May 4, 2019

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 4, 2019

Yesterday was an absolutely awesome day to be on the water.  It really didn’t seem to matter what section of river you were on- there were bugs and fish rising consistently.  Hendricksons and blue quills with a fair number of caddis were hatching.  We were hit by two rain showers that did not seem to affect the fishing at all.  Both were heavy but short.  The rivers had a bit of color in them after the morning storm but that didn’t slow down the bugs or fish.  We had more rain overnight so the flows are up a bit this morning.   The West Branch looks clear and fine this morning.  Keep an eye on the graphs today especially if you’re planning to wade.  That’s still tough on the bigger rivers but possible on the Beaverkill and Willowemoc.  Today looks really great with good cloud cover, light wind from the North, and an air temp hitting 62.

Andrew with a good dry fly fish. Steve Shen photo

Matt and Bruce with a great one yesterday

Hatching:
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Dark Hendrickson  – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Light Hendrickson – #12 -14 – E. subvaria (female)
Blue Quills – #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Tiny Stonefly–  #18- Capniidae spp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 -16  – Taeniopteryx spp.
Blue Wing Olives  – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Little Black Caddis – #18 – 20 – Chimarra

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 3, 2019

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 3, 2019

It was really nice fishing in a t shirt yesterday afternoon.  That was a great day to be on the water.  Decent hendricksons and blue quills,- plus the caddis hatch is starting.  The fish were happy for most of the day.  A lot of people took advantage of the weather report and were rewarded.  Today will be nice with the air temp in the low 60’s, decent cloud cover, and some scattered showers in the afternoon.  We’ll have some rain moving in but the majority of it should fall after dark.  We may see half an inch but hopefully some of the storms slip below us.  The trees are really leafing out now so hopefully they will suck up a lot of water- plus offer some wind protection from here forward.  Winds around 7 mph from the South.  Sounds like another good day.  The flows are dropping.  We’d like to see them come down a bit more to open up more wading opportunities but there are a few people out there trying it in spots.

Tony had a decent week. Steve Shen photo

Hatching:
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Dark Hendrickson  – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Light Hendrickson – #12 -14 – E. subvaria (female)
Blue Quills – #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Tiny Stonefly–  #18- Capniidae spp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 -16  – Taeniopteryx spp.
Blue Wing Olives  – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Little Black Caddis – #18 – 20 – Chimarra

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 2, 2019

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 2, 2019

Yesterday’s wind gusts were a bit higher than we originally saw in the forecast but the bugs hatched and the fish were happy.  There were some calmer periods that fished well and a few times the wind gusts made things diffcult.  Hendricksons and blue quills made up most of the menu.  If Wunderground’s forecast is even close to correct today should be really good.  The air temp should hit 70 degrees, cloud cover, .01″ of rain, and wind 5 mph from the North.  That great a forecast gives them a huge margin of error to work with and still have great weather out there.  The Beaverkill flow at Cooks Falls is 888 cfs and still falling.  There is water that works well for waders at these levels.  A few people are even getting out in some spots on the West Branch and Upper Mainstem.

Randy and Bruce with a good fish to start off May

Hatching:
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Dark Hendrickson  – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Light Hendrickson – #12 -14 – E. subvaria (female)
Blue Quills – #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Tiny Stonefly–  #18- Capniidae spp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 -16  – Taeniopteryx spp.
Blue Wing Olives  – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Little Black Caddis – #18 – 20 – Chimarra

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 1, 2019

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 1, 2019

There were Hendricksons, blue quills and caddis hatching yesterday.  The fish were eating them.  The fishing was a little slower than Monday but it was still really good.  There was a decent number of bugs and fish.  You can get spoiled and picky up here. Yesterday’s cooler water temperatures may have held some of the hatching back.  The nice thing about the Spring mayflies is they are hardy.  Once the start hatching the intensity of the hatch will vary day to day but they will keep hatching.  Today looks similar to yesterday with good cloud cover and an air temp in the low to mid 50’s.  Winds will be 12 from the South.  We’re going to warm up a bit beginning tomorrow with some chances of rain over the weekend.  The Beaverkill has dropped below 1,000 cfs so there are places to wade over there.  The main rivers are dropping slowly as the the runoff and spills subside.

Nicky Woodford’s first appearance of the season. Steve Shen photo

David with a good one yesterday. Bruce Miller photo

Hatching:
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Dark Hendrickson  – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Light Hendrickson – #12 -14 – E. subvaria (female)
Blue Quills – #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Tiny Stonefly–  #18- Capniidae spp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 -16  – Taeniopteryx spp.
Blue Wing Olives  – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Little Black Caddis – #18 – 20 – Chimarra

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

April 30, 2019

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 30, 2019

It took a little while for things to get going yesterday but once it warmed up the bugs hatched in good numbers and the fish ate. Hendricksons, blue quills, and some caddis were on the menu.  We’re starting to see some spinners a little before dark.  On a warm day they may even fall in the afternoon so look at the rise forms carefully.  April has had some pretty wild weather but we are finishing on a high note.  We’ll be close to 60 degrees today, cloudy, winds of 5 – 10 mph out of the North.  This should be a great day to be on the water.  We had some light rain overnight into this morning but it wasn’t enough to change the flows.  All of the rivers are still dropping slowly.  The Beaverkill bumped slightly and is at 1,100 cfs.  Wading is best on the upper reaches of the Willowemoc and Beaverkill.  The main Beaverkill should be in decent shape in the next day or two.

Chris with a nice one.  Bruce Miller photo

Randy’s fish has been eating well.  Bruce Miller photo

Hatching:
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Dark Hendrickson  – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Light Hendrickson – #12 -14 – E. subvaria (female)
Blue Quills – #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Tiny Stonefly–  #18- Capniidae spp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 -16  – Taeniopteryx spp.
Blue Wing Olives  – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Little Black Caddis – #18 – 20 – Chimarra

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

April 29, 2019

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 29, 2019

The rain was light but pretty steady for most of yesterday.  And the bugs hatched again in the afternoon.  Overall the people who braved the weather were rewarded. Streamers worked but a lot of fish were caught on top in the afternoon.   Hendricksons, blue Quills, and a few Quill Gordons were hatching.  You will see some little black caddis and stoneflies but most of the fish seem to be looking for the mayflies.  Many others of us were waiting for the much, much nicer weather today will bring.  Today will reach the mid 50’s, sunshine, with winds around 5 mph.  Hopefully we’ve seen the last of the frost and snow.  The long range shows pretty nice temperatures coming our way.  The main rivers are still too high to wade but some up the upper reaches of the Beaverkill and Willowemoc should be fine.  The flows are dropping slowly due to yesterdays rain but are headed in the right direction.

Mark

Theo

Hatching:
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Dark Hendrickson  – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Light Hendrickson – #12 -14 – E. subvaria (female)
Blue Quills – #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Tiny Stonefly–  #18- Capniidae spp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 -16  – Taeniopteryx spp.
Blue Wing Olives  – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Little Black Caddis – #18 – 20 – Chimarra

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

April 28, 2019

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 28, 2019

We had some decent rain, snow, and wind yesterday.  We also had bugs.   Most people who stuck it out went with streamer fishing but the dry fly fishing was a really nice surprise.  You needed the right combination of wind protection, bugs, and water slow enough for the fish to set up.  Overall we all would have bet on streamers.  It was cold overnight so the river temps are starting off a little colder this morning.  We have some rain in the forecast but should see less than 1/4″ total for the day.  Today will be a lot like yesterday with a cooler air temp and a cold night.  So, like yesterday, layer up with every fleece you have in your bag.  We start to warm back up tomorrow.

Clementine looks surprised this one ate a dry yesterday.  Theo May photo

Hatching:
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Dark Hendrickson  – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Light Hendrickson – #12 -14 – E. subvaria (female)
Blue Quills – #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Tiny Stonefly–  #18- Capniidae spp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 -16  – Taeniopteryx spp.
Blue Wing Olives  – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Little Black Caddis – #18 – 20 – Chimarra

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

April 27, 2019

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 27, 2019

Yesterday was windy with rain.  Fish were caught even on dry flies but overall it was a tough day to be on the water.  The real heavy bands of rain moved in after 6 pm and then river flows started climbing.  The West Branch flow has peaked and has started to fall but we’ll likely see another bump up as the spill increases today.  The West is off color but not totally blown out.  It is fishable from a boat.  It looks like a streamer day.  The inflow at Walton is 2,430 cfs and climbing this morning.

The air temperature will be lower for the next two days peaking in the mid 40’s.  We’ll have some showers and maybe even a little snow between this morning and Monday.  Crazy April weather in the Catskills.  Wading is not an option on any of the main rivers but you may find some wadeable water on the feeder streams or up in the headwaters.  It is safe to float.

Hatching:
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Dark Hendrickson  – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Light Hendrickson – #12 -14 – E. subvaria (female)
Blue Quills – #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Tiny Stonefly–  #18- Capniidae spp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 -16  – Taeniopteryx spp.
Blue Wing Olives  – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Little Black Caddis – #18 – 20 – Chimarra

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

April 26, 2019

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 26, 2019

Yesterday was a good combination of bugs, weather, and reasonable water levels for the fish.  The fish seemed to be happy eating off the surface with the dropping flows and light winds.  People caught fish on streamers, nymphs, and dry flies.  It was nice to hear the success stories all around last night.  Blue Quills, little black caddis, and some hendricksons made up most of the food.  Change up your streamer colors if you’re not moving fish.  The fish seem to change their mind on what they want every day.  We had some rain overnight but so far the rivers are still dropping.  The Beaverkill has dropped down to 882 cfs this morning- great news for the waders.  We have more rain in the forecast today and tonight.  The exact amount keeps changing but right now they have decreased the forecasted amount to .75″ which is way better than they were calling for yesterday.  If any flows change drastically we’ll do a mid day update.

Mike with a good one yesterday. Steve Shen photo

Vito and Mike with a double yesterday. Steve Shen photo

Hatching:
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Dark Hendrickson  – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Light Hendrickson – #12 -14 – E. subvaria (female)
Blue Quills – #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Tiny Stonefly–  #18- Capniidae spp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 -16  – Taeniopteryx spp.
Blue Wing Olives  – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Little Black Caddis – #18 – 20 – Chimarra

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

April 25, 2019

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 25, 2019

There were some fish rising yesterday but the wind didn’t do us any favors.   Streamers were the best bet along with nymphing slow edges.  Wading is still not an option on the big rivers but the Beaverkill is getting low enough that it’s a possibility in spots.  We’d like to see it drop a couple hundred cfs more to come into it’s own.  Today looks like a great fay to be on the water.  We already have some sunshine and the air temp will be 10 degrees warmer than yesterday peaking around 65.  The real treat is the wind should only be 5 – 10 mph.  We’re going to get 1/4″ of rain overnight but that shouldn’t start until after dark.  There is some rain coming tomorrow but the precipitation totals change every time we look.  Hopefully they are scattered storms that hit a few miles away from us.

Vito with a nice fish yesterday. Photo by Steve Shen

Hatching:
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Dark Hendrickson  – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Light Hendrickson – #12 -14 – E. subvaria (female)
Blue Quills – #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Tiny Stonefly–  #18- Capniidae spp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 -16  – Taeniopteryx spp.
Blue Wing Olives  – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Little Black Caddis – #18 – 20 – Chimarra

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

April 24, 2019

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 24, 2019

It felt like summer on the river yesterday.  Sunshine and warm temps were followed by a couple of unexpected brief showers in the evening.  The showers did not drop enough rain to bump the river flows and all the rivers are still dropping slowly this morning.  There are a lot of bugs out the and fish are rising. Things will definitely improve as the water levels drop.  Most people are fishing streamers early and then looking for risers in the long, slow pools in the afternoons.  It’s going to be cooler today with some wind.  Tomorrow the air temp jumps back up to the high 60’s.

Still falling slowly

Hatching:
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Dark Hendrickson  – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Light Hendrickson – #12 -14 – E. subvaria (female)
Blue Quills – #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Tiny Stonefly–  #18- Capniidae spp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 -16  – Taeniopteryx spp.
Blue Wing Olives  – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Little Black Caddis – #18 – 20 – Chimarra

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

April 23, 2019

Delaware River Report / Conditions April 23, 2019

The rivers are still dropping slowly.  There is some wading on the small feeder streams now but not on the big rivers.  The West Branch above Cannonsville has dropped to 1,640 cfs.  We should see the streams and spillage flows to slowly subside over the next few days.  We may see some rain towards the weekend but like normal every time we check the forecast it has changed.  Today is going to be beautiful.  We already have some sunshine and the air temp should hit 75 degrees.  There were enough bugs on the West Branch yesterday to get some fish looking up despite the high water.  Mostly blue quills and olives but there are definitely some hendricksons out there.  We’re still starting off with streamers but there are definite dry fly possibilities out there.  It will really get good when the rivers drop a bit more.

The Cannonsville spill is beginning to drop

Hatching:
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Dark Hendrickson  – #14 – E. subvaria (male)
Light Hendrickson – #12 -14 – E. subvaria (female)
Blue Quills – #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Quill Gordon – #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Tiny Stonefly–  #18- Capniidae spp.
Early Brown and Black Stoneflies – #14 -16  – Taeniopteryx spp.
Blue Wing Olives  – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Little Black Caddis – #18 – 20 – Chimarra

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update: