October 21, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 21, 2015

Another great Fall day is ahead of us with air temperatures in the mid 50’s and winds gusting only to 4 mph.  The flow at Stilesville has dropped back to 949 cfs so you still need to pick your wade spots carefully. Tiny olives should continue to hatch into November with a few isonychias and heptagenias mixed in.  Last night was definitely warmer than is has been so the system should warm up quicker today.  Look for the hatches around mid afternoon due to the bright sun.  Throw streamers on the West Branch and nymph the lower East Branch and upper Mainstem until the hatches start.

Brown close up by Bob Lewis

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 20, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 20, 2015

Another cold night is behind us but we are looking at daytime temperatures hitting the mid 60’s today.  Winds are going to be light coming out of the Southwest at 6 – 8 mph.  By mid afternoon we should be fishing a very comfortable fall afternoon.  If Accuweather is correct we should hold these temperatures for a couple of days and then cool down slightly for the weekend with air temperatures in the mid 50’s.
We have some sunshine in the forecast and lately that means the olives come a little later in the day.  On days like this we’ve seen most of the dry fly activity late in the afternoon around 3 pm.  Nymphing is still a great option on the lower East Branch and Mainstem.  Streamers are your best option during the day on the West Branch but watch the slow tailouts for rising fish.

Jamie started this week out well. Photo by Bob Lewis

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 19, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 19, 2015

Congratulations to our own Kevan Smaracko and Tanya Ryan for tying the knot this past Saturday!

Yesterday certainly felt like winter with cold wind and snow showers that were surprisingly heavy at times.  Luckily the warming trend is beginning today with air temperatures in the low 50’s.  Winds look manageable with gusts staying below 10 mph.  We should see air temperatures in the 60’s by the end of the week.  Pseudos will continue to be the main hatch with a few isonychias and heptagenias.  The West Branch is up slightly from yesterday so there are better wading opportunities on the lower East Branch and upper Mainstem.

Congratulations to Kevan and Tanya! Wishing them both a long, happy life together. Bob Lewis photo

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 18, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 18, 2015

We’re coming off the coldest night of the Fall so far with a dusting of light snow on the ground.  Today we should see a mix of precipitation with air temperatures in the low 40’s with some wind gusts.  Luckily we will see a warming trend by mid week bringing the daytime high air temperatures back into the 60’s.  There are still some olives mixed with a few isonychias and heptagenia around but most of the action has been streamers on the West Branch and nymphs on the lower East Branch and Upper Mainstem.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 17, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 17, 2015

The release from Cannonsville has been raised another 100 cfs to 1,099 cfs this morning. That will make the lower West Branch more difficult to wade. The best bet is still the Main Stem and sections of the upper East Branch that are open to fishing. We saw varieties of spinners in the evening, make sure you have something that floats flush in your box. The forecast is calling for a chilly and windy day with a mix of clouds, sun and possibly a sprinkle or two.

Fall is in full swing on the river.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 16, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 16, 2015

We continue to receive water from Cannonsville to meet downstream targets. The forecast is calling for scattered showers and overcast conditions throughout the day but no significant precipitation amounts. Watch for fish rising in the afternoon and early evening. Wading the Main Stem remains the best option given the higher flow from the West Branch.
The upper West Branch (from Deposit to the NY/PA border) and upper East Branch (from Pepacton Dam downstream to the Shinhopple Bridge) are now closed to fishing for the season. The lower West Branch, lower East Branch and Main Stem remain open but are now catch and release only. For more information, view the Delaware County fishing regulations and the border water regulations.

Home pool showing off it’s fall colors.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 15, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 15, 2015

The release from Cannonsville Reservoir has been increased this morning to help meet downstream flow targets.  If you fish the West Branch pick your wade spots carefully or use a boat.  Streamers will be your best bet but you may find fish rising in the slow tailouts of pools in the late afternoon.  For dry flies and nymphing the lower East Branch and Mainstem will offer you a better chance of success.  Small olives mixed with a few heptagenia and isonychias.  Air temperatures should approach 60 degrees today with moderate winds.

Junction Pool in the Fall. Photo by Jared Makowski

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 14, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 14, 2015

Yesterday’s rain showers caused little change to the flows in the system.  The Cannonsville release has been raised slightly and now sits at 753 cfs.  We should have cloud cover for most of the day with a very, very light rain shower in the late afternoon.  Air temperatures should reach the high 50’s with light winds and gusts staying under 9 mph.  Small olives are still the main hatch followed by a few isonychias and heptagenia.  We are seeing a few isonychia spinners in the evening so carry a few just in case.  There are a lot of caddis in the air and in the bushes.  We haven’t seen great numbers of the on the water but swinging caddis pupa could be a decent technique.

The Bob out in the rain yesterday. Photo by Jared Makowski

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 13, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 13, 2015

The flows throughout the system didn’t change much overnight.  Once the sun came out in the afternoon it was feeling like t-shirt weather on the river.  Unfortunately the bright sun made the fish shy even when there were bugs on the water.  We ran into a decent but short isonychia hatch but the fish just couldn’t get happy in the sun.  Shaded areas were much better.  Nymphing and swinging wet flies during the hatch were definitely better options to catch fish.  Today looks like a better fishing day with clouds rolling in and a few showers.  Air temperatures should stay in the low 60’s with winds gusting only around 7 mph.

Patrick releasing a nice brown. Photo by Jared Makowski

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 12, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 12, 2015

Despite the cold morning the sun popped out and yesterday afternoon turned into a beautiful Fall day.  The system hasn’t changed much over the last few days with the flows and water temperatures remaining fairly steady.  The small olives have come mainly in the afternoon mixed with a few heptagenia and isonychia spinners.  The hatching and topwater actions still seams very spot specific so move around if you don’t see any activity.  There are a lot of caddis in the air and on the bushes so you just have to be patient and lucky to find them on the water.  Streamers are working okay on the West Branch but the action slows down once the bright sun hits the water.  Nymphing is a better bet on the East Branch and Mainstem until you see a riser.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 11, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 11, 2015

The air temperatures are starting off in the high 30’s this morning so it will take a while for things to warm up.  We’re in for a big swing with Accuweather predicting afternoon air temperatures of 67 degrees.  It looks like we’re done with precipitation for the weekend and the winds should be negligible with gusts to 6 mph.  The predicted the same winds yesterday but we definitely had gusts peaking over that so be prepared and bring a warm fleece.
Hatching was slow again for most of the day so streamers and nymphs seemed to be the best bet.  There were some flushes of olives late but they were very river section specific.

Kevin keeping warm on the West Branch yesterday. Photo by Jared Makowski

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 10, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 10, 2015

While we had steady rain for a while the river flows remain about the same as yesterday.  Most of the precipitation was soaked into the ground.  We are coming off another cool night so water temperatures are in great shape this morning- even the Mainstem at Callicoon has dipped own into the 50’s.  There were not a lot of mayflies hatching yesterday but there are spinners and lots of caddis around.  The trick is being in the right place at the right time when they finally hit the water.
Accuweather is calling for cooler air temperatures today with highs in the 50’s.  Winds should only gust to 6 mph and not be a factor today.

Jared Makowski holding a nice brown

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.