May 21, 2018

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 21, 2018

Mid morning hendrickson spinner falls, hendricksons hatching, caddis hatching, blue quill spinner falls.  Some people had a good day of non stop action yesterday.  It seemed that the wind was going to screw everything up but the bugs were there and the fish were happy.  We had a couple of very brief showers but the clouds stuck around.   People who decide to fish streamers early were rewarded with some nice catches too.

It looks like both reservoirs are spilling now.  People are still wading the West and East Branches.  Just pick your spot and be careful.  The Beaverkill and lower East Branch flows are dropping quickly. The West Branch is dropping not as quickly as the other rivers.

Today will be warm with the temp hitting the low 70’s.  Winds will be light with a partly cloudy sky.  it looks like another great day to be on the water.

Michael Johnson found a good number of fish yesterday. Photo by Pat Giordano

Hatching:
Hendrickson  #12 – 14 –  E. subvaria
March Brown #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Blue Quills #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Blue Wing Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #20 – 26 – Psuedo sp.
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 20, 2018

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 20, 2018

Yesterday’s rain was never really heavy but it fell for a long time.  There were bugs hatching but the rising river flows made dry fly fishing tough to impossible.  Streamers produced some fish.  Most of the river flows are already dropping back this morning.  The East Branch at Harvard and the West Branch at Stilesville both look like they are steady or maybe even climbing slowly.  That could be the spill over both Pepacton Dam and Cannonsville Dam increasing.  The feeder stream flows will drop slowly over the next few days.  The West Branch out front is clear enough to fish this morning.  There is some color to it but it’s clear enough for fish to rise.  Streamers should be a good option in the morning and things should improve throughout the day.  It will be much warmer today with the air temp reaching the high 60’s.

Mike braved the rain and was rewarded. Photo by Samantha Dennis

The West Branch at Hale Eddy

Hatching:
Hendrickson  #12 – 14 –  E. subvaria
March Brown #10-2xl – Maccaffertium vicarium
Blue Quills #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Blue Wing Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #20 – 26 – Psuedo sp.
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 19, 2018

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 19, 2018

Yesterday’s clouds weren’t as thick as we hoped but the bugs hatched and the fish ate on top.  Caddis, Hendricksons, Blue Quills, Blue Wing Olives, and March Browns.  We’re lumping all of the caddis together in this post because there are a lot of different species out there and they are everywhere.  We didn’t find one caddis pattern or color any more successful than another but carry:  dark patterns #16 – 20, apple caddis #18, and light or tan patterns #18 -20.  Both light and dark hendricksons were on the water plus a few march browns and small bwos. There is no shortage of food out there now.  The release from Cannonsville Reservoir has been dropped to 600 cfs.

We should have rain all day today but it looks light and steady.  They’ve been changing out forecast every hour but the latest Wunderground shows the total precip around .4″  The river should handle that fairly well since it’s spread out throughout the day.  If the rivers do clod up it could turn into a decent streamer day.  If conditions change dramatically we’ll do an updated blog post.

Photo by Bruce Miller

Hatching:
Hendrickson  #12 – 14 –  E. subvaria
Blue Quills #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Blue Wing Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #20 – 26 – Psuedo sp.
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 18, 2018

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 18, 2018

It’s still a good mix of hendricksons, olives, blue quills, and a lot of caddis.  We had a lot of sun yesterday but fish were still found eating on top.  The hatching has bee happening for log enough that it’s time to start watching for spinner falls.  The falls can happen any time of the day so be prepared and watch closely to see what the fish are eating.  We’re still seeing a few march browns here and there but the hendricksons are still the main attraction.  The East Branch flow at Harvard has come up a bit but is still okay at 748 cfs.  The Beaverkill is at a nice level this morning and still dropping.  More areas are open to wading on the West Branch now that the flow at Hale Eddy is below 1,000 cfs.

It looks like today’s rain will fall after we’re done fishing.  We should see a mix of clouds and sun with the air temp in the high 60’s.  We’re going to cool down for a day or two and the warm back up to normal.

Mike with a chunky brown yesterday. Photo by Samantha Dennis

Mike Chain Jr with a good one yesterday. Photo by Bruce Miller

Hatching:
Hendrickson  #12 – 14 –  E. subvaria
Blue Quills #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Blue Wing Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #20 – 26 – Psuedo sp. (
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 17, 2018

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 17, 2018

The hatches seemed to happen a little earlier yesterday and end earlier.  We had a surprise rain in the afternoon but it was light and didn’t do much to the rivers.  There is still a mix of bugs on the water so bring a good selection of spring flies.  There were blue quill and hendrickson spinners over some riffles last night but we ever saw them hit the water.  The Beaverkill has dropped quite a bit overnight and is now under 1,000 cfs.  The lower East Branch and Mainstem are dropping but are still high this morning.  The West Branch is dropping slowly and is 1,000 cfs at Hale Eddy. Today should be close to 76 degrees with a mix of sun and clouds.  Light winds 5 – 10 mph from the South.

Leonard with a good rainbow yesterday. Photo by Bruce Miller

Hatching:
Hendrickson  #12 – 14 –  E. subvaria
Blue Quills #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Blue Wing Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #20 – 26 – Psuedo sp. (
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 16, 2018

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 16, 2018

The release from Cannonsville Reservoir has been dropped back to 700 cfs.  We had a few periods of heavy rain yesterday but most of it seemed to slide Northwest of us. We did see a little color on the West Branch but not enough to ruin the fishing.  We ‘re looking fine out front this morning.  The West Branch flow should drop back a bit as the runoff subsides.  The Beaverkill and East Branch flows both came up quite a bit with the rain.  They are dropping back down this morning.  The Mainstem at Lordville flow is still climbing as the East Branch water moves through.  It should peak and begin to drop this afternoon.There were bugs both before and after the storms.  The wind made fishing tough at times but there were some breaks.  Hendricksons, blue quills, olives, and whole bunch of different caddis species are out there.  And keep your March Brown patterns handy.  Today will be a little cooler, partly cloudy, with a few showers late.  The weekend loos great with clouds and some light rain here and there.

Eric with a nice one yesterday. Photo by Bruce Miller

Hatching:
Hendrickson  #12 – 14 –  E. subvaria
Blue Quills #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Blue Wing Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #20 – 26 – Psuedo sp. (
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 15, 2018

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 15, 2018

The bugs were back yesterday with people finding good numbers of hendricksons, blue quills, olives, and caddis.  The sun was out and it was actually hot out there for a while.  The sunshine did push the water temperatures up and they are starting off a little higher this morning.  The flows are dropping throughout the system.  The East Branch, Beaverkill, and parts of the Mainstem are the easiest to wade but people are finding their way out on the West Branch.  The air temp will be in the high 70’s today with some afternoon thunderstorms.  It’s always tough to tell if the thunderstorms will hit us or slide a bit north.  We’ll do an afternoon update if conditions change.

Larry fighting a fish yesterday. Photo by Art Bartholomew

Hatching:
Hendrickson  #12 – 14 –  E. subvaria
Blue Quills #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Blue Wing Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #20 – 26 – Psuedo sp. (
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 14, 2018

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 14, 2018

Yesterday was cool and wet out there.  There wasn’t heavy rain but it was just heavy enough to soak you.  The cooler water temperatures have slowed the hatching a bit but there were a lot of olives in some sections.  The water temps didn’t climb as high or fast as we’ve seen lately.  It took a while for the fish to react but there were risers later in the afternoon.  Olives were the main hatch with some blue quills and hendricksons mixed in some sections.  Today will be totally different with the air temp going up to 72 degrees.  We’ll have clouds and fog this morning but the sun should poke through in the late afternoon.  Winds will be low around 5 mph.  The flows have dropped a bit and the Beaverkill, upper East Branch, and lower East Branch are looking good for wading.  The West Branch is still running over 1,000 cfs but people are wading it in spots.  The warmer air temps and light wind should make the caddis more active this afternoon.

Bruce braving the rain yesterday. Photo by Art Bartholomew

Hatching:
Hendrickson  #12 – 14 –  E. subvaria
Blue Quills #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Blue Wing Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #20 – 26 – Psuedo sp. (
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 13, 2018

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 13, 2018

It rained steadily for most of the day yesterday.  We didn’t see a real heavy period, just a steady light rain.  All of the rivers seemed to come through it fine.  Some sections are up a few cfs and some are down a few cfs but basically they are starting off where they were yesterday morning.  Some sections saw decent numbers of olives during the rain.  Add your Pseudo box to your bag.    Today will be warmer with an air temperature in the mid 50’s.  The cloud cover should stick around all day with just a light shower or two in the evening.  It looks like a good day to be on the water.  If you’re fishing the lower Main or lower East Branch put a March Brown or two in your bag.  Nothing to really speak of yet but they can’t be far off on the warmer rivers.  This whole week looks good with intermittent rain, cloud cover, a little sun, and warmer air temps.

Dave with one from the weekend. Photo by Samantha Dennis

The West came through the rain just fine

Hatching:
Hendrickson  #12 – 14 –  E. subvaria
Blue Quills #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Blue Wing Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Tiny Blue Wing Olives #20 – 26 – Psuedo sp. (
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 12, 2018

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 12, 2018

There was decent hatching yesterday but the wind did not help the fishing.  Hendicksons, caddis, and blue quills made up most of the menu.  There are a lot of different caddis on the water so carry a good array of different sizes and colors.  The apple caddis are so thick on some sections you’ll need to wash your windshield at the end of the day.  The river flows have been falling and there are now more wade opportunities.  Some spots on the Mainstem and West Branch are wadeable and the Beaverkill is down to 670 cfs.  Today is going to be cooler with the air temp peaking in the low 50’s.  We should have rain all day.  The total rainfall may be close to .5″ but it should be spread out over 12 hours.  Wind should be 5 – 10 mph which is a definite improvement over yesterday.

Dean Henry Jr with a hendrickson eater. Photo by Dean Henry Sr

Hatching:
Hendrickson  #12 – 14 –  E. subvaria
Blue Quills #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Quill Gordon #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Blue Wing Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Early Black Stoneflies #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 11, 2018

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 11, 2018

We were hit with two brief but heavy storms yesterday but everything came through fine and the rivers are in good shape this morning.  The West Branch and Beaverkill flows are already dropping back.  The lower East Branch and Mainstem should peak and begin dropping by the afternoon.  Water temperatures are still looking fine.  The hatching was decent yesterday both before and after the evening storm.  Some sections fished better so if you don’t see much happening keep moving after giving a spot a fair chance.  There are a lot of caddis around so keep an eye out for one or two time risers that you can target.  Blue quills, hendricksons , and olives showed in good numbers too.  We have some sun this morning but should see some clouds cover by late afternoon.  There were some hendrickson and blue quill spinners last night so don’t get off the water too early.

Bob Lewis again this week

Hatching:
Hendrickson  #12 – 14 –  E. subvaria
Blue Quills #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Quill Gordon #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Blue Wing Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Early Black Stoneflies #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

May 10, 2018

Delaware River Report / Conditions May 10, 2018

Lots of sun yesterday.  It took a little longer for the bugs to show up.  Apple caddis and hendricksons are still the main hatches with blue quills, little black caddis, olives, and dark grannom caddis in the mix.  Nymphing and swinging wets and pupa are a good bet in the sun until the fish start eating on top.  There are a lot of egg laying caddis in the evening.  Some people are finding fish eat them and others are not.  If you see a lot on the water and no fish rising keep moving until you do find them.
The West Branch at Stilesville finally hit 50 degrees and Hale Eddy is so close peaking at 49.  The West Branch release was cut back to 1,034 cfs and is beginning to look good.  The East Branch at Harvard is dropping slowly and is 714 cfs.  The Beaverkill is a very wade friendly 568 cfs this morning.  Today looks like a much better weather day.   Our sun should give way to clouds and a little rain before noon.  Total precipitation will be around 1/4″  Winds will be around 10 mph but that’s a small price to pay for the clouds and rain.  The long term forecast shows clouds and rain through mid next week.

Bob Lewis with one in the net

Hatching:
Hendrickson  #12 – 14 –  E. subvaria
Blue Quills #16 – 18 – Paraleptophlebia adoptiva
Quill Gordon #14 – Epeorus pluralis
Blue Wing Olives #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Little Black Caddis #18 – 20 – Chimarra sp.
Dark Grannom – #14 – 18 – Dark Brachycentrus sp.
Apple Caddis – #16 – 18 – Light Brachycentrus sp.
Early Black Stoneflies #14 – 16 – Taeniopteryx sp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update: