July 24, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 24, 2021

The flows dropped throughout the system yesterday but the best wading is still on the Beaverkill and Willowemoc Rivers.  The West Branch at Stilesville seems to be steady at 1,480 cfs.  It looks like it’s just leveling out. That gauge usually reads 50 – 100 cfs less than the actual release.  Yesterday fished the way we expected with a mix of streamers and dry flies.  Isonychias, olive, sulphurs, and even a few cahills were out there.  Water temps stayed decent on all the rivers yesterday opening up a lot of choices.  It sounded like people caught some fish no matter where they went.  We warm up today with a high of 82 degrees, sunshine, and wind 5 – 10 mph from the South.

Peter with a nice one yesterday. Tim Glynn photo

Gary found some fish yesterday. Bruce Miller photo

What’s Hatching:
Sulphur – #18 – 20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – E. invaria
Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Tiny Blue Wing Olive – #20 – 24 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – D. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – E. cornutella, attenuata
Tan Caddis – #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 23, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 23, 2021

The West and East Branches are still too high to wade with the combination spill and releases.  They are clear and good for floating.  The freestone flows have dropped so there are wade opportunities on the Willowemoc and Beaverkill.  Streamers will be a good choice this weekend but there will be dry fly opportunities.  Olives, Isonychias, and sulphurs should be hatching in the afternoon through the evening. The fish on top will be on edges and slow sections.  The high water spreads the bugs out so be patient if the fish aren’t steady.  We are also clear enough to nymph.  No rain in today’s forecast.  We’ll hit 77 degrees with sunshine.  Wind will be 5 – 10 mph from the North.

What’s Hatching:
Sulphur – #18 – 20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – E. invaria
Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Tiny Blue Wing Olive – #20 – 24 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – D. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – E. cornutella, attenuata
Tan Caddis – #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 22, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 22, 2021

Cannonsville is now spilling.  The flow at Stilesville is 1,600 cfs.  Overall the runoff has dropped and the rivers flows throughout the system are down quite a bit from yesterday.  Wading still is not an option.  Some of the small streams in the headwaters may offer some opportunity.  The clarity has improved a lot since yesterday morning.  Enough that if there are bugs the fish will eat.  Most people will opt for streamers today as their best bet.  We’ll have sunshine, wind 5 – 10 from the North, and hit 75 degrees.  We don’t see any rain in the forecast for the next few days.

What’s Hatching:
Sulphur – #18 – 20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – E. invaria
Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Tiny Blue Wing Olive – #20 – 24 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – D. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – E. cornutella, attenuata
Tan Caddis – #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 21, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 21, 2021

We were hit by more thunderstorms last night and all of the river flows are up this morning. Hale Eddy looks like it’s peaking over 4,000 cfs and is off color.  Cannonsville is not spilling yet so Stilesville is still at 1,400 cfs.  Pepacton is spilling.  Wading is not an option.  Throwing streamers from a boat is the best option.  Luckily the next few days look dry so hopefully the rivers will drop and clear a bit.  We had some Isonychias and olives on the lower West last night and some of the fish were getting on them.  That should pick back up once the flows drop.

The flow at Hale Eddy has peaked. Hopefully we don’t get anymore rain.

What’s Hatching:
Sulphur – #18 – 20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – E. invaria
Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Tiny Blue Wing Olive – #20 – 24 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – D. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – E. cornutella, attenuata
Tan Caddis – #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 20, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 20, 2021

The West Branch flow at Stilesville is a steady 1,400 cfs.   The gauge is off a bit but all that matters is that it’s steady.  No spill from Cannonsville.  Pepacton is spilling a bit.  The rivers are dropping slowly as the runoff subsides.  Wading is still not a great option.  The West Branch has some color in it but it is definitely clear enough to fish.  Most people will be throwing streamers but it is clear enough for fish to eat dry flies.  If the bugs are there fish will eat them.  We’ll have sunshine today with a chance of a stray shower.  We may see 1/4″ of rain overnight.

What’s Hatching:
Sulphur – #18 – 20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – E. invaria
Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Tiny Blue Wing Olive – #20 – 24 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – D. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – E. cornutella, attenuata
Tan Caddis – #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 19, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 19, 2021

The West Branch at Stilesville shows a steady 1,400 cfs this morning.  So it’s high, clear, and not spilling. People are getting out a bit up there but it’s really tough at this level.  The West Branch at Hale Eddy is 2,860 cfs and dropping.  There is color in the water but it looks much, much better than it did yesterday.  On the graph it looks like the East Branch is spilling.  Wading is not recommended anywhere.  You will see people trying it.  Use your best judgement.

We shouldn’t see any additional rain today and tomorrow so the rivers should continue to clear and drop.

What’s Hatching:
Sulphur – #18 – 20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – E. invaria
Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Tiny Blue Wing Olive – #20 – 24 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – D. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – E. cornutella, attenuata
Tan Caddis – #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 18, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 18, 2021

All of the river flows are way up this morning.  The Beaverkill  is over 5,000 cfs, the East Branch at Fishs Eddy is over 10,000 cfs, and the West Branch at Hale Eddy is just under 3,000 cfs.  There is some big water out there.  The feeder streams are adding a lot of water below hale so keep that in mind.  All of the rivers are going to be off color. It looks like Pepacton is spilling and Cannonsville is very close.  Stilesville is steady around 1,400 this morning.  Keep an eye on the gauge if you are up there in case the spill begins.  While not ideal at 1,400 cfs that is the only place there is a shot at wading today. Definitely not ideal.   If you do it be careful and watch for rising water.

Daniel found one before the rivers came up yesterday

What’s Hatching:
Sulphur – #18 – 20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – E. invaria
Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Tiny Blue Wing Olive – #20 – 24 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – D. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – E. cornutella, attenuata
Tan Caddis – #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 17, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 17, 2021

The release from Cannonsville was increased yesterday and the flow at Stilesville is 1,380 cfs.  There are a few spots you can wade at this level but be careful.  The increased release is probably to help mitigate the potential spill.  Both Cannonsville and Pepacton are getting close to 100% capacity.  Today sounds like every other day for the last two weeks.  The morning will be cloudy.  We have a chance of afternoon thunderstorms.  Rainfall should be 1/4″, wind 5 – 10 from the south, high of 83 degrees.  We may see some additional rain overnight.  The increased release will cool the lower West a bit.  Today sounds like another bwo day with some sulphurs and isonychias in the mix.

Moon floats are always a good time!

What’s Hatching:
Sulphur – #18 – 20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – E. invaria
Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Tiny Blue Wing Olive – #20 – 24 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – D. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – E. cornutella, attenuata
Tan Caddis – #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 16, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 16, 2021

The water levels are still falling throughout the system as the runoff subsides.  The release from Cannonsville remains the same over 700 cfs.  The cold release and cloud cover should keep the West Branch in good shape today. We’re back in the pattern of potential afternoon thunderstorms.  We should have clouds early with the chance of storms starting around 2 pm.  Hopefully they miss us.  There is still a lot of water coming into the reservoirs so keep an eye on the Downsville and Stilesville gauges for potential spill over the next few days.  Blue Wing Olives, sulphurs, isonychias, and some cahills will cover most of the mayflies.  We’ve been seeing some tan caddis lately too so carry a few of those.

What’s Hatching:
Sulphur – #18 – 20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – E. invaria
Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Tiny Blue Wing Olive – #20 – 24 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – D. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – E. cornutella, attenuata
Tan Caddis – #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 15, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 15, 2021

It looks like the release from Cannonsville Reservoir was increased to around 725 cfs.  This was probably done to help mitigate any potential spill since the reservoir levels are still climbing.  So keep in mind if you’re wading the Stilesville area it will be higher than it’s been in a while.  The flows are slowly dropping on the rest of the system.  the color is fine on the lower West Branch and definitely fishable.  Most of the rain missed us yesterday.  Surprisingly there is no rain in today’s forecast.  We’ll see sunshine and 85 degrees with wind 5 – 10 mph from the South.  Tomorrow we’re back to the normal potential afternoon thunderstorms.

The river cleanup is back for the 5th year. August 14th.

What’s Hatching:
Sulphur – #18 – 20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – E. invaria
Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Tiny Blue Wing Olive – #20 – 24 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – D. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – E. cornutella, attenuata
Tan Caddis – #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 14, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 14, 2021

We had some additional rain overnight but the West Branch is clear enough to fish out front this morning.  The flow at Hale Eddy has dropped quite a bit from yesterday and is starting off at 150 cfs this morning.  The West Branch above Oquaga Creek should be low and clear at 571 cfs. The upper West will be your best bet for a consistent hatch sulphurs and / or olives. Streamers should work well on the mid to lower WB but I would also carry some dry flies there too.  Today will be warmer hitting 82 degrees with  3 – 10 mph from the South.  We should keep the cloud cover and have a chance at some afternoon thundershowers.  So we’re looking at a warmer version of yesterday.

The flow at Hale Eddy is already dropping this morning.

What’s Hatching:
Sulphur – #18 – 20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – E. invaria
Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Tiny Blue Wing Olive – #20 – 24 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – D. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – E. cornutella, attenuata
Tan Caddis – #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

July 13, 2021

Delaware River Report / Conditions July 13, 2021

We were hit with more storms overnight and the all of the rivers are high and off color.  The clearest and lowest water will be right below both Cannonsville and Pepacton. Short sections but they are the best you will find today.  It will take the lower rivers a day or two to clear if we don’t get any additional rain.  If you do head upstream olives and sulphurs.  Plus a couple of isonychias and cahills.  Today will be cloudy with a chance of isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon.  78 degrees with 5 – 10 mph from the South.  Hopefully the storms slide north or south of us.

What’s Hatching:
Sulphur – #18 – 20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – E. invaria
Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Tiny Blue Wing Olive – #20 – 24 – Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – D. deficiens, lata
Light Blue Wing Olives – #16 – 20 – E. cornutella, attenuata
Tan Caddis – #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update: