Author: Jeff White
Delaware River Report / Conditions April 9, 2014
Yesterday was a classic spring mix of periods of sun, then wind, then rain, then back to sun. The weather really improves Thursday and lasts through the weekend with air temps in the 60s every day. Cannonsville is at 97.8% capacity and they are releasing 1499 cfs (FFMP table 4G for those of you that follow the plan). I’d rather see spill right now and a flush of alewife protein for the trout! Nymphing is a tougher with the higher flows so I’d start with streamers fished slow and keep an eye out in the tailouts and edges for fish eating stoneflies. We’re keeping an eye out for the early olives and blue quills. The water temps need to come up just a few more degrees.
Hatching:
Tiny Black Stoneflies #18 – Capniadae sp.
Early Black and Brown Stoneflies #14 – 16 Taeniopteryx sp.
FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 1,500 cfs @ 38º |
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 2,050 cfs @ 39º |
East Branch at Harvard, NY | 606 cfs @ 39º |
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 2,970 cfs @ 40º |
Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 6,540 cfs @ 39º |
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 2,060 cfs @ N/A |
Delaware River Report / Conditions April 8, 2014
Great news- Cannonsville is 97.4 % full! Another interesting number according to the phone message – The release from Cannonsville is now 1,499 cfs. I’m really glad they’re conserving that 1 cfs.
According to the weatherman we are on a warming trend. The daytime temps look comfortable and the night time temps are climbing over the next few days. This should help the water temps climb closer to the magic number of 50 degrees bringing some insect activity. Add in a little light rain and the conditions are definitely improving! As the water warms the fish will be more likely to come to the surface to eat the early brown and black stoneflies. Keep an eye on the slower pools and edges for splashy rises and cover them quick. Streamers and nymphs should be more productive as the water warms up too.
Hatching:
Tiny Black Stoneflies #18 – Capniadae sp.
Early Black and Brown Stoneflies #14 – 16 Taeniopteryx sp.
FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 1,500 cfs @ 38º |
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 2,080 cfs @ 39º |
East Branch at Harvard, NY | 586 cfs @ 40º |
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 2,340 cfs @ 40º |
Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 5,040 cfs @ 39º |
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 1,340 cfs @ N/A |
Delaware River Report / Conditions April 7, 2014
Yesterday was the nicest day we’ve seen since early October! The water temps climbed to the mid 40s on most of the system bringing us closer to decent hatching. The weatherman is calling for low 50s today with some rain starting in the afternoon lasting through the night. They are calling for some wind today but they are never correct anyway. Water temps are low again this morning so streamers and nymphing will be your best option. Hopefully by mid afternoon the temps will increase enough to get the fish looking up for stoneflies. If the warming trend continues we should see Blue Quills before too long.
Hatching:
Tiny Black Stoneflies #18 – Capniadae sp.
Early Black and Brown Stoneflies #14 – 16 Taeniopteryx sp.
FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 463 cfs @ 38º |
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 985 cfs @ 39º |
East Branch at Harvard, NY | 566 cfs @ 39º |
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 2,150 cfs @ 40º |
Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 4,240 cfs @ 41º |
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 1,340 cfs @ N/A |
Delaware River Report / Conditions April 6, 2014
Most of the rain seemed to miss us over the last few days but the temps stayed cool and the rivers stayed full. Last night was cold but we are definitely on a warming trend. Today should be in the high 50s and the sun is already shining. The best activity is going to be mid to late afternoon when the water is at it’s warmest. Most of the system is starting out in the hi 30s so it will tale a while today. Strip smaller streamers slowly through the long pools and nymph using smaller patterns. You may find a fish or two on stoneflies depending on the water temps. If you do see a rise cover it quickly – they don’t seem to stay up for long this time of year.
It’ll be a long time before we see big stoneflies but I like the picture
Hatching:
Tiny Black Stoneflies #18 – Capniadae sp.
Early Black and Brown Stoneflies #14 – 16 Taeniopteryx sp.
FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 427 cfs @ 37º |
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 1,030 cfs @ 37º |
East Branch at Harvard, NY | 632 cfs @ 36º |
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 2,410 cfs @ 37º |
Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 4,820 cfs @ 37º |
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 1,460 cfs @ N/A |
Delaware River Report / Conditions April 5, 2014
We wanted a cool wet April and that is what we had yesterday- bone chilling and damp. Today should be 45 degrees, partly sunny with brief showers. The last of the runoff and rain is keeping the rivers filled and the Cannonsville level is still slowly rising. Those are tow encouraging signs for this season. The water temps are still low for any meaningful dryfly activity so you best opportunities will come from fishing smaller streamers slowly and nymphing above some of the feeder creeks. The sun is popping out this morning and it looks like a nice early Spring day overall.
restocking hendrickson comparaduns – photo by Jordan Davenport
Hatching:
Tiny Black Stoneflies #18 – Capniadae sp.
Early Black and Brown Stoneflies #14 – 16 Taeniopteryx sp.
FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 388 cfs @ 38º |
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 1,220 cfs @ 39º |
East Branch at Harvard, NY | 736 cfs @ 38º |
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 2,880 cfs @ 38º |
Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 5,690 cfs @ 38º |
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 1790 cfs @ N/A |
Cannonsville Reservoir Level & Release | 94.2% – 391 CFS release |
Delaware River Report / Conditions April 4, 2014
After a very cold dry March we have been hoping for a cool wet April with enough rain to fill the reservoirs and keep the water temps cool- it looks like we are getting our wish so far. Accuweather is calling for an inch of rain over the next couple of days. Air temperatures continue to be pleasant for early April and water temps on the West Branch seem to be on a warming trend every morning bringing closer to the hatching. Streamers fish slow are still your best bet along with nymphing the upper WB above most of the feeder streams.
Rainbow head from last October
Hatching:
Tiny Black Stoneflies #18 – Capniadae sp.
Early Black and Brown Stoneflies #14 – 16 Taeniopteryx sp.
FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 383 cfs @ 38º |
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 1,160 cfs @ 40º |
East Branch at Harvard, NY | 659 cfs @ 40º |
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 2,950 cfs @ 31º |
Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 5,740 cfs @ 41º |
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 1940 cfs @ N/A |
Cannonsville Reservoir Level & Release | 91.8% – 391 CFS release |
Delaware River Report / Conditions April 3, 2014
We missed yesterday’s post- there’s nothing more fun than starting off a new season with computer issues beyond our control!
Overall the fishing is still slow. While the air temperatures have improved significantly over the last week, the water temps are still a little low to get the fish moving. That should improve over the next few days as our warming trend continues and the runoff continue to subside. Right now the river West Branch still has that greenish tint I would describe as “glacial”. There have been a lot of stoneflies in the afternoons but the fish aren’t really on them yet. Most of our success has come on smaller streamers fished slowly.
Yesterday on the river- photo by Jordan Davenport
Hatching:
Tiny Black Stoneflies #18 – Capniadae sp.
Early Black and Brown Stoneflies #14 – 16 Taeniopteryx sp.
FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 383 cfs @ 37º |
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 1,250 cfs @ 38º |
East Branch at Harvard, NY | 675 cfs @ 36º |
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 3,030 cfs @ 38º |
Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 6,310 cfs @ 39º |
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 1920 cfs @ N/A |
Cannonsville Reservoir Level & Release | 91.8% – 391 CFS release |
Delaware River Report / Conditions April 1, 2014
Well that was a long winter.
Lots of rain and ice this past week but it looks like we are finally on a warming trend. The rivers are dropping and beginning to clear. Streamers have been working okay on warm afternoons with most success coming on small flies fished slowly. Stoneflies have been out off and on for the last month but no real dryfly activity yet. As the river levels continue to drop nymphing small flies during the warmest part of the day will be your best bet. Stay tuned- it’s only going to get better from here forward.
Hatching:
Tiny Black Stoneflies #18 – Capniadae sp.
Early Black and Brown Stoneflies #14 – 16 Taeniopteryx sp.
Dave Price starting the year off right!
FLOWS AS OF 8:00 AM: | |
West Branch at Stilesville, NY | 158 cfs @ 37º |
West Branch at Hale Eddy, NY | 1330 cfs @ 37º |
East Branch at Harvard, NY | 793 cfs @ 36º |
East Branch at Fish’s Eddy, NY | 3,070 cfs @ 37º |
Mainstem at Lordville, NY | 7,090 cfs @ 37º |
Beaverkill at Cooks Falls, NY | 1830 cfs @ N/A |
Cannonsville Reservoir Level & Release | 88.4% – 140 CFS release |
Not Quite Spring Yet
But we’re standing in the snow watching patiently. Stay tuned, Winter will end.
Somerset Show Contest Winner
Congratulations to Tom Moseley, who stopped by our booth at Somerset this past month! Thanks to all who entered, or just dropped by the booth to say hello.
We have tons of snow up here in Starlight, which bodes well for the upcoming spring. If you haven’t booked your stay or trip yet, look at your calendar and give us a call, we are filling up quickly, and season will be upon us before you know it!