June 20, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 20, 2016

Yesterday was another bright, sunny, hot day.  We did have a few more clouds than expected  which was a nice change.  Nymphing was productive early and then we had the same hatching we’ve been seeing over the last few days. Sulphurs, olives, isonychias, cahills, and a few caddis mixed in.  Some people are finding fish  rising mid- day while others aren’t seeing much until the sun drops behind the hills.  The daytime activity seems to vary from pool to pool so either be patient or move around a it until you find working fish.  Nymphing on the upper West Branch has been tough due to the algae but that is filtered out well enough on the lower sections.

While the forecast is calling for cooler air temperatures today that still means 90 degrees.  We have some clouds this morning and it looks like we may have a shot at a thunderstorm or two.  Let’s hope that forecast is correct.  Bring a raincoat today just in case.  The lower East Branch and Mainstem are both still too hot to fish.  We either need a major break in the weather or larger releases to change that.

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 19, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 19, 2016

Nymphing was definitely the best option yesterday in the sun but there was some surface activity in the mid-afternoon.  There were small flushes of sulphurs and olives that brough some fish to the surface.  The caddis seemed to appear later in the evening as the sun dropped behind hills and the air temperature dropped a bit.  There were fish caught but you had to make the most out of each opportunity.
Fish the West Branch and the upper East Branch.  The Mainstem and lower East Branch both peaked over 70 degrees yesterday and both are starting off high again this morning. It looks like another day of sun and high air temperatures.

Thorn with a nice fish in the sun yesterday. Photo by Theo May

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 18, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 18, 2016

Another day of sunshine and warm weather. There were fish rising sporadically despite the sun offering some people dry fly fishing during the day.  Things picked up once the sun dropped behind the hills.  Sulphurs, cahills, caddis, plus a few isonychias were around.  Nymphing worked well during the day with people finding good success in the riffles.  Today looks like a mirror image of yesterday but a little warmer.  Patience should pay off today.
We are only fishing the West Branch and upper East Branch at this time.  The Mainstem and lower East Branch are too warm.

Ron with a nice fish this week. Photo by Samantha Dennis

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 17, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 17, 2016

The clouds passed through early yesterday and left us with an afternoon of sunshine.  There were sporadic fish eating caddis and few sulphurs were around but the hatching and rising really picked up in the early evening.  Sulphurs and cahills were on the menu with the fish acting happy and eating off the surface.  There have been a few olives in the evening but most of the fish we’re finding are keyed in on sulphur cripples.  Keep and eye out for spinner falls in the evening and in the mornings.  We’ve seen quite a few olive spinners over the rivers before the sun hits the water.
We are entering a warming trend over the next few days with air temperatures reaching the high 80’s. The lower East Branch temps peaked over 70 degrees yesterday and the Mainstem at Lordville peaked around 69 degrees so both of those rivers are too hot to fish.  With the additional heat coming definitely check the water temperatures before fishing.

Water temperatures at Hale Eddy are in great shape

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 16, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 16, 2016

The stretch of sunny weather has broken and we woke up to cloud cover and light intermittent showers this morning.  This is starting off as the best looking fishing day we’ve seen in a while. Air temperatures will be a little cooler with highs in the 60′ with a wind of 5 mph.  We should see decent hatches of olives along with sulphurs, cahills, and caddis.  The West Branch is at decent levels for floating and wading right now.  Temperatures look great on the West with 49 degrees at Hale Eddy.
Watch the temperatures on the Mainstem and the lower East Branch.  The Mainstem at Lordville peaked at 68 degrees yesterday and the East Branch at Fishs Eddy peaked over 70 degrees yesterday.  The weather should help those rivers today but they are also starting off warmer this morning than yesterday. Double check them with your thermometer.

Walter with a nice brown the other day. Photo by Bob Lewis

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – 16 – S. ithaca & canadense
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
Light Blue Winged Olive – #16 – 20 E. attenuatta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 15, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 15, 2016

The sunshine during the day yesterday made the fish a little shy but we did see sproadic mid-day hatching of sulphurs and cahills mixed with some caddis.  There were some fish eating them but the surface activity was much better in shaded areas.  Things picked up when the sun dropped behind the hills and the fish felt more comfortable rising.  Nymphing was productive during the day with fish eating in the riffles.
Today looks like a mirror image of yesterday with warm air temperatures and sunshine.  Winds will be negligible at 4 mph.  We have a slight chance of very light showers over the next few days but the cloud cover will certainly help the fishing.  Temperatures remain decent throughout the system but most rivers are starting off a few degrees warmer this morning.  Fishs Eddy peaked at 66 degrees yesterday, Lordville peaked at 64 degrees yesterday and Callicoon peaked at 68 degrees.  All will likely peak higher today so if you are fishing the lower sections of the East Branch or Mainstem use your thermometer.

Larry holding a nice brown from yesterday. Photo by Michael Brewer

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 14, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 14, 2016

It looks like the heavy winds are finally behind us and we are settling into early summer weather.  Today’s forecast is calling for 75 degrees and wind under 10 mph.  It sounds like a great day to be on the water.  Look for caddis mixed with dead spinners in the morning followed by an afternoon to evening sulphur / cahill hatch.  The sun may push the hatches back until it drops behind the hills so don’t leave the river too early.  The winds drop to almost nothing in the evening so it could be a good spinner night too.  Before the hatches begin both nymphing and blind casting isonychia patterns in the riffles have been working well.  Use smaller nymphs to imitate the sulphurs.  We have a chance of some light rain later in the week which could make for a great weekend.

Tanya with a great Delaware rainbow yesterday. Photo by Kevan Smaracko

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 13, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 13, 2016

The forecast had the wind nailed yesterday.  Gusts were definitely in the 20’s making dry fly fishing tough.  Nymphing was an option and some fish were caught.    The skies looked threatening at times but most of the rain missed us.  We had a few drops here and there but not enough to move the river flows up.  Today looks like a mirror image of yesterday with slightly less wind.  Nymphing will be your best option again but if we get some wind breaks watch for fish eating caddis in the riffles – especially once the sun pops out.  On a good note most of the heavy wind should happen during the day and looks like it may drop as evening approaches.  That should be the best bet for day fly activity if the sulphurs hatch as the sun drops behind the hills.
The winds drop tomorrow and the rest of the week looks great with warmer air temperatures.

Ray with a nice fish from the weekend. Photo by Samantha Dennis

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 12, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 12, 2016

Yesterday’s weather forecast was way off.  We had more sun, less wind, less rain, and certainly didn’t see anything resembling a “tornado” out there.  While we were hoping for a day of overcast skies and light rain that was not to be.   Overall it was a pleasant day to be on the water.  We did have enough cloud cover to get some fish happy earlier in the day.  As soon as the sun popped the fish stopped until the clouds came back so it definitely called for patience.  The river seemed to fish by section yesterday.  Some of us saw olives and caddis during the day and very little in the evening while other people saw little during the day and decent sulphurs as the sun dropped.  It was definitely a day to be flexible with your planning and timing.  Nymphing worked well before the hatches although you will still find some green slime on the upper West Branch.  Definitely not as much junk in the water as we saw a week ago.

If the Forecast is correct we’ll have cooler air temperatures today with highs only reaching the mid 60’s.  Wind may be an issue with wind gusts predicted at 20 mph but the trees are leafed out so it’s easier to find wind protected spots now than it was a few weeks ago.  Hopefully they have messed up the forecast again and the winds will be lower than predicted.

Theo and Lucinda taking advantage of some cloud cover yesterday.

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 11, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 11, 2016

We are coming off another cool night so water temperatures look great throughout the system.  The water temperature in Callicoon peaked in the mid 60’s yesterday which is great for mid-June.  We should have some cloud cover today with an 80% chance of precipitation around 1 PM.  Rainfall totals should be around 1/4″ which will help keep the rivers in good shape.  Winds will be manageable with gusts around 10 mph.  All in all it looks like a good fishing day.
Sulphurs, Isonychias, and caddis.  You may run into flushes of cahills depending on what river section you fish.  Nymphing has been working well in the morning before the hatches begin.  Today’s forecast says Blue Winged Olives so carry that box with light and dark flies #16 -24 just in case.

Tim with a brown yesterday. Photo by Samantha Dennis

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 10, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 10, 2016

Another chilly night means the water temperatures continue to stay cool even though the levels are dropping. The air temperatures are starting to rise and we will have some decent wind to contend with this afternoon. The release from Cannonsville remains at 500 cfs so the West Branch and upper Main Stem are both wade and boat friendly. We’re still seeing good numbers of Sulphurs, Isonychia, Stenos and Light Blue Winged Olives.

Geoff with a beautiful brown and a good cigar. Photo by Bob Lewis

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)

June 9, 2016

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 9, 2016

We had some rain showers yesterday morning but the heaviest precipitation fell to the south. The rivers are dropping down to the levels we had before Sunday’s rain and are fine for floating or wading. The cool nights have helped to lower the water temperatures throughout the system. The East Branch and Main Stem are finally cooling down. Today looks like a sunnier version of yesterday with strong wind gusts and another cool evening. The hatching remains the same with Sulphurs, Isos, Tan Caddis and Olives.

Jared netted a good looking brown yesterday.

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)