September 30, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 30, 2014

The release from Cannonsville was increased slightly yesterday afternoon, then dropped back slightly to 1267 cfs this morning.  It seems crazy to solely use the West Branch to meet downstream flow targets when Mainstem temperatures are not an issue and the East Branch is starving for water.  On the plus side the cloud cover stuck around for most of yesterday, the olives hatched, and the fish ate.  Throw in a few Isonychias and caddis and it was a good day to be on the water.  Today looks good on Accuweather with cooler temps, clouds, light winds, and maybe a shower passing through in the afternoon.  The temperature under the 191 Bridge in Hancock is 55 degrees.

Bob With a nice brown- Photo by Bruce Miller

Bruce with a nice rainbow- Photo by Bob Lewis

Hatching:

Olive/Sulphurs #18 -20 H. hebe

Summer Stenos #12-16 various species

Tan Caddis #16 – 18- Hydrosyche sp.

Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.

Dark Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. deficiens, lata, etc.

Slate Drakes #12 – 14 -Isonychia bicolor

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

September 29, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 29, 2014

Here we are on another day they are using only the release from the West Branch to meet downstream flow targets while the East Branch starves.  The release from Cannonsville Reservoir is currently 1,317 cfs while the flow at Harvard is 99 this morning.  Fish’s Eddy is a pathetic 166 cfs.  The current storage in Cannonsville is 63.5% capacity and Pepacton is 76% capacity.  I don’t think it would destroy the NYC water supply to spread the love around a little.  We are still seeing plenty of olives on the water mixed with some Isonychias and a few different dark caddis.  The bright sun slowed fishing down during the day but shaded areas fished well for risers and things picked up once the sun dropped a bit.  Today looks like another warm one- hopefully the rain they are predicting over the next few days actually hits here for a change!

Father and son. Theo with a nice one while Tony looks thrilled! Photo by Bruce Miller

Hatching:

Olive/Sulphurs #18 -20 H. hebe

Summer Stenos #12-16 various species

Tan Caddis #16 – 18- Hydrosyche sp.

Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.

Dark Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. deficiens, lata, etc.

Slate Drakes #12 – 14 -Isonychia bicolor

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

September 28, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 28, 2014

Yesterday was a warm one out there.  The bright sun made fishing tough during the day.  Most success came nymphing and swinging wet flies through deeper runs and faster riffles.  There were fish rising during the day but it was all about timing and a little luck.  The hatching picked up in the afternoon with the normal olives plus some caddis.  There are still some Isonychias around the the olives are definitely the key mayfly right now.  Today looks like a repeat of yesterday with both similar flows/releases and the sun.  The wind should be less of an issue today if Accuweather is correct.    The West Branch under the 191 Bridge is 54 degrees this morning.

Theo with a nice brown in the sunshine. Photo by Bruce Miller

Molly taking a nice afternoon boat ride down the Main. Photo by Bob Lewis

Hatching:

Olive/Sulphurs #18 -20 H. hebe

Summer Stenos #12-16 various species

Tan Caddis #16 – 18- Hydrosyche sp.

Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.

Dark Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. deficiens, lata, etc.

Slate Drakes #12 – 14 -Isonychia bicolor

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

September 27, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 27, 2014

Since the rain missed us this week they are continuing to use the release from Cannonsville to meet flow targets down stream.  The West Branch release is 1088 cfs until further notice.  Ideally we’d like to see the release split between Cannonsville and Pepacton but that doesn’t seem to be in the cards.  The Beaverkill and East Branch are both extremely low while the West Branch is a bit high- leaving the Mainstem in decent shape.  Cannonsville Reservoir is at 63.5% capacity and Pepacton Reservoir is at 76% capacity.  We had decent olive hatches last night with a few Isonychias and Cahills thrown in for geed measure.  The fish were on top in the afternoon until the sun dropped and the temperature dropped.  Most of the risers on the West Branch are being found in eddies and the slow tailouts of pools due to the flows.  The West Branch under the 191 Bridge in Hancock is 54 degrees this morning.

The rainbow head. Photo by Bob Lewis

Jeff with an interesting catch on the West Branch- photo by Bob Lewis

Hatching:

Olive/Sulphurs #18 -20 H. hebe

Summer Stenos #12-16 various species

Tan Caddis #16 – 18- Hydrosyche sp.

Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.

Dark Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. deficiens, lata, etc.

Slate Drakes #12 – 14 -Isonychia bicolor

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

September 26, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 26, 2014

This morning is cloudy, but we are supposed to have bright sun and a high of 74 this afternoon.  With the water levels dropping, the river should warm  up a little quicker and the hatches should begin by early to mid afternoon.   We will continue to see #14 Isos, #18-24 dark olives/pseudocloeon, and #14-16 stenos.  The release from Cannonsville is 840 cfs, so the West Branch is becoming more wadable and will have slower pools for the fish to rise in.  We should begin to see better hatches on the West now that the water will stay warmer.

Another rainbow to the net!

Hatching:

Olive/Sulphurs #18 -20 H. hebe

Summer Stenos #12-16 various species

Tan Caddis #16 – 18- Hydrosyche sp.

Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.

Dark Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. deficiens, lata, etc.

Slate Drakes #12 – 14 -Isonychia bicolor

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

September 25, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 25, 2014

Today’s weather appears to be more than ideal; clouds, a little rain in the forecast, high of 66, and no wind!  The Main yesterday yielded less bugs than the previous days, but fish in the quick water were eager to react to an Iso being blind cast.  There were also a lot of #20-24 olives and a ton of #16 caddis by the evening.  Dry fly fishing on the West Branch continues to be spotty but nymphing and streamer fishing the AM remains to be productive.  The graph at Stilesville says 885 cfs so the West should become more wader friendly by this afternoon.

A nice brown from the upper main.

Hatching:

Olive/Sulphurs #18 -20 H. hebe

Summer Stenos #12-16 various species

Tan Caddis #16 – 18- Hydrosyche sp.

Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.

Dark Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. deficiens, lata, etc.

Slate Drakes #12 – 14 -Isonychia bicolor

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

September 24, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 24, 2014

The weather is turning a little warmer today with air temps predicted to be in the low 70’s.  We have some rain coming in overnight through tomorrow.  The amount predicted is negligible but the cloud cover will be great for the olives and Isonychias.  Along with those two standbys look for a few Cahills and some dark caddis in #16-18.  There are also a lot of October Caddis around at night so if you see a big splashy rise that could be the answer.  Streamers are still working on the West Branch early before the fog burns off and nymphing is paying off through the day.  Overall the rivers are fishing very well for mid September.

Jim with a streamer fish.   Some of the leaves are turning already!

Hatching:

Olive/Sulphurs #18 -20 H. hebe

Summer Stenos #12-16 various species

Tan Caddis #16 – 18- Hydrosyche sp.

Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.

Dark Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. deficiens, lata, etc.

Slate Drakes #12 – 14 -Isonychia bicolor

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

September 23, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 23, 2014

Last night was definitely the coldest yet this season with temperatures dropping into the high 30’s.  We should hit close to 70 today with the warming trend coming but it definitely feels like Fall in the Catskills.  The hatching remains the same with lots of olives mixes with a few Isonychias and Cahills.  There have been some charcoal caddis #16 -18 on the water too.  The sun is already hitting the water this morning so nymphing is the best option until the bugs begin to pop off mid afternoon.  The colder nights have been cutting the hatches off earlier around 6 PM and the spinners have been falling  mixed with the duns mid afternoon rather than at dark. The West Branch under the 191 Bridge in Hancock is 50 degrees this morning.

Photo by Jim Swift

Hatching:

Olive/Sulphurs #18 -20 H. hebe

Summer Stenos #12-16 various species

Tan Caddis #16 – 18- Hydrosyche sp.

Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.

Dark Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. deficiens, lata, etc.

Slate Drakes #12 – 14 -Isonychia bicolor

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

September 22, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 22, 2014

Despite the mid day sun and the unrelenting wind, the fish were still eager to rise and take duns off the surface.  On the Main Stem, size 14 Isos, 18-24 olives, 14-16 steno’s, and 26 flying ants were served to the fish yesterday.  Reports from the west branch are very spotty with minute amounts of bugs and fluctuating water levels. There was some early morning streamer action before the sun rose, but the fish ceased to be aggressive once the light shined upon the water.  Today is supposed to be mostly cloudy with a high of 58 with a chance of showers this morning and a downstream wind.

Nothing like your first day on the Delaware!

September 21, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 21, 2014

Yesterday the clouds hung around longer than expected.  Although the wind gusts were an issue at time the olives, Isonychias, and Cahills came and the fish responded.  Primetime now appears to be 2:20 – 6 pm for dry fly activity but that may start earlier today with the predicted warmer air temperatures and light scattered storms moving through the area.  Nymphing and streamers are still producing well when the sun is not hitting the water directly.  The bite drops off on bright days once the morning fog burns off.  The release from Cannonsville Reservoir is 1297 cfs until further notice.  The West Branch under the 191 Bridge in Hancock is 52 degrees this morning.

Hojin with his first Delaware Rainbow. Photo by Bruce Miller

Hatching:

Olive/Sulphurs #18 -20 H. hebe

Summer Stenos #12-16 various species

Tan Caddis #16 – 18- Hydrosyche sp.

Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.

Dark Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. deficiens, lata, etc.

Slate Drakes #12 – 14 -Isonychia bicolor

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

September 20, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 20, 2014

The release from Cannonsville Reservoir has been increased to 1297 cfs this morning until further notice.  There is a little color in the river but it is definitely clear enough to fish.  The Mainste is in great shape while the East Branch and Beaverkill could use some water.  Streamers should work well this morning until the sun burns the fog away.  Look for olives mixed with a few Cahills and Isonychias in the afternoon.  The weather looks decent today although we may have a bit of wind as a front moves in this afternoon.  Tomorrow looks great with cloud cover and some possible showers.

Dan holding a nice one on the Main. Photo by Art Bartholomew

Jim holding a dryfly brown

Hatching:

Olive/Sulphurs #18 -20 H. hebe

Summer Stenos #12-16 various species

Tan Caddis #16 – 18- Hydrosyche sp.

Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.

Dark Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. deficiens, lata, etc.

Slate Drakes #12 – 14 -Isonychia bicolor

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

September 19, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions September 19, 2014

The mayflies started mid afternoon yesterday on some sections of the river with a mix of olives, Cahills, and just a few Isonychias.  The olives ranged in size from #16 – 26 but luckily the fish were interested in the larger sizes.  The weather held nicely for most of the day but fishing definitely dropped off towards dark when the air temperature dropped.  Today looks pleasant and cool with this being the last chilly day before another warm front moves in on Saturday.  The release from Cannonsville is 866 cfs until further notice.  The West Branch water temperature under the 191 Bridge in Hancock is 51 degrees this morning.

Bill with a nice brown on the Main. Photo by Jim Swift

Hatching:

Olive/Sulphurs #18 -20 H. hebe

Summer Stenos #12-16 various species

Tan Caddis #16 – 18- Hydrosyche sp.

Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.

Dark Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. deficiens, lata, etc.

Slate Drakes #12 – 14 -Isonychia bicolor

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.