June 6, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 6, 2017

We are getting more rain this morning.  We’ll check amounts and keep an eye on the graphs.

The rain did not miss us this time.  All of the rivers are up and off color but at least the West Branch flow has hooked and is beginning to drop.  Generally the West Branch will clear within 24 hours of the last rain.  The spill will be clear as most of the sediment filters out as it crosses the reservoir.  We may see a bump in flow on the West as the spill increases.  It may flatten out as the runoff decreases though.  Wading is not an option today but the West Branch is definitely safe to float at 3,000 cfs if you’re comfortable behind the oars.  Visibility is bad this morning so big, dark streamers are probably your best bet.   The color should improve throughout the day.
Yesterday fished well before the big rain and we should see that again as the flows settle down over the next couple of days.

The flow at Hale Eddy has peaked for now

Hatching:
Sulphur – #16 – Ephemerella dorothea
Green Drake – #8-2xl – Ephemera guttulata
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

June 5, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 5, 2017

We did get some rain yesterday but most of it soaked into the ground.  The rivers look clear and fishable in town and the flows only bumped a little.  Once the rain ended the afternoon settled into a beautiful, overcast, and light wind evening.  There was a decent mix of sulphurs, cahills, gray fox, caddis, and march browns on the water.  Lots of olives were out in sizes #18 -26.  Some sections saw green drakes mixed in.  There were definitely a lot of bugs on the water and the fish were happy.  The air temperature should be warmer today with a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon.  Right now it looks like a great fishing day.  It’s hard to predict if the thunderstorms will hit us or not.  It seems the forecast is usually wrong and they track either north or south of us.

Dustin found one with big fins yesterday. Photo by Steve Shen

Hatching:
Sulphur – #16 – Ephemerella dorothea
Green Drake – #8-2xl – Ephemera guttulata
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

June 4, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 4, 2017

It’s still bug soup with lots of olives, sulphurs, cahills, march browns, gray fox, green drakes, and just about every caddis you can imagine.  The wind made it tough early but did die down in the evening.  We have been finding fish eating earlier along wind protected banks and other quiet areas.  We should start seeing more march brown spinners and coffin flies over the next few days.  It looks like the wind has finally broke and we’ll have a day under 10 mph.  We should see some clouds moving in and some afternoon rain.  Right now the forecast is calling for quite a bit of precipitation late but they have been wrong on the last few storms.  A lot of it should soak in o the ground in the beginning.

Flows look great this morning

Hatching:
Sulphur – #16 – Ephemerella dorothea
Green Drake – #8-2xl – Ephemera guttulata
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

June 3, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 3, 2017

As far as we know no flow agreement was reached yesterday so we are technically under Revision 1.  New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New York City are still running their contingency plan to keep water in the river while negotiations continue.  Under the contingency plan releases from Cannonsville will be 325 cfs and releases from Pepacton will be 150 cfs.

The wind was tough mid day yesterday keeping most of the caddis in the trees and the March Browns and Gray foxes were getting off the water quick.  Once the wind died in the evening most of us saw absolutely massive amounts of sulphurs covering the water until dark.  There were some fish eating them on top but a lot of the eats were on the emergers just below the surface.  Swinging sulphur nymphs or pheasant tail wet flies would have been a good option.  Green Drakes were hatching and there were fish eating them here and there.  It was a bug soup day with decent opportunities.

Paul with a nice brown yesterday. Photo by Samantha Dennis

Hatching:
Sulphur – #16 – Ephemerella dorothea
Green Drake – #8-2xl – Ephemera guttulata
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

June 2, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 2, 2017

No flow agreement was reached so we are technically under Revision 1.  New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New York City developed a contingency plan to keep water in the river while negotiations continue.  This is awesome news and hopefully an agreement is reached soon.  Under the contingency plan releases from Cannonsville will be 325 cfs and releases from Pepacton will be 150 cfs.  There is some runoff and Cannonsville is spilling adding more water to the river.

The rivers look good this morning with decent flows and clarity.  We are seeing a decent mix of  caddis, sulpurs, and cahills with some march browns and gray foxes thrown in for good measure.  The sky should be clear today with an air temperature in the mid 60’s.  We may get some afternoon winds but they should drop in the evening.

Mike with a nice fish to start off June. Photo by Bruce Miller

Hatching:
Sulphur – #16 – Ephemerella dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

June 1, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions June 1, 2017

Starlight is without power again this morning so we will post a regular report as soon as possible.  Penelec says 10 am.

Now for the release news.  The latest we have heard is that there was no agreement to extend FFMP.  According to the release hotline the current release this morning is still 305 cfs.  That is / was the release being used under FFMP Chart 4C for the last week or so.  That’s the best news.  There is runoff and spill adding to the release so the river is in good shape this morning.

There is definitely a lot of water in the system so hopefully DEP continues to use the FFMP until the principles can agree on a plan moving forward.  The cool weather will stick around at least for the next week or so and that has been a big help.  Hopefully the principles reach an agreement soon.

May 31, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 31, 2017

We had some rain yesterday and a brief thunderstorm this morning.  The flows have come up throughout the system but everything looks good this morning.  The levels are still good for wading and floating.  The West, East, and Mainstem around Hancock all look clear.  There is a chance of another brief storm today but the rainfall total in the forecast is only .15″ so we should be fine through the day.  The overcast sky and rain have really helped the fishing over the last couple of days.  Olives, march browns, cahills, gray fox, sulphurs, and caddis have all been on the menu.  The olives have ranged in size from #18  to #26 so definitely carry a lot of those patterns today.

Theo with a nice brown on a dry yesterday. Photo by Steve Shen

Hatching:
Sulphur – #16 – Ephemerella dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 30, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 30, 2017

Yesterdays rain caused a small bump in flows but the rivers look good this morning and are wadeable.  The flows are already dropping back and we are clear.  The forecast is calling for additional rain but it seems that the amount predicted each day gets downgraded.  Today looks like .15″ unless there is an oddball thunderstorm so we should come through just fine.  The cloud cover and cool temperatures have helped and we are seeing decent hatches of olives, march browns, gray fox, and sulphurs in the evenings.  Caddis are still fishing well and nymphing / swinging wets has been decent before the dry fly activity starts.

Andrew’s fish from the weekend. Photo by Bob Lewis

Hatching:
Sulphur – #16 – Ephemerella dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Hendrickson – #16 – Ephemerella X– (a few still around the West Branch)
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 29, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 29, 2017

We woke up to some rain this morning.  The amount of precipitation in today’s forecast has been decreased and it looks like we should end up with around 1/4″.  If they are accurate we may see a minor bum in flows but nothing dramatic and the rivers should stay clear and easy to wade.  It definitely feels and looks like a blue wing olive day so have those patterns in #16 – 26.  People are catching fish on March Browns both by finding fish eating them and using them as searching patterns.  The sulphurs have been an evening hatch and keeping us on the water late.  Caddis have still been the mainstay on the river with a lot of different species hatching.  There’s a healthy mix of bugs out there.  Nymphing has improved in the lower flows with small flies working best.

Hatching:
Sulphur – #16 – Ephemerella dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Hendrickson – #16 – Ephemerella X– (a few still around the West Branch)
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 28, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 28, 2017

There is a good mix of bugs right now with small olives,  caddis, and march browns making up a good part of the food supply.  We are seeing alot of different caddis but have been most successful on tan #16 -18 patterns.  We did find fish eating march browns so that should just get better and better this week.  The sulphur hatch is growing and should offer some decent evening fishing.  There are still a few small hendricksons on the upper river sections and a few hendrickson spinners around at night.  The weather looks good today with clouds, air temperatures close to 70, and wind gusts staying under 10 mph.  We may see up to 1/4″ of rain which will be good for the rivers if it actually hits us.

Bruce and Richard with a nice brown yesterday. Photo by Tamar Franklin

Hatching:
Sulphur – #16 – Ephemerella dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Hendrickson – #16 – Ephemerella X– (a few still around the West Branch)
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 27, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 27, 2017

There was a little bump overnight in flows on the Beaverkill and the West Branch above the reservoir.  It wasn’t much of a bump and they are both already dropping.  The rivers look clear in Hancock and everything is in good shape for the weekend.  We have a little mist this morning but there is no precipitation in today’s forecast- just clouds and light winds around 5 mph.  The sulphur hatch seems to be progressing nicely and we are seeing a few more cahills hatching in some areas.  Caddis are still the bread and butter of the river right now so definitely have that box loaded and ready.

Bob Lewis at prime time

Hatching:
Sulphur – #16 – Ephemerella dorothea
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella rotunda
Light Cahill – #14 – Ephemerella invaria
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Hendrickson – #16 – Ephemerella X– (a few still around the West Branch)
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 26, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 26, 2017

It looks like most of the rain slid NW of us and after the morning showers we settled into a nice overcast day.  The rivers bumped a little but not enough to really make a difference.  They are already dropping back and everything looks clear this morning.  The color was fine throughout the day yesterday.  That is the third big forecasted rain storm to miss us in the last few weeks.  We had had a little rain this morning but it is not going to even bump the river.  We are still fishing a lot of caddis mixed with a few March Browns and Gray Fox.  The sulphurs are starting and will end up being the next big hatch within the next week.  Some sections are seeing fishable numbers of cahills too.  This looks like a good weekend to fish.  They are downgrading the amount of rain in the forecast and the rivers are in decent shape for wading and floating.

Jim with a nice rainbow yesterday. Photo by Steve Shen

Hatching:
Sulphur – #16 – Ephemerella dorothea
Hendrickson – #16 – Ephemerella X
Blue Quill – #16 – Paraleptophlebia. adaptiva
March Brown – #10 -2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Gray Fox – #12-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (Stenonema fuscum)
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Brachycentrus spp.
Apple Green Caddis #16 – 20 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.
Little Black Caddis – #18-20 – Chimarra sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update: