Delaware River Report / Conditions August 20, 2014

It was tough fishing on the lower West Branch last night with only a few mayflies coming off and most of the fish keying in on a large number of #26 flying ants.  We had just enough summer stenos on the water to get some of the fish interested in eating one but a number of fish keyed on the tiny ants and wouldn’t look at a different fly.  The wind was a bit more than Accuweather predicted but it settled down nicely for prime time.  The sulphur hatch is waning on the Upper West Branch but there were still some coming off plus a few small blue winged olives.  Today looks warmer with a few passing showers.  Hopefully the rain kicks off some decent olive hatches.  Last night was warmer than we’ve been used to but the West Branch under the 191 Bridge is still starting out at a respectable 55 degrees this morning.  The release from Cannonsville has dropped slightly and is now 602 cfs until further notice.

Evan with a West Branch Brown this week.  Photo by Bruce Miller

Hatching:

Sulphurs #16 -20 E. dorothea

Summer Stenos #12-16 various species

Tan Caddis #16 – 18- Hydrosyche sp.

Tiny Blue Wing Olives #22 – 26 – Pseudocloeon sp.

Dark Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. deficiens, lata, etc.

Light Blue Winged Olive #16 -20 – E. cornutella, etc

Slate Drakes #12 – Isonychia bicolor

Charcoal Caddis #16-18 – Dk Brachycentrus sp.

Golden Drakes – #12-2xl – Potomanthus sp.