Delaware River Report / Conditions June 14, 2016

It looks like the heavy winds are finally behind us and we are settling into early summer weather.  Today’s forecast is calling for 75 degrees and wind under 10 mph.  It sounds like a great day to be on the water.  Look for caddis mixed with dead spinners in the morning followed by an afternoon to evening sulphur / cahill hatch.  The sun may push the hatches back until it drops behind the hills so don’t leave the river too early.  The winds drop to almost nothing in the evening so it could be a good spinner night too.  Before the hatches begin both nymphing and blind casting isonychia patterns in the riffles have been working well.  Use smaller nymphs to imitate the sulphurs.  We have a chance of some light rain later in the week which could make for a great weekend.

Tanya with a great Delaware rainbow yesterday. Photo by Kevan Smaracko

Hatching:
Slate Drake – 12-2xl- Isonychia bicolor
Green Drakes – 8-2xl – 10-2xl – E. Guttalata
Brown Drakes – 10-2xl- E. simulans
March Browns – #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema vicarium)
Gray Fox #12-2xl- Maccaffertium vicarium (formerly Stenonema fuscum)
Pink Lady – #14 – Epeorus vitreus
Sulphur – #16-18 – E dorothea
Light Blue Winged Olive – #14 E. cornuta
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydropsyche spp.
Dark Brachycentrus sp. – #14 – 18 – Dark Grannom
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Blue Winged Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans (updated name: Baetis tricaudatus)