August 20, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 20, 2015

 Found:  Fly rod and case on the lower West Branch.  If you’ve lost one within the last week call us at 570-635-5880 or email flyfish@thedelawareriverclub.com

Yesterday’s thunderstorms held off until the evening but we did have clouds for most of the afternoon.  The precipitation was negligible on the system and the flows and temperatures remain close to what we started with yesterday morning.  The Upper East Branch and the entire West Branch are the best bets right now with wadeable flows and decent temperatures.  We may have some wind to deal with while the storms pass through so try to find a protected area.  The lower East Branch and Mainstem are too warm to fish with both reaching 70 degrees or more yesterday afternoon.  We should see a couple of brief storms scattered throughout the day today with precipitation amounts around 1/10th”.  Accuweather is calling for additional rainfall overnight but the storms have been so localized we’ll have to wait and see what happens.
Olives and sulphurs are still the reigning hatches with some cahills and isonychias.  The hatches are a bit more sporadic when the wind picks up.  Swinging wet flies has been effective during down times.

Note:  There are a lot of green weeds floating on the upper West Branch so check your fly often

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur #18-20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Golden Drake #12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
PED / Pink Lady #14 – E. vitreus
Large Blue Winged Olive #14 – D. cornuta
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 vagans
Flying ants #16-24

Flows and Temps as of 8:00 AM:
Click on the gauge below to view the latest update

August 19, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 19, 2015

We did get hit with some decent thunderstorms yesterday but they were brief without a lot of precipitation.  What little rain fell was soaked into the ground and the flows in the system barely budged.  The rivers look good this morning with minimal fog on the lower West Branch.  Accuweather is calling for today to be very similar to yesterday with humidity, warm air temps in the 80’s, and a small amount of precipitation.  Hopefully the clouds stick around for most of the day before and after the storms.  Sulphurs and small olives are on the menu so not much has changed.  Some humid days are very good for flying ants so definitely carry some in your box.

Donnghail from the sunny weekend. Photo by Bob Lewis

Note:  There are a lot of green weeds floating on the upper West Branch so check your fly often

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl  – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur #18-20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Golden Drake #12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
PED / Pink Lady #14 – E. vitreus
Large Blue Winged Olive #14 – D. cornuta
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 vagans
Flying ants #16-24

Flows and Temps as of 8:00 AM:
Click on the gauge below to view the latest update

August 18, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 18, 2015

Today looks like a mirror image of yesterday- hot.  We did have a few more clouds than expected and the cold water of the West Branch certainly helped the humidity while we were fishing.  We should get a few thunderstorms today but they look scattered with just a small amount o precipitation in each one.  Hopefully the clouds push in early giving us a break from the sun and kicking off the hatches a little earlier.
Samll sulphurs and olives are still the go to flies followed by isonychias and cahills.  There have been some tricos on the bigger pools mid morning once the fog burns off.  When you do find fish risng double check the surface of the water.  We have seen very small flying ants that are tough to see unless you are right down to the water’s surface.

Patrick working past the bright sun. Photo by Bob Lewis

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl  – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur #18-20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Golden Drake #12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
PED / Pink Lady #14 – E. vitreus
Large Blue Winged Olive #14 – D. cornuta
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 vagans
Flying ants #16-24

Flows and Temps as of 8:00 AM:
Click on the gauge below to view the latest update

August 17, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 17, 2015

Despite the air temperatures reaching the low 90’s with bright sun the West Branch continues to be in great shape with a water temp of 56 degrees under the 191 Bridge in Hancock this morning.  The lower East Branch and Upper Mainstem will be too warm to fish again today.  Lordville is starting off at 68 degrees and the lower East Branch at Fish’s Eddy is a low 273 cfs and is already 70 degrees this morning.  The hatches are fairly predictable now with the sulphurs coming off earlier upstream in the colder water and olives and cahills coming off later in the day on the downstream sections.  We have seen some flying ants but we haven’t seen large numbers of them on the water yet.   We’ve had a number of small isolated thunderstorm pop up due to the heat.  Bring a raincoat just in case.

Note:  There are a lot of green weeds floating on the upper West Branch so check your fly often

Rich with his first fish ever on a fly rod. Photo by Samantha Dennis

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl  – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur #18-20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Golden Drake #12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
PED / Pink Lady #14 – E. vitreus
Large Blue Winged Olive #14 – D. cornuta
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 vagans

Flows and Temps as of 8:00 AM:
Click on the gauge below to view the latest update

August 16, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 16, 2015

It seemed like we had clouds all around us yesterday except for over the sun.  Most of the storms seemed to go north and / or south of us so we ended up with just a few drops of rain on the river.  The Cannonsville drainage was hit a little with the inflow rising on the West Branch at Walton to 263 cfs.  The hatches still mostly consist of sulphurs and olives, with a few cahills and isonychias mixed in.  The hatches seemed a little lighter and later in the day than we’ve been used to seeing.  There were a few flying ants on the water yesterday but most of the fish we ran into wanted the small olives.  Accuweather is calling for sun and warmer air temperatures today. There is no precipitation the forecast but bring your raincoat just in case a stray thunderstorm pops up.
Note:  There are a lot of green weeds floating on the upper West Branch so check your fly often

Theo with a rainbow in yesterday’s sun

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl  – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur #18-20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Golden Drake #12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
PED / Pink Lady #14 – E. vitreus
Large Blue Winged Olive #14 – D. cornuta
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 vagans

Flows and Temps as of 8:00 AM:
Click on the gauge below to view the latest update

August 15, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 15, 2015

Yesterday was a day of olives and sulphurs with just a few isonychias and cahills.  We had sun most of the day with some scattered clouds and light winds.  The hatching on different river sections remained the same as it’s been over the last week or so.  The were enough mayflies hatching during the day before the main hatch to keep some fish looking up- especially in the shade.  Today looks similar to yesterday with a slightly increased chance of a thunderstorm.  If it comes Accuweather is predicted around 1/10″ of precip in the early evening.  Given their track record over the last few days I’m predicting bright sunshine.  The Mainstem at Lordville is starting off at 66 degrees this morning.  Time to fish with the thermometer down there.

Theo with a nice hookjaw

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl  – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur #18-20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Golden Drake #12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
PED / Pink Lady #14 – E. vitreus
Large Blue Winged Olive #14 – D. cornuta
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 vagans

Flows and Temps as of 8:00 AM:
Click on the gauge below to view the latest update

August 14, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 14, 2015

Reports from yesterday vary greatly by section.  Fish rising but few bugs, lots of bugs and few fish rising, or a medium combination.  The one constant seemed to be that the fish are getting picky.  Most of the river saw decent hatches of tiny olives pushing #26 plus sulphurs.  The fish seemed to eat the emergers or rising nymphs just under the surface. A small pheasant tail dropper or wet fly worked well for some people.  The nymphers did well on wet flies before the evening hatch.  We dealt with sun most of the day so the shaded areas fished the best early.
Accuweather is calling for warmer air temperatures this morning pushing into the low 80’s.  We should get a brief thunderstorm this afternoon with very light precipitation totaling .05″.  If Accuweather is correct and the clouds push in early we could have a really decent olive day.
Hot weather, thunderstorms, and humidity in August means flying ants to me. Definitely have some in your box if you’re out there today.

Theo with a nice rainbow yesterday afternoon

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl  – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur #18-20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Golden Drake #12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
PED / Pink Lady #14 – E. vitreus
Large Blue Winged Olive #14 – D. cornuta
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 vagans

Flows and Temps as of 8:00 AM:
Click on the gauge below to view the latest update

August 13, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 13, 2015

Yesterday was interesting with a number of small, isolated, and brief rain showers.  It was definitely a day to have your raincoat with you.  The olives came after the rain with a lot of fish eating nymphs and emergers under the surface.  A small #20 nymph or wet fly hung off a dry would be the best imitation.  Other sections of river saw the normal sulphur hatches plus a few isonychias and cahills.  The East Branch system flows have dropped back so the Mainstem is returning to pre-rain levels.  Most of the system is fine for wading and floating.  If you go down to the Mainstem check the water temps occasionally with your thermometer.
Accuweather is forecasting air temps in the low 80’s today with mostly sun.  Look for fish rising on shaded banks.

Jared with a pretty brown yesterday. The extraordinary photographer on this shoot was Pat Regan

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl  – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur #18-20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Golden Drake #12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
PED / Pink Lady #14 – E. vitreus
Large Blue Winged Olive #14 – D. cornuta
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 vagans

Flows and Temps as of 8:00 AM:
Click on the gauge below to view the latest update

August 12, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 12, 2015

Most of the system is dropping back to normal flows this morning after the rain.  The West Branch stayed clear enough to fish throughout the weather and is a nice 621 cfs at Hale Eddy this morning.  There was some color coming off the Beaverkill into the East Branch but that is also subsiding this morning.  Accuweather is calling for cooler weather today with air temps in the low 70’s.  We may get a brief / light thunderstorm this afternoon with precipitation toals of less than a 1/10 of an inch.  Cahills, olives, isonychias, and sulphurs are all still hatching.  The trico fishing has picked up a little once the fog burns off the water.

Brian found one on the West Branch yesterday. Photo by Jared Makowski

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl  – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur #18-20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Golden Drake #12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
PED / Pink Lady #14 – E. vitreus
Large Blue Winged Olive #14 – D. cornuta
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 vagans

Flows and Temps as of 8:00 AM:
Click on the gauge below to view the latest update

August 11, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 11, 2015

We did get hit by some decent rain last night and the rivers have come up this morning.  While the flows are rising we were starting off low for most of the system so we’re in good shape so far.  If anything changes we’ll do a mid-afternoon update and suggest you click on the gauge links below for the latest updates.  The lower West Branch is a little chalky below Sands Creek but fishable at 7:30 am.  We’re not sure what the color of Oquaga Creek is so if you’re fishing in Deposit take a look before you commit to a spot.  Some of the lower Mainstem tributaries are pushing some dirty water.  We should get more precipitation throughout today but if Accuweather is to be believed it will be scattered.  Olives, sulphurs, cahills, and isonychias are the mainstay.  There are a few more tan caddis around so definitely keep your eyes open for those.  If we get more color in the system it could turn out to be a great streamer day.

Nate’s dad helps him hold his first fish caught solo on a flyrod! An awesome start at 7 years old.  Photo by Bruce Miller

Mike and Nate with a nice brown! Photo by Bruce Miller

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl  – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur #18-20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Golden Drake #12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
PED / Pink Lady #14 – E. vitreus
Large Blue Winged Olive #14 – D. cornuta
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 vagans

Flows and Temps as of 8:00 AM:
Click on the gauge below to view the latest update

August 10, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 10, 2015

There was little change in the rivers overnight and we are starting off this morning as a carbon copy of yesterday morning.  Things should improve this afternoon as the forecasted thunderstorms move in and the cloud cover increases.  Rain should be negligible during the day with more coming overnight.  We’ve been dry for a few weeks now so most of the rain should soak into the ground.  The West Branch and Upper East Branch continue to be in great shape.  The lower East and Mainstem at Lordville are peaking around 68 – 70 degrees.  If you fish the Mainstem double check the temperatures with a thermometer.  Olives and sulphurs are the most predominant mayflies right now.  Cahills and isonychias are hatching in decent numbers too.  We have been seeing more light bodied olives (#14-16) over the last few days too.

Theo with a weekend rainbow

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl  – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur #18-20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Golden Drake #12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
PED / Pink Lady #14 – E. vitreus
Large Blue Winged Olive #14 – D. cornuta
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 vagans

Flows and Temps as of 8:00 AM:
Click on the gauge below to view the latest update

August 9, 2015

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 9, 2015

Yesterday was a day of varied reports.  Some people saw decent hatches with very few fish rising, some people saw poor hatching but the fish were up, and other people saw a happy medium.  There didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to it so don’t be afraid to move around if your spot isn’t working for you.  The hathces were the same with cahills, isonychias, sulphurs, and all sorts of olives.  We did see a few golden drakes but they didn’t get eaten while we were watching.  We did see a few tan caddis around.  It’s been a while since we’ve seen that so we’ll take that as a positive.  Trico fishing hasn’t really happened yet.  We are still seeing small clouds of spinners but nothing to get the fish excited.
Mainstem temperatures peaked around 68 degrees yesterday so definitely use your thermometer if you are fishing the Main.  Accuweather is forecasting a mirror image of yesterday with a little less wind.  Look for shade in the mid-afternoon.  There is some potential for thunderstorms tomorrow and Tuesday.  Hopefully we get enough rain to raise the flows on the Beaverkill and lower East Branch.

Mitchell Kaliner had a decent day yesterday.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl  – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur #18-20 – E. dorothea
Light Cahills #14 – various steno species (invaria, etc)
Golden Drake #12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
PED / Pink Lady #14 – E. vitreus
Large Blue Winged Olive #14 – D. cornuta
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 vagans

Flows and Temps as of 8:00 AM:
Click on the gauge below to view the latest update