The rain they were counting on to meet the downstream flow requirements missed us so the release from Cannonsville has been increased.  The flow at Stilesville is 860 cfs but dropping this morning. It may level out there.  The recording says the release is 927 cfs.  All we can do is watch the gauge and see where it levels out.  Check the gauge links below for the latest flow information.  There has been a push in the past to actually wait for the rain to hit to change the release rather than rely on inaccurate weather forecasts.  Apparently that idea was not a priority for NYC DEP.  A second slap in the face to downstream users in the last 10 days.  Yesterday the olives hatched in the afternoon and the fish were happy.  Nymphing worked well in the morning.  If the water stays up today could be a good streamer day.

There is some color in the West Branch from the release.  The cloudiness will increase if they raise the release.  It happens every Fall when the reservoir begins to turn over.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

They are counting on the rain and downstream releases to meet the flow targets so the release from Cannonsville has been dropped again.  The flow at Stilesville is 165 cfs this morning.  We had some rain overnight and should receive more throughout the day.  So far nothing heavy and the river flows haven’t bumped at all as of 6:30 am.  We’ll have wind again today as the front pushes through.  16 mph from the South.  We’ve had some days where the wind comes and goes and gives us enough calm weather to get the fish eating on top.  Hopefully it’s like that today.

There is some color in the West Branch from the release.  The cloudiness will increase if they raise the release.  It happens every Fall when the reservoir begins to turn over.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

The release from Cannonsville has been dropped.  The recording says the release is 300 cfs but the gauge at Stilesville shows 232 cfs.  NYC DEP is counting on releases from other dams and runoff from the rain coming to meet downstream flow targets.  The flow at Hale Eddy will drop over the next few hours.  We’ll hit 63 degrees today with wind 5 mph from the North.  A single digit wind forecast.  We should get some rain overnight with more coming tomorrow.  Tomorrow’s total should be around 1/2″.  Everything is pretty dry right now so a lot of it should soak right into the ground.  Falling water is usually good for dry fly action so the olives should come this afternoon.  Caddis are still all over the bushes and a few isonychias are around.

There is some color in the West Branch from the release.  The cloudiness will increase if they raise the release.  It happens every Fall when the reservoir begins to turn over.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

Yesterday was a decent day to be on the water since we had little wind for a change.  Olives, caddis, a few isonychias, and some heptagenia are making up most of the bugs.  We are seeing quite a few isonychia spinners in the air so have some #14 rusty spinners in your box.  The West Branch flow is 722 cfs at Stilesville this morning.  The turbidity increases along with the release so there is some color to the water. It doesn’t seem to bother the fish or the bugs.  Today will be warmer with the air temp hitting the high 70’s with some sunshine.  The wind won’t be awesome at 15 mph from the South.  Overall it’s been a windy week.

There is some color in the West Branch from the release.  The cloudiness will increase if they raise the release.  It happens every Fall when the reservoir begins to turn over.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

The release from Cannonsville is up and the flow at Stilesville has settled in at 680 cfs.  We’ll be a bit warmer today hitting 65 degrees and only dropping to 49 degrees tonight.  Wind will be 5 mph from the South with gusts to 9 mph.  That will feel like a slight breeze after the last few days.  Olives and caddis will make up the bulk of the bugs with some isonychias and heptagenia mixed in on some river sections.  Nymphing and swinging wets will be the best bets early until the afternoon.  Some river sections had good olives yesterday afternoon and the fish were on them.  Keep an eye on the bigger pools for risers at this flow level.

There is some color in the West Branch from the release.  The cloudiness will increase if they raise the release.  It happens every Fall when the reservoir begins to turn over.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

It looks like the work on Cannonsville is complete and they are increasing the release from Cannonsville and decreasing the release from Pepaction.  The release from Cannonsville should settle in at 351 cfs.  Click on the gauge links below for the latest flows.  Yesterday was an interesting weather day with periods of calm followed by bursts of heavy wind.  There was enough time with no wind for people to find some fish rising.  A few violent rain storms pushed through in the afternoon but that passed through very quickly.

It’s still been tiny olives, caddis, a few isonychias, and a few heptagenia.  Today will be a bit cooler at 55 degrees.  Wind will be 14 mph from the North with some heavier gusts but it should drop during the day.

There is some color in the West Branch from the release.  The cloudiness will increase if they raise the release.  It happens every Fall when the reservoir begins to turn over.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

The flow at Stilesville hit around 90 cfs and is up a bit this morning at 133 cfs..  Not as bad as the original press release said but not spectacular either.  The .02″ of rain in yesterday’s forecast missed us.  We have a shot at a little rain tomorrow but today will be 65 degrees with a mix of sun and clouds.  We’ll keep an eye on the West Branch today and see what happens.  If you’re up here the best bets are the East Branch and Mainstem.  The release on the East was increased to help protect the Main.  Isos, olives, haptagenia, and caddis.

The flow at Stilesville is 133 cfs and dropping as of 7 am.  We’ll keep a close eye on that today.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

Below is a note from NYC Watershed.  Unless the leak presents an immediate danger to lives below the dam this is totally unconscionable during the brown trout prespawn / spawn.  If there is no immediate danger they should at least wait for a day with enough rain that the runoff from Oquaga Creek would cover the downstream stream bed.

Please take a few minutes to let NYC DEP Deputy Commissioner Paul Rush know your thoughts:

Paul Rush (NYC): prush@dep.nyc.gov, 845-334-7107

“Important news for folks along the West Branch Delaware River.

DEP will temporarily reduce the downstream release from Cannonsville Reservoir for three days starting tomorrow. The reduction in flow will allow DEP to fix a leaking pipe in the release chamber, and it will let the U.S. Geological Survey calibrate its gage immediately downstream of the reservoir.

The current downstream release from Cannonsville is set at 150 cubic feet per second (97 mgd). The following flow changes will happen starting tomorrow.

Monday – DEP will reduce the flow to 40 cubic feet per second for several hours in the morning while USGS takes readings to calibrate the gage in Stilesville. The release will increase to 150 cfs by noontime.

Tuesday – DEP will ramp down the release to zero flow by 5 a.m. The shutdown is necessary for DEP to safely repair a leaking pipe in release chamber. The shutdown is expected to last the majority of the day. DEP will also work with USGS to remove debris from around its gage. DEP will ramp back up to 150 cfs when the repair is complete.

Wednesday – DEP will again reduce the downstream flow to 40 cfs in the morning while USGS takes additional readings to calibrate its gage in Stilesville. DEP will then ramp back up to 150 cfs.”

It;s in the low 30s ths morning but we should heat up to 61 degrees today.  Cloud cover and wind 5 mph from the South.  Not a bad weather forecast for October.  The rivers are still low due to low releases.  There is no real rain in the short term forecast so the releases are going to come down to the downstream flow targets.  The flow at Montague, NJ is 1,850 this morning so the runoff has mostly passed through.  They will either have to release from up here or from the Lackawaxen / Mongaup to make up the difference.

Nymphing / wet flies have still been the best bets during the day.  Caddis and isonychias are around but the afternoon tiny olives have brought the most dry fly fish to net.

Dylan with a nice rainbow yesterday. Bruce Miller photo

Tim Glynn with a rainbow yesterday afternoon

There is some color in the West Branch from the release.  The cloudiness will increase if they raise the release.  It happens every Fall when the reservoir begins to turn over.

Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur – #18 -20 – Heptagenia hebe
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Tan Caddis - #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Ginger Caddis – #14 – 16 Limnephilis sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Flying Ants # 16 – 20

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

The West Branch is still low this morning with a release from Cannonsville right around 200 cfs.  Hopefully we see some additional water released as the runoff works it’s way past the downstream flow targets.  It’s not ideal fro a number of reasons but there’s no point going off on a rant here.  At least it’s cold out.  We’re coming off a cool night so temperatures look good throughout the system.  58 degrees today with a mix of clouds and sun.  Wind will be 6 mph from the North.  Tiny olives, caddis, and isonychias are making up the bulk of the bugs we’re seeing.  Out of the three tiny olive patterns have been our best producers.

There is some color in the West Branch from the release.  The cloudiness will increase if they raise the release.  It happens every Fall when the reservoir begins to turn over.

Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur – #18 -20 – Heptagenia hebe
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Tan Caddis - #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Ginger Caddis – #14 – 16 Limnephilis sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Flying Ants # 16 – 20

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

The release from Cannonsville has been dropped to under 200 cfs this morning.  The runoff is meeting the downstream flow targets for now.  This is one of those situations that the Flexible Flow Management Plan needs to be a little more flexible to protect the river.  Luckily temps shouldn’t be an issue on the upper river sections and we have some light rain falling this morning.  Once the runoff passes Montague, Nj we should see a bump in the release again.  So it will still fish.  We’ve mostly been fishing tiny olives and some caddis in the evening.

Ed with a good start to October. Bruce Miller photo

There is some color in the West Branch from the release.  The cloudiness will increase if they raise the release.  It happens every Fall when the reservoir begins to turn over.

Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur – #18 -20 – Heptagenia hebe
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Tan Caddis - #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Ginger Caddis – #14 – 16 Limnephilis sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Flying Ants # 16 – 20

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

The downstream flow targets are being met by the runoff so the release from Cannonsville has been cut back to around 300 cfs this morning.  The Mainstem is running a little over 2,000 cfs at Lordville so it will take a couple of days for the runoff to filter through the system.  We’ll hit 65 degrees today with a mix of clouds and sunshine.  Wind will be around 7 mph.  Tonight we drop back into the 40’s with some showers overnight.  Total rainfall should be less than 1/4″.  Yesterday evening the fish did get on the tiny olives and there were a lot of caddis in the air.  The lower flow should concentrate the little bugs and make it a little easier for the fish to set up on them.

There is some color in the West Branch from the release.  The cloudiness will increase if they raise the release.  It happens every Fall when the reservoir begins to turn over.

Click on the fly to see the patterns in our online store

Slate Drake – #12 – 14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur – #18 -20 – Heptagenia hebe
Tiny Olive – #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Tan Caddis - #18 – 20 – Hydropsyche sp.
Ginger Caddis – #14 – 16 Limnephilis sp.
Dark Blue Wing Olives – #18 – 20 – E. deficiens, lata
Flying Ants # 16 – 20

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update: