highs only hitting the low 70’s.  Winds will gust to around 10 mph and we should get additional showers in the early evening.  All in all this looks like a very good fishing day.  Definitely bring your blue winged olive box.
Most of the reports show good bug hatching for most of the late afternoon but the fish seemed shy- especially during the periods of bright sun.  It came down to being in the right place at the right time and finding the rising fish.  Hopefully today’s weather makes the fish feel more comfortable to rise.  Gray Fox, Sulphurs, Isonychia, and tan caddis were the most common hatches.

Hope the rain keeps the reservoirs filled!

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
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 4, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 4, 2016

The rain in yesterday’s forecast seems to have missed us.  We had a few drops but nothing during the day that required a raincoat.  The cloud cover was nice and made the fish feel comfortable rising when there were bugs on the water.  We did get a negligible amount over night that bumped the flow on the rivers by a couple cfs.  There was definitely an improvement in the amount of green slime coming down the West Branch.  It’s not totally clear yet but we are seeing less each day.  We are seeing cahills, sulphurs, and green drakes hatching out there.  The isonychias are now showing up and people are catching fish on them. We are still catching most of the early fish on caddis before the mayflies begin to hatch.   The sulphurs are coming later in the evening so don’t leave the river early.  The weather forecast looks good today with highs in the low 80’s and a mix of clouds and sun.  The predicted thunderstorms look more likely to happen tomorrow.

Pat with a nice brown yesterday. Photo by Steve Shen

Hatching:
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
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)