Definitely an interesting day out there yesterday. The Main Stem finally lit up, and the Lower West slowed down. Folks fishing from the Gamelands upstream had good numbers of rising fish taking Paraleps (which were blanketing the water) with decent hatching, but downstream from there the Hendricksons barely got started, and most fish were taken on charcoal caddis. The Main had Paraleps and a few Hendricksons down towards Buckingham, but really good numbers further on towards Long Eddy. We also saw our first appearance of the Apple Green Caddis, and the fish in the Lower East and Main both seemed to be quite interested in them. With good starting water temps today, as well as moderate air temps predicted, we could be in for a heck of a day today as well, and the weekend is looking better and better too! The only variable is the spillage from CAnnonscville – if it really starts to go, the DEP will release 1500 CFS until it stops under their so-well-designed FFMP (that was sarcasm people). I’ll post an update if it jumps, so be aware if you are wading the West Branch today.
Dave Zmijewski with a slammin’ West Branch Brown! Photo: Steve Shen
What’s Hatching:
Ephemerella subvaria – Hendricksons – #12 & #14
Chimarra species – Charcoal Caddis – #16 & #18
Taeniopteryx fasciata – Early Black Stonefly- #18
Baetis species – BWO – #16 & #18 – Very sporadic, getting started
Paraleptophlebia adoptiva – Blue Quill – #16 & #18 – Same as Baetis
Current Flow Conditions:
| FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
| West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 413 cfs @ 43º |
| West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 687 cfs @ 44º |
| East Branch at Harvard, NY | 314 cfs @ 46º |
| East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 1,110 cfs @ 48º |
| Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 2,460 cfs @ 51º |
| Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 681 cfs @ N/A |
| Cannonsville Reservoir Level & Release | 100.1% – 401 CFS release |
