August 5, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 5, 2016

We had a few more clouds around than we expected yesterday.  It was humid out there when the sun was shining so it felt great to stand in 55 degree water on the upper West Branch.  We are still fishing the usual mix of sulphurs and olives.  The isonychia hatches are a bit more sporadic this summer but the cahills and golden drakes seem to be filling the void.  Today looks similar with a small chance of a thunderstorm in the late afternoon.  The precipitation forecast is light with possible totals less than 1/10th of an inch.  Winds will be up a bit today peaking around 10 mph so that will be manageable.  The better chance of rain is tomorrow but every time we check the forecast the probability seems to drop.

Dan Treadwell caught a blurry rainbow out front

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Golden Drake – #12-2xl – Potomanthus
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
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)

August 4, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 4, 2016

Whatever rain was in the forecast yesterday missed us.  We did have some clouds in and out early but it was mostly sunny later in the afternoon.  Spots with afternoon shade had more fish rising while the sun was out.  We had the normal mix of bugs with sulphurs, olives, cahills, golden drakes, and isonychias.  Yesterday seemed like more of an olive day for a change.  We did see fish eating the sulphurs but at times there were more olives on the water.  We should just hit 80 today for air temperatures and have a partly sunny sky again.  Winds will be about the same as yesterday staying under 10 mph.  We may get some light rain over the weekend which should be good for the olive hatches.

Dan found a streamer eater this week.

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Golden Drake – #12-2xl – Potomanthus
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
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)

August 3, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 3, 2016

The flows on the East side of the drainage are up slightly this morning but overall we are close to where we were yesterday morning.  The West Branch hasn’t budged and the entire river has decent temperatures and is good for floating and wading.  We are finally getting cooler night time temperatures down in the 50’s.  The daytime air temperatures are also a bit lower with highs only reaching just below 80 degrees.  That’s a great change for the 90 degree plus days we saw over the last few weeks.  Winds should be light staying under 7 mph.
We are still fishing good afternoon sulphur hatches in Deposit followed by the olives.  Cahills, golden drakes, and isonychias are around and fish are eating them.

Jamie from Monday- Photo by Bob Lewis

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Golden Drake – #12-2xl – Potomanthus
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
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)

August 2, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 2, 2016

Most of the rain yesterday held off until late afternoon.  We were hit again overnight but the rivers seem to be in decent shape this morning.  The West Branch is clear enough to fish and flow is dropping at Hale Eddy.  We have a chance of some additional precipitation today but the forecasted amounts are less than 1/10th of an inch.  People did well fishing streamers and dry flies yesterday.  The mid afternoon sulphur and olive hatches came off and the cloud cover and occasional shower seemed to make the fish more comfortable to rise.  Today looks like a great day to be on the water with overcast skies and light winds

Patrick with a great brown yesterday. Photo by Bob Lewis

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
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)

August 1, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 1, 2016

We expected a change in release this morning but so far things look the same with a 504 cfs from Cannonsville.  The recording says this is “until further notice” so we’re not sure if or when it will change.  We had more rain yesterday but the ground seems to be soaking it in still.  The heavier rain fell south of us.  We did have some color in the river yesterday afternoon but not enough to make it unfishable.  The rivers look good this morning with a slight tinge.  There were sulphur and olive hatches yesterday mixed with a few potomanthus and isonychias.  Some people did well on streamers during the rain.  We have an 80% chance of additional thunderstorms today with potential precipitation totals a little over 1/4″.  Winds look light with cooler air temperatures.

Russ finishing out July right! Photo by Samantha Dennis

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
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)

July 31, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 31, 2016

We had quite a few showers yesterday so the rivers are up slightly this morning.  The West Branch is flowing at 750 cfs at hale Eddy and is already dropping back this morning.  Ne of yesterday’s rain was particularly heavy so it soaked into the ground.  We did have quite a bit of fog on the rivers in the afternoon.  The rain did bring out the sulphurs and olives.  A lot of people are reporting that they had very good dry fly fishing on West Branch yesterday afternoon.  It was a great break from the days of sunshine we’ve been seeing.  The West is in great shape and clarity is not a problem this morning.  The water at Stilesville has barely budged and the river is in good shape for wading or floating.  We have chances of additional thunderstorms today with the likeliest coming in the afternoon.  The amount of precipitation depends on when the storms actually hit us- if they hit us at all.  Winds should stay low under 10 mph.  The air temperatures will be lower today sticking in the 70’s.  All in all it looks like a good day to be on the water.

Streamers may be effective in the morning

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
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)

July 30, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 30, 2016

The East side of the drainage has dropped back to pre rain levels.  The West side of the drainage is pretty much a mirror image of yesterday.  We should be much cooler today with the possibility of thunderstorms in the afternoon.  We’re not sure what to expect since they seem to be changing the forecast every hour.  Right now they have us at 80% chance again.  The only thing we can do is pack the rain gear, wait and see.
The mid afternoon sulphur hatches continue on the upper river sections mixed with olives, golden drakes, and a few isonychias.  If we get the rain we should see brief but heavy olive hatches on the lower West Branch.  Nymphing has been productive in the mornings before the sun really beats down on the water. That should last longer today if we keep the cloud cover.

Peter woke up early this morning and already sent us this picture.  Photo by Tim Glynn

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
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)

July 29, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 29, 2016

The weather reports are constantly changing and as of this morning we are only looking at a 20% chance of rain today, cooler air temperatures, and low winds.  They have now shifted the strom forecast to tomorrow with a 60% chance of 1″ of rain.  I’m sure that prediction will change again this afternoon.  The East side of the river system did get hit with some showers last night and there was a slight increase in flow on the upper East Branch, the Beaverkill, and the lower East Branch.  The West Branch is pretty much the same as where we started yesterday morning.  Water temperatures are still high on the East Branch (stay above Harvard) and on the Mainstem.  The entire West Branch is holding on and temperatures are decent.
We are still ssing good hatches of sulphurs (#16-20), cahills (#14), golden drakes (#12-2xl), and olives (#18-26) on the upper West.  The fish have been picky so we’ve been using a lot of low floating flies like compara emergers.,

Tony and Samantha with a West Branch brown in the sunshine

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
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)

July 28, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 28, 2016

The rivers remain at about the same levels and temperatures we had yesterday morning.   It looks like we have a decent chance of receiving some rain between this afternoon and Sunday.  Tomorrow looks like the best possibility but there is a chance of a thunderstorm this afternoon.  Yesterday we had decent sulphurs on the upper West Branch.  They seemed to come in flushes lasting about 20 minutes.  This went on for most of the afternoon until the main hatch came in the evening.  The evening sulphurs were the heaviest and were mixed with olives, a few isonychias, golden drakes, and cahills.  Today should fish well- especially if the cloud cover come in during the afternoon.

Chris C sent us this one in the net

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
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)

July 27, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 27, 2016

The mid-day sulphur hatches have still been decent on the upper river sections followed by a few olives and isonychias.  The fish are being picky so it’s time to downsize your flies and fish lightly dressed cripples and emergers.  The wind made the fishing tougher yesterday with the fish taking a break during the gusts.  The sun was definitely bright and everyone out there yesterday ended up with a tan.  We have a decent chance of some rain over the weekend that should definitely help the fishing.  Nymphing on the lower West Branch has been effective with an occasional riser being found.   Hatches on the lower West Branch are going to be slim until the water temperatures drop.

So looking back over the last few days we had a short thermal release from Cannonsville that was cut as soon as we had some rain.  The rain soaked in and the rivers dropped back quickly.  The lower West Branch temperatures are now higher then they were before the release.  The East Branch received zero thermal protection and Harvard peaked over 71 degrees the other day.  The lower East and Mainstem have been cooking for most of the Summer.  The thermal release did drop the Mainstem temperatures for one day.  One day.  Lordville is 70 degrees already this morning.  It peaked just under 74 degrees yesterday.

Mike with a colored up brown. Photo by Jared Makowski

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
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)

July 26, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 26, 2016

The release from Cannonsville has been cut back this morning to 497 cfs.  That was a really odd “thermal protection” flow increase.  We were hit by two storms yesterday.  The first one hit us mid day and was quick and powerful with high winds and pounding rain.  The second hit us around 4 pm and lasted longer with more of a steady rain.   A lot of the rain soaked right into the ground but the rivers did come up during the day but dropped back down quickly.  We had a little color to the West Branch right after the storm but it never really became off color.  There were leaves and sticks floating by but the actual water color just had a slight tinge.  The rain brought brief but really heavy olive hatches on the lower West Branch.  After the initial hatch here were enough still coming down to keep some fish up until almost dark.  The upper West Branch is still fishing with sulphurs, isonychias, and olives.

West Branch in the fog yesterday

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
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)

July 25, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 25, 2016

Yesterday we had a few more clouds out than expected but we definitely still had our share of sun.  It was hot but being on the river definitely cut down on the heat.  The release from Cannonsville is still over 700 so we have quite a bit of cold water coming down.  The levels are still good for both floating and wading.  Hopefully the extra cold water extends the mid-afternoon sulphur hatches farther down the West Branch into the Gamelands.  We are still seeing isonychias, cahills and small olives hatching along with the sulphurs.  The fish are being a bit picky so use flush floating flies like spinner or cripple patterns.  We may see some thunderstorms this afternoon.  If you believe the forecast we have an 80% of storms dropping 1/2″ of rain on us after lunch.  We received zero rain when we had the same forecast a few days ago so we’ll have to wait and see.

Dan Treadwell with a nice brown yesterday

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16-20 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Trico – 22 – 26 – Tricorythodes sp.
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)