April 6, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 6, 2014

Most of the rain seemed to miss us over the last few days but the temps stayed cool and the rivers stayed full.  Last night was cold but we are definitely on a warming trend.  Today should be in the high 50s and the sun is already shining.  The best activity is going to be mid to late afternoon when the water is at it’s warmest.  Most of the system is starting out in the hi 30s so it will tale a while today.  Strip smaller streamers slowly through the long pools and nymph using smaller patterns.  You may find a fish or two on stoneflies depending on the water temps.  If you do see a rise cover it quickly – they don’t seem to stay up for long this time of year.

It’ll be a long time before we see big stoneflies but I like the picture

Hatching:

Tiny Black Stoneflies #18 – Capniadae sp.

Early Black and Brown Stoneflies #14 – 16 Taeniopteryx sp.

April 5, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 5, 2014

We wanted a cool wet April and that is what we had yesterday- bone chilling and damp.  Today should be 45 degrees, partly sunny with brief showers.  The last of the runoff and rain is keeping the rivers filled and the Cannonsville level is still slowly rising.  Those are tow encouraging signs for this season.  The water temps are still low for any meaningful dryfly activity so you best opportunities will come from fishing smaller streamers slowly and nymphing above some of the feeder creeks.  The sun is popping out this morning and it looks like a nice early Spring day overall.

 restocking hendrickson comparaduns – photo by Jordan Davenport

Hatching:

Tiny Black Stoneflies #18 – Capniadae sp.

Early Black and Brown Stoneflies #14 – 16 Taeniopteryx sp.

April 4, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 4, 2014

After a very cold dry March we have been hoping for a cool wet April with enough rain to fill the reservoirs and keep the water temps cool- it looks like we are getting our wish so far.  Accuweather is calling for an inch of rain over the next couple of days.  Air temperatures continue to be pleasant for early April and water temps on the West Branch seem to be on a warming trend every morning bringing closer to the hatching.  Streamers fish slow are still your best bet along with nymphing the upper WB above most of the feeder streams.

Rainbow head from last October

Hatching:

Tiny Black Stoneflies #18 – Capniadae sp.

Early Black and Brown Stoneflies #14 – 16 Taeniopteryx sp.

April 3, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 3, 2014

We missed yesterday’s post- there’s nothing more fun than starting off a new season with computer issues beyond our control!

Overall the fishing is still slow.  While the air temperatures have improved significantly over the last week, the water temps are still a little low to get the fish moving.  That should improve over the next few days as our warming trend continues and the runoff continue to subside.  Right now the river West Branch still has that greenish tint I would describe as “glacial”.  There have been a lot of stoneflies in the afternoons but the fish aren’t really on them yet.  Most of our success has come on smaller streamers fished slowly.

 Yesterday on the river- photo by Jordan Davenport

Hatching:

Tiny Black Stoneflies #18 – Capniadae sp.

Early Black and Brown Stoneflies #14 – 16 Taeniopteryx sp.

April 1, 2014

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 1, 2014

Well that was a long winter.

Lots of rain and ice this past week but it looks like we are finally on a warming trend.  The rivers are dropping and beginning to clear.  Streamers have been working okay on warm afternoons with most success coming on small flies fished slowly.  Stoneflies have been out off and on for the last month but no real dryfly activity yet.  As the river levels continue to drop nymphing small flies during the warmest part of the day will be your best bet.  Stay tuned- it’s only going to get better from here forward.

Hatching:

Tiny Black Stoneflies #18 – Capniadae sp.

Early Black and Brown Stoneflies #14 – 16 Taeniopteryx sp.

Dave Price starting the year off right!

March 21, 2014

Not Quite Spring Yet

But we’re standing in the snow watching patiently.  Stay tuned, Winter will end.

January 20, 2014

Come See Us at the Fly Fishing Show This Weekend!

Happy New Year to everyone! January is upon us, which means it is once again time for the Fly Fishing Show in Somerset, NJ at the Garden State Convention Center. For a change of pace, our booth will be in the Lobby of the show, and we would love to see you there, so please stop by for a visit.

Guide Bob Lewis will also be making a presentation each day of the show entitled, “Taming the Delaware,” which will have great information for both the novice and veteran angler alike, so be sure not to miss it!

October 31, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 31, 2013

Well here we are, the end of the season here at the Delaware River Club. I would like to thank each one of you for your continued business, as well as constant readership. It certainly makes it easier to publish the report daily, knowing how many are looking forward to it each morning. Keep checking back, as I will be adding content here and there, as well as announcing our Client of the Year winner(s) shortly! While we will be “closed,”  please feel free to call the shop / check out the online store if there is anything you need over the winter months, and we’ll be glad to get it out to you! Now for the normal business:

Wednesday turned into another good day of dry fly fishing, on both the West and Main. When I closed the shop up around 6 yesterday, we still had fish rising in Home Pool, taking Pseudos, most likely. I had reports of Stenos and Isos mixed in with the Pseudos on the Main Stem yesterday, starting around 1 PM or so, and continuing until dark. The larger fish were caught in the slower water at the end of the pools, but weren’t so picky that you needed to drop below 5.5X or 6X tippet. Today we’re starting with cloud cover, and will likely have some rain coming our way as well. This will likely delay the hatches a bit, but with warmer weather (mid 60s) we could still see some decent activity. Looking forward, I would expect the Pseudos to hang around well into November, so long as the weather stays warmer in the mid-afternoon. Don’t be scared to come up and wet a line just because winter is coming – the bugs will still be here for a bit, as will the fish! Thanks again for a great season!

Happy Halloween!

Isonychia bicolor – Iso – Slate Drake – #12-2XL, #12 (sporadic)

Stenonema species – Various Light Cahills – #14 (sporadic)

Pseudocloeon species – BWO – #22 – sporadic

Current Flow Conditions:

October 30, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 30, 2013

Once again, things actually went according to schedule. Bugs and fish on the West from about 2PM until 5:30 PM or so, mostly olives but with the occasional Iso thrown in for good measure. Today we’ll likely see it start a bit earlier, as the temps will be in the mid to high 50s, and hopefully go a bit longer into the evening. NYC did drop our flows a tad down to a 593 release, but that should not adversely affect the fishing too much. There are still a handful of Stenos out there, so be looking for yellow bugs, as well as the possibility of some late season flying ants, at least on the Main Stem – had a report of those guys being out yesterday! Get out there and have some fun while the season is still here!

There were a few of these on the porch from yesterday – pale Steno spinners! Photo by: Bart Larmouth

Isonychia bicolor – Iso – Slate Drake – #12-2XL, #12

Stenonema species – Various Light Cahills – #14

Pseudocloeon species – BWO – #22 – sporadic

Ephemerella lata – Dark BWO – #18

Current Flow Conditions:

October 29, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 29, 2013

Ended up being cloudier than expected yesterday, which made the Olives very happy, as well as the trout up and eating them. They started a bit later on the West Branch, more towards 3 or so, but kept going until past 5. The Lower Main (below Buckingham) picked up a bit earlier, as the water temps were a bit warmer down that way. We’re cooling off a bit today, with temps not quite hitting 50, and a good amount of cloud cove, so I’d expect the bugs to hatch a bit later in the day again, and likely continue on a bit more into the evening as well.

Bob Lewis holding a FAT WB Brown. Photo by: Steve Shen

Isonychia bicolor – Iso – Slate Drake – #12-2XL, #12

Stenonema species – Various Light Cahills – #14

Pseudocloeon species – BWO – #22 – sporadic

Ephemerella lata – Dark BWO – #18

Current Flow Conditions:

October 28, 2013

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 28, 2013

Sunday was definitely a much calmer, sunnier day overall, and the fish did respond in the mid-day hours to flushes of Isos and Pseudos taking advantage of the warmest part of the day. The West fished a bit more than the Main, and the fish were super-spooky over on the East and Beaverkill, which is no surprised based on the low flows that direction. We still have higher water on the West thanks to directed flows keeping Montague as high as it needs to be, which makes it perfect for both wading and floating. We’ve got similar days for the rest of the week, so hopefully the pattern will continue, giving everyone a chance to sleep in if they choose, without missing the majority of the action!

Pat Giordano with a nice October Brown! Photo: Michael Johnson

Isonychia bicolor – Iso – Slate Drake – #12-2XL, #12

Stenonema species – Various Light Cahills – #14

Pseudocloeon species – BWO – #22 – sporadic

Ephemerella lata – Dark BWO – #18

Heptagenia hebe – Olive Sulphurs – #16

Current Flow Conditions: