Delaware River Report / Conditions October 8, 2016

Nymphs and wet flies have still been the best bet for landing fish.  There are some fish eating on top but most seem to be chasing caddis pupa in the water column.  We have a good chance of some light rain today with winds staying below 10 mph.  This could be a good olive day and definitely carry your isonychias.

The release from Cannonsville has been dropped again down to 235 cfs.  The downstream flow targets are being met by Lake Wallenpaupack releases.  Water temperatures have not been an issue due to the cold nights.  The issue is now exposed river bed.  On October 4th the flow at Stilesville dropped from close to 700 cfs down to 150 cfs is one day.  The Mainstem then dropped just as quickly with the flow at Lordville dropping below 500 cfs on October 5th.  A quick severe drop like that strands all sorts of river life in the gravel.
This is an odd situation since we are caught in the 5 year Wallenpaupack drawdown that will drop that lake 5 feet below normal.  It’s not surprising.  What is surprising is the lack of consideration for the health of the river between the dams and the mouth of the Lackawaxen.
When people used to talk about the trout fishery it always ended in Callicoon.  After a while it moved up to temperature targets in Hankins.  Now everyone talks about targets at Lordville.  It seems like if certain people get their way we’ll all be talking about targets at Hale Eddy in a couple of years.

And the Park Service will have to rename the Upper Delaware Wild and Scenic River to the more accurate Upper Delaware Wild and Scenic Creek

Exposed river bed on the Mainstem October 5th.  It' still exposed today

Exposed river bed on the Mainstem October 5th. It’ still exposed today

Hatching:
Slate Drake – #12 – 14- Isonychia bicolor
Olive Sulphur – #18 – 20– Heptagenia hebe
Tiny Blue Winged Olive – #22 – 26 – Psuedocloeon spp.
Blue Winged Olive – #18 – 20 – E. lata
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)

West Branch at Stilesville, NY 198 cfs
55°
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY 320 cfs
56°
East Branch at Harvard, NY 110 cfs 53°
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY 196 cfs
57°
Mainstem at Lordville, NY 576 cfs
60°
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY 65 cfs N/A
Cannonsville Reservoir Release 235 cfs
West Branch at 191 Bridge  N/A 57°
West Branch at Walton (Cannonsville inflow) 64 cfs
Cannonsville Reservoir Capacity 45.3%
Pepacton Reservoir Capacity 71.2%

 

 

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