October 31, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 31, 2015

We have a decent frost on the ground this morning and the river temperatures dropped overnight.  It will take a little longer for the system to warm up today.  The flows are dropping back and now the West Branch is in great shape for wading with a flow at Hale Eddy of 374 cfs.  It will be higher as you move down stream due to the runoff from the tributaries.  Clarity isn’t bad throughout the system.  We should see some sun today with air temperatures in the low 50’s.  Winds shouldn’t be a factor with gusts to 4 mph.  We may have some light rain moving in overnight but we should see any precipitation until after dark.  Hopefully the lower water on the West Branch concentrates the small olives enough to get the fish looking up.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 30, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 30, 2015

The upper sections of the system have dropped back quickly after the rain.  The West Branch is now 473 cfs at Hale Eddy.  There is still a lot of water coming in from the tributaries so the river will be definitely be higher as you move downstream.    Sections are definitely wadeable this morning and looking decent.  It seems like the whole East Coast is in a cool down right now and we are looking at air temperatures reaching 50 today with some sun breaking through in the afternoon.  Winds will be manageable with gusts going just above 10 mph.   Streamers worked well yesterday in the higher off color water.  Hopefully the olives come off today as the water drops more.

Flick Ford landed a nice brown yesterday. Photo by Jared Makowski

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 29, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 29, 2015

We were hit with some heavy rains overnight and the flows throughout the system jumped considerably.  This would be fine if they would have slowly ramped down the releases rather cut them off in anticipation of the rain and risk exposing redds and trapping fish.  As usual the West Branch came through the storms in the best shape with a flow of 1,250 at Hale Eddy.  There is a lot of water coming down the small tributaries so the flow is actually much higher than that on the lower West Branch.  If you do fish today pick your wade spots carefully.  Generally the West Branch recovers quickly so we should be in fine shape for the weekend.  The Beaverkill flow jumped from under 100 cfs to over 5,000 cfs.  That water still has not hit the lower East Branch so expect that part of the system to continue to rise during the day.  The Beaverkill generally throws a lot of color into the East Branch side after a big rain event.  The flow on the Mainstem should also increase during the day as the East Branch flow makes it’s way downstream.

The fog it too thick this morning to take a river picture

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 28, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 28, 2015

The release from Cannonsville is 150 cfs this morning leaving the Mainstem at Lordville flowing at a ridiculous 583 cfs.  Luckily is is raining this morning although it’s light so far.  Accuweather is predicting a little over 1/4″ by 6 pm tonight with an additional inch falling before tomorrow morning.  Hopefully Accuweather really is accurate this time.  Winds will make fishing tough today with gusts reaching 44 mph.  Sustained winds should be in the high teens.  Let’s hope they are wrong on that part of the forecast.  If you can find a spot where the wind is blocked we have been fishing small olives in slower water on most afternoons.  If it’s impossible to hide from the wind nymphing the riffles will be the best option.  If enough rain falls and the rivers color up streamers may be an option but that’s more likely to come into play tomorrow.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 27, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 27, 2015

NYC DEP once again shows a total disregard for the rivers below their dams.  Yesterday’s release from Cannonsville Reservoir was 874 cfs.  They shut the release down and we immediately dropped below 200 cfs at the Stilesville gauge.  At 1 AM this morning the release was increased to 227 cfs.  At 3 AM the release was increased to 292 cfs, and raised again at 6 AM to 357 cfs.  We need NYC DEP to step down the releases gradually rather than simply turning off the spigot.  The additional water they would use to ramp the flows down would be minimal on their end but the benefits to the health of the system below the dams would be huge.  Please let the following people hear your voice:

Paul Rush (NYCDEP) prush@dep.nyc.gov ph:845-334-7107
Thom Murphy (NYCDEP) tmurphy@dep.nyc.gov ph: 914-742-2006
Mark Klotz (NYSDEC) maklotz@gw.dec.state.ny.us ph:518-402-8233
Fred Hensen (NYSDEC) fghenson@gw.dec.state.ny.us ph: 518-402-8901
Mark Hartle (PAFBC) mhartle@pa.gov ph: 814-359-5133

Not good for spawning browns

Not the first time this season:  NYC DEP turned the spigot off on September 28th.  The release was cut from 1,290 cfs to 300 cfs.  Soon after on the upper West Branch Jared Makowski and Bruce Miller found dead young brown trout that had been trapped in the weeds.

Dead browns found not long after the release was cut on September 28th.  Coincidence?

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 26, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 26, 2015

The rain over the last few days has increases the flow slightly on the East Branch side by about 50 cfs this morning.  The flow increase was less in the West Branch drainage so you shouldn’t notice much of a change today.  The wind made fishng tough yesterday but there were some fish rising to olives in the big slow pools and on edges in some river sections.  Accuweather is calling for maximum wind gusts of 5 mph today so we shouldn’t have any problems today.  Air temperatures will reach the low 50’s but it will take a while to warm up this morning.  We have a light frost on the ground.

Jared Makowski with a rainbow this week

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 25, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 25, 2015

We saw decent olives on the water by mid afternoon yesterday.  There were fish rising on both the Mainstem and the West Branch for a few hours.  The rain didn’t come until after dark and has pretty much ended now.  Caddis were also out flying around with a few ending up on the water.  The wind was a bit of an issue at times but the fish ate between gusts.  We should have cloud cover for most of the morning with some sun breaking through in the afternoon.  Air temperatures should hit the mid 50’s with wind gusts staying below 10 mph.  The release from Cannonsville Reservoir has been raised slightly to 874 cfs.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 24, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 24, 2015

The West Branch release was micro adjusted down to 859 cfs this morning so there won’t be much of a noticeable change on the system from yesterday.  The forecast is calling for air temperatures in the 50’d with some rain moving in overnight.  We may end up with a little over 1/4″ of precipitation by morning but it shouldn’t begin until after dark.  We’ve been dry for a while so most of that will soak into the ground.  Small olives are still the main hatch with some caddis and just a few isonychias in the mix.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 23, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 23, 2015

Last night was the beginning of a slight cool down.  Air temperatures dropped but the water temperatures only dropped a degree or two throughout the system.  We should have sun and air temperatures reaching into the 50’s today.  Olives are still hatching in sections with just a few isonychias and some left over heptagenia spinners.  It looks like most of the forecasted rain missed us so we should stay about the same over the next few days.  The release from Cannonsville Reservoir has been raised slightly to 913 cfs this morning.

Jared found some rising fish yesterday on the Mainstem

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 22, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 22, 2015

Today looks like a great fall fishing day.  The Accuweather forecast is calling for air temperatures in the mid 60’s, a few light rain showers, and winds only gusting 6 – 8 mph.  It looks like the air temeperatures will begin to drop tonight leaving us with a cooler but comfortable weekend.  We are still seeing olives hatching in certain areas around 4 pm.  The hatching may begin a little earlier today with the overcast sky and light showers.  Streamers on the West Branch and nymphing on the lower East and upper Main are still viable options before the hatching starts.  The release from Cannonsville Reservoir is 880 cfs.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 21, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 21, 2015

Another great Fall day is ahead of us with air temperatures in the mid 50’s and winds gusting only to 4 mph.  The flow at Stilesville has dropped back to 949 cfs so you still need to pick your wade spots carefully. Tiny olives should continue to hatch into November with a few isonychias and heptagenias mixed in.  Last night was definitely warmer than is has been so the system should warm up quicker today.  Look for the hatches around mid afternoon due to the bright sun.  Throw streamers on the West Branch and nymph the lower East Branch and upper Mainstem until the hatches start.

Brown close up by Bob Lewis

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.

October 20, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions October 20, 2015

Another cold night is behind us but we are looking at daytime temperatures hitting the mid 60’s today.  Winds are going to be light coming out of the Southwest at 6 – 8 mph.  By mid afternoon we should be fishing a very comfortable fall afternoon.  If Accuweather is correct we should hold these temperatures for a couple of days and then cool down slightly for the weekend with air temperatures in the mid 50’s.
We have some sunshine in the forecast and lately that means the olives come a little later in the day.  On days like this we’ve seen most of the dry fly activity late in the afternoon around 3 pm.  Nymphing is still a great option on the lower East Branch and Mainstem.  Streamers are your best option during the day on the West Branch but watch the slow tailouts for rising fish.

Jamie started this week out well. Photo by Bob Lewis

Hatching:
Slate Drake #14 – Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur #18 – 20 – Heptagenia hebe
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22-26 – Pseudo sp. (now classified as Acentrella sp.)
Charcoal Caddis #14 -16 – dark Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16-18 – Hydrosyche sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis sp.