Delaware River Report / Conditions August 10, 2014
More of the same yesterday. Mid-day sulphurs in the Upper West and evening sulphurs and cahills on the Lower West and Upper Mainstem. The fish were eating despite the sun but were much happier when the clouds passed over. We’ve seen fewer Isonychias lately but the Summer Stenos seem to be making up the difference for the fish. Swinging wet flies and nymphing has been effective during the day on the lower sections but keep look around for the odd fish rising to stenos in the sun. If you can mark them and cover them quickly you have a good chance of getting them to eat. As of August 8th Cannonsville was at 90.3% capacity. It’s another one of those cold mornings when you need to wear a fleece. The West Branch under the 191 Bridge in Hancock is 56 degrees this morning.
Spinner patterns can make decent sulphur cripple imitations
Hatching:
Sulphurs #16 -20 E. dorothea
Light Cahill #14 – E. Invaria
Pale Evening Dun #14 Epeorus vitreus
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.
Light Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. cornutella, etc
Slate Drakes #12-2xl – Isonychia bicolor
Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.
Golden Drakes – #12-2xl – Potomanthus sp.
| FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
| West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 609 cfs @ 46º |
| West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 648 cfs @ 48º |
| East Branch at Harvard, NY | 206 cfs @ 56º |
| East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 434 cfs @ 65º |
| Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 1,190 cfs @ 65º |
| Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 164 cfs @ N/A |
Delaware River Report / Conditions August 9, 2014
The sulphurs continue to hatch like clockwork on the Upper West Branch. They were were some decent fish rising but they were picky yesterday. A lot of the fish are still eating just under the surface during the main part of the hatch. We have been having some success with floating nymphs during this period. As the hatch wanes and their underwater food supply dwindles the fish are turning to the cripples and stillborns on the surface. The lower West Branch and Upper Mainstem fished better in the evening once the sun dropped with a mix of sulphurs and cahills. The cahills are hatching sporadically throughout the day so if you are are patient you may find a fish to target even in the bright sun. Nymphing has been decent below Hale Eddy. Match your nymphs to the size of the naturals. We have been using #14 -20 Pheasant Tails and Copper Johns with decent success. The lower water on the East Branch has started to cause the temperatures to rise at Fish’s Eddy so check before you fish over there. The West Branch at under the 191 Bridge is 55 degrees this morning.
Ron with a nice brown trout
Hatching:
Sulphurs #16 -20 E. dorothea
Light Cahill #14 – E. Invaria
Pale Evening Dun #14 Epeorus vitreus
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.
Light Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. cornutella, etc
Slate Drakes #12-2xl – Isonychia bicolor
Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.
Golden Drakes – #12-2xl – Potomanthus sp.
| FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
| West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 609 cfs @ 46º |
| West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 648 cfs @ 48º |
| East Branch at Harvard, NY | 206 cfs @ 56º |
| East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 462 cfs @ 63º |
| Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 1,190 cfs @ 64º |
| Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 178 cfs @ N/A |
Delaware River Report / Conditions August 8, 2014
August 8th and all of us up here are wearing fleece jackets this morning. We couldn’t ask for better weather to keep the rivers in great shape. The Mainstem at Callicoon is a cool 65 degrees this morning. The forecast for today is sun with warm temperatures. The best daytime fishing should be above Hale Eddy with the mid-day #18 sulphur hatches. The fish have been up and happy. The olives have been following the sulphur hatch so keep a close eye to see which mayfly the fish are eating. We’ve seen a few Summer Stenos on the lower West Branch during the day but you need to be mobile and hunt for rising fish in the sun. The main #20 sulphurs down low have been coming towards dark. There have been some Isonychias mixed in with the Sulphurs throughout the river system.
Allen and Samantha working together to land this one on the West Branch
Hatching:
Sulphurs #16 -20 E. dorothea
Light Cahill #14 – E. Invaria
Pale Evening Dun #14 Epeorus vitreus
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.
Light Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. cornutella, etc
Slate Drakes #12-2xl – Isonychia bicolor
Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.
Golden Drakes – #12-2xl – Potomanthus sp.
| FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
| West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 609 cfs @ 46º |
| West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 648 cfs @ 48º |
| East Branch at Harvard, NY | 213 cfs @ 54º |
| East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 491 cfs @ 62º |
| Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 1,260 cfs @ 63º |
| Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 195 cfs @ N/A |
Delaware River Report / Conditions August 7, 2014
Like clockwork yesterday the Upper West Branch had a strong mid day sulphur hatch. We had a brief shower that really let the fish put their guard down and fishing was fast and furious for a while. There were some fish eating the mayflies right under the surface but a number of fish turned to the #18 duns on top. After the hatch ended there were still fish working cleanup on the cripples and stillborn duns for quite a while offering some great opportunities for people willing to move around. The lower sections of river were quiet during the day but had a decent sulphur hatch at dark. Most of them seemed to be #20 – 22 making it tough in the failing light. There were a few olives mixed in the hatch too- mostly #18 but the fish seemed to like sulphurs better. The nights have still been cool keeping the rivers in great shape but bring a fleece. The West Branch is 54 degrees under the 191 Bridge this morning. Today looks sunny and warm with a possible brief shower in the afternoon.
Allen with a really nice brown yesterday
| FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
| West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 609 cfs @ 46º |
| West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 659 cfs @ 48º |
| East Branch at Harvard, NY | 219 cfs @ 56º |
| East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 558 cfs @ 64º |
| Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 1,380 cfs @ 64º |
| Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 219 cfs @ N/A |
Hatching:
Sulphurs #16 -20 E. dorothea
Light Cahill #14 – E. Invaria
Pale Evening Dun #14 Epeorus vitreus
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.
Light Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. cornutella, etc
Slate Drakes #12-2xl – Isonychia bicolor
Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.
Golden Drakes – #12-2xl – Potomanthus sp.
Delaware River Report / Conditions August 6, 2014
Yesterday showed us more afternoon sulphurs in Deposit, and some evening hatches of cahills and isonychia on the lower West. We received an afternoon rainstorm that put a sheen of fog on the river and the bugs shut down late in the evening. The water levels did not change, but the fog was appropriate for a quick streamer bite though using black. Today will be partly cloudy will a chance of an evening thunderstorm. The West Branch temp at Hancock is still 55 degrees!
A mama bear with 3 cubs crossing the river!
Hatching:
Sulphurs #16 -20 E. dorothea
Light Cahill #14 – E. Invaria
Pale Evening Dun #14 Epeorus vitreus
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.
Light Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. cornutella, etc
Slate Drakes #12-2xl – Isonychia bicolor
Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.
Golden Drakes – #12-2xl – Potomanthus sp.
| FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
| West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 620 cfs @ 46º |
| West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 664 cfs @ 48º |
| East Branch at Harvard, NY | 235 cfs @ 55º |
| East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 558 cfs @ 64º |
| Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 1,350 cfs @ 64º |
| Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 228 cfs @ N/A |
Delaware River Report / Conditions August 5, 2014
The storms missed us again yesterday. Instead of clouds and light rain the sun broke through and made fishing on the lower West Branch and Upper Mainstem tough until the evening. There were enough bugs on the water to get the fish interested but not enough to keep them going. Being in the right place at the right time certainly paid off but you needed a lot of patience. In the evening we had a decent mix of sulphurs, stenos, olives, plus a few Golden Drakes thrown in for good measure. The fish kept eating right into dark.The Upper West Branch still has the strong mid-day sulphur hatches. The fish are eating them in the sun but if you can find a shaded pool or wait for cloud cover they will be a little less picky. The West Branch is 55 degrees under the 191 Bridge this morning.
Allen with a nice rainbow from yesterday
Hatching:
Sulphurs #16 -20 E. dorothea
Light Cahill #14 – E. Invaria
Pale Evening Dun #14 Epeorus vitreus
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.
Light Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. cornutella, etc
Slate Drakes #12-2xl – Isonychia bicolor
Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.
Golden Drakes – #12-2xl – Potomanthus sp.
| FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
| West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 609 cfs @ 46º |
| West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 654 cfs @ 48º |
| East Branch at Harvard, NY | 229 cfs @ 56º |
| East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 542 cfs @ 64º |
| Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 1,300 cfs @ 65º |
| Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 207 cfs @ N/A |
Delaware River Report / Conditions August 4, 2014
Yesterday seemed very similar to Saturday except the fish seemed to be even more picky than usual. We saw decent sulphur hatches in the early afternoon on the Upper West Branch followed by a decent mix of Blue Winged Olives. Most of the Isonychias we saw hatched later in the evening. The mid to lower West Branch turned on in the evening with a mix of sulphurs, Summer Stenos, Isonychias, and the Blue Winged Olives. We had a little rain overnight that hasn’t seemed to budge the flows. Today looks cooler with a chance of some sporadic Thunderstorms. The West Branch under the 191 Bridge is 56 degrees this morning.
Big fins on a wild brown
Hatching:
Sulphurs #16 -20 E. dorothea
Light Cahill #14 – E. Invaria
Pale Evening Dun #14 Epeorus vitreus
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.
Light Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. cornutella, etc
Slate Drakes #12-2xl – Isonychia bicolor
Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.
Golden Drakes – #12-2xl – Potomanthus sp.
| FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
| West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 609 cfs @ 46º |
| West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 659 cfs @ 48º |
| East Branch at Harvard, NY | 235 cfs @ 55º |
| East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 585 cfs @ 64º |
| Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 1,330 cfs @ 64º |
| Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 228 cfs @ N/A |
Delaware River Report / Conditions August 3, 2014
The rain yesterday was definitely spotty. Some areas saw showers and others never saw a drop. The mid day sulphur hatch was decent on the Upper West Branch yesterday, with just enough Isonychias and Summer Stenos mixed in to keep it interesting. Floating nymphs seemed to work well even during periods of sun. Timing was the main issue so covering the fish multiple times until they finally ate the fly seemed to be the ticket. We did see some decent afternoon olives but the fish were willing to eat sulphur imitations through that hatch. The lower river sections had more evening activity with sulphurs and cahills. The West Branch is 56 degrees under the 191 Bridge this morning.
Theo had a decent day on the West Branch yesterday- this one was thick!
Theo with his second good rainbow from yesterday
Hatching:
Sulphurs #16 -20 E. dorothea
Light Cahill #14 – E. Invaria
Pale Evening Dun #14 Epeorus vitreus
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.
Light Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. conutella, etc
Slate Drakes #12-2xl – Isonychia bicolor
Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.
Golden Drakes – #12-2xl – Potomanthus sp.
| FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
| West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 609 cfs @ 46º |
| West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 659 cfs @ 48º |
| East Branch at Harvard, NY | 246 cfs @ 54º |
| East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 602 cfs @ 62º |
| Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 1,350 cfs @ 62º |
| Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 237 cfs @ N/A |
Delaware River Report / Conditions August 2, 2014
The Upper West Branch sulphurs were on yesterday and the fish eating. They were tough but some people did well fishing floating sulphur nymphs in the film. The lower sections started off slow but the sulphur action picked up in the evening and lasted into dark. Some people found success blind fish Isonychias and Cahills in the faster riffles. Nymphing has been tough on the upper section due to the green slime but is definitely doable on the lower river. We saw Tricos as late as 2 pm yesterday due to the colder weather so definitely do not give up early if you don’t see any in the morning. Today looks cooler with some intermittent showers. The West Branch is 56 degrees under the 191 Bridge this morning.
Brown Trout Head Photo by Jim Swift
Hatching:
Sulphurs #16 -20 E. dorothea
Light Cahill #14 – E. Invaria
Pale Evening Dun #14 Epeorus vitreus
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.
Light Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. conutella, etc
Slate Drakes #12-2xl – Isonychia bicolor
Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.
Golden Drakes – #12-2xl – Potomanthus sp.
| FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
| West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 609 cfs @ 45º |
| West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 664 cfs @ 49º |
| East Branch at Harvard, NY | 259 cfs @ 55º |
| East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 656 cfs @ 62º |
| Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 1,500 cfs @ 62º |
| Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 257 cfs @ N/A |
Delaware River Report / Conditions August 1, 2014
Here we are on August 1st looking at Cannonsville Reservoir at 93.1% capacity and the the water temperature on the West Branch is 55 degrees under the 191 Bridge in Hancock. The most incredible part is that we are still fishing all the way down to Long Eddy on the Mainstem! We have the normal sulphurs hatching mid afternoon on the upper West Branch and are still finding fish eating during the day all the way down the Mainstem. The farther down you go the less you will see but the opportunity is definitely there- especially with the forecast for the weekend. We are looking at some intermittent thunderstorms which cold be great for olive and Isonychia hatches.
West Branch temperatures haven’t touched 70 degrees all season!
Hatching:
Sulphurs #16 -20 E. dorothea
Light Cahill #14 – E. Invaria
Pale Evening Dun #14 Epeorus vitreus
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.
Light Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. conutella, etc
Slate Drakes #12-2xl – Isonychia bicolor
Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.
Golden Drakes – #12-2xl – Potomanthus sp.
| FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
| West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 609 cfs @ 46º |
| West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 670 cfs @ 48º |
| East Branch at Harvard, NY | 420 cfs @ 51º |
| East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 839 cfs @ 58º |
| Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 1,720 cfs @ 61º |
| Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 277 cfs @ N/A |
Delaware River Report / Conditions July 31, 2014
While yesterday’s cloud cover was intermittent, the system proved to fish well during the day. The evening fishing picked up down river with olives, cahills, and Isonychias. If you were fishing the main you saw golden drakes and golden drake spinners along with the usual mix of summer insects. Today looks like an exact copy of yesterday: passing cloud cover and a possible evening thunderstorm.
Be sure to try blind casting isos and larger flies in the riffs!
Hatching:
Sulphurs #16 -20 E. dorothea
Light Cahill #14 – E. Invaria
Pale Evening Dun #14 Epeorus vitreus
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.
Light Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. conutella, etc
Slate Drakes #12-2xl – Isonychia bicolor
Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.
Golden Drakes – #12-2xl – Potomanthus sp.
| FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
| West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 609 cfs @ 46º |
| West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 676 cfs @ 48º |
| East Branch at Harvard, NY | 601 cfs @ 49º |
| East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 1,080 cfs @ 55º |
| Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 1810 cfs @ 60º |
| Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 264 cfs @ N/A |
Delaware River Report / Conditions July 30, 2014
The rain missed us yesterday but the wind did not. It was tough until the gusts dropped in the early evening. Mid-day we saw a decent number of Isonychias and Pseudos on the water but the wind blew them off the surface before the fish could key in on them. Luckily the they are calling for very little wind today which should definitely help the dry fly fishing. The sulphurs are still going strong in Deposit during the mid afternoon and if we do get the predicted brief thunderstorm today has very good potential. We are seeing a few Golden Drakes get eaten too – it’s great to get to throw big flies again.
Pat with a nice brown. Photo by Bob Lewis
Hatching:
Sulphurs #16 -20 E. dorothea
Light Cahill #14 – E. Invaria
Pale Evening Dun #14 Epeorus vitreus
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.
Light Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. conutella, etc
Slate Drakes #12-2xl – Isonychia bicolor
Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.
Golden Drakes – #12-2xl – Potomanthus sp.
| FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
| West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 609 cfs @ 46º |
| West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 687 cfs @ 48º |
| East Branch at Harvard, NY | 617 cfs @ 49º |
| East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 1,080 cfs @ 55º |
| Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 1,910 cfs @ 60º |
| Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 297 cfs @ N/A |
